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PAGE 13

‘REMI VAN TOMME of North ‘Vancouver’s Sherli Gallery makes friends with two ceramic pussycats on display until next week at the private
; gallery. “Whe ceramic cat (left) Is by North Vancouver artist Donna McLaren; the tiger mask is by Penny Birnbaum.

Southam buys minority

share of N. Shore News

PETER SPECK TO REMAIN PUBLISHER AND CEO

NEWS publisher Peter Speck
..."This is a good move for us and
a good move for Southam.”

NORTH SHORE News publisher Peter Speck announced
Tuesday the sale of a minority interest in his company to the

Southam Newspaper Group.

Southam, a Canadian company
that publishes 1% daily newspapers
including The Vancouver Sun and
The Province and several com-
munity newspapers, has purchased
a 49 per cent interest in the North
Shore News. Speck will continue
his role as the newspaper's chief
executive officer and publisher. He
will retain a 52 per cent interest in
the News.

By MICHAEL BECKER

News Reporter

“This is a good move tor us and
a good move for Southam,"’ Speck
suid. **Southam wants to be more
active in the community newspaper
field and the North Shore News is
delighted to have a partner of
Southam’s stature.

“‘No changes are contemplated

at the North Shore News, or to its
staff. It (the interest purchase) will
strengthen our newspaper and
allow us to provide better service
to our communilies."*

Said Southam Newspaper Group
vice-president Dave Perks, ‘We
have a good deal of respect fer
Mr. Speck and the North Shore
News. We are very interested in
having an ongoing relationship
with Peter. We are not in the
business of buying newspapers and
then absorbing them.”

Perks and Southam Newspaper
Group president Paddy Sherman

will represent Southam on a newly
created board. Speck, who will
head the board, will name a fourth
member to the board.

Speck launched the paper in
February 1969, publishing on a
monthly basis. ‘{ was publisher,
editor and janjtor,”’ he said.

The paper, which serves the en-
tire North Shore, was published
every Wednesday and Sunday by
1977. A Friday edition was added
in 1984. Today, the newspaper
publishes thrice weekly with a cir-
culation of over 59,000.