1967:

After months of unfair, alarmist reporting on the realities of the youth movement in the local papers, a manifesto is drafted by a group of Vancouver artists, poets, writers, and freethinkers, with the aim of providing the city with “a truly free press”.

“To all those interested in fighting lies/propaganda/terrorism,” it reads, “the events of the last few months in Vancouver have made it clear that the time has come to establish a truly free press.”

The document, attributed to Peter Auxier, Pierre Coupey, Dan McLeod and Rick Kitaeff, and drawn heavily from Quebec’s Refus Global, goes on to detail the aims of a free press in Vancouver. Such aims include: “to fight repressive legislation, the abuse of police power…to invite free exchange of opinion, radical or otherwise…to uphold civil liberties [and] to discuss issues, not to condemn people.”

“Human Beings! Artists! Angels! Children of the New Sun!” it reads. “If you wish to discuss the aims of a free press, its name, the means to set it up, its floating editorial board, its stance and scope, come to 883 Hamilton Street, April 2nd.”

Though a call for cheques is issued in the name of Gastown Press, this counterculture newspaper will soon have a different name: The Georgia Straight.

Image: Back cover of The Georgia Straight, circa 1967. Image designed by ‘Zip’ Almasy. Text reads: ‘Oh, Cannabis, we stand on guard for thee!’

Image Bonus: Scanned copy of the original Georgia Straight Manifesto, circa 1967. Image courtesy of Pierre Coupey.