Today nine Canadian cities awoke to brand new newspaper websites and an invitation to become a real know it all. All ten of Canwest’s major city daily newspapers simultaneously launched redesigned online news and information destinations for the people in their communities.

“We’re excited to launch this evolution of our online newspaper brands,” said Graham Moysey, General Manager and Senior Vice President, Canwest Digital Media. “It is a fresher, more intuitive experience for users, offers richer and more targeted opportunities for both local and national advertisers while continuing to deliver the depth of trusted and engaging content that Canadians expect from their Canwest newspaper sites.”

Know your community, know the world around you. Know it all.

A national advertising campaign will support the launch, with creative that is customized to each market. Created by Smith Roberts Creative Communications in Toronto, the campaign features regular people sporting beauty pageant-style sashes with text reading “Ms. Know-it-all” and “Mr. Know-it-all,” proving that by visiting your local newspaper website, anyone can be a Know-it-all. In one execution a surprised and elated sewer worker sports a sash and a tiara on his hard hat, clutching a bouquet of roses, having just been awarded the title of Mr. Know-it-all. Each execution will be customized and branded to reflect the values and personality of each local newspaper.

Each site will feature an interactive demo in the top banner position inviting visitors to tour the new features of the site.

Visitors will notice improved features including:

New design and simplified navigation – Get to what matters more quickly. The new design and simplified navigation gets visitors to the news and information they want, faster.

Increased focus on locally relevant news and information – Find all the local news and information relevant to you and your community in addition to the world-class national and international coverage you’ve come to expect from Canwest.

Wider Format – See more of the news in one view without extensive scrolling.

More chances to sound off – We’ve added more opportunities for visitors to share thoughts with journalists and other readers alike on the stories that matter most to them.

Richer media – See breaking news as it happens, exclusive photos, video and behind the scenes coverage of local community stories.

Hyper-local classifieds – Whether looking to buy a home or car, find a new job, or just uncover a great deal close to home, find it or sell it first in your neighbourhood, at your local newspaper website.

Integrated social networking tools – Share stories and information that matter using Facebook, MySpace and personal blogs.

Links to Redesigned Canwest Daily Newspaper Sites

Victoria Times Colonist
The Province (Vancouver)
Vancouver Sun
Edmonton Journal
Calgary Herald
Regina Leader-Post
Saskatoon StarPhoenix
Windsor Star
Ottawa Citizen
The Gazette (Montreal)