Sue Allen and Brittany Taylor join Advocate in editing, digital media roles

With exciting growth plans on the horizon, The Lindsay Advocate welcomes Brittany Taylor and Sue Allen to the media company’s team.

Brittany Taylor is a prominent, award-winning Indigenous educator, advocate, and cultural guide based in the Kawartha Lakes region. A member of the Curve Lake First Nation (Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg territory), she is recognized for her work in preserving Indigenous knowledge and fostering cultural connections within schools and the broader community.

She is also a seasoned digital media manager and has already begun applying her skills and knowledge on behalf of the Advocate.

“Storytelling has always been at the heart of strong communities,” says Taylor, “especially within Indigenous traditions where stories carry knowledge, history and connection across generations.”

“I’m honoured to contribute to a platform that uplifts local voices and reflects the richness of Kawartha Lakes,” she said.

Advocate Online

While The Lindsay Advocate continues to be a much-loved monthly print magazine, Fireside Publishing House is investing in its digital media presence, too.

Part of that investment means a brand-new Advocate website, courtesy of Colour & Code, and an online editor to coordinate much more editorial content than the media company has ever before produced.

That’s where Sue Allen, the new Advocate Online editor, will strongly contribute. Allen moved to Lindsay in 2000, completing her last two years at I.E. Weldon S.S. For seven years, Allen owned and operated her own wedding and events planning company in Toronto. In 2021, she opened a boutique event space in Kawartha Lakes called The Lindsay Lounge.

With her extensive background in business and marketing she is excited to use her coordination skills to work with columnists, writers, and creating new features for readers.

Allen says she is looking forward to “listening, learning, and connecting” with local people whose stories shape the heart of the community.

Both Allen and Taylor will also be monthly columnists for Advocate Online. Taylor will write a column called “Bridges to Understanding,” reflecting on Indigenous issues, and Allen’s column will be called “The Other Side,” reflecting on learning to love life in middle age.

Publisher Roderick Benns says Taylor and Allen joining the team is a game changer for the all-local media company, which has been around for close to a decade.

“We’re well-known for our quality print publications – and certainly the Advocate has had a very loyal following since its inception,” said Benns.

“Now it’s time for us to up our digital media game, and Sue and Brittany are a big part of this,” he added.

He is glad the Advocate print magazine “continues to be loved,” but says now is the time to do even better online.

“We want to give more, continuously improve, and meet the needs of our community when it comes to journalism excellence,” Benns says.

Rebekah McCracken, executive editor of Fireside’s publications, says she’s excited for what’s to come.

“It’s all about our readers in the end. If we serve them well, they’ll return repeatedly for our content. And that really helps our advertisers,” she explains.

McCracken said the all-new website is a complete refresh for the much-loved Advocate brand.

“I think our readers are going to be pleased with what they see,” she said. “Eye-catching design and more content than ever is what they will find.”

The monthly Advocate magazine, Play Stay Live: An Insider’s Guide to Loving Life in Kawartha Lakes, and Kawartha Lakes Weekly newspaper, are all under the Fireside Publishing House umbrella. Fireside is a fully independent media outlet based in Kawartha Lakes.

More announcements to come as the Advocate digital rebrand continues.