A recent transaction between Black Press and Glacier Media involved the acquisition of the Abbotsford Times, and also included the Chilliwack Times.
"It was our belief that it didn't make sense for readers to receive two community newspapers in the Abbotsford, Mission and Chilliwack markets on the same publishing days with tremendous duplication of content," said Randy Blair, president of the Black Press Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island divisions.
"In light of this, Black Press has harmonized publication days in the Chilliwack market so that the Chilliwack Times and the Chilliwack Progress will publish on different days."
"We are also going to work hard at differentiating content between the Times and the Progress which will provide readers with a greater mix of editorial content as a result of expanded coverage of community news and events," said Blair.
"In Abbotsford, we have elected to close the Abbotsford Times because it was losing a considerable amount of money, and over 65 per cent of the Abbotsford Times staff, including every reporter, elected not to transfer their employment to Black Press as part of the sale.
"In light of those two factors, it didn't make sense for Black Press to continue publishing the Abbotsford Times. However, Black Press will continue to focus our energies and resources on the Abbotsford News and the Mission City Record – two of North America's leading community newspapers – to ensure that the communities of Abbotsford and Mission will continue to be well served by a strong and vibrant local print media," Blair concluded.