MENZIES: Until we meet again, I thank you very much

In some ways, May 12, 2018, feels like yesterday. In other ways, my life before I came to Bonnyville feels like a distant memory – a dream. 

When I started at Lakeland Connect, I was a fresh-faced, skinny 19-year-old kid looking to complete their Radio & Television practicum at NAIT. Connect was going to pay me for the 15 week contract, which sounded pretty good to me. 

Off to Bonnyville I went. 

A few weeks in, Jena could tell I could handle the newsroom. They wanted me to sign on and go full-time. 

I said, what the hell? Why not? 

Never could I have imagined what would happen over the next seven years. 

The volume of opportunities and experiences, the stories I’ve covered, the people I’ve talked to, the friends I’ve made, the hours on the bus travelling with the Jr. A Pontiacs…I could go on. 

Never would I have guessed what I’d do here. 

The first real gruelling day, but also the day I knew I could be a media professional was a hot and stormy July night back in ‘18. 

It was a Friday, which at that time were our longest days. We did our four person morning show (Jena, Chad, Caitlyn, and I). I did some office work, but primarily prepped. UCP leader Jason Kenney was going to be in Cold Lake. Chad said, I’ll get you the interview. Just be ready. 

So I prepared. Full Throttle Music Festival was that night in Cold Lake before the Air Show, hence the appearance from such a political mover and shaker. 

I drove over to Cold Lake that night and the clouds were brewing something fierce, but not quite in the city yet. When I arrived, no dice. Kenney said maybe later. 

Oh, but you should interview Big Sugar, Jena said. I was going to do it, but you should. 

Alright, fine. I prepped carbon tax and abortion questions for the future premier so my head wasn’t in it. 

What commenced was easily my most embarrassing video, a true trainwreck. Not knowing what to say, stumbling, fumbling. Gordie Johnson physically turned his body the other way during the interview. 

Did I mention I was wearing this ridiculous outfit, a dress shirt, vest combination that was just absurd. Ugly. Brutal. I wanted to die. Luckily, Gordie was dressed and mustached like Hitler, so looking back, we can be embarrassed together. 

Anyways, the video ended, and I had to drive back because there was a Lakeland Heat Jr. B Lacrosse game, a North Division playoff game no less against the Lloyd Xtreme. 

That’s when the rain came. 

A righteous downpour of epic proportions. Flash floods, visibility nil. My Taurus couldn’t handle it. When I arrived back in town I had to try and look out the window to see, splish-splashing through the rivers of streets. 

Anyways, I arrived at the rink and covered the game, a physical, heated affair, which saw the Heat win. The game didn’t start until 9:00pm. I think I left around 11. 

That’s when the phone rings: Chad Colbourne. 

“Kenney will do the interview. Comfort Inn. Come over now. I’m set up already.” 

Now to the foyer and awaiting Kenney, he did arrive and was game for the interview. At this point with everything that happened that day, I was loose. I had already provided a trainwreck of a band interview. If I screwed Kenney up then, oh well. 

I remember I did a William F. Buckley impression as a joke and he laughed. Got’em. 

We did the interview amidst lightning and thunder through the back window, still in view for the interview. It went as well as I could’ve hoped. There’s something about talking with people late at night – they open up. Or as he submitted, the booze helped too. 

I was on Cloud Nine. I got home at just after midnight and laid on my bed. My first 16-18 hour media day, with the true highs and lows, and everything in between. 

Not bad for a kid. 

– 

That was seven years ago and I think now I’ve grown comfortable. The trauma meter of embarrassment and self-consciousness has been flexed in all the high stress, tight-deadline excitement that comes with working at Lakeland Connect, or taking on a media lifestyle. 

And now, my time here must end. 

We’ll keep in touch. 

Articles of mine can be read at OilersNation, maybe you’ll see my face there from time to time too. 

I am taking on a new adventure. 

It is time. 

I hope you know how much being here and doing this job has changed my life, and for the better (mostly). It’s been a pleasure and an honour to be a voice, and to be integrated so well into the fabric of the Lakeland. 

While it isn’t Casablanca nor Paris, just remember…we’ll always have Connected!