Summary information
| Repository: | South Peace Regional Archives |
| Title: | Focus Publishing fonds |
| Reference code: | 0148 |
| Date: | 1972-1988 (date of creation) |
| Physical description: | 160 cm textual records |
| Language: | English |
| Dates of creation, revision and deletion: | Processing archivist and date not recorded. Added to new database March 2026 – TD |
Administrative history / Biographical sketch
In 1972, Meridian Printing from Lloydminster started an independent community weekly newspaper in Grande Prairie. They named it “The Booster” and Brian Keebaugh, from Meridian Printing, was the first publisher. For a short time in 1975 the paper was printed by Keeprint, operated by Charlie Kee. In January 1976, the Booster was taken over by a local Grande Prairie company, Focus Publishing Ltd., owned by Brian Wilson and Bob McFarlane. From 1976 to 1984, Wilson and McFarlane added additional papers into Focus Publishing’s production, including Grande Prairie This Week, Focus, and South Peace Farm Week.
Focus Publishing Ltd. ceased to publish in the summer of 1988.
Custodial history
The records were donated to the Grande Prairie Museum in 1989 by Brian Wilson, publisher of the paper. In 2000, they were transferred to Grande Prairie Regional Archives.
Scope and content
The fonds consists of staple-bound issues of Grande Prairie newspapers published by Focus Publishing including The Booster, Focus, Grande Prairie This Week, and South Peace Farm Week.
Notes
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title of fonds based on contents.
Access points
- Textual record (documentary form)
- Communications (subject)
Table of contents
0148.01, The Booster, 1972-1981
0148.03, Grande Prairie This Week, 1981-1988
0148.04, South Peace Farm Week, 1984-1988
Series descriptions
| Series 0148.01: The Booster
Date: 1972-1981 (date of creation) Scope and content: This series consists of staple-bound issues of The Booster from April 1972 to March 1981. The Booster paper was first published in 1972 by Meridian Printing before being taken over briefly by Keeprint in 1975, and finally Focus Publishing in January 1976. The Booster was distributed free of charge on Wednesdays to every home in Grande Prairie, and through the Post Office to 27 other communities in the South Peace every Thursday morning. It consisted of local and national news, photographs, upcoming events, and classified advertising. The Booster name was changed to Grande Prairie This Week in June 1981. Physical description: 53 cm textual records Access points: • Textual record (documentary form) Publication status: Published |
| Series 0148.02: Focus
Date: 1977-1982 (date of creation) Scope and content: This series consists of staple-bound issues of Focus from January 1977 to March 1982. Focus was printed by Focus Publishing as an accompaniment to The Booster paper. Focus was an arts and entertainment guide that featured news relating to arts and entertainment including TV schedules, film and book reviews, and weekly highlights of local radio programing. In March 1982 Focus was discontinued and replaced with an addition to the regular paper called This Week Leisure. Physical description: 23 cm textual records Access points: • Textual record (documentary form) Publication status: Published |
| Series 0148.03: Grande Prairie This Week
Date: 1981-1988 (date of creation) Scope and content: This series consists of staple-bound issues of Grande Prairie This Week from June 1981 to April 1988. On June 3, 1981 the name of The Booster paper was changed to Grande Prairie this Week. Grande Prairie This Week continued to feature local and global news, photographs, upcoming events, and classified advertising. In September 1983 it went to the half-size format. Grande Prairie This Week was published until April 1988, shortly before Focus Publishing ended operations. Physical description: 60 cm textual records Access points: • Textual record (documentary form) Publication status: Published |
| Series 0148.04: South Peace Farm Week
Date: 1984-1988 (date of creation) Scope and content: This series consists of staple-bound issues of South Peace Farm Week from January 1984 to April 1988. The South Peace Farm Week paper was devoted to serving the agricultural community of the South Peace. It was started in February 1983 under publisher George Lanctot and editor Christina Grant. Later, Brian Wilson of Focus Publishing became publisher for South Peace Farm Week. Physical description: 23 cm textual records Access points: • Textual record (documentary form) Publication status: Published |