The numbers say the first issue of Uptown I presided over was No. 278. This is issue No. 500, which means I've overseen 223 of these things in the past four-and-a-half years.

When I arrived at this paper, in September 2003, I wrote that I hoped Uptown would, like other alternative weeklies across the continent, become "the city's trusted guide to what's going on in this town."

As I sit here now, I think we've more or less achieved that aim. I see empty racks at our popular distribution points and I feel a sense of pride that the paper is being picked up and (hopefully) read. I know from the feedback I get that Uptown is considered a vital source of cultural information and commentary.

Of course, I'm also aware that there's always room for improvement. There could always be more space in this paper for stories and listings. We should always want to find, write and produce more, better and edgier stories, features, reviews and columns. We should want to show off the endeavours of this city's creative class in as many ways as we can.

I can safely say that the people who work here do indeed want to do more with Uptown. I can also safely say that everyone who has contributed to this paper in its lifetime has been part of making Uptown what it is today.

In its nearly 21-year history, Uptown has been bought and sold four times. To me, this means the paper is a valued commodity in the Winnipeg media marketplace.

Yes, the business side of putting this paper out has sometimes seemed like an insurmountable, uphill climb. But it seems that Uptown is, at this very moment, sitting poised to fully realize its potential.

It's our hope and expectation that the paper you're holding (or reading online) is one that can only get better.

We'd like you to help us meet those hopes and expectations by e-mailing your ideas, comments, thoughts and complaints to: john.kendle@uptownmag.com.

Thanks for supporting us through our first 500 issues.

We hope you'll stick around for more.