Posted by: Ed Kucerak
During the recent Old Ottawa South Community Association’s (OSCA) Annual General Meeting on September 28, 2024, the last item on the agenda was Brendan McCoy, editor of the OSCAR newspaper, who spoke about the 50th anniversary of the local volunteer-run community newspaper.
Billing itself as “The Community Voice of Old Ottawa South,” the monthly newspaper has been published by OSCA since 1974 as a source of local stories and information for the community. Receiving no subsidies, it is funded entirely by advertising with free distribution to all Old Ottawa South homes and businesses, and other select locations in Old Ottawa South and the Glebe.
As Brendan spoke and thanked the many who were involved in making the paper the success that it is today, from OCSA board members, to the paper’s staff, contributors, distributers and advertisers – many who were present at the meeting – I wondered who was this man that has been at the helm of the paper for the last 12 years.
As he served everyone a special 50th anniversary OSCAR cake, which by the way was delicious, I asked him if I could meet with him to learn more about him and his thoughts on getting the paper to our doors and mailboxes over these many years.
What I discovered during our conversation on a cold fall morning at the Firehall, is that Brendan is a humble person who likes to stay in the background and prefers giving credit to all who make the paper a success.
I began by asking him how does he feel about having an article written about him.
“I like in many ways to not be visible in the paper. I like to make people’s words kind of clear and legible, and largely not interfere. So, it does actually make me a little nervous to be the subject of an article. But I think that the paper is important and the 50th anniversary is important and I like to have an opportunity to highlight the work of the other staff members and the many volunteers. So, I’m really okay with it.” he says.
Brendan tells me that he grew up in Ottawa and that his first taste of journalism was when he studied history at Carleton University and volunteered at CKCU, the university’s community radio station.
“I didn’t necessarily see it as a career, but I did really enjoy journalism and telling stories.”
After university Brendan spent time in Japan teaching English and studying Japanese. Upon his return to Ottawa, he studied to be an archive technician, ending up working at the War Museum for a number of years. But when he and his wife bought a house in Old Ottawa South Brendan ended up staying home with their two sons and becoming a stay-at-home dad.
During this time Brendan got involved with the OSCA Board and serving on its various committees. Over a decade he says he had the opportunity to write perhaps 100 articles for OSCAR about the many issues facing the community. And then in 2012 another opportunity presented itself to him when the then OSCAR editor Mary Anne Thompson announced that she was retiring.
“Around that time when the OSCAR job came up I was thinking that I had a little more free time because the boys were around less, in school more and growing up. It just seemed like a terrific challenge. Here was this opportunity to be at the helm of a monthly paper. I found it really appealing. I had been out of the workforce for a decade and this seemed like a manageable job. So, I applied for it.” he says.
The front-page story of the September 2012 issue of the OSCAR was “Fire on Hopewell Avenue” accompanied by a series of dramatic colour photos of a house totally engulfed in flames and exhausted firemen desperately trying to get the fire under control. Bursting at 40 pages it was a spectacular beginning and the first issue for the fledgling editor.
“Bess Fraser, who did layout, she came on at the same time as me. It was quite the challenge for us. In hindsight I don’t think we did that great a job. But it was a relief it wasn’t a disaster.”
He continues, “Whereas I feel since then my expectations of our product are much higher. I expect it to be quite good and I’ve become quite exacting about what you might consider small details. As soon as it gets dropped off from the printer, I sit down at the table and I flip through it. And that is a great satisfaction, although there’s always mistakes. Yeah, well, you know, every issue is an opportunity to do a better job.
I think we’re in an era when a lot of people do things which are often so big and nebulous. Whereas the OSCAR is such a compact thing and very tangible. You work quite hard on it for just for a couple of weeks. Then it’s done and it’s published. That’s so satisfying.”
As we continue chatting Brendan steers our conversation away from a focus on him and back to what he thinks makes the paper a success.
“In many ways, less important than my work is the work that the community produces. I try to make this clear to everyone who works on the paper that I appreciate their hard work – and they do work hard on it. What makes OSCAR unique are local stories and contributors such as “The Business Beat” by Erik van der Torre, “Kid’s Corner” by Logan and Redmond Scullion and Sandy Garland’s many environmental stories as well as many other great stories by the community.” he tells me.
What about a story that really stands out for you I ask?
“The one story that’s most important to me. I don’t know? I always think about that. I feel like every issue is its own kind of journey. Last year in the November issue we had a Remembrance Day feature by a couple of gentlemen that people may remember (“Mapping the fallen and the personal cost of war in Old Ottawa South” by Bill Wylie and Dave O’Malley). They did a map of Old Ottawa South of all the casualties of the First and Second World War with pictures and names. I found that a very moving piece. We worked together to make sure that we could fit it in the paper. But they were quite clear about what they wanted. I’ve never done a project like that before and it worked out very well. And probably in a couple of years we’ll republish it.”
Our conversation then turns to the paper’s role in the community and its future.
“Well, I think there is a future. I certainly can’t help noticing that the city papers, the Ottawa Citizen, the Toronto Star, the Montreal Gazette, they’re really struggling and it’s unclear whether they’ll survive.
As for the community newspapers, I stay in touch with the other editors of the local newspapers. We all seem to be doing fine. What is the long-term future? I have to admit, I don’t know. I mean, who knows? But right now, the immediate future looks fine. The value of the OSCAR is in telling local stories. I think that’s why we got to 50 years and I think that we need to continue doing that and continue being connected to the community. It also allows the community association and other groups like the churches, the scouts, the environmental groups to put across their information. I think the OSCAR was created because people felt there was a need to have that space where they could tell their stories and share information. If the OSCAR disappeared because there was no newsprint or something, people would create another place where they could tell stories and share information. I would be very sad if that happens. I love newspapers, but there will be a drive to have that forum no matter what, whether it’s on newsprint or something online somewhere or you know, a piece of paper on a post at Bank and Sunnyside.” Brendan tells me.
As our conversation comes to an end, I ask Brendan what his feelings were to see so many people attend the AGM to help celebrate OSCAR’s 50th anniversary. His comment says a lot about the man.
“I was pleased that I could use that moment to recognize people’s work and kind of share with them in this anniversary.”
As I listen to his answer, the saying, “It takes a village,” comes to mind. It’s true the success of a community paper is based on the work of many. But I can’t help think that you still need someone at the helm to the guide the paper into its 51st year and beyond.
Ed Kucerak is a documentary film maker who lives in Old Ottawa South.
Featured in the November 2024 OSCAR.