Dear Editor,
Local newspapers are vital to creating a shared sense of community.
They show us what’s happening in our schools, comfort us in times of uncertainty and highlight the many local success stories that make us proud to call this place our home.
Seeing local stories in the Richmond News made our growing Island City feel like a small town — a place where real people lived.
In the paper, strangers became old friends. You could open the front page and learn that your old classmate was now a teacher, inspiring the next generation — or that the neighbour who always said hello on evening walks was actually an award-winning pumpkin grower.
You might even be surprised by the images of your own life captured and reflected back as part of our collective story. And, of course, if your achievements were celebrated in the paper, everyone you knew would have to clip out the photo and story, to save as a memento of our shared pride.
The Richmond News continues to be a great source for what’s happened and what’s coming up.
As a child, my wonder would grow as I’d read about future events in the community: Nibbles and Bites at Thompson Community Centre, Winterfest outside City Hall and the Harvest Festival at Garden City.
And while these events live in the past memories of Richmond residents, they were covered and preserved on the pages of the Richmond News.
Just as future ones will continue to be written about online.
I’ll miss the small-town feel of a local paper, hand-delivered to our door to remind us of what makes our community wonderful.
But I’ve signed up for the newsletter — and I can’t wait to read about the many stories to come and the many neighbours I’ve yet to meet.
Keefer Pelech
Richmond
