Last weekend I was sprawled on the floor in my office, surrounded by over 20 years worth of Sun Peaks Independent News archive issues. That’s because this spring marks 10 years since I’ve been at the helm of our community publication, and I wanted to look back and see where it all began for me.
Memories and nostalgia spilled across the pages with so many personally and professionally important moments, but mainly so many community milestones. A decade ago, SPIN was chronicling the beginning of the Sun Peaks Recreational Trail Association, breaking ground on the Health Centre and the new rink, and marveling at over 90 kids enrolled in the Sun Peaks School. We were talking about the future skate park, a new event called Snowbombing and the effects of a heating housing market.
The community has changed, and so have the people in it, growing into different roles and fulfilling different needs. Neighbours, coworkers and clients became my lifelong friends. Shredding pals became amazing mountain mums and dads, entrepreneurs and community leaders. I’ve seen seasonal workers become managers, directors and even council members.
Friends, we’ve come so far.
Together we’ve navigated incredible challenges, from years of a global pandemic and threats from wildfires, to inflation, recessions and other factors well outside our control. My hope and goal throughout these events is that SPIN provided the information and perspective readers needed in the moment, and helped you reconnect with the community on the other side.
In our first issue, I talked about the importance of reemphasizing the “Independent” in our name, and a year later I wrote about “flying by the seat of the pants” as the new publisher. In those ways, I guess some things haven’t changed. The other strong through line has been my gratitude for our readers, advertisers, my team, my family and the friends turned family. It’s been an incredible journey, punctuated by an especially challenging personal year for me, and knowing the community was there to support me and provide a soft place to come home to has been irreplaceable.
Like many other long-time locals, I’ve also struggled with certain aspects of living in Sun Peaks. At times it seemed too small, too isolated or too expensive. But the moments of struggle pale in comparison to the privileges we all enjoy here. I have so much gratitude for a home that’s not only safe, but provides abundant access to nature and activities we love, and the friendships and communities that grow around them. This place has given me so much, including space to try new things and to fail.
From a business perspective, the shift to individuals stepping up in a meaningful way to help financially support our journalism has had a significant impact on Sun Peaks Independent News but also myself professionally. The work that we are doing together here provided the evidence and inspiration for me to innovate with this model in other communities and publications. It’s allowed me to share our success in academic papers and classrooms, refuting the overwhelming narrative that local news is dying and that people don’t value it. The wealth of professional experience I’ve gathered here has guided me on national boards, and at speaking events and conferences across the country.
Out of all the stories I get to help tell, the story of SPIN and everything we’ve learned together over the past 10 years is my favourite one to share. Please know that your strong support of community journalism has a difference. It’s truly been a privilege to grow alongside our community and thank you for trusting me along this journey.
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