Ron Young, creator of Downhome Magazine, dead at 80

Ron Young, creator of the Downhome Magazine, died on Friday at the age of 80. (Caul's Funeral Home)

Ron Young, the creator and editor of the Downhome Magazine and sharer of Newfoundland and Labrador culture, has died.

Young, who was 80, died Friday at the Agnes Pratt long-term care home in St. John's.

Young, originally from Twillingate, created the magazine — originally called The Downhomer — with a group of Newfoundlanders living in Ontario while serving as a member of the Ontario Provincial Police.

He shared his stories and works through the magazine — the original motto being "serving Newfoundlanders wherever they may be" — which gained popularity with readers when it was first launched in 1988.

Young brought the magazines back to Newfoundland in 1997, after retiring from the police force.

In 2005, the magazine was rebranded as Downhome Magazine.

The company has printed more than 10 million magazines, according to its website.

The business also expanded to include a physical shop on Water Street and the annual Downhome Expo, which bills itself as the largest consumer trade show in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Young's memorial service will be held at a later date.

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