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Thank you

The buzz may be out and about in town, but I wasn’t sure how to word it. After six years here at The Observer – my first “real job” – I will be moving on at the end of this month.

            The buzz may be out and about in town, but I wasn’t sure how to word it. After six years here at The Observer – my first “real job” – I will be moving on at the end of this month.

            Last week I wrote about graduating and having wanted to go into the RCMP, well 10 years later I applied and I recently received a call that I have been conditionally accepted into Depot.

            I was trying to put off writing this as I wasn’t sure if I could find the right words, but I have learned so much here and have enjoyed the communities that our paper covers immensely. When I think about what I will miss most of this area – you never know maybe if I graduate Depot [I say if because I’m told it’s hard work and long days] I’ll be placed in Saskatchewan and maybe even near the southeast – what comes to mind though is the people.

            Everyone that has ever called me, sent me an email, a letter, a thank you card – you’ve all made my heart soar. It solidifies that what local newspapers do is important and it told me that I was doing something that the communities we service appreciated.

            I’ve had a great amount of support over the years from those that I’ve befriended here as well – there are some truly great people here. My co-workers over the years, those with the United Church that took me in when I first moved here – they all helped me find myself in my new community… as I sat living in a fifth wheel trailer for the first month wondering if I had made the right decision.

            I then got into coaching volleyball with Eugene Brown and from there met an abundance of amazing families from throughout the southeast who came to play for the Vipers. This is something that I’m going to miss immensely – I know you can coach anywhere, but it’s not the same people and families… and at the end of the day that’s what life is about – those connections.

            Bree Ryan kindly got me into playing volleyball in the local ladies league, which has been amazing and again I have met so many fantastic people through this means.

            And to Michael Ellis for talking me through a decision last year. I was feeling as though I needed a change and after my sister and her boyfriend encouraged me to become a pilot; I took an introductory flight class in Estevan. It was an amazing experience getting to fly a plane and it’s something I could see myself doing, but I wasn’t sure if it was the right move.

            When I returned to Carlyle that day I went for a coffee and Michael happened to be having lunch, so I asked if I could interrupt him. Of course he let me and I spoke to him about how he came to where he is today; he told a story of coming full circle. Of having once worked in a bakery when he was younger, to becoming a pastor, to deciding to open his own bakery and coffee shop. My story although different followed the same full-circle – why would I randomly choose to become a pilot when my intention out of high school was to join the RCMP?

            When I was in grade 12 my parents encouraged me to get a degree and life experience before applying to the RCMP and if it was still something I had wanted to do down the road then to go for it. Their wise words have definitely left me more prepared today than I would have been at 18-years-old.

            I would also like to thank all of the RCMP members that have worked or are currently working in Carlyle. They have been encouraging and supportive as I look to make this change in my life, which I appreciate greatly.

            So, from the bottom of my heart – thank you for allowing me into your communities for the past six years.