Well, it’s been over four years, and it’s time to say goodbye.
I know you usually read one of our riveting and thought-churning editorials in this spot every Thursday, but since I’m the editor for one last week (and I can do pretty much whatever I want), this is going to be much more of a column than an editorial…yes, there is a difference.
I’ve been the editor of the Cochrane Eagle since September 2011, and much has changed since that time — different editorial staff, different ownership, different publisher and many other differences along the way.
But now it’s time I move on, take on new challenges and let someone else grab the helm at the Mighty Eagle.
So, what were some of the highlights (and maybe lowlights) during my time leading the newsroom at one of the best community newspapers in Canada?
Well, one of the main things, and I think many people don’t realize this, is that I’ve been able to learn a lot about the community, the people who live here, politicians who represent our area and the ways that people would like to see our town improve.
I’ve spoken to local business people, at the request of the Town of Cochrane, about how to improve their social media skills; I’ve presented to students, elementary, middle and high school, on how to better their writing skills; I ran in the Outhouse Races; played in charity golf tournaments; met and did a story on Justin Trudeau; I was even a judge for a local cookie baking contest, which I have to say, was fun, but those who know me are well aware that a chicken wing contest would have been more up my alley.
I went to see NFL legend John Elway at Edge School, and was hoping to meet golfer Phil Mickelson, as he is designing Mickelson National Golf Club in the Harmony community, but alas, I did not.
On the other hand, I’ve been yelled at by a former Cochrane mayor – right here in our own office as a matter of fact – over making predictions for the last municipal election (I was right on six of seven, by the way). At the end of this column I will of course make my predictions for the Oct. 19 federal election.
Another former mayor avoids me like the plague when we see each other in public. So, either I’ve done really well at my job, or I’ve been just that bad…I’ll let the readers decide, not former mayors.
At least the current mayor seems to like me, so I’m batting .333 – not too bad.
Cochrane is a wonderful town with generous, caring people, and I’m happy that with my new position (also in the media realm) I don’t have to leave this wee town by the Bow.
It’s going to be strange picking up my copy of the Eagle Oct. 22 and not seeing my name in it…and actually having to read it to see what’s going on around town.
But I know that all the staff here in our office will continue putting out the best product Cochranites can get their hands on.
OK, here they are – but take them with a grain of salt. Though I was nearly bang on with the municipal election (six out of seven…did I mention that?) I was way off on the last provincial election.
As I write this, the Liberals are in the lead at 34 per cent, the Conservatives second with 32 per cent and NDP at 23 per cent. There are 10 days (four once this gets published) until election day.
So, here are my predictions on what’s going to happen Oct. 19:
1) The Conservatives are going to lose their majority, but they will come out with a minority government…barely.
2) In our Banff-Airdrie riding, Blake Richards will win, but not with nearly the 75 per cent he garnered in 2011. Liberal Marlo Raynolds will bring his party back up to second place from the fourth place it fell to in the last two elections and make Richards sweat.
Now, if this actually happens, or another party forms a minority government, we just have to hope that there is no call for a coalition government, because there are few political actions that are less democratic than overthrowing the winning party, voted on by the people.
For all of you who are complaining about the ‘vote splitting’ on the left and that is what ‘enabled Harper to win,’ just remember, since the 1950s there has only been three prime ministers whose parties got 50 per cent or more of the vote (St. Laurent, 1953; Diefenbaker, 1958; Mulroney, 1984). In fact, there have only been five Conservative and four Liberal prime ministers in Canadian history whose parties had 50 per cent or more of the vote.
So, A) it is not just common, but the norm in our system, and B) were you complaining about this during the Martin, Chretien, Trudeau, or Pearson years? I think not.
Right or wrong, it’s how our system works…live with it.
Phew! I’m glad I got four years of that off my chest.
