CALGARY – After almost 20 years in circulation, Fast Forward Weekly is shutting down.
The free news and entertainment paper was distributed every Thursday throughout Calgary, Canmore and Banff.
Editor and Publisher Drew Anderson announced their closure in a blog post on Fast Forward’s website on Friday.
“We were informed by our owners, Great West Newspapers, that our last issue will be March 5, 2015,” explained Anderson. “Meaning we have two more weeks of alternative news, views, arts and entertainment before calling it quits.”
“Needless to say, the staff is upset at the news and rightly nervous about what’s to come.”
Anderson blames the publication’s closure on a lack of ad dollars.
“I hope you agree that Calgary is worse off for our closure, no matter if you agree with us or not,” said Anderson. “At the very least, Calgary’s inner-city streets will be a bit more drab without our colourful covers.”
He says staff are planning a big sendoff, with a final paper that they hope will do justice to a publication that “swam against the stream for longer than most thought possible.”
The future of ffwdweekly.com is yet to be determined.
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