StarMetro to publish final commuter editions Dec. 20

StarMetro will publish its final free commuter print editions in five Canadian cities on Friday, Dec. 20, however commuters in those areas will continue to be served by a growing roster of mobile, digital and newsletter offerings from the Star.

The decision to close the print editions was not made lightly, said John Boynton, president of Torstar Corporation, the parent company of Free Daily News Group Inc., which publishes StarMetro newspapers in

Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Toronto. StarMetro Halifax, which operates through a joint venture arrangement, will also close on Dec. 20.

“While the free StarMetro print editions have enjoyed loyal audiences and achieved many outstanding editorial successes, more and more of our commuter readers are using their smartphones, laptops and tablets to access their news on their way to and from work,” Boynton said.

This trend, coupled with a corresponding decline in print advertising in recent years, has decreased the need for a free daily commuter newspaper in the cities served by StarMetro editions, he added.

The StarMetro editions are the last major free English-language commuter daily newspapers in Canada.

Readers in the five cities will still be able to access local news and information happening in their area on the Star’s website, its mobile app and through its comprehensive lineup of newsletters.

Effective immediately, the Star is launching a special offer for StarMetro print readers who want to subscribe for digital access to thestar.com, which contains locally produced news and features stories as well as content from the Toronto Star, Canada’s largest daily newspaper. Details will be available in the local StarMetro print editions.