Editorial – The Scottish Banner Says….

July 2026 (Vol. 50, Number 01)

How The Banner unfurled

To say this issue of the Scottish Banner is a special one would be a great understatement. With this edition the Scottish Banner reaches an incredible 50 years, for a small independent publication owned by one family for all that time it is certainly something to celebrate. It would be difficult in the space available on this page to fully explain what growing up with, and now running, this business has been like.

As I looked back at issue number one of the Scottish Banner, I went to the very first editorial we ran titled How The Banner unfurled. Here the very first readers were introduced to a new publication, the likes of which had not been seen before, and the cost for a one-year subscription was just $4.00. Back in 1976, and long before the internet, newspapers were the way to reach audiences, share news and connect people.

There is now!

On the cover of this edition is the image of the Scottish Banner founders Valerie and Jim Cairney as they hold the first issue in their hands, coming off the press in Canada. In the 1970’s they were new immigrants to a new land. My parents ran a successful restaurant at the time called The Highlander Steakhouse, which as you may imagine from the name was a Scottish themed restaurant.

The Highlander was a local favourite and attracted Scots from across the region. The entry area of the restaurant had a bulletin board which people would place flyers and notices for upcoming Scottish events, everything from Highland Games, Burns Suppers, ceilidh’s and more. Scots wanted to share news to others on what is happening in the community. That bulletin board that my parents would have walked past multiple times daily was in many ways the inspiration for the Banner.

The office for the paper was on the second floor of the restaurant and the idea of having a local Scottish paper was born. In those early days my parents would call businesses and groups to tell them about the paper and people said to them, “There is no Scottish paper”, and they would reply “There is now!”

Val Cairney

Whilst my father stayed in the restaurant and pub business it was my mother Val who took the Banner far and wide. Her vision for the wee paper from Toronto went global and her DNA remains in every issue we produce today. For 40 years my mother worked tirelessly on producing the paper so many enjoyed. Val was the Banner for so long-or was the Banner her sometimes I wonder as her passion for this publication and its readers was so steadfast. She so enjoyed meeting readers at events, talking to them on the phone or getting their letters and emails.

The Scottish Banner set the template for many other publications and crossed borders sharing the story and passion of not just Scotland, but also the international Scottish community. With writers from across the world each month we have worked to produce a unique Scottish offering. One I hope keeps people informed, entertained and offers insight. We have helped reconnect old school friends and we have even had a marriage form from our pages (romance blossomed from our pen pal page we once ran)!

I knew what press week meant from a young age, deadlines and putting the ‘paper to bed’ regardless of if a story or ad did not come in, the paper must go out. I have often looked at the paper as the little brother I never had, and this issue is as much a celebration and milestone in our family history as it is for the business. We did it! It is because of the many thousands of readers who have supported us over the years and our incredible advertisers who have kept us going.

588 issues later

588 issues later we have reached this milestone and while it has been rewarding, it has also been a great deal of hard work…and passion. Val and Jim never had plans for the Scottish Banner to last for 50 years, I am quite sure they just wanted to get through the first year. But they had an idea which people have enjoyed, and part of their legacy was born.

During those early decades we were often one of the few sources of news from the homeland for many. It has been heartwarming to hear from readers on what articles have inspired them to visit a certain part of Scotland, join a club or band or learn more about their history through our pages. One long time reader was buried with a copy of the Banner in his coffin as it had meant so much to him, which was so very humbling for us to learn about.

That first near all black and white issue in July 1976 was a dream of two go-getters who had a vision, and it was filled with determination and optimism. That dream has been more than realised and thank you for being part of our story and helping us get here.

Please share your message on our 50th anniversary with us as we will be running them throughout the year. Do you have you any comments from the content in this month’s edition? Share your story with us by email, post, social media or at: www.scottishbanner.com/contact-us

#ScottishBanner, #TheBanner #NewsForGlobalScots

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We appreciate your support and hope you enjoy this edition.

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