Montreal Community Contact newspaper back in circulation

When Egbert Gaye, the founder and managing editor of Montreal Community Contact, died in June, it was not clear what the future of the newspaper would be. Now, his son Emar Mitchell, has taken on his father’s role. 

“It’s been rough. A lot of new challenges, but I expected that, so, you know, you’re working solo on that, solo now in terms of certain aspects of the paper,” said Emar Mitchell. 

The Montreal Community Contact newspaper, the first edition published since the death of its founder and managing editor Egbert Gaye. (Photo: Gareth Madoc-Jones/CityNews Montreal)

Mitchell had been responsible for the layout and design. He will continue this work, but is now the newspaper’s managing editor.

“It’s hard, but I’m up for the challenge,” added Mitchell.

“I’ve never met anybody who’s had a relationship with their parent the way Emar and Egbert did, their relationship was just phenomenal. They were definitely a duo. Emar calls his dad his best friend, and they really did absolutely everything together,” said Djemira De Pagter, Emar Mitchell’s wife and manager for Montreal Community Contact.

Emar Mitchell and Djemira de Pagter in the Montreal Community Contact newspaper office (Photo: Gareth Madoc-Jones/CityNews Montreal)

Mitchell oversaw the first publication of Montreal Community Contact since his father’s death, a tribute issue to Gaye published on September 1st. 

“It was a tribute to my dad and a tribute to the man, Egbert. And he and it was just to, you know, pay respects to  him,” said Mitchell, adding, “I always knew I was going to do this issue. I just, you know, I wasn’t expecting it so soon.”

“Up until this point, Emar wasn’t even able to listen, look, see anything about his dad. So it was, I’m really proud of him. You know, he really pulled it together. And it wasn’t just him, though. It was a huge group effort to get this paper out,” said De Pagter.

Gaye founded the newspaper serving Montreal’s English speaking Black community more than 30 years ago. He had a gift for finding and telling unique stories about people in the city.

“I don’t know how my dad did it, to be honest with you, because he just knew, you know, the next issue is going to be this, this and this,” explained Mitchell. “I don’t know where you found these stories. I don’t know where you found these people, but you just managed to find them. So that’s going to be challenging to see, to get out there and just find out what’s new and going on.”

Emar Mitchell at the Montreal Community Contact office. (Photo: Gareth Madoc-Jones/CityNews Montreal)

The next edition will be delivered on September 15th and every issue in the next year will have a tribute section for Gaye.

One of the biggest challenges going forward will be finding more advertisers to financially support the paper. As well, Mitchell and his team are also looking into creating an app and to market the paper to a younger audience.

“The younger generation needs to be involved. We got to find the younger, hipper stories of kids doing all kinds of amazing things,” said Mitchell.