The west end's news, read and heard.
Driftlantern is a weekly newsletter and podcast covering Westdale, Dundas, Ainslie Wood, the McMaster campus edge and the Rail Trail. We sell three advertising formats to businesses and organisations who want a steady, editorial-adjacent presence in front of west Hamilton readers and listeners — never a promise of sales, just a clear place to be seen and heard.
Three ways to advertise with Driftlantern
Every placement below is booked at a fixed price, with a fixed run length and a fixed set of deliverables. Open a plate to read exactly what is included before you book.
A Neighbourhood Notes Mention $135 CAD
A brief sponsor line in the 'Neighbourhood Notes' roundup of local happenings in our weekly west Hamilton and Dundas newsletter. A light-touch option for small businesses, markets and community groups. Appears in one edition and includes a short copy review and the edition's open count.
- One newsletter edition
- Short copy review before it runs
- The edition's open count shared afterward
- Booking by email or phone
B Rail Trail Sessions Sponsorship $820 CAD
Presenting credit on one full episode of our west Hamilton affairs podcast, with an opening credit, a 60-second mid-episode host read and a closing thank-you. For organizations with ties to Westdale, Dundas, Ainslie Wood or the McMaster campus edge. Includes a briefing call, script approval, a mention on the episode page and a 30-day listen summary.
- Opening credit and closing thank-you
- 60-second mid-episode host read
- Briefing call and script approval
- Mention on the episode page
- 30-day listen summary
C West End Partnership $1,370 CAD
Our largest package: four weeks of homepage placement, four newsletter sponsor notes, two podcast episode sponsorships and one partner-labelled article. For established organizations in west Hamilton and Dundas looking for a broad, steady presence. Includes a planning session, a shared schedule, creative support and a detailed closing report.
- Four weeks of homepage placement
- Four newsletter sponsor notes
- Two podcast episode sponsorships
- One partner-labelled article
- Planning session and shared schedule
- Detailed closing report
Prices are in Canadian dollars and do not change with the size of your business — the same rate card applies to every advertiser.
What we don't do
We are not a marketing agency and we do not manage anyone's advertising campaign end to end. We do not write your ad copy for you beyond the review built into each placement, we do not guarantee a result from any placement, and we do not run promotions in exchange for editorial coverage — our newsroom decisions and our advertising sales are kept separate.
If you are looking for search-engine services, social-media account management or paid media buying on other platforms, that is outside what Driftlantern sells. What we do offer is space in a publication that west end residents already read and listen to.
Have a question about which format fits your business? A short call is often the fastest way to find out.
How each format is made
Newsletter
Each weekly edition is written and copy-edited before it goes out, and a sponsor line is reviewed with you before it appears.
Podcast
Episodes are recorded with a condenser microphone and a simple mixing pass, then hosted on a standard podcast feed with an episode page for show notes and sponsor mentions.
Who reads and listens
Our newsletter and podcast are built for people who live, study or work in the west end of Hamilton — around Westdale's main streets, the shops and cafés of downtown Dundas, the rental blocks near Ainslie Wood and the McMaster campus edge, and the households along the Rail Trail corridor.
Advertisers place with us because their customers are already in that footprint: independent retailers on Westdale's Main Street, service businesses near King Street West in Dundas, student-facing shops close to campus, and community groups running events that residents in these neighbourhoods are likely to attend.
Quick answers
How fast can I book?
Send a message through the form below and we will confirm availability, usually within one business day.
Can I change my ad copy?
Yes — every placement includes a short review step before it runs.
Do prices change by size of business?
No, the rate card is the same for every advertiser.
Where can I read more questions?
Visit the FAQ page for the full list.
Where we stand
Registered in Ontario
Driftlantern is operated by SociallyInfused Media LTD., a company registered under the Canada Business Corporations Act.
West Hamilton office
Our office is on West Avenue South, within the coverage area we publish about.
Editorial independence
Advertising decisions are handled separately from what our newsroom chooses to cover.
Book a placement
Driftlantern requisites
- 1 West Avenue S, Suite 304, Hamilton, ON L8N 2R9
- +1 289-795-7692
- [email protected]
- Monday – Friday, 08:30–17:00
- Eastern Time (ET) — Hamilton