Chronicle-Journal publisher Colin Bruce is calling it a career.
In a retirement announcement obtained Monday by Dougall Media, the company announced Bruce would step down effective March 31 after more than 44 years in the newspaper business.
Bruce began his career as a copy boy at the Belleville Intelligencer before eventually landing the managing editor’s job at the Cornwall Standard-Freeholder and the Sarnia Observer.
Stints in Kirkland Lake and Orillia followed before he took over the Chronicle’s reins.
“The crowning achievement of my career was moving to Thunder Bay, Bruce said in a release. “The Chronicle and our staff were held in very special regard by the owners and it was considered a privilege to be offered this position.”
Bruce’s tenure also saw the paper face dramatic staff cutbacks, with ownership reducing the newsroom from more than 10 staff reporters to four, and the elimination of staff photographers, whose jobs have been rolled into reporter responsibility.