When tragedy strikes a community
The sorrow surrounding this search is deep, and as of this writing the outcome remains unknown.
When tragedy strikes a community, confusion and anxiety often follow. In the Crowsnest Pass, those emotions came crashing in with the heartbreaking disappearance of a six-year old boy. As hundreds of searchers spread across the valleys, mountains, and rivers of our home, the Crowsnest Pass Herald was called upon to play the role it has always played, an anchor of truth in a storm of uncertainty.
From the first report of the missing child, your local Herald has been at the centre of this story. Our newsroom posted frequent updates online and on Facebook, not to chase clicks, but to provide the steady, factual information that families and neighbours so desperately needed. In a community filled with worry, speculation, and sorrow, your local Herald became the trusted place to turn.
That role is not one we take lightly. Journalism, at its core, is about service. And in times like these, when fear is palpable and rumours are rampant, people deserve facts. They deserve clarity. They deserve to know what is happening in real time.
The messages we have received in recent days tell the story more powerfully than anything we could write. One reader reached out from afar:
“Thank you for your updates on the missing child! We are away on holidays and my heart is breaking for this little boy … I wait for your updates! I pray the searchers can make some progress today.”
Another message underscored the challenge of sorting truth from speculation in the age of social media:
“Lisa… thanks for the information on public help in the search. Someone just posted they are allowing it but your latest post says no. Thank you for giving us factual information and keeping us updated.”
And then there are the notes that speak to the human side of this work, the toll it takes on journalists who are also parents, neighbours, and friends. One resident wrote:
“I cannot even imagine how stressful this is for you, as a parent, Pass resident, and editor. Just want you to know I am thinking of you.”
These messages matter because they show why community newspapers remain essential. In moments of crisis, people do not want gossip or speculation. They do not want half truths or sensationalism. They want information that is reliable and timely. They want reporting grounded in the facts, even when those…