Der Bote

Der Bote ("The Messenger") was a German-language Mennonite newspaper published in Winnipeg, Manitoba, by Mennonite Church Canada. On 30 March 2008 it closed down and ceased publication due to declining readership.[1][2]

Der Bote was first published 16 January 1924 as Der Mennonitische Immigrantenbote by David H. Epp at Rosthern, Saskatchewan, to serve as a point of contact for German-speaking Russian Mennonites immigrating to Canada after World War I.[3] In 1926 the name was shortened to simply Der Bote. Around this time, the size of the paper was increased to 25 by 19 inches from 9½ by 12½. In 1947, Der Bote merged with Christlicher Bundesbote and became the weekly paper for the General Conference Mennonite Church.[1] By 1950, circulation was 4500, of which 1000 were distributed in Europe and South America as a service to immigrants.[3]

In January 2000 the publication frequency was reduced to 24 times a year and the format reduced to letter size.[3] In 2006, it had approximately 2350 subscribers, down from 9000 in the mid 1970s,[1] with circulation in North America, South America, Russia, Germany and other European countries.[4]