What keeps people away from the Prairies?

For those who have been following The Flatlander from the beginning, it’s been quite a ride. We’ve been on this journey together for almost two years, exploring the issues impacting the Prairies. And I have to say, it’s been nothing short of exhilarating.

But let’s talk business for a moment. In 2022, The Flatlander ran lean, as always, with operating costs totalling just over $23,500. And just so you know, I’ve been grinding away at this without taking a penny for myself. I’m all in.

But here’s the kicker – a little over $8,000 of that came from generous people like you, our incredible readers. We’re talking about a community of nearly 7,000 newsletter subscribers, with 86 of you stepping up each month or annually to show your regular support. You folks are the backbone of The Flatlander, and I can’t thank you enough.

Now, I’ll admit I dipped my toes into the advertising game last year, and we made a modest $900 in sales. It was a start, but let’s be real, businesses turn to the tech giants for advertising.

According to The Canadian Media Concentration Research Project, Google and Facebook collectively accounted for 79 per cent of an estimated $12.3 billion in online advertising revenue in 2021, and more than half of total advertising spending across all media.

Furthermore, a recent Leger survey found that two out of every three Canadians think news should be free and accessible to anyone, and “the struggling media have other ways to make money.”

The odds aren’t stacked in The Flatlander’s favour. We’ve stayed afloat thanks to some lifelines. We snagged some limited grants from Indiegraf and LION Publishers, who, in turn, are backed by various foundations, mostly from the U.S. and the Google News Initiative. Without them, we’d be navigating some seriously choppy waters.

The sad truth is in a world where everyone wants their news for free and local advertisers cozy up to Facebook and Google, the journalism landscape is in turmoil. I’ve been in meetings where town councils decided to ditch their local newspapers for free Facebook pages, saving a few bucks but sinking the papers.

News Media Canada paints a grim picture – almost 300 community newspapers vanished or merged over the last decade, as local paper ad revenue plummeted from $1.21 billion in 2011 to a measly $411 million in 2020. And guess who’s gobbling up the lion’s share of online ad revenue? Yep, Google and Facebook.

So why do I keep pushing forward in this seemingly impossible industry? It’s simple – my insatiable curiosity about the Prairies and my unwavering belief in the importance of public access to information. I dream of The Flatlander becoming a journalism powerhouse, but the path to financing this dream is anything but clear.

Most journalists out there are underpaid and underappreciated, and it’s a problem I’m determined to tackle. When we hire local freelancers for stories like this month’s space series, we pay them a decent rate, much higher than most publications. It’s not a fortune, but it’s fair, and that matters to me. Unfortunately, the big hedge fund company that owns most Canadian newspapers doesn’t share our values.

As we roll into the last quarter of 2023, I’ll need to reassess our revenue strategy because grants can only take us so far. And only six percent of Canadians in the Leger poll say they’re willing to pay for a subscription to access news directly. Ouch.

So, while Canadians hold onto the belief that news will find a way to survive, the question that haunts my nights is, “What is that way?” Because the Prairies deserve top-notch journalism, and I’m willing to bet you agree.

I’m not just asking for your support; I’m pledging my commitment to journalism. I’m in this for the long haul, and I’m honoured you’ve joined me on this quest. Together, we can ensure that The Flatlander continues to thrive and bring you the stories that matter most.

Why are other Canadians hesitant about living in Saskatchewan and Manitoba? 

I have good friends living in Ontario, paying absurd housing prices. I’ve tried to be the voice of reason, convincing them that a move to Saskatchewan or Manitoba would mean reasonable real estate prices without compromising on their career goals. But alas, they’re not buying it.

This is why I wasn’t surprised to read in part II of our space series last week that Magellan Aerospace has trouble attracting talent to Winnipeg.

Is it our harsh winters? 

Sure, Ottawa also has companies making satellites, but finding a detached house for less than $500,000? Good luck with that. And if you can, it will be nowhere as nice of a house that you can buy in Winnipeg for the same price. 

Having lived in Winnipeg, Saskatoon, and Regina, I can vouch that our prairie cities are cultural hubs, just as intriguing as any other. And you don’t just have to take my word for it. Some big-shot publications like Vogue, The New York Times, Elle, and National Geographic have hailed Winnipeg as a must-visit city, but my Ontario friends remain skeptical. 

The most recent economic reports suggest Manitoba and Saskatchewan are currently more financially stable than the big provinces where people are house-poor. 

The Prairies are expecting some serious production gains soon. 

There’s the Jensen potash mine revving up new investment in Saskatchewan, and Manitoba just jumped into the potash game with its first mine in Harrowby. Production is set to begin this October.

In Saskatchewan, oil, uranium, and crop production are on the rise, while mineral exploration is booming in Manitoba and looking promising. As an example, Alamos Gold’s Lynn Lake gold project in the Northwest part of the province is getting close to moving toward production.

Saskatchewan and Manitoba are full of natural beauty.

I’ve seen the Northern Lights more times driving along Winnipeg’s Perimeter Highway at night than I ever did living up in the Yukon. I’ve always argued our sky is the ocean of the prairies.

And speaking of tourist hotspots, Banff’s been overrun. Personally, I’d take a trip to Cypress Hills in Saskatchewan or Grand Beach in Manitoba any day.

So, here’s my question: why the hesitation from other Canadians about moving to Saskatchewan and Manitoba? Why not give the prairies a shot?

I’m torn between keeping our little secret under wraps and having the rest of Canada discover what Saskatchewan and Manitoba have to offer.

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Is it better the prairies fly under the radar? Or would it be better if we had to welcome the masses – tourists and new residents alike – with open arms?

You can help get this conversation going by replying to his email. 

Saskatoon’s space program

In this week’s third part of our space series, we meet Rosy Hettiarachchi from Sri Lanka, who chose to attend the University of Saskatchewan because of its student space team, in addition to Saskatoon being an affordable city to live in. 

Read Part 1: University of Winnipeg researchers help explore Mars
Read Part 2: U of M partners with Magellan Aerospace to give students real-world space engineering experience

Five stories from Manitoba you may have missed

1. Manitoba’s two major political parties say they would not repeat COVID-19 lockdowns
2. ‘We all want to be Winnipeg Jets:’ Bowness says rift with players is over
3. Springfield referendum shows overwhelming opposition to silica sand mine in rural Manitoba community
4. Seven Oaks students absent amid ‘fearmongering’ social media drive
5. Two charged after mini-crime spree last Monday

Five stories from Saskatchewan you may have missed

1. Officers warned about harassment before former Saskatchewan police chief’s exit: memo
2. Court hears arguments over injunction for Saskatchewan’s school pronoun policy
3. Immigration to smaller cities sign of diversifying Saskatchewan
4. Sask recruiting health care workers from other provinces
5. New Prince Albert FNUC campus ready for construction pending funding approval