Peter Winkler

Retired Publisher & GM

Fairway Group, Metroland

Peter Winkler spent 36 years in the newspaper business as a leader both in ad sales and as a publisher, bringing value and growing every publication he worked for. He began his career at the Kitchener-Waterloo Record before becoming a sales manager and later publisher of Fairway’s Cambridge Times. The 1980s were an exciting time as business was booming and Peter relished dueling with the local daily. “We were fighting it out for readership and advertising dollars and while it was a challenge, I enjoyed the competition,” he said.

He joined Metroland Media in 1997 as sales manager for the Brampton Guardian, before being promoted to general manager of the company’s southwest region – which consisted of 15 small-market papers from Walkerton to Dresden. Under Peter’s leadership both revenue and profit grew for the group. After Metroland purchased Fairway, he returned as publisher and led the papers to record years before taking early retirement in 2016.

Peter volunteered his skills with several worthwhile local organizations – including the United Way, the Heart and Stroke Foundation and Kidsability Centre of Child Development – as both a fundraiser and a drummer. He also served for six years on OCNA’s board of directors, including as second vice president. A

Among his proudest accomplishments, were being the founding publisher of two separate publications – Kitchener This Week and the Sechelt Reporter. Peter was respected both in the community and by his staff in large part due to always trying to treat people the way he would want to be treated. 

This is why the Ontario Community Newspapers Association is thrilled to announce Peter Winkler as an inductee of the OCNA Hall of Fame.

The OCNA Hall of Fame Award recognizes and celebrates individuals who have made exemplary contributions to Ontario’s community newspapers. Inductees are respected community news professionals who have remained passionate about the industry throughout challenges, opportunities, and changes. They are leaders who have helped community newspapers adapt and grow.