GUELPH— On Friday January 29, the last physical issue of the Guelph Mercury will be printed. Metroland Media Group Ltd., announced the decision to cease publishing the 149-year-old newspaper earlier this week.

“This is indeed a sad day,” Donna Luelo, publisher of the Guelph Mercury, said. “The decision was not made lightly, but the decline of classified and national advertising in recent years has made it impossible for the printed copy of the daily newspaper to remain profitable.”
Guelph Mercury’s circulation has dropped to less than 9,000 home-delivery subscribers and Metroland says circulation has also been affected the new resources readers use to get the news.  The closure will affect 23 full-time and three part-time employees, which includes eight in the editorial department. Severance packages will be provided to the affected employees.

Guelph and District Homes, and Guelph Life will still be published.  Metroland insists its commitment to the Guelph community will still be met by the Guelph Tribune, a twice-weekly community paper that reaches 40,000 households.