IB次元官网网址檒l just jump right into it.

ThereB次元官网网址檚 no point in beating around the bush, as it were.

This is my last paper with the Goldstream B次元官网网址 Gazette.

Oh, stop that.

ThereB次元官网网址檚 no need for tears.

Okay, go ahead. IB次元官网网址檒l give you a minute to compose yourself before continuing.

Are you okay, now? All right, IB次元官网网址檒l carry on.

In all seriousness, though, while I am under no delusion that news of my departure is enough to bring anyone to tears, I do feel as though I had some impact on my surroundings during the short time I was here, just as I know that the community has had an impact on me, as well.

IB次元官网网址檇 like to think I shared some stories of interest to the community over the past six months or so that may have gone untold otherwise.

Like the story of with a math teacher who had never done it before, either, and then learned about seamanship and sailed their creation around the South Islands.

Or , a 20-year veteran of the Canadian military, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, and his dog, Cully, who helps him cope with that condition.

Or , who will be heading off any day now to Ontario to represent Canada in pistol shooting, vying for a berth in the 2016 Rio Olympics (good luck, Mark!).

I very much enjoyed getting the word out about various causes the community should be proud of contributing to, as well.

I have loved B次元官网网址� as I always do B次元官网网址� seeing people come together to help each other.

There was the Langford , for example, and Canada Comforts, a non-profit organization whose beside the Juan de Fuca Rec Centre in Colwood to make care packages for children in developing countries around the globe.

IB次元官网网址檝e also enjoyed B次元官网网址� believe it or not B次元官网网址� attending meetings of city council and various committees and then sharing whatB次元官网网址檚 happening at City Hall in terms of policy decisions, bylaw amendments and watching the communityB次元官网网址檚 engagement in the public process.

I donB次元官网网址檛 know much about this new reporter coming on in my place, other than her name is Katherine Engqvist, sheB次元官网网址檚 an honours graduate of Ryerson UniversityB次元官网网址檚 Bachelor of Journalism program B次元官网网址� widely recognized as being one of the best in the country B次元官网网址� and sheB次元官网网址檚 keen to become a part of the team here at the Gazette.

IB次元官网网址檓 confident sheB次元官网网址檒l continue to engage the community with whatB次元官网网址檚 happening within it and around it, as I have strived to do.

Speaking of the team here at the Gazette, IB次元官网网址檇 like to give my most sincere thanks to editor Don Descoteau for his tireless efforts and to Arnold Lim, who never ceases to amaze me with the photographs he submits with his stories.

The West Shore community is lucky to have two such participants in this endeavour we call B次元官网网址渃ommunity journalism.B次元官网网址�

As for me, IB次元官网网址檒l be just up the highway in Campbell River, as I take on a similar role with the Campbell River Mirror, and I will check back in periodically to see whatB次元官网网址檚 happening here, likely getting my news of the community from goldstreamgazette.com.

IB次元官网网址檝e come to care about these communities IB次元官网网址檝e been covering B次元官网网址� as all journalists should, in my opinion B次元官网网址� and IB次元官网网址檓 eager to see what they become as they move forward into the future, despite not being here to cover it myself.

Thanks for having me.