Early Printing and Type in Canada, Chapter 1: 1752–1800

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.