Well Bonnyville, there's no real easy way to say for me to say this, so I guess I'll just come right out and say it as it is - this is officially my last week writing for the Nouvelle.
Following what has been a thoroughly enjoyable two and a half year fling with one of the true gems of northern Alberta, my time in Bonnyville is unfortunately coming to a sudden end. It's got nothing to do with you and it's got nothing to do with me... The decision has actually been made for me.
Now, now before you all start coming up with grandiose theories as to why I've been canned, let me set you straight. As I'm sure most of you are aware, I'm a British citizen currently living and working in Canada on a Post Graduation Work Permit... Well, on August 17, that permit expires.
So, as I said, with no prospects of renewing my permit and with no realistic way of securing permanent residency at the moment, the federal government is forcing my hand and so my fiancé and I will be packing our bags and scurrying off back to Ontario where I will effectively be taking a six month vacation. It sucks, but such is life... You just have to make the best of the hand you're dealt.
Now we've got all the formalities out of the way, we can just sit back, relax and reminisce about all the good times we've had.
It all started back in February 2013 when, after what seemed like an eternity applying for job after job in the media industry, former Nouvelle publisher Clare Gauvreau took a leap of faith and decided to bring this green, eager to learn and eager to please reporter out west.
Things got off to a great start. In my first few months in Bonnyville I'd been involved in a small car accident, been the unfortunate (and incredibly stupid) victim of credit card fraud and completely embarrassed myself when forgetting my wallet at the absolute worst time - when attempting to pay for a cart load of groceries with people waiting in line behind me.
They were testing times, but I'm glad I got through them. The fact that I stuck around meant that I was able to unintentionally produce some of my... shall we say not-so-best work, and have it published in your favourite newspaper.
Back on May 28, 2013 in the story '2013 Chuckwagon season almost upon us' I tried to tell you that drivers from across the province would be seeking to break the Bonnyville track record of one hour 15 minutes and 22 seconds, set by Kirk Sutherland in 2012. Yes, I seriously wrote that and yes, it did get published in the Nouvelle. Give me a break! I'd never heard of chuckwagon racing in my entire life, never mind actually seen a race.
Fast forward to February 11 of last year and I was at it again. This time, in the story '13 local residents to travel to Nicaragua' I decided to test your geography and absolutely, 100 percent incorrectly state that Nicaragua in fact wasn't a Central American nation. No, I decided it would make for a much better story if I said Nicaragua was in Africa. I can't believe you guys didn't fall for that one.
I'm sure there have been several other instances where I have, for lack of a better term, had a brain fart on the job, but those are the two that will likely stick with me for the rest of my life. I sense laughing... It's okay. As long as you're laughing with me and not at me, we're all good.
If I can just be serious for a few moments though, I would like to take this time to personally thank each and every community member that has taken the time to get to know me, either through conversation while out and about in town, or through my work. I can honestly say these have been two of the best years of my, admittedly, rather short life thus far and I really don't think I could have picked a better place to get my start in the business.
From covering local soccer and hockey to jumping head first into nearly every breaking political and health-related story in the region over the past two and a half years, it's been a blast.
It saddens me that this blossoming relationship had to come to a premature end and I wish there was some way I could extend my stay. I had a lot of trouble adjusting to this country when I first moved here in 2007... The fact I was able to seamlessly slip into life in Bonnyville without even the inkling of a problem is a testament to just how wonderful and welcoming this community really is.
I'll miss you Bonnyville; Jessie Lake stench and all!
