David Armstrong

Owner & Publisher

New Liskeard Temiskaming Speaker

 

David Armstrong exemplified the best of what a community newspaper owner should be – a principled individual and consummate community builder. Dave grew up in Sarnia and attended Western University where he met his future wife and business partner, Trudi. After working for Bell Canada in Toronto, the couple moved north and purchased, in partnership with Trudi’s father Leonard Wilson, first a motel and later the Temiskaming Printing Company and the Temiskaming Speaker. 

Under Dave’s leadership, the paper thrived providing award-winning journalism and local information to its readers. He wasn’t shy about investing in the product, even when other publishers were cutting back on staff. Those who worked with him praised his work ethic, professionalism and the loyalty and appreciation he showed his team.

Beyond his own newspapers, Dave served as a board member of the Canadian Community Newspapers Association and the Ontario Community Newspapers Association, including a term as president in 2005. He remained active in the industry until he sold the paper and retired in 2011. That year he also received a Silver Quill award celebrating 25 years in the business. He died in 2015 at age 66.

Dave was a founding member of the Temiskaming Foundation, an organization that has raised millions of dollars for the communities it serves. He was also a long-time member, and a past president, of the Rotary Club of Haileybury and served as a member of the parish council at Our Mother of Perpetual Help Church in New Liskeard. And as much as he loved his newspaper and his community, former Speaker editor Gordon Brock said that it was always clear that Dave’s top priority was his family.

This is why the Ontario Community Newspapers Association is thrilled to announce David Armstrong as an inductee of the OCNA Hall of Fame.

The OCNA Hall of Fame Award recognizes and celebrates individuals who have made exemplary contributions to Ontario’s community newspapers. Inductees are respected community news professionals who have remained passionate about the industry throughout challenges, opportunities, and changes. They are leaders who have helped community newspapers adapt and grow.