When I wrote my first editorial introducing myself to Innisfail I was a brand new reporter, straight out of Journalism school telling a story about how I walked into the office for my first day, terrified and with coffee spilled all over my pants. That was just more than a year ago now. And I am no longer terrified, however as a perpetual klutz, I am still quite often covered in coffee.
The difference being, I now know I will be accepted regardless of how many things I spill at the office. In fact, acceptance is one of the things I learned a lot about during this last year. After first being welcomed with open arms by the wonderful staff at the Innisfail Province I then began to discover a town full of engaged and enthusiastic people who have a great passion for their community.
I have had the opportunity to be involved in a lot of great events and have had the chance to tell a lot of your stories in my year here. Although I am probably still a newcomer in the eyes of many of you I feel like because of my role as a reporter I have go to know a lot of this town.
The cause for reflection of my time here is that I will be leaving the Province, and moving away from Innisfail.
It was great newspaper at which to start my career, I got experience covering all aspects of life in central Alberta, and had the opportunity to photograph much of the beautiful rural live around Red Deer County.
However, a new opportunity awaits me in Lloydminster where I will become the new reporter/photographer for the Lloydminster Meridian Booster and where I will join my boyfriend and a new news team at their three times weekly newspaper. Although I am excited to start a new adventure I will miss a lot of things about this community, but most of all I will miss the people.
The greatest part of being a community newspaper reporter is that it gives you the chance to hear and share a lot of amazing stories. Give me an hour of your time, a few blank pages in a notebook, and a little bit of trust and I will tell your story. Everyone has a story to tell whether they know it or not.
Some of my favourite stories I have written for the Province have been about people who didn’t even realize their story was special. I don’t know if it comes from the humble work-hard attitude of small town people or of those people were just one’s that have a way of influencing others but their stories definitely had an impact on me.
The gentleman, who thought he was just a farmer but had upheld his family’s 100-year history, and was then so appreciative of my story that he brought me flowers. The woman, whom over two hours and two cups of tea shared with me the story of her life beginning with tales of sending her boyfriend letters at war. To these people, and to all of the other amazing people who let me into their lives, even for a brief moment, I say thank-you.
You don’t need to be in a big city to find people who have done great things but I don’t have to tell you that Innisfail, I am sure you already know.
