Remember, the focus of our newspapers is local news, so the more locally-relevant your column, the better.

"GREEN MATTERS" - Crissy Trask

Freelance writer and green lifestyle consultant Crissy Trask writes a green Q and A column titled “Green Matters.” This column address issues very close to home -- and within the home -- to which readers everywhere can relate. The column addresses everyday topics of environmental relevance and conveys needed and practical choices that can protect our communities and our world. "Green Matters" is targeted to modern, busy people interested in solutions that reveal the wisdom, simplicity and accessibility of earth-conscious living.

People are becoming increasingly aware of and interested in green issues and the need for change, but there is still confusion and complacency about what to do. “Green Matters” is written for the curious and the confused, and provides information they can act on.

Click here for a sample column.

COST: $25 per column for one-time rights exclusive to the licensee’s circulation area (columns range in length from 300 to 400 words).
CONTACT: Crissy Trask by email at columns@greenmatters.com

"MAC'S MUSINGS" - Rod MacIntosh

An avid student of people and life, Rod MacIntosh worked as a freelancer writing a weekly human interest column for the Peachland Signal between August 2000 and February 2005. Now retired from his full-time career, which included commercial copywriting, voiceovers, script writing, acting, and public relations, Rod’s columns deal with his fellow humans, their virtues and their curiosities.

Click here for a sample column.

COST: $25 per column
CONTACT: Rod MacIntosh by email at rodmacintosh@shaw.ca

"RUDY'S REFLECTIONS" - Rudy Kelly

A First Nations performer and playwright, and single dad of two boys, Rudy Kelly has been writing a popular column in Northwestern B.C. for over 10 years, having worked as a journalist in Calgary, AB, and Prince Rupert, B.C., where he lives. He writes about social issues, relationships, raising his boys, and people in general; sometimes with serious consideration, but usually with tongue firmly planted in cheek! His awards include a Theatre B.C. Special Merit Award for Writing and Best Weekly Feature Column from Sterling Newspapers.

Click here for a sample column.

COST: $25 per column
CONTACT: Rudy Kelly by email at shelby@citytel.net

"ON THE BRIGHT SIDE" - Arlena de Bruin
 
Guaranteed to make you chuckle, “On the Bright Side” is a joyfully cheeky look at life in regards to family and relationships. Written with wit and no shortage of dramatic flair, humour columnist Arlena de Bruin has the ability to find laughter in even the most mundane of life experiences. She lives in Kelowna, BC with her husband and twin eight-year-old sons. And if you don’t think that’s a recipe for therapy, then you haven’t lived in a house with three boys. Arlena’s philosophy: Life is comedy in motion… there’s never a disaster you can’t find humor in!

Click here for a sample column (Word)

COST: $25 per column for one-time rights exclusive to your circulation area.
CONTACT: Arlena de Bruin by email at arlenadebruin@hotmail.com

PUZZLE MAPS OF EXPLORATION - John Bracey
 
A graphically-enticing, fun, educational puzzle appears weekly in the form of an "Olde Worlde Treasure Map" with word and navigation clues that require the reader to "think ye outside the box." The map provides a geography and history lesson and is a great educational resource for teachers and home school educators, or can simply serve as a fun, inviting puzzle for kids of all ages reading your newspaper.

This product could help to promote advertising space around it for private schools, preschools, and educational materials retailers.

Based in Kelowna, creator John Bracey is the originator/designer of the children's playgrounds aboard BC Ferries. John writes and designs while his wife Katherine operates her own business marketing unique kinesthetic (hands-on) educational resources for primary/elementary grades. 

Click here for a sample treasure map (Adobe PDF)
 

COST: $20 per map (first two are free) - or $75 per month when maps are published weekly.
CONTACT: John Bracey by email at john@bpmoe.com

HEALTH MATTERS BY WWW.MEDBROADCAST.COM - Tara Henein
 
Medbroadcast (www.medbroadcast.com) is Canada's leading Internet health portal. Specializing in connecting Canadian consumers to health information, they also manage www.bchealthguide.org and www.healthyontario.com. Medbroadcast was recently ranked as the number #1 medical website on the Internet for current, credible, and helpful health information (as ranked by Canadian Living Magazine in its January 2005 issue).

