The Picton Gazette was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of County Magazine Publisher Steve Campbell.

Mr. Campbell was offered two jobs upon graduation from Loyalist College’s Communications program: The Globe and Mail and The Picton Gazette.

Not many would have been able to resist the lure of city lights and Canada’s national newspaper. It is a mark of Mr. Campbell’s unique character and dedication to the County that he chose the Gazette.

Mr. Campbell started as a cub reporter under the tutelage of publisher Joe Cembal and editor Jack Evans.

Thankfully, for legions of local readers, his Gazette tenure was brief.

“I went with the Picton Gazette… but I was never a big fan of news writing, it was so mechanical, there was no interest in it for me,” Mr. Campbell said in a recent social media interview.

But feature writing, speaking with locals and capturing their stories, struck a chord. Mr. Campbell soon went on to found the County Magazine.

“Everybody loves to talk about themselves,” he says.

A unique publication featuring an equally unique community, County Magazine dug deep into local lore and showcased the people who lived here. Business profiles, biographical features, thought prevoking contributors and Mr. Campbell’s hilarious Backpage anecdotes dissecting daily County life made the magazine a mainstay.

County Magazine served as the trunk publication as Mr. Campbell branched out. Breakaway magazine became an annual tourism advertising staple. He also took on the @Home home improvement magazine from former Gazette advertising head Wayne Burch.

Books published by County Magazine featured history, including Prince Edward County: An Illustrated History; Ian Robertson’s Camp Picton: War Time to Peace Time; and C.W. Hunt’s Rum Runners of the County.

In addition to these titles, Mr. Campbell published several bound Tales from the BackPage compilations and the timeless and hilarious County Handbook: How to survive Prince Edward County.

Gazette Editor Jason Parks said the loss of Mr. Campbell would be felt throughout the local community.

“Steve Campbell was a County original. He stayed true to his home community and kept his finger on its pulse. Through his columns and musings, he connected deeply with local readers in a way that was admired by myself and countless other writers,” Mr. Parks said. “Steve had an incredible knack for saying what needed to be said and in a very entertaining way that resonated with his readership.”

Gazette publisher Karen Valihora noted, “I will miss this master of print culture. Mr. Campbell addressed his readers as the basis of a community of people with shared local knowledge, and never once exploited them. He stayed true to his mission throughout a long life of writing and publishing. What a role model.”

A memorial service in Steve Campbell’s honour will be held in the Highline Hall at the Wellington & District Community Centre, 111 Belleville Street, at 1 p.m. on Monday, September 29.