The holidays have ended

The holidays have come to an end, and I’ll be honest I’m feeling a bit down. It was a much needed break, but I’ve come to realize that two weeks just isn’t enough. In fact, I think I’d really benefit from two months off! As we approach the 95th anniversary of the Pass Herald, this is the second issue of the year. Yesterday, it dawned on me that I’ve been with the Pass Herald for 25 years now. This year, I’m eligible for the Silver Quill award, presented by News Media Canada to those with 25 or more years of active involvement in the news industry, regardless of their role. My mom has one for her 47 years in the business, and Buddy has a Gold Quill for 67 years of service.

Looking back, this career wasn’t what I had in mind when I graduated after six years of university. I thought I’d dive into the corporate world, land a big job in human resources, and make a name for myself. But, as life often does, things didn’t go according to plan. After I graduated in 1996, I worked in the HR department at the University of Lethbridge, a job I really enjoyed. Then I met an engineer from Saskatchewan, got married, and followed him to our valley where he worked in the mines. I gave up my dream job to support him, and yes, I was that person! Within a year, I was expecting Keiran. When he was about eight months old, an employee at the Pass Herald had to be let go while my parents were on vacation, so I stepped in to fill the gap. I’d bring Keiran to the office and do the best I could while juggling motherhood. Twenty-five years later, I’m still here, and I find it kind of funny that Keiran grew up under my desk, just like I did under my mom’s. I still have vivid memories of sitting under my mom’s desk, pretending to answer the phone. Saying, “Pass Herald, Lisa speaking,” has been part of my life for as long as I can remember, both for real and in my imagination.

When I was younger, I even helped deliver the Pass Herald, sitting in the back of my dad’s truck. Of course, you’d never see that today! All three of my boys have delivered papers and stuffed flyers! I have a deep love for the feel and smell of the newspaper. The ink on my fingers, the texture of the paper. There’s something about it that brings back so many memories of the days when we were all here together at the Pass Herald. Time, however, doesn’t wait for anyone. Like all weekly newspapers, we’ve been affected by the rise of digital media. But instead of just lamenting the decline, I’ve decided to act. We should have some results from our Class Action Lawsuit against the forces that have harmed our industry. As you know, I’m more of a doer than a complainer.

As we head into our 95th year of publishing your locally owned newspaper, we continue to serve you through both print and digital platforms. Our mission is to deliver “real” news, the kind that doesn’t just get lost in the noise of social media and the internet. So, thank you for your continued support. While many long-standing newspapers in Alberta are shutting their doors, we’re still here, week after week, keeping you informed on what’s happening in the Crowsnest Pass.

The largest cost for a newspaper is the cost to print it. In the past, I have often wished we had an electronic-edition only. I’ve dreamed of the money we could save. However, after the Canada Post strike, I quickly realized that isn’t attainable, or even something I want. The seniors struggled to read the paper online, and I got the sense that no one liked it, including me. The strike may have saved me some printing and mailing costs, but I think deep down it did diminish the product. It didn’t feel like I was producing a real paper.

Since the end of the strike, I eagerly await the arrival of the freshly printed paper from Lethbridge. On those special days when the paper is still a little damp from the printing press, I can’t help but smile. There’s something magical about the ink transferring onto my fingers. It’s one of those simple pleasures that always makes my day, and now I appreciate it even more.