The Canadian Emigrant

The Canadian Emigrant is the earliest newspaper to be published in Essex County. It was a weekly newspaper published in Sandwich, first by John Cowan, and then later by James M. Cowan. Both John Cowan and James M. Cowan served as Western District Clerks in the 1840s. John Cowan later published another newspaper: The Maple Leaf.

In the early days, the newspaper office was located in the “ware-rooms of the late John McGregor, Esq.”, at the corner of Russell and Mill streets. However, during the summer of 1832 the office was relocated to the residence of the editor at no. 1, west side of Bedford St. (now part of Sandwich St.) at Detroit St. The paper was printed by Francois X. Belanger.

Originally, the Canadian Emigrant appeared on Thursday morning, but later came out on a variety of days. It cost twelve shillings and sixpence per year, in advance, and later increased to fifteen shillings per year. Its main motto was “Deum Cole, Regem Serva” (Worship God, Serve The King). Articles were published in English and French, and covered a wide variety of regional agricultural topics, poetry, prose, as well as local, national, and international political news. As the title suggests, there were also many advertisements and announcements.

Essay prepared by Katharine Ball