Monthly health content is available for all BCYCNA members at no cost. If you are looking for a ready-made health section for your readers, this might be just what you’re looking for!.

Click here for a sample article (Adobe PDF)
 
COST: No cost.
CONTACT: Tara Henein at 416-383-0010 ext. 273 or by email at tara.henein@MediResource.com

HEALTH & FITNESS COLUMN AND CARTOONS - Eve Lees

Personalized health information: Publish a health column suitable to the type of health & fitness services available in your area. Let this columnist know what facilities/services are located in your area (bowling, massage therapy, fitness centres) and your publication's health column will occasionally highlight those services. Columns are also provided in a Question & Answer form, educating your readers about their own health/fitness concerns. Eve's health/fitness cartoons are available as well

Eve Lees is a former newspaper editor and has also been a fitness professional for over twenty years. Now a freelance health writer, she is in regular contact with health professionals and research centres to provide credible, unbiased information on a variety of health issues -- from dieting and back pain, to the current virus threat. She writes for three magazines, produces a quarterly health publication (Personal Health Newsletter) and is a regular columnist for several BC and Alberta community newspapers. To assure you of her credibility, Eve’s resume and references are available at your request.

WEB TIPS AND TRICKS - Howard Fuchs

Topical and practical column points out trends in this ever changing medium, highlighting informative and fun websites to visit as well as general computer guidelines like how to protect your machine from the lastest virus, or optimally receive audio or video from your favourite news site. Produced each Monday, these articles are written with the novice user in mind, but everyone can take something from it. Archived samples of Web Tips and Tricks are available at: http://tinyurl.com/3zq5s

COST: $15 per column

CONTACT: Howard Fuchs at howard@uztwo.com

STRIKING A BALANCE - Lee Horner

Striking a Balance is a column that looks at everyday events with a Canadian sensibility and sense of humour. It is sometimes reverent, sometimes irreverent and always entertaining.

Click here for a sample column (Word)

COST: $25 per column
CONTACT: Lee Horner by email at leehorner@hotmail.com

SLICE OF LIFE - Shannon McKinnon

Shannon McKinnon is a self-syndicated humour columnist from the Peace River Country. She writes a weekly column for The Northerner in Fort St. John, B.C., The Chetwynd Echo, The Peace River Block News in Dawson Creek, The Daily Herald Tribune in Grande Prairie and The Red Deer Advocate. She also pens a bi-monthly column for the Western Producer which is based in Saskatoon and circulated across western Canada.

Click here for a sample column (Word)

COST: $25 per column for one time rights exclusive to your circulation area
CONTACT: Shannon McKinnon by email at contact@shannonmckinnon.com or on the web at www.shannonmckinnon.com.

PARK HERE - Layton Park

This humour writer has a twisted and interesting way of viewing the world, yet from a local perspective that relates to your community.  Readers love his columns and they will be provided six months in advance so that you are not hunting for one at the last minute. Layton's released his first book of short stories from past columns in October 2004. He speaks to businesses and organizations across Canada and the US, as well as several chambers and other organizations across BC and Alberta. There is a good chance he will be in your community and would be happy to provide joint promotional appearances.
 
Click here for a sample column (Word)

COST: $25 per column. Papers with circulation over 25,000 is $.60/1000 Subscribers.
CONTACT Layton by email at layton@max-u.com

HUMOUR ME - Gina Rozon
 
Scott Boyes, editor of the La Ronge Northerner, says, "Gina has the ability to be pert, snarky, coyly innocent and wearily worldly all in 500 words.  Her 'Jane Doe' take on living an everyday life repeatedly prompts comments and compliments from people of many backgrounds, homemakers to teachers to military personnel.  She's the wise, funny friend everyone should have for cofee once a week."  Gina's columns have been running in Saskatchewan papers since 1999 and on CBC Radio One (Saskatchewan) since 2001. 

