Media Central Corporation Inc. announced it has closed its acquisition of Vancouver Free Press Corp., owner and operator of the Georgia Straight, Vancouver's 53 year old alternative urban media publisher. A binding letter of intent was previously announced on January 6, 2020. The Straight is established as the most important source for news, lifestyle, and entertainment in Vancouver and is an integral part of the active urban West Coast lifestyle.

"Dan McLeod, and his family have built a trusted brand that has championed the west coast's independent voice for more than 50 years. We are thrilled to add Georgia Straight to the MediaCentral family of brands and are excited to guide this staple of the Vancouver experience towards another 50 years of success. With the addition of the Straight's dedicated 4.5 million monthly readers, MediaCentral now reaches the largest targeted audience of prized alternative urban media consumers across Canada," said Brian Kalish, CEO of Media Central. "This strategic acquisition is an important next step in our growth plans as we move towards integrating and monetizing this culturally creative and socially innovative group."

This immediately accretive acquisition furthers MediaCentral's strategic plan to unify the 100 million coveted consumers of alternative urban media across North America and leverage their considerable value across commercial and social verticals. The Straight is now the third brand under the MediaCentral banner of high-quality print and digital media properties. The Company acquired Toronto's NOW Magazine and nowtoronto.com in November 2019, after having launched its original cannabis digital platform CannCentral.com in September of the same year.

"It's exciting that the Georgia Straight has now evolved into one of the founding members of a much larger group of like-minded print and digital publications. MediaCentral has pledged to carry on the highest ideals of the Straight, along with its Vancouver-centric focus, and including the same team that has produced the paper up until now. I look forward to seeing this ambitious group build a new kind of media network while continuing to serve our present readership in new and innovative ways," said Dan McLeod, Founder of The Georgia Straight.