Welcome to The Madawaska Valley Current, your free online community newspaper. The Current will cover local news and events with a particular emphasis on:
- economic development and its potential impact, favourable or otherwise, on the area
- balanced, unbiased investigation of local issues and the accountability of elected officials
- informed discussion and promotion of the local cultural scene.
We hope you find The Current entertaining and stimulating, especially if you’re looking for an effective outlet to promote local culture.
Who We Are
The Current is brought to you by Roger and Danielle Paul, year-round Valley residents, through their company MadValley Media.
Roger practiced law in both Ontario and the UK before retiring in 2010 when he and Danielle moved into the Valley house they had started building in 2006. His connection to the area dates back to the early 1970s when Danielle introduced him to its many attractions, not the least of which for him was its lure as a frequently used bolthole from the hectic pace of Toronto where they lived at the time. At present Roger is a board member of both St Francis Memorial Hospital and the Renfrew County Legal Clinic. He is also President of the Lakeshore Tennis Club.
Danielle’s Valley roots go back to 1800 in the Pontiac and to 1848 in Eganville. Her father, Leo Bonnah, bought property near Barry’s Bay before she was born. After retiring in 1968, he served on the St. Francis Memorial Hospital board and was heavily involved in the birth of Valley Manor. Danielle spent summers and weekends here in the Valley. She visited her uncle Fr. Bill Dwyer in Madawaska or her brother Victor who taught there. Having an inherited history gene, she belongs to the Barry’s Bay Heritage Society Genealogy Group and serves as President of the Renfrew County Museums Network. An OCA graduate, Danielle worked primarily in marketing and promotions. She was Culture and Tourism Coordinator at the Railway Station 2013-16.
In The Current’s early days, Roger will act as publisher and Danielle will be editor and occasional reporter. But it takes a team to fulfill our commitment to publish the best possible Current for you. We are grateful to our contributors and sponsors who, like us, are committed to enhancing life in this community.
Feedback
Please give us feedback so we can provide effective coverage. Tell us what we’re doing right, and [sigh] of course, please tell us when we’re wrong.
We suggest you bookmark The Current. You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Please share anything you like, to help us get The Current flowing. And your friends and family without internet can enjoy our limited distribution of a print version of The Current available free at local outlets each month.
And if you feel tempted to moan about anything, visit “The Whine Cellar” on our website but we reserve the right to limit comments about Donald Trump!
Advertising
You won’t see any advertising in this issue. This was a deliberate decision. We believed that it would be presumptuous to solicit advertising before our first issue. In time, we hope businesses will recognize The Current’s unique attributes and will support us by advertising in future issues. This will help us continue to make it available at no cost.
MadValley Media, publishers
GREAT job on the 1st issue. CONGRATS! I’ve already sent emails to many I know and have even given 4 hard copies to friends not having computers. Enjoyed reading every bit of it. You have a gold mine in having Mark Woermke as one of your columnists. Keep up the good work.
Have really enjoyed reading the articles contained in The Madawaska Valley Current. I used to work in the Bay and my father is currently in the Valley Manor. I feel more in the know following reading the articles posted on the Current!
Just getting a chance to spend the time to read this exciting 1st issue word for word. I am very excited for you .I wish you much success in this exciting new adventure.
Carol
Great effort. Thank you. My Mom chooses to not be computer savvy and I wonder about the best way to give her a print edition of your paper.
Hello Lynne,
Thanks for your positive comments about The Current and also for asking about how we intend to reach those in the Valley who are not on the internet. We plan to produce a monthly print version of The Current which will be available for pick-up from local outlets in our three communities. When we have finalized the list of those places, we will post it here on the website and on Facebook.
Congratulations to you both for doing this!
Dear Roger and Danielle,
Can you feel the hug I’m sending? Congratulations!
This is a wonderful idea. Although I’m no longer living in the Valley, I’m looking forward to staying in touch and up to date on all the happenings.
Warm Regards,
Betsy