It was a jarring first day on the job.
Over two years ago, freshly arrived in the Pontiac from Nova Scotia, my first assignment was to attend the McDowell Spring Fair. I remember the quizzical look on one volunteer’s face after hearing I had just travelled a third of the way across Canada to work at her local newspaper.
“You came here?” she said.
The answer had much to do with the dangling carrot in the form of a very affordable apartment my new employer had offered me. But that’s not what I said. I think I made up an answer, something about the importance of local journalism.
Over the weeks and months I often thought about that interaction. Why was I here? And what was my reason for doing this work? While I’ve come to appreciate my job as a political watchdog, that was not a main motive for entering the field.
For me, the most compelling part of journalism has always been talking with people and learning their stories. As the first on the ground to cover council meetings, grand openings and family reunions, I had the kind of access only a community journalist has.
Through these conversations, I found the Pontiac to be rich with stories. Many were about family, heritage, and wanting to preserve the proud history built by generations. Others were about non-profits struggling to fund activities, or businesspeople trying to make ends meet while staying close to home. Sometimes some fire department drama.
Running through many stories was a connecting thread: hardworking people trying to make life better in their communities, often against unlikely odds.
Pontiac communities are grappling with their fair share of challenges. A rotating economic development roster at the MRC; maintaining infrastructure through an unpredictable climate; a slog of 19 municipalities doing their own thing despite a large body of evidence that they should probably team up. These stories have also been interesting in their own way.
But what gave me the most pleasure was the conversations. Whether it was at community events, council meetings or interviews, I’d like to thank everyone I’ve had the privilege of speaking with for trusting me with your stories. It can be a daunting thing to invite a nosy reporter into your home, or your telephone line, even for just 20 minutes. So thanks, and I hope I have done your stories justice without making too many mistakes (apologies to Otter Lake – one of these days I will get the names of your lakes right!)
I visited the Bay Boys fundraiser a few weekends ago in Campbell’s Bay. Walking around, I noticed just how many people I was saying hello to. Many of them were volunteers who sacrificed their weekends to help raise money for two local families who are hurting – yet another story of a community looking out for each other.
It struck me how far I’d come since walking into that Spring Fair two years ago, not knowing a single soul. Far from being the stranger questioned for his motives, I was now … well, a bit less of a stranger. I don’t have three Hodgins in my family, but in some small way, I had become a part of this community.
As I move on to a new job as associate editor at a newspaper a bit closer to home (The Guysborough-Antigonish Journal, in case anyone is curious), I will always value my experiences here. I’m glad to have played a part in recording your history. It was a pleasure.
Before I go, I would urge you to trust your local media. As someone who has worked closely with the people in this building, I have seen the dedication with which everyone works to serve this community. I count them as my kin – curious, kind people who are in the business of honest reporting.
Local media isn’t about producing clickbait, or dividing people. It’s about showing up and trying to understand. It’s about knowing the people whose stories you’re telling – and I know for a fact that the team at THE EQUITY is dedicated to just that.
Please, reach out with your stories.
