from The Canadian Sportsman
Straffordville, ON — Effective immediately, Dave Briggs has been named publisher of The Canadian Sportsman, the oldest harness racing magazine in North America and Canada’s oldest magazine of any kind.
Briggs, who joined The Sportsman in May of 1995, will also retain his position as editor, a position he’s held since December of 1995.
Briggs takes over the publisher role from Gary Foerster. Foerster, who began his career with the Sportsman in 1977 working for the late Bruce Johnston, remains as president of The Canadian Sportsman Ltd. Foerster co-owns the company, which includes its printing subsidiary Sportswood Printing, with Joel Falkenham of Aylmer, Ontario.
“Dave not only has been a tremendous asset to The Sportsman,” Foerster said, “but he has become a respected voice within the racing industry.
“When Dave started with us, he had never even been to a horse race. But he proved a quick study and immediately developed a passion for racing. Dave’s won numerous awards for his writing and was a major force behind The Sportsman winning no less than seven editorial awards at last year’s American Horse Publications Awards.
“The Sportsman celebrates its 142nd anniversary in 2012. We have an outstanding team, which includes assistant editor Lauren Lee, advertising manager Kristy Dustin and graphic designer Deanne Penny. It’s a great honor for all of us to be involved with such a historic and prominent publication and I know Dave’s leadership, talents and dedication will mean good things for Sportsman readers and advertisers for many years to come.”
Briggs resides in Port Stanley, Ontario, with his wife Laura and their three children, Moira, 12, Liam, 11 and Erin, 9.