After more than three years at the helm, Prince George Citizen publisher Hugh Nicholson is moving on.
As of Jan. 4, Nicholson will start his new position as divisional manager for Glacier Media Group's Vancouver Island newspaper division. This group of two daily and seven weekly papers include the Nanaimo Daily News, Alberni Valley Times, Harbour City Star, Cowichan Valley Citizen, Oceanside Star, Pennyworth, Westerly News and the Campbell River Courier Islander/Campbell River Courier North Islander.
"I've thoroughly enjoyed being in Prince George, the people are the absolute best," said Nicholson. "The paper I think has been able to accomplish a lot of things in the community because we're not only a business, but we're also part of the community and so I've been very happy with some of the things we've been able to do."
Some of these accomplishments include being a part of a successful delegation that met with federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty to secure funding for local post-secondary institutions, the creation of a gang summit and work the paper has done on air-quality issues.
Nicholson came onboard in Prince George in August 2008 as the successor of longtime publisher Del Laverdure, who died of cancer in April of that year. Immediately prior to The Citizen, Nicholson was vice-president of a book publishing company in Barrie, Ont.
Based in Nanaimo, in his new role Nicholson said his first priority will be to make sure the company's new acquisitions from Postmedia are fully integrated into Glacier and that the publications achieve their financial goals.
"I think I bring ideas and a different approach in terms of newspapers and I'm looking forward to working with the people from them and finding out what it's like on the Island and what their community is all about," said the Cape Breton native.
The staff and community in Prince George have made Nicholson job's easier, he added.
"I think it's a really exciting time for Prince George with the new mayor and council and with all the development that's happening in this region over the next few years. I think Prince George is poised to be an engine of growth for the province and for the country and I'll be watching it from down on the island and applauding every time there's some good news that comes out," Nicholson said.
No immediate replacement for Nicholson has been announced.
