The Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph, whose claim to fame is billing itself as North America’s oldest newspaper (it predates The Gazette by 14 years), turns 250 years old on Saturday.

The English-language weekly in the provincial capital almost didn’t make it this far. In 2010, it almost folded, going online-only and raising both subscription and advertising prices while adopting a hard-line religious editorial line that turned many away. The paper was sold to a new owner who brought back the print paper and has been keeping it going since.

Since 250 is a pretty big deal, the paper has been going all out drawing attention to itself and the anniversary, and the media have taken notice. Here is a sample of the media coverage given to it:

• A news story by Global Montreal (Karen Macdonald, Global Montreal’s station manager, is a former owner of the QCT)
• A story in Le Québec Express
• A tip of the hat from The Gazette’s editorial page editor
• Stories from CBC Radio’s Quebec AM and Breakaway

The paper itself is keeping a running list on its website, and has a Storify of tweets and links.

Also worth delving into:

• The Google Newspaper archive for the QCT (covers 1953-1970)
• The Quebec national archives collection of the Quebec Chronicle (covers 1898-1924)
• QCT staffer Bethann Merkle with photos of the building that once housed the newspaper, which had a commemorative plaque added to it

Happy birthday, QCT.