Meet-and-greet with author James Culic at Fort Erie Public Library on July 2
FEO, June 25, 2026, Volume 7, Issue 21
After more than a decade as the sharpest voice in local journalism, award-winning columnist James Culic is stepping out from the newspaper pages with the launch of his highly anticipated book, Culic’s Columns.
The collection brings together Culic’s most memorable, impactful, and at times controversial work from his years as the lead columnist for the local newspaper. Known for his fearless wit, incisive social commentary, and willingness to tackle taboo topics, Culic became both a beloved institution and a lightning rod in the community. What sets this book apart is its unprecedented peek behind the editorial curtain.
Each reprinted column is accompanied by candid newsroom anecdotes and behind-the-scenes stories detailing how the pieces came to be written, edited, and sometimes fiercely debated before publication. Readers will gain rare insight into the pressures, humour, and high-stakes decisions that shaped Niagara’s newspaper journalism between 2012 and 2023.
Among the highlights is the infamous “Point Abino Lighthouse” column – a blistering takedown that sparked public outrage, intense political backlash, and ultimately led to the withdrawal of funding for the historic landmark. The book revisits this watershed moment with fresh context and never-before-shared details from the newsroom.
In the book, readers will also be given the raw, unedited drafts of columns that were deemed too controversial for the newspaper’s pages. These unfiltered versions reveal the full force of his original voice, offering readers a fascinating look at the line between publishable opinion and editorial caution.
“These columns weren’t just a bunch of words haphazardly strewn into print; they were battles, breakthroughs, and sometimes beautiful disasters,” said Culic. “I’m thrilled to finally share the full stories behind them, including the ones that never saw the light of day, until now.”
Culic’s Columns is more than a greatest-hits compilation; it is a love letter to old-school newspaper journalism and a revealing portrait of one writer’s uncompromising commitment to truth-telling, even when it came at a personal or professional cost.
A digital version of the book will be available for purchase from Amazon when it launches on July 2, and a special book launch is being hosted at Fort Erie Public Library (136 Gilmore Road) on July 2 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., where physical copies of a limited-edition softcover book will be available for purchase. Visitors can also chat with the author and get their copies signed by Culic himself.
