It is indeed a cliché but just where did the past year go?
At this time of year we all reflect on the year that was, and it’s no different in the newspaper business.
We turn to our bound editions to glean the top stories of the year, (see the start of our top-10 stories this issue), a process which always surprises since memories of stories tend to fade rather quickly as others arise to capture our interest.
While there are particular stories that rate the top-10 list, the past year was also one where certain trends were over-arching in a sense.
The first that comes to mind is the heavy summer rains which again led to localized flooding within the city.
Summer weather has certainly been shifting in recent years in terms of the severity of rainfall events. Summer flooding from heavy rainfall is becoming all too common.
There is little to suggest such severe weather is past us, and it is likely eyes will turn warily to the sky anytime the rains begin in earnest in the year ahead.
Certainly the issue of flooding remains high on the agenda of the City, with past Councils assigning significant dollars to projects to reduce rain flood issues, with more certainly part of long range planning.
The past 12 months have also seen the world economy slow. That has been reflected in continued low crude oil prices, and softer prices for potash, two key economic generators in Saskatchewan. The economic reality is at least part of the reason for a $1 billion deficit in Regina.
Locally, Mayor Bob Maloney has suggested Yorkton has stood against the general economic decline (see story Page A3), but no city can be completely insulated from what goes on beyond its city limits.
There is little to suggest the economy will suddenly become robust again in 2017.
Farming faces the uncertainty which comes with a late harvest which reduced fall work in preparation for the 2017 crop, in too many cases crop still lying in the field to be dealt with when the snow melts.
Oil seems to be taking a bounce, but nothing suggests a complete turnaround for the sector.
And there is of course the uncertainty to all things generated by the prospect of Donald Trump in his first year as American president. His presidency may be seen as positive for big business, but that bodes less well for workers, and does not factor in the destabilizing effect his policies may have on issues for equality, minority rights, foreign policy, and the environment.
So mere days from the drop of a new year, we head forward, not sure of what lies ahead, but that simply means we will need to face whatever comes as we always do, making the best of the opportunities and overcoming the hardships.
