Heavy hearts as Briarpatch has to close startup companion newspaper The Sasquatch

The Sasquatch, a companion newspaper to the independent magazine Briarpatch, is being suspended, after publishing 8 issues, according to a posting on the paper's website.

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.

The 37-year-old Briarpatch, a national magazine based in Regina, has always operated on a shoestring and the note from the board cited various financial difficulties including being denied funding under the Canada Magazine Fund "for what we see as specious reasons". The magazine had to cut back to 6 issues ( from 8) a year recently.

The Sasquatch (news with bite) was published every six weeks, for an annual subscription of $22.50, or combined with a sub to Briarpatch for $45. Its editorial mission said it

"aims to expand the range of debate on important issues facing Saskatchewan. By enhancing local news coverage across the province, we hope to help create a democratic forum where Saskatchewan residents feel both empowered and inspired to bring about progressive social and environmental change."

To mark The Sasquatch's departure, a memorial service/dance party/fundraiser is being held on Friday, March 19 at 8 p.m. at the Saskatchewan Filmpool Cooperative at 1822 Scarth Street in Regina. The fundraiser is essentially to retire the paper's debts so they do not have to be absorbed by Briarpatch.