The time has come for me to retire after more than nine years at the Source.
I was hired in October, 2015, just two months after Pipeline News eliminated my home-based reporting job following the downturn in oil prices.
It’s been a pretty good ride as they say, as I’ve covered just about every type of story and met a ton of interesting people along the way. I have also been fortunate to win several weekly newspaper awards in my time with the paper along with several other talented people in the office.
I don’t have a favourite story, but I have enjoyed writing businesses-related stories most of all.
Looking back, my first job as a journalist was the editor of The Record in Fort Saskatchewan.
I got the job after I graduated from Ryerson University in 1976 with a B.A. in journalism and hitched just one ride from Toronto to Calgary in search of a job.
I have also worked in communications for a couple of provincial governments and for newspapers and various magazines in Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta and all over B.C.
Lloydminster has been good to me as I found employment stability here. This enabled me to buy a condo and somehow retire in this low-cost city.
I will turn 76 in April, so I realize am not getting any younger. This has been an eventful year that led me to put things in perspective and order.
Thoughts of retirement came to mind after I was deliberately hit by a driver of a stolen truck while I was cycling last summer. It reminded me life can turn on a dime, so my priority is personal health and fitness.
In retirement, I plan to continue cycling like there’s no tomorrow, swim laps at the pool, skate rings around the ice and go to the gym. I like to read a lot and I might do some creative writing.
I might even start freelancing if I see sod turning over for a new Costco!
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