About Us

  The Strathcona Standard is committed to providing responsible local news coverage in print and online. We provide reliable information about local news and events people can look forward to holding in their hands, whether on paper or a phone screen.  

Vision

  To empower Campbell River with the truth through accurate, independent journalism that combats misinformation and meets the information needs of a growing, vibrant community.

Mission

  We will become the most trusted source for local news and information in Campbell River and the surrounding Strathcona region. 

Values

  We are a traditionally-styled newspaper that isn’t afraid to hold itself to the same standards as our audience and advertisers. To prove it, we have a policy of refusing all government funding. While many news outlets have come to rely on federal programs such as the Local Journalism Initiative and the Canadian Periodicals Fund to cover costs, we refuse to do the same. Why? Because with government funding, come government strings attached.

  Ever wonder why most media outlets seem to have the same perspectives on issues such as climate change, homelessness, public drug use, gender identity, and “social justice” topics? Ever wonder why their perspectives seem to echo the government, deviating little from official press release sources? Ever wonder why investigative reporting that challenges government narratives has mostly disappeared, and is sometimes even treated with hostility by legacy media? Follow the money. 

  We will earn the trust of our readers by being tough but fair, and fiercely independent. We also want to return a voice to centre-right perspectives that have long been muted in news coverage across Canada. 

  We want to tell your stories, not tell you what to think. We want to be your voice, not a megaphone for government narratives. 

  The Strathcona Standard is a home for a diverse range of voices, and will accurately reflect the community it serves. 

Who we are

  The Standard's editorial department is under the leadership of Grant Warkentin, an award-winning community news hound with a wide range of experience in media and communications. In his own words: 

  "I have witnessed cataclysmic change in the media business since I started back in 2001. The digital age brought about by cheap home Internet access and advanced technology has made it easier than ever for people to get the news, but it's also made it harder for people to find accurate and relevant news in the sea of available information. Legacy media has had a difficult time continually adapting to changing conditions that eat away at its bottom line.

"However, there remains a great appetite for local journalism, stories about specific topics and issues that impact the daily lives of the communities where we live. I am committed to reporting on the issues that matter to Campbell River and the Strathcona region, reporting the facts in a fair and balanced manner, but also while holding power and influence to account. 

"Community journalism isn't dead. It's undergoing a metamorphosis into something suitable for a high-tech, interconnected 21st century society, and the Strathcona Standard will bring that new experience to readers in Campbell River and beyond."

Grant can be contacted via email at grant.warkentin@standardnews.ca