While I knew the day would eventually come, I didn’t know when, but here we are.
As of Dec. 1, I’ll no longer be a reporter with the Airdrie City View and Rocky View Weekly newspapers.
I’d like to start off by saying how much I’ve enjoyed working here the last 17 months. Being able to return to my hometown to report on local news and share community stories has been one of the joys of my life.
There is a different energy in Airdrie that you don’t feel anywhere else. The people are generous, hardworking, and inviting. That is one thing that will make leaving my post here tough. It has definitely made the job better as I have worked to navigate my next moves.
Although I’m sad to be leaving, I'm excited to say it’s for a good reason. I recently accepted a position with the Calgary Herald and Calgary Sun as a digital producer, which for me, is about as good as it gets.
I have zero doubts in my mind that not only the team I’ve worked with here, but also all of the sources I’ve spoken with along the way are a huge reason my new employer even gave my application the time of day.
Before I came here, I had 11 months of reporting experience. For most of those months, I was on my own and had formed some bad habits strictly through not knowing any better. The editors I’ve gotten to work with here are top notch, and that’s why the content produced from this newsroom stands out.
Working in my hometown has been so much fun. Before this, I was on the road constantly and never home for very long. Being able to settle down for more than a year has been refreshing and allowed me to reconnect with my roots.
It has been difficult too, but that’s only because of the COVID-19 pandemic and everything that has come with it. It’s also something we’re all dealing with, so I can’t say I’m unique in that matter.
This community is so special. Not only do the people make the experience better, but seeing how everyone has grinded through the last nearly two years has been so inspiring. So many local organizations are doing cartwheels and backflips to continue to raise money for good causes, which is a testament to Airdrie’s community-focused mentality.
I’ll definitely miss reporting here, but I know it’s my time to go. I’m nearly 30, and still have a laundry list of things I’d like to achieve in my career.
Without the knowledge I gained here, there is no way I would be in a position to get the job I did. For that, I’m forever grateful.
Airdrie will always be my home. Thank you for letting me tell your stories.
Jordan Stricker, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @jaystrickz