SAMPLE COLUMNS can be found at Gina's site:  www.ginarozon.com

COST: $15 per column.  Papers with circulation over 25,000 pay $0.60/1000 subscribers.
CONTACT Gina by email at mgrozon@sasktel.net
 

PET TALK - John Wade

Magazine and newspaper columnist, radio show host, regular TV guest and consultant John Wade has 20 years' experience specializing in canine behavioural problems and assessment. He has just completed an eBook for dog owners faced with muzzling their dogs, "How to Muzzle a Dog without Muzzling its Spirit."

Click here to download a sample column.

COST: $10.00 minimum per paper plus $0.40/1000 for newspapers with circulations of over 10,000.

CONTACT John by email at johnwade@johnwade.ca or visit his website at http://www.johnwade.ca

LOCAL GOVERNMENT 101 for SMALL COMMUNITY RESIDENTS - David Love

Having traded-in 'the big city' for rural life nearly ten years ago, David
applies his degree in Canadian Government and Politics and twenty-plus years
of experience to informing electors how local governance is supposed to
work in small BC communities. He has been described as having a "real
talent" for providing apolitical information that is relevant, yet has a
"soft and folksy" style.

David was contracted by the North Island Gazette to write a six-week weekly series about the 2002 municipal elections, which he now offers for syndication (with the Gazette's support). David wrote a series during the last municipal elections and readers reported having "saved everything" he wrote.

COST: David's rates and terms are liberal and very competitive. Contact David for more information at cdlove@telus.net.

Click here to download a sample column (Word).

REFERENCE: Email Mark Allan, Publisher/Editor of the North Island Gazette for background information and an endorsement of David Love.

CAUGHT IN THE 'NET - Todd Sullivan

"Caught in the 'Net" is a weekly column by Todd Sullivan dedicated to every
facet of the Internet. Covering everything from Website and software
reviews, to discussions of the future of the online world, to computer issues ripped right from the headlines, "Caught in the 'Net" is both entertaining and informative. With both a computer and Internet access now in nearly every home, this is a column that your readers will look forward to each and every week.

Click here for a sample column (Word)

COST is $20.00 per column.
CONTACT Todd by email at todd@caughtinthenet.org

CORPORATE TRAUMA - Gail A. Chester, Ph.D.

Gail is an expert in corporate trauma, specializing in workplace violence prevention. Her columns relate to business, and are written with a human and organizational orientation, rather than a technological one. BCYCNA member newspapers can use her columns at no cost.

Click here for a sample column (Word)

CONTACT Gail by email at gail_chester@tgcpinc.com

HOME AND BUSINESS SECURITY - Frank Fourchalk

Frank's columns are about Home and Business Security, focusing on the latest methods of securing your Home and/or Business. Frank's purpose is to educate and inform readers on how to improve their Home and/or Business security.

Click here for a sample column (Word)

CONTACT Frank at 604-531-0715 or email whiterocklockandkey@hotmail.com

My columns are a slice-of life look at anything from "Why Men Like Remote Controls" to "The Kids Are Alright...I Think". Written with a humorous look at
life in general, they are meant to be light reading and a nice fit for community newspapers.

Click here for a sample column (Word)

CONTACT Scott via email at ssgreer2000@yahoo.com or phone (306) 778-0656.

UPLIFTING TALES - Brent Laing

I am offering for syndication on a weekly basis uplifting stories about people who have wonderful, positive tales of Canada to tell. Stories like mine, which changed peoples lives for the better. The stories will run on average between 300 and 500 words. They will appeal to the general public regardless of cultural, religious or ethnic background. Both genders and most age groups will find the stories thoughtful and enjoyable.

Click here for a sample column (Word)

COST: $20.00 per article (including GST)
CONTACT Brent via e mail at maxi2@cadvision.com or phone (403) 251-1020