Dear readers,

It’s with a heavy heart that I bring you some unfortunate news: after taking a hard look at our current financial situation and projections for the year, the Briarpatch staff and board of directors have made the difficult decision to indefinitely suspend publication of The Sasquatch after the next issue.

We knew from the start that launching a new publication was a risky endeavour. Before we launched, we set clear targets for subscription numbers, fundraising and ad revenue for the first, second and third year of publication. We knew that unless we were able to meet those targets, we wouldn’t be able to continue publishing. As the end of the first year approaches, we find ourselves short of the numbers we need in order to meet our expenses, and facing a daunting deficit.

Briarpatch Inc. has always scraped by on a shoestring budget and has developed innovative ways to pull through with diverse but limited revenue streams, but there have been a number of factors stacked against us in the past year that have made things particularly difficult. I probably don’t need to explain how unstable the media industry is right now – you’ve heard about CanWest’s slow implosion and cuts to local reporting in both the corporate and public spheres. There have also been cuts to federal funding for magazines, and what we see as a dangerous politicization of Canadian cultural policy: Briarpatch Magazine (The Sasquatch’s older sister) was denied grant funding from the Canada Magazine Fund for the past two years running for what we see as specious reasons. (In one case, our grant was recommended for approval by Canada Magazine Fund staff, and then rejected by the Conservative Minister of Culture!) In such a challenging environment, we simply cannot sustain two publications at this time.

This has been a difficult process for everyone involved, particularly because the need for independent media in this province is still so acute, and The Sasquatch, though barely out of its infancy, was already punching far above its weight. The more unbalanced and divided our world becomes, the stronger the need for democratic, public-interest journalism that holds power to account and presents practical alternatives to the status quo. It is painful, then, to close down a new publication that directly addresses that need.

Thanks to all of you who recognized the need for independent media and who supported it through your donations, subscriptions and ads, The Sasquatch had a great run. We took a big risk together. Your support and enthusiasm energized us and enabled us to produce eight kick-ass issues we should all be proud of, in which we covered an array of important topics with a clarity and depth that isn’t found in mainstream media. As we reluctantly come to terms with our inability to sustain this project right now, we remain grateful for the experience and look forward to what other opportunities lay ahead.

Suspending publication of The Sasquatch will allow the organization to strategically re-focus resources and energy on Briarpatch Magazine in order to ensure that the magazine remains a strong voice on the leading edge of Canadian radical politics. To that end, it’s crucial that we focus on increasing the magazine’s subscriptions, donations, advertising and fundraising revenue in the coming months. With some concerted energy devoted to improving our financial picture, and with enough support from the community, Briarpatch will continue to build upon its 37-year legacy of stirring shit up.

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Shayna Stock, Editor

p.s. Any and all parting donations to The Sasquatch would be most welcome. We have a substantial deficit to settle and are working hard to avoid burdening Briarpatchwith it. You can donate online here or give us a call at 306-525-2949.

p.p.s. To celebrate the life of The Sasquatch and send her back to the wild in style, we’ll be holding a memorial service/dance party/fundraiser on Friday, Mar. 19, starting at 8pm, at the Saskatchewan Filmpool Cooperative (1822 Scarth St., upstairs) in Regina. You’re cordially invited to join us, donning your best funeral attire and dancing shoes, for a night of celebration and commemoration.