Twenty-five years. A quarter-century.
That’s how long I have been writing for newspapers. I graduated from the three-year journalism program at St. Clair College in Windsor in April 1990. Following a two-week internship at The Hanover Post I was hired as a full-timer. And I haven’t looked back since.
I’ve been asked more than a few times, why don’t you work for a daily. I tried. I didn’t like it.
The Hanover Post was the first paper followed by The Walkerton Weekly, Barry’s Bay This Week, Iroquois Falls Enterprise, The Journal in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, This Week in Bancroft (I was on the ground floor when this paper started), Peterborough This Week, The Cobden Sun and Eganville Leader and now www.whitewaternews.ca
I enjoy the closeness of a community newspaper. Not only the people who worked alongside me, but the people in the community. Many of you shared your stories and photos with me, whether they be happy or sad, angry or disappointed.
I have covered every spectrum of the news, from municipal politics, to sports, to community events, to tragedies and even court cases.
I watched children grow up, covering their sports or school activities. I don’t see them often, and I have to admit, I’m amazed when I see a child, then a few years later as a teen, and then graduating, and heading off to post-secondary schools or even entering the workforce.
Two athletes stand out for me. Melissa Bishop, who is now an Olympian, and Sam Graham, who recently competed on the provincial wheelchair basketball team at the Canadian Winter Games.
I covered a court case in Barry’s Bay that haunts me to this day.
There are so many stories I can recall in a split minute.
Do I have regrets? If I were to have a regret, it’s that I didn’t pursue the one area of writing I preferred — writing obituaries. It sounds strange to say that, but what better way to honour a person than by telling their life story. I wish I could write the story before the person dies, not after. Many people don’t realize just how interesting their lives are, even if they don’t think they did anything worthwhile. But, I honestly believe, every person has a story to tell, whether it be the woman who married and became a stay-at-home mom, the student who went on to university, graduated and is working in his or her own field.
We all have stories to share, and why not share them before you die, instead of having others tell your story for you.
A story close to my heart was meeting my husband Tim, although I didn’t think at the time the wedding would ever happen. We met while I was covering the Queens Line Winter Carnival. He reminded me of a viking with the light-red beard. He was tossing a bale of hay. Can you imagine — a man tossing that bale of hay!!?? I returned that night to play cards, because I had found out he was going to be there. We laughed and played cards that night, but nothing came of it.
However, long story short, we did meet through the internet and now, we’re happily married, soon to be celebrating our seventh wedding anniversary. We are also awaiting the arrival of our second grandchild (yes, he came with a ready-made family).
So, while I’m celebrating 25 years as a writer, I’m asking you, when I call asking to interview you and write your story, don’t say no. Be proud of what you have accomplished, because every life, regardless of what it is, is worthy of behing honoured.
I read each year about reporters, editors, cartoonists and newspapers, who are honoured by their peers each year through the Ontario Community Newspaper Association and Canadian Community Newspaper Association. Heck, I’ve been honoured with a few awards myself. One day I was hopeful of receiving a silver quill award from the Ontario community Newspaper Association for my 25 years in the journalism field.
But, that won’t happen because www.whitewaternews.ca is not a member.
However, I do admit that hearing from the readers that I’m doing a good job, or to keep up the good work, or telling me they’d like me to come and cover their event, is now honour enough for me.
Thank you for allowing me to share your stories, your photos.
Now, let’s see what the next 25 years brings to this writer/photographer.
