In February 1978 someone took a chance on me and they opened a door to the best job I could have ever hoped for. That was when I was hired as a photographer at the North Shore News.
I was young, inexperienced and very keen. Within a year I had won my first newspaper photography award and things just got better.
The North Shore News was then located in offices on the second floor at 1139 Lonsdale Ave. and was owned by Peter Speck who had started the paper in 1969.
In those days it was a very manual process to put out a newspaper. Photos were shot on film and processed in our darkroom, stories were written on typewriters and then retyped using typesetting machines, which produced long strips of copy that were then run through a waxer and cut to size to be placed on the flats. If you found a spelling mistake you took a knife and cut the word out and replaced it with the corrected word that you had just retyped. And then when it was all done the final pages were put in a box and driven out to the printing plant.
Times changed, computers became our main tool, digital cameras arrived and we became experts in Photoshop and Quark Express and later InDesign. But through it all we covered the news, we told feature stories and we supported local organizations. Those things have not changed.
I have always felt that the most important thing we do as a newspaper is to help make our community successful. Taking the photographs to promote the various events, providing the readership for the advertisers to get their message out, telling the stories that keep all our residents informed about what is going on, those are the things we do best.
As a photographer I had the chance to take pictures of an incredible range of subjects. I photographed the Pope when he arrived in Vancouver, the Queen when she announced Expo 86 was coming, Charles and Diana when they came, the Whitecaps when they won the league championship, prime ministers, and premiers.
I flew above the city with the Snowbirds and I walked underneath the harbour when the main water tunnel was shut off for repairs. I covered every high school sport, every elementary school event, fires, accidents, births and deaths — I was involved.
Along the way I honed my craft and won over 30 photography awards, and will finish with my most recent one from the coverage of the Lynn Valley flooding last fall.
I got to meet a wide assortment of people, from babies to our eldest residents, and I was able to help tell their stories. Along the way I learned that every one has something special to say, that every story impacts someone’s life and that I had been given a rare position — that I could help make a difference.
At the end of the 90’s I was asked to take on the position of managing editor and my focus changed from making sure we had great photos to publish to now being responsible for the entire content of the paper. I have been fortunate to work with some incredibly talented writers and photographers. Together we produced an award winning paper that is recognized across Canada as one of the very best community newspapers.
In 2005 we faced our greatest challenge when our building was set on fire. The morning of Feb. 10 is one I’ll never forget. As our staff gathered outside while flames were still visible inside, we began making plans for the next issue. Our greatest achievement and our message to the arsonist was to put out a paper the very next day.
Such was the character and determination of the staff and it was an honour to lead them through those difficult weeks after the fire where we never gave up and never missed an issue.
Over the 37 years that I have worked for the North Shore News, I have always enjoyed what I do. I never woke up dreading the job I was going to, never wished I was doing anything else. I’ve been lucky and I know it. But there comes a time to close one door and walk through another and I’ve reached that junction. I will say goodbye to my amazing staff and farewell to our readers on May 8.
I am now ready to begin the next phase of my life but it doesn’t include slowing down.
I have a large painting commission to get started, a book I’m working on, a cross-country motorcycle trip planned and a chance to compete again this summer in Los Angeles at the World Crossfit Games in the 60-plus division.
I look forward to all that retirement offers and the continued pleasure of living in this most beautiful place in the country.
I’ll be anticipating the arrival of the North Shore News on my doorstep and even though I won’t already know what is inside, I have no doubt that it will continue to reflect all the best of our North Shore community.
