Early Canadian Printing and Type, 1752–1900
Collection 1: 1752–1800
Compiled by Linda Kincaid
Most newspapers during this time were established by American printers who moved north in search of new opportunities. The Upper Canada Gazette was an exception, having been set up by a printer from Montreal; Louis Roy.
While Canada was under French control, there were no newspapers or printing presses.
These early newspapers largely served as instruments of the government. Printers were strongly discouraged from publishing anything deemed hostile to the authorities, a trend that intensified after the American Revolution (1775–1783). Americans who remained loyal to Great Britain, known as United Empire Loyalists, fled to Canada to escape persecution.
Despite facing numerous challenges – such as financial hardship and limited resources – these early printers laid the foundation for what would become Canada’s newspaper industry.
The Halifax Gazette, Nova Scotia, John Bushell, 1752
The Nova Scotia Chronicle and Weekly Advertiser, Nova Scotia, Anthony Henry, 1769
A College Drama, Lower Canada (Quebec), Fleury Mesplet, 1776
The Quebec Gazette | La Gazette de Quebec, Lower Canada, Guillaume (William) Brown and Thomas Gilmore, 1776
The Royal St. John’s Gazette and Nova- Scotia Intelligencer, New Brunswick, John Ryan, 1784
Journal of the House of Assembly, New Brunswick, Christopher Sower, 1786
A Proclamation, Prince Edward Island, James Robertson, 1789
The Quebec Gazette | La Gazette de Quebec, Quebec, Samuel and John Neilson, 1790
The Nova-Scotia Magazine, Nova Scotia, John Howe, 1790
The Royal Gazette, and Miscellany of the Island of Saint John, Prince Edward Island , William Alexander Rind, 1791
Upper Canada Gazette or American Oracle, Upper Canada (Ontario), Louis Roy, 1793
Collection 2: 1801–1850
Compiled by Linda Kincaid
While printers were still working in difficult conditions, this period saw printers starting to flex their muscles and beginning to have some success in challenging the traditional hierarchical structure of society. Many of the printers in this period went on to become politicians using their newspapers to promote freedom of the press.
The Upper Canada Almanac for the Year of Our Lord 1803, Upper Canada (Ontario), John Bennett, 1803
Almanack, Nova Scotia, Elizabeth Gay, 1806
The Royal Gazette and Newfoundland Advertiser, Newfoundland, John Ryan, 1810
Acadian Recorder, Nova Scotia, Anthony Holland, 1813
Newfoundland Mercantile Journal, Newfoundland – Alexander Haire and Robert Lee, 1815
Colonial Advocate, Upper Canada (Ontario), William Lyon Mackenzie, 1824
The Novascotian, Nova Scotia, Joseph Howe, 1828
Cree Spelling Book, Northwest Territories (Manitoba), James Evans, 1841
Rags to Wood Pulp, Charles Fenerty, c1844
Collection 3: 1851–1900
Compiled by Linda Kincaid
By 1900 printing had spread across every province and territory in the newly established Dominion of Canada, thanks to the efforts of earlier printers. This period saw newspapers largely free from government control and saw them take on the role of establishing the Canadian identity. They often had very strong views and did not hesitate to voice them in their editorials. As earlier printers before them, they too often went into politics as they continued to work for progress and change.
