Woodstock Ingersoll Echo

19/01/2024

The January issue dropped. Hard copies can be picked up at various places around Woodstock & Ingersoll. Visit our website at www.theecho.ca to be able to view our paper online.

15/12/2023

The December issue dropped. Hard copies can be picked up at various places around Woodstock & Ingersoll. Visit our website at www.theecho.ca to be able to view our paper online.

29/11/2023

18/11/2023

You may have seen the announcement that, thanks to the support we've had in the community, in March we'll be graduating from a monthly newspaper to a bi-weekly newspaper. To help support this growth, we could use the help of a Sales Representative on our team! This could be a part-time position to support the Echo, or it could be a full-time position if were to include the Echo plus some of our other nearby publications. Please reach out to [email protected] if interested in learning more!

17/11/2023

The November issue dropped. Hard copies can be picked up at various places around Woodstock & Ingersoll. Visit our website at www.theecho.ca to be able to view our paper online.

13/11/2023

Just a heads-up that the newest edition of the Echo comes out this week! If you have any last-minute contributions to the paper (letters to the editor, advertisements, photos or other submissions), send them through to [email protected] by end of day on Tuesday.

19/10/2023

The October issue dropped. Hard copies can be picked up at various places around Woodstock & Ingersoll. Visit our website at www.theecho.ca to be able to view our paper online.

15/09/2023

The September issue dropped. Hard copies can be picked up at various places around Woodstock & Ingersoll. Visit our website at www.theecho.ca to be able to view our paper online.

20/07/2023

20/07/2023

The second issue dropped. Hard copies can be picked up at various places around Woodstock & Ingersoll. Visit our website at www.theecho.ca to be able to view our paper online.

21/06/2023

Conservatives Hang on to Federal Seat in Oxford
By Lee Griffi
In what could be described as the toughest fight for the Oxford seat in the House of Commons in nearly 20 years, Arpan Khanna hung on to defeat Liberal challenger David Hilderley by about 2600 votes. Khanna earned 43 per cent of the ballot with Hilderley taking just over 36 per cent. In the 2021 federal election, the Conservatives garnered 47 per cent of the vote, compared to the Liberals' 20 per cent.
A stronger-than-usual Liberal race developed after controversy erupted after David MacKenzie, the riding's former Tory MP, announced he was backing Hilderley after his disapproval of the party's handling of Khanna. In the 2021 federal election, the Conservatives nabbed about 47 per cent of the vote, compared to the Liberals' roughly 20 per cent.
During his victory speech Khanna said he’s ready to take the concerns of Oxford residents to Parliament Hill. “To the senior who is on a fixed pension and is struggling to make ends meet, we hear you, and we will fight for you every single day. People believe in Pierre Poilievre’s positive vision for our country.”
Doing the math shows the Liberal and NDP vote combined reached nearly 47 per cent of the vote, something that Khanna said doesn’t worry him. He is focusing on defeating the government in the next election. “I think we sent a clear message to Justin Trudeau that Oxford is a strong, blue, Conservative County and our momentum starts right here. People are tired of the carbon tax. Farmers are hurting. Lawful gun owners are getting attacked while criminals are getting a slap on the wrist. I look forward to growing our support come the next federal election.”
Voter turnout reached only 38 per cent, something not unheard of during byelections and something that didn’t surprise Khanna. “It’s a byelection and we have seen this across the country. I always hope for more turnout, and I think everyone should be involved in democracy. Hopefully next time we have more voters and I’ll do whatever I can to make sure we promote democracy.”
While disappointed in his runner-up finish Hilderley said he couldn’t be more pleased with his campaign and his vote numbers. “Very happy with our improvement. We had a great team, worked hard, fought a very clean campaign with dignity and integrity. We talked and listened to the people, and we wanted to represent them. We just couldn’t quite get it done. I think it shows people in Oxford County really understand the values the Liberal party extends.”
Hilderley came a close second to current Woodstock Mayor Jerry Acchione in last year’s municipal election and is on the fence on if he would remain in politics. “I will still dedicate my time and be heavily involved in my community. I love serving. I love helping and I am heavily involved with the senior’s centre here. Whether or not I will seek another political office I’m not sure at this point. But I felt good about what we did. We ended on a high note for the Liberals.”
Cody Groat finished third in the race, well back of the frontrunners and said he is concerned about the poor turnout. “We should all be concerned about the level of apathy and disenfranchisement from the political process. Only 16% of eligible voters voted for Arpan which is not a strong mandate and something I hope he considers in how he represents the riding.” He was also critical of how Khanna ran his campaign. “There are a lot of serious issues that were at the forefront this campaign. In addressing the climate crisis, Arpan chose to focus on party propaganda rather than viable solutions. Further, in a time when LGBTQ rights are being targeted in Oxford County, he chose to skip all Pride events out of concern for losing votes, which is a failed attempt at leadership. Silence is just as dangerous as perpetuating hateful rhetoric.”
In what was a bit of a surprise John Markus from the Christian Heritage Party wound up fourth in the voting at 4.4 per cent, a full per cent better than People’s Party of Canada candidate Wendy Martin who was thankful for her support. “I have so many people that I would like to thank for joining me during my run. Fellow PPC Candidates of record and neighboring teams reached out to lend me a hand. I am very proud of the people of the PPC. We are more than a political party; we are a Canadian team.”

16/06/2023

Our first edition has just dropped! We are very excited about it. Hard copies can be picked up at various places around Woodstock & Ingersoll. Visit our website at www.theecho.ca to be able to view our paper online.

03/06/2023

For those who haven't heard, we are giving away a number of FREE 1/8th page ads (value $100-$125 depending if black & white or colour) in our first newspaper which is coming out on June 16th. If you'd like your local business or organization to be part of our first issue, reach out to us at [email protected] and we can get you represented. We'll be printing 5,000 copies of our first issue and it will also be available online.

26/05/2023

https://youtu.be/A5CH5SbBNZA
Check out the interview with Mike Jaycock
On June 16th the first edition of the Woodstock Ingersoll Echo will be available, in print and online. Stewart talks about his background and experience, tells us a bit about his key staff and his hopes for this brand new community newspaper.

On June 16th the first edition of the Woodstock Ingersoll Echo will be available, in print and online. Stewart talks about his background and experience, tel...

08/05/2023

Update on local newspaper, the Woodstock Ingersoll Echo:

1. I've attached a graphic on our guiding principles for the paper.

2. The first issue (5,000 copies) will be distributed to grocery stores, retirement homes, coffee shops, and other locations by June 16 and we will increase print run in subsequent months as demand calls for. We will initially be monthly (3rd Friday of the month) with plans to expand to 2x/month (adding 1st Friday of the month) by year end as advertising/sponsorship reaches sufficient levels. In 2021 we launched a monthly in Stratford and it has been very well received (see stratfordtimes.com to read the online version via PDF).

3. With a blank slate here, we're looking for someone to help us generate local advertising and/or sponsorship revenue. Please PM me if interested in learning more or email [email protected].

4. Story ideas and photos of community events / sports / other. While we'd love for our team to be able to be everywhere at once and to know all, in reality it takes a community to help make a great community newspaper. See something that you think is newsworthy? Take a great photo? Please reach out to us at [email protected].

I'll sign off now before this post gets too long. Thanks everyone for your interest in this new endeavour.

03/05/2023

Enioyed a great meal at Charles Dickens Pub tonight while doing some planning for our first issue of the Echo, coming Friday, June 16th! Pictured from left to right are editor Hannah MacLeod, graphic designer Sarah Cairns, community liaison Wendy Lamond, and publisher Stewart Grant

12/04/2023

It's coming...