Skeeters from all over Hwy 16 and other surprises

By Philip Rushton
Hinton Parklander

Being in a new office every week as a temp during summers and after graduating is nothing new for this intern.

On the other-hand, being in a new town every week is very different.

Shooting photos on a river jet-boat one weekend, then a rodeo, then munchkins in theatre camp Wizard of Oz presentation, and who knows what next. It's a great part about community newspaper.

Not so great is being lost in a new town every week with directions like 'across from Tim Hortons'. If only I knew where the Timmy's is located. Or 'where the old fire station was before they moved'. I don't know where the new fire station is, let alone the old one.



Growing up in Victoria, I knew plenty of people around town from being involved in inter-connected community groups. In Calgary, I knew few people as J-school and a few groups were all consuming with student newspaper and a dozen assignments to balance. In a smaller town it's a refreshing change of pace more like my homeland and surprising how everyone knows everyone. I'm meeting people that way – 'haven't I met such and such guy? He's been around this town forever and tells good stories.'

When I say I'm the intern or new in town, every single person I've met graciously welcomed me into town and told me about neat places to check out. People invited me over to their table for a drink because I was sitting alone at the lounge for supper. The rugby team invited me to their dinner after the game. Very cool in making me feel less homesick.

Warding off homesickness with long distance phone calls and Skype to my folks and my girlfriend helped, but newspaper office staff made me feel at home too.

Articles to make deadlines and off-the-wall sense of humour in the office is oddly comfortable when everything is new. After a pair of student newspapers for several years each, it's funny how some things never change: odd traditions, little sleep on production days, strong coffee and stronger reporting.

Reporters have shown me around town with pride. The receptionist/office admin knows practically everyone and club/organization and where everything is located. Writers and sales people know everyone else. The editor is going in half a dozen different directions and the publisher is going in a dozen directions. Yet they take time to answer questions and give advice. The familiar orderly chaos equals no time for homesickness.

Driving 200-400 kilometers a weekend has racked up my odometer and coffee intake. Seeing gorgeous country-sides drift by, meeting friendly people, and writing articles on issues which matter has been a dream come true. It's satisfying to be road-tripping, reporting and photographing on great community news and sports after years of J-school.

Thanks for welcoming me and telling me your stories as I fly through.