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= I OPINION :EFFECTING CHANGE, FIGHTING FOR THE SMALL GUYS, CAPTURING LIFE'S MOMENTS NEWSPAPERS MATTER vember 22 2 > £ NEWSPAPERS WILL § FOREVER HAVE A © PLACE, WRITES 5 SLACK Qo & Ts Qo Milton Canadian insidehalton.com E JULIE SLACK jslack@metroland.com It'sabout trust. Qur rela- tionship with our readers is built on transparency, hon- esty and integrity. As such; we have launched a trust initiative to tell you who we are and how and why we do what we do. This article is part of that project. I've been a journalist for 29 years, coincidentally starting my career as a sports and community re- porter at the hometown newspaper I used to search every Wednesday for famil- iar names and faces - The Grimsby Independent. At the time, it was an in- dependent, owned by Beamsville's Bill Rannie, a gem of a gentleman and a lifelong journalist himself. A naive 20-year-old, lit- tle did I know that I'd end up writing stories that changed people's lives, and had long-lasting impacts 'on communities. In various roles through the years, I was newspaper editor of the West Lincoln News (Smithville), Lincoln Post Express, the Grimsby Independent, the Ancaster News, The Hamilton Mountain News, and then reporter at the Mississauga 450 Bronte St South, Unit 10 NOW MORE dy THAN EVER News and later the Milton Canadian Champion. To- day, I write for all the Hal- ton papers - Oakville, Bur- lington and Milton. There are stories everywhere and people I've met and crossed paths with that make me smile. From helping to prevent the demise of local festi- vals, to fundraising for any number of causes, commu- nity newspapers truly em- brace the role of being a champion. When I worked at the Hamilton (Mountain then) News, we rallied suc- cessfully to keep the then- Henderson Hospital open when it was listed on the chopping blocks by the pro- vincial government of the day. A similar scenario played out with Auchmar Mansion. With the newspa- per supporting community groups, pressure was placed on governments to preserve this historic gem. In Mississauga, I worked on a number of sto- ries to help preserve lands that were once home toa much-loved and revered bird sanctuary run by MEDICAL [00 SOLUTIONS. Are you embarrased by your thick and discoloured toenails. New Fungal Toenail Treatment Available Call For an Appointment « Milton 289-878-7334 Ask for the Genesis Light Therapy he as RARE ANE EASES ARAN YAEIEARARATSEAUASESIEAREEREREOESINAS FEELRISRESLESHEENATALETETINSLARAVARAVARALERANRLIARASRRRRR RARER over 100,000 HAPPY FEET TREATED! 1 » medicalfootsolutions.com world- penowned ornitholo- hy gist Roy Ivor. In Halton, newspapers have helped to bring to light countless issues that would otherwise remain unknown to the communi- ty. We keep politicians ac- countