Annually, the Nanaimo Daily News and Harbour City Star deliver $1.2 million as cash or in-kind donations to local organizations. Jones proudly adds: "Culture, sport, the arts; it's all part of what makes Nanaimo unique, and we want to make a contribution to that. And we do it with a glad heart."

Groups considered for support must be local, productive, keen, and responsible in terms of their organization. According to Jones, Western Edge Theatre Company has proven to be all of those things, and they took a "relic" like the Bay Theatre and made it into something important which adds to the fabric of Nanaimo. He also indicated that it is a real advantage that the more "fringy" productions of Western Edge complement the traditional theatre offerings in the city.

Western Edge Artistic Producer Frank Moher says that the support of the News and the Star has been key to the theatre's success. "They've been on side with us in a myriad of ways right from the start. As a result, we've been able to establish a high profile on central Vancouver Island much more quickly than we would have otherwise. They're a great organization."