It's strange - for years, I've struggled with writing editorials week after week. I don't know how many times I polled everyone in the building, asking "What should I have an opinion on next week?" as I struggled to find a topic.
Now this week, I know exactly what I want to write about. But I don't know what to say without blubbering all over the place.
This will be my last editorial for the Humboldt Journal. I'm moving on to a new job - not a new community, just a new job. And I really just want to recognize all the wonderful people I've worked with during my tenure at this newspaper. I'm not saying goodbye, because I'm not leaving town, but I do need to mention a few people and what they've done for me over the years.
Former fire chief Norbert LeBlanc is the first, because he was the first person I met in Humboldt. He showed up on my first day of work, told by his counterpart in North Battleford to come and greet the new reporter. I owe Norbert a lot. Not only did he make my job reporting fires and collisions easy (once I learned to understand his accented English), but through Norbert, I met our local firefighters, and got to know members of the other emergency services in Humboldt, some of whom have become what I hope will be lifelong friends, and all of whom are, in my opinion, among the best people any community could ever hope to have.
Sharon Domotor, the former production manager at the Journal, is the second name I have to bring up (even though she told me I could cut this part out, if I needed to save on length). She's been my rock here at the Journal from the time she decided that maybe I was going to be okay - that took about two weeks. She took me under her wing and has guided me since that day. Because of her, I had the courage to not only take on the editor's duties when the position came open suddenly 10 years ago, but also to apply for the job a couple of months later. And I still lean on her to tell me if someone is a Hofmann or a Hoffman, and what form of practice or practise to use.
Geez, I think I'm going to have to go by groups now. I'm really running out of room.
The crews from Humboldt and District Ambulance Service and the Humboldt RCMP hold a special place in my heart. Some members I've known a long time (Derek, Mort, Rhonda - that's you!) and some have come and gone over the years. But I respect the heck out of all of you - the jobs you do are so hard, and not always rewarding, but please know that you are always appreciated.
This job has allowed me to meet so many great people, like all of those involved in clubs and organizations and service groups, and the arts community... the list goes on and on. I have to give a special shout-out to the crew at the Humboldt and District Museum and Gallery - Jennifer Hoesgen, Brenda Duerr and Anneka Drinkwater, especially. They've been absolutely wonderful and I will miss speaking with at least one of them at least once a week.
I learned to cover sports in Humboldt, working with local teams like the Humboldt Broncos, a team that has since captured my attention and emotions. Since I came to town, Dean Brockman has been the guy I've worked with at the Broncos' office, and he's been nothing but patient and kind with me, and has become a real friend. I'll miss our talks, I have to say. We've been through a lot of ups and downs together. If a team could win championships based on the dedication and work ethic of their coach, the Broncos would scoop up that trophy every year. Dean is truly a class act.
This job has been great for new experiences. I've covered everything from ball games in Muenster to arts festivals at Marysburg, and written about everything from civic, federal and provincial elections to grandma turning 100. There have been some huge stories - most concerning health care - that have taxed me emotionally, mentally and physically - and some lighthearted ones that have given me nothing but pleasure to write.
I've participated in mock collisions and mock disasters to get a different perspective on things, ridden in a variety of emergency vehicles, crawled up the old ladders to the top of the water tower, touched the ceiling of Assumption Church in Marysburg (it took about three sets of scaffolding to get me up there), and even donned bunker gear and air tanks to take in the nature of fire in a burning house (it was a controlled burn, I promise). On the other end of the temperature spectrum, I've had the honour to be out on the ice for every cup presentation the Broncos have had at home since 2003, and have sat on the ice to take photos at a national curling tour event (and had the frozen rear-end to show for it).
I've had the opportunity to hunker down to help out at the archeological dig at Original Humboldt, tour the new high school before it was opened, stand on the roof of the old HCI to take photos of its demolition, and been one of the last members of the public to walk through Sutherland Theatre before it was knocked down.
I've interviewed premiers and numerous members of parliament and members of the legislature, and even a senator or two. I've learned about things like trapping and dance, budgets and mill rates, diseases and educational policy, and covered the work of four city councils and two mayors.
I've loved it all - the people I've met along the way and telling their stories. I have no doubt I will miss it, but it's time for me to move on and find some new challenges.
To my coworkers at the Journal - current and past - thank you for everything. You have been one crazy crew, and you do a really crazy job. You talk in picas and columns and agates and inches and other jargon that can be incomprehensible to those outside the industry, and somehow, despite disasters sometimes, we manage to get a paper out the door every week, by some miracle.
No one really understands what goes on inside a newspaper unless you've worked at one. I'm glad I got the chance to do that here in Humboldt.
