Personal update
First off, I want to thank all those who sent me their best wishes this week. It meant far more than any journalism award or other plaudit bestowed on people who write about current events.
I’m very grateful to have worked for 28 years at the Georgia Straight where I enjoyed tremendous freedom.
I’m healthy and happy and looking forward to the future. I’ve been given many breaks in life and we’ll see what doors open for me in the weeks and months to come.
I want to thank those who helped the publication get through the pandemic to the point where it could be purchased by a new owner. That includes my former editorial colleagues Martin Dunphy, Mike Usinger, Steve Newton, and Carlito Pablo.
Design, production, accounting, circulation, sales, front desk, and IT staff and contractors worked exceptionally hard over two-and-a-half years.
Many contributors stepped up to share their views on the website. I learned so much from what they wrote.
These community contributors represented the spirit of the earliest editions of the Georgia Straight. The original editor, Dan McLeod, routinely offered a platform for voices not heard in the mainstream media.
I was proud to carry on that tradition.
I’m especially proud of our arts coverage, which I feel maintained a very high standard in spite of our skeletal staff. I loved Miguel Hernandez’s 2022 print edition covers, which featured many people in the arts. Check them out here.
I’m also sorry that we lost so many talented colleagues at the start of the pandemic.
Next week, I hope to find time to write more on this platform, possibly about the upcoming civic election in Vancouver. In the meantime, I wish anyone who’s reading this a happy and healthy rest of the year.