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About
Edward Bartlett 'Ted' Byfield (July 14, 1928 – December 23, 2021) was a prominent Canadian conservative journalist, teacher, historian, and publisher. Born in Toronto, Ontario, he began his career in education, co-founding Saint John's Cathedral Boys' School in Edmonton, Alberta, in 1957 and Saint John's School of Alberta in 1965, where he emphasized classical education and Christian values as a devout Anglican. Byfield transitioned to media in 1973 when he founded the Alberta Report, a newsmagazine that became an influential voice for Western Canadian conservatism. He later expanded his media empire with BC Report (1986) and Western Report (1990), which critiqued federal policies, advocated for Western separatism, and covered social issues from a right-wing perspective, significantly shaping the region's media landscape. Byfield also authored and published extensive historical works, including the 12-volume series 'Alberta in the 20th Century' (1980s-1990s) and 'The Christians: Their First Two Thousand Years' (1990s-2000s). His publications influenced Western Canadian right-wing media and politics, mentoring figures in the Reform Party and contributing to debates on Canadian federalism. Despite financial challenges leading to the closure of Western Report in 2003, his legacy endures as a pioneer of independent, ideologically driven journalism in Western Canada, though his outlets were often criticized for partisanship.