John Cormier of Charlottetown is The Guardian’s new public member of the Atlantic Press Council.
The Atlantic Press Council is a self-regulatory body governing the daily newspaper industry in the Atlantic provinces. It was established in 1983 with two main aims: to promote ethical practices within the Atlantic newspaper community and to serve as a forum for complaints against its members.
Cormier replaces John Aspin of Pinette, who has retired from the council after serving for many years.
In welcoming Cormier as the newspaper’s public member, Guardian publisher Don Brander said he also wanted to publicly thank Aspin for his many years of dedicated service to the newspaper and Atlantic Press Council.
Each participating newspaper has two representatives on the press council, a public one and a company one. The Guardian’s company representative is managing editor Gary MacDougall.
Although Cormier is now retired from Northumberland/Bay Ferries Limited after serving 35 years in various capacities, including vice-president of operations and human resources, he remains active in the community. He currently serves as vice-chair of the Charlottetown Harbour Authority Inc. and is a panel member of the P.E.I. Labour Relations Board.
His community and professional affiliations are many, including being an honorary life member of the Canadian Ferry Operators Association, past president of the Charlottetown K-40 Club, Canada Games volunteer, member of the P.E.I. Ports Study Group, member of the Canadian Maritime Law Association, member of the Greater Charlottetown Chamber of Commerce, past president of Sherwood-Parkdale Minor
Hockey Association and past president of the Kinsmen Club of Charlottetown.
Cormier is an avid tennis player and reader, enjoys hockey, skating and biking. He and his wife, Gayle, have two grown sons. Cormier’s email address is: john.cormier14@gmail.com.
Just recently it was announced that Cormier will be receiving a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. He was nominated for the medal by the Canadian Ferry Operators Association.
He said he is looking forward to joining the council.
“It is an honour to serve on the Atlantic Press Council and I look forward to the deliberations of the council,” he said.
The Atlantic Press Council has a code of practice for journalists to encourage high professional and ethical standards, in the belief that vigilant self-regulation is the hallmark of a free and responsible press. The council directors oversee the mediation and adjudication of complaints, with input and response from both the newspaper and the complaint holder.
Miller Ayre of St. John's, the retired publisher of The Telegram, is chair of the council’s board of directors. Ken Sims of Stellarton, N.S., is the council’s secretary. Previously, he served as publisher at several Atlantic Canada newspapers.
