That was quite the trip down memory lane we took a few weeks back when the paper celebrated 20 years of being the voice of the Coast. Both Coast Reporter and the Sunshine Coast have changed considerably since 1997.
Many are the highlights I savour from the past years. When I look back, 2006 to 2008 were my banner years. We had several issues over 100 pages during that time, a testament to the popularity of the paper to both advertisers and readers.
The editorial team published some amazing stories. For me, personally, there was an opportunity to cover the Indian Residential School scandal and how it affected local folks. That same year I took part in the annual Pulling Together canoe journey that brings together at-risk youth, law enforcement officers and Aboriginal leaders. It was as leader Ed Hill said it would be – life changing.
During this time I also had the chance to see and hear first hand about the Lost Canadians, fellow citizens who through the convoluted workings of our government were not official citizens. Some had lived here for basically their whole lives, only to find out when they went to apply for a passport that they were without a country. This was a story that made me angry on many levels.
One of our readers, Jancis Andrews, inspired me to write about the Bountiful, B.C. story. And I still consider it a supreme pleasure to have met and interviewed Jane Blackmore. While abuse of power is nothing new, a man who in late middle age considers it OK to “marry” a 13-year-old is sickening. And to do it in the name of God is beyond disgusting.
Over the years I had opportunity to meet many politicians from all parties. While it’s easy to judge the men and women who want to represent us on the local, provincial and federal level, for the most part I would say all of them want to do what’s right and honourable – which is not to say they all succeed.
One of the people I met just before several knives found her back is our new deputy premier, Carole James. I found her to be a friendly, caring woman. Some among us are probably hoping she’s a forgiving one too. I admire her guts. She never gave up on her party or her constituents. I think it takes a great deal of courage to face your enemies on a daily basis. One of the people I never did meet or interview, our newly deposed premier, Christy Clark, could have taken a lesson from Carole in how to meet adversity. And that’s all I have to say on that subject.
There are so many more memories I have of the past 20 years but my favourite still is meeting many of you on the street, at the beach, or in a restaurant and having you say you read what I wrote and how it affected you. That’s still the reason all of us are part of this incredible newspaper. Thank you.
