About theHumm

The Big Picture
theHumm is a free, monthly, independent newspaper covering Arts, Entertainment and Ideas in the small towns and communities of the oVal (Ottawa Valley). Circulation ranges from 7,000 to 9,000 copies, depending on the season.
The paper has been in publication since 1998. It is designed, edited and published by Kris and Rob Riendeau, but its contributors and columnists come from throughout the Valley. They are talented individuals who are dedicated to promoting and enhancing their communities.
In addition to the paper version (which is delivered to shops, restaurants, libraries, community hang-outs and visitor attractions in the above-mentioned towns), we also maintain a website (but you know that - you're already here, you clever thing). If you want any other information about us, feel free to contact us.
A little bit of history
In late 2013 columnist Linda Seccaspina published a fantastic profile of theHumm on Zoomer, Snapshots of Small Town Main Street - What Makes a Newspaper Humm? (Photo of Rob and Kris courtesy of Linda Seccaspina.)
What's in a name
Short answer: The name was chosen because it represents a humm or a buzz of activity going on - a sort of pleasant chorus of events and happenings.
Long answer: Ric Denis, an amazing musician who is married to one of theHumm's original editors (Heather Farquharson, the other original editor being Jill McCubbin), once had a band named The Humm, but the band never really got off the ground, so when we were all sitting around back in 1998 saying "what should we call this free, independent, monthly Arts, Entertainment & Ideas publication that we're dreaming up here?" Ric offered up his never-really-got-off-the-ground band name to the cause, because he felt it represented a humm or a buzz of activity going on - a sort of pleasant chorus of events and happenings!
Where to pick it up
theHumm is distributed around the first of the month, each and every month. For a full list of pick up locations, click here.
If you like what we do, please consider supporting theHumm!
May 2 Fine Art Exhibition
May 3 - 4 Fine Art Exhibition
May 3 Heatwave
May 3 Enchanting Miracles
May 4 LAM Literary Arts Mag Fundraiser
May 8 Garrett Mason
May 8 MMLT Talk & AGM
May 10 Bobby Bazini
May 10 Spring Flowers Walk
May 10 - 11 Art in the Attic
- Anne Forsythe — A Recipe for Joy
- Celebrate Kenny Rogers, Lionel Richie and Smokey Robinson at Studio TheatreThe Undercovers Come to Perth
- Save the Grove … Again? A Community Advocacy Group Battles Public Apathy
- The Parade You Have Been Waiting For!
- The Ten Collective Fifth Exhibit of Paintings in Almonte on April 26 & 27
- MMLT’s Birdhouse Auction Soars Again!
- An Interview with Poet Dagne Forrest Part of the Inaugural Lanark Lit Festival of Writing
- ADHS’s Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
- Basic Income A Pathway to Help End the Cycle of Intimate Partner Violence
- Celebration of Indigenous Cultural Fourth Annual Fair and Fundraiser for Art for Aid