I've never been a big fan of goodbyes, but here we are.
This is my final paper with the Mercury after just over 16 years.
It feels very weird to be writing that.
It really doesn't seem that long ago when I first walked into this office but like the saying goes, time flies.
Later this month I am moving to Winnipeg where my girlfriend Anita has been more than patiently waiting for the past two and a half years.
As excited as I am for the move and the beginning of a new chapter in my life, there is a big pile of nerves and emotions all tied up in one knot.
Outside of a mercifully brief stint in radio, I have spent all of my professional life at the Mercury. I was hired in the spring of 1998 and covered sports until 2008 when Norm Park and I became co-editors.
I'm fortunate to say I have loved all 16 years here at the Mercury. Of course there have been ups and downs like any other place but there's never been a day where I woke up and dreaded going to work.
We have a lot of great people working here, and we've always taken pride in covering all of the news in our city, good or bad. Doing that isn't always popular, but we've always believed that anything less is an insult to the intelligence of anyone who is nice enough to pick up the paper. I'm not afraid to say that we are the best weekly newspaper in the province.
It goes without saying that I'll miss my family, friends and everyone here at the Mercury. But what I will miss the most is Estevan.
Outside of a few years here and there, Estevan has always been my home. I was born in Estevan, grew up in Estevan and have always been proud to say I am from Estevan.
It seems like running down our city is the trendy thing to do these days and it bothers me, especially when it's our own residents doing it.
Estevan is not perfect. I'm not blind to the fact we have issues here. After all, in this job we see them on a daily basis.
But what gets lost in the hustle and bustle and dirt and dust, is the people who make this community a truly great place to live.
We sometimes get a bad rap for apathy and, at times, it's deserved. But show me a community that gets behind a good cause better than this one.
Name another city of this size that could raise almost $8 million for a new arena; Or how about when one of our own is hurt and in one night individuals and businesses team up to raise almost $200,000.
It's not potholes or garbage collection that makes a community what it is; it's the people. And that is what I will miss the most.
I'd like to thank everyone who goes above and beyond to make our city a better place to live. Listing them all would fill pages, but suffice to say it has been my pleasure to write about many of you and to call some of you friends.
Like I said, I'm not a big fan of goodbyes and since one never knows where life may take them, I'll say this instead:
See you later.
Jordan Baker will be taking over as co-editor along with Norm Park. He can be reached through the editor@estevanmercury.ca e-mail address or through jbaker@estevanmercury.ca As always, Norm can be reach at normpark@estevanmercury.ca
