Newspapers

As published and widely circulated documents, newspapers are not strictly archival records. However, they are often called "first draft of history," and surviving copies of some issues can be rare. Newspapers provide information on a wide range of topics of interest to the community they serve.

Sometimes newspapers contain the only surviving record of a business or event. Other times they can help tell the stories found in archival records.

Our most complete runs of newspapers are for the Brampton Conservator, Bramalea Guardian (now The Brampton Guardian), the Streetsville Review, and the Bolton Enterprise. These are all currently available on microfilm.

Collection highlights

Physical and microfilmed newspapers

Substantial coverage (all on microfilm):

• The Brampton Guardian (also known as The Bramalea Guardian, The Brampton-Bramalea Guardian, The Guardian): May 1966 to Sept 1980, Jan 1983-Feb 1988, Jan 2000-Dec 2004
• The Conservator (incorporating The Daily Times & Conservator and The Brampton Daily Times): microfilm, 1876-1990
• The Streetsville Review (also known as The Streetsville Review-Herald, The Streetsville Review & Port Credit Herald, News-Review): microfilm, incomplete range from 1847-1894, 1895-1942, 1964-1967, 1968-1978
• The Bolton Enterprise (later the Caledon Enterprise): microfilm, 1888-1952, microfiche, 1985-1987, Dec 2003 to Dec 2007
• Port Credit Weekly (later known as The Weekly, South Peel Weekly, Mississauga Times): microfilm, 1938-1970

Limited ranges:

• Caledon Citizen: microfiche, January 1985 to February 1988
• Cooksville Review: microfilm, 1948
• Malton Pilot: 1973
• Malton Mercury: 1977
• Malton Messenger: 1948
• Port Credit News: microfilm, 1927-1937

The Archives also holds single issues or fragmented short runs of numerous other community newspapers.

Newspaper indexes

Indexes are guides to the content of newspapers. Indexes do not include newspaper articles themselves, but they do point to where particular topics can be found within a newspaper. Different indexes note different types of information for various dates.

For Peel newspapers, there are two major indexing projects.

• Surname indexes manually compiled by volunteers. These are available in our Reading Room for:
  • Streetsville Review: 1848-1859, 1890-1930
  • Conservator (incorporating Daily Times and Conservator, Brampton Daily Times): 1867-1929
  • Bolton Enterprise: 1888, 1911-1916
• Newspaper indexing project by public libraries, now hosted on OurOntario.ca. Topical listings can be searched for:
  • Caledon (Bolton Enterprise, Caledon Enterprise, Caledon Citizen): 1976, 1985-2002
  • Brampton (Brampton Guardian, Brampton Times): 1978 - present
  • Mississauga (Mississauga News): 1999 - 2009

Online resources and links

The links in this section are to media content offered or hosted by other organizations that may be useful for Peel-related research.

We provide links to these external sources as a courtesy, but please note that we are not responsible for the content or functionality of non-regional sources.

• Brampton, Caledon, and Mississauga newspapers, 1867 to 2023, are available on Newspapers.com.
  • The Brampton Times (1867-1876), The Sun (Orangeville, 1871-1933), The Conservator (Brampton, 1876-1944), Orangeville Banner (1898-2016), Bramalea Guardian (1964-1973), The Guardian (Brampton, 1973-1987), The Times (Mississauga, 1978), The Peel Consumer (1982), The Mississauga News (1982-2023), Mississauga Woman (1983-1984), Mississauga Business News (1983-1998), Mississauga Marketplace (1984), The Mississauga Weekender (1985), The Mississauga News Weekender (1986), The Brampton Guardian (1987-2023), Mississauga Business Times (1997-2005), Brampton Business Times (2001-2005), The Booster (Mississauga, 2002-2003), The Mississauga News This Week (2003-2008), Caledon Enterprise (2012-2023)
  • Brampton and Bramalea papers only are available for free access in any branch of the Brampton Library.
• Georgetown, Acton, and Erin newspapers, 1855 to present, which cover the western edges of Brampton, Caledon, and the northwestern area of Mississauga (Meadowvale, Streetsville), digitized by the Halton Hills Public Library, including the Georgetown Herald, the Georgetown Independent, and the Acton Free Press
  • Acton Free Press, Acton Tanner, Erin Advocate, Georgetown Gemini, Georgetown Herald, Georgetown Independent, Georgetown Leader, Halton Hills This Week, Halton Journal, Independent & Free Press, New Tanner, North Halton Compass
• The Globe and Mail, 1844-2014
  • Brampton Library card login (free signup for all Ontario residents)
  • Caledon Public Library login
  • Mississauga Library card login
• Malton Mercury, 1977 (partial upload)
• The Malton Pilot, 1973, 1976 (partial upload)
• Oakville Beaver, 1927 to present, covers Trafalgar Township, part of which is now Mississauga, digitized by the Oakville Public Library, uploaded to Halinet
• Orangeville Banner, covers 1909-1911, 1913-1915, 1918-1924, coverage includes parts of Albion Township, Caledon Township, now within the Town of Caledon, digitized by the Region of Peel Archives, uploaded to Internet Archive
• The Streetsville Review and Port Credit Herald, 1931-1932, digitized by the Region of Peel Archives, uploaded to Internet Archive
• The Toronto Star, 1894-2015
  • Brampton Library card login (free signup for all Ontario residents)
  • Caledon Public Library card login
  • Mississauga Library card login
• Weston newspapers, 1890-1995, covers eastern Toronto Township (Mississauga), particularly Malton, digitized by the Weston Historical Society
  • Humber Valley Villager, Times & Guide, Weston-York Times, Weston Link, Weston Mirror, Weston Mosaic, Weston News & Views, Weston News Centennial Edition, Weston Times, Weston Times Advertiser, Weston York Villager, York Mosaic, York News, York Reporter, York Tribune.
• the body politic, 1971-1987, LGBT magazine
• The Christian Guardian, 1829-1925
• RPM Weekly, 1964-2000, a music news magazine