by Telstar (satellite). Old and new, blended in perfect harmony!

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India

In many parts of India, traditionally the village crier carried a rustic drum to call public attention, following up with the message. The message had a typical flow, starting with "people of xyz village, the headman would like to announce that..." followed by the message.

Africa

Town criers were prominent in the precolonial and colonial eras of Igboland, a West African region in the present-day Nigeria. They served as the major means of information dissemination in their respective communities.

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Did you know, when a group of town criers get together, for example for a competition,

it is known as ‘a bellow of criers’?

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Canada

There are two known Town Crier Guilds in Canada – Nova Scotia (membership quantity unknown, but have hosted World Championships, asrecently as September 2017), and Ontario, with approximately 50 members. Alberta has at least one Crier (in Olds). There are five known Town Criers in BC (Victoria/Esquimalt, Sydney/Oak Bay, Qualicum Beach, Duncan, and one in the Okanagan), although there have been more in the past (eight on Vancouver Island, for example, and one in Summerland around 2006).

Significance of Town Criers in the Okanagan

Before the Okanagan Town Crier became known, he visited the Westbank First Nations Museum in West Kelowna. The museum staff, unprompted, told us the following story:

When the white fur traders first arrived in this area, they met the natives, and wanted to ask who they were (ie what tribe); their command of the language was imperfect, and they instead asked “What are you?” The person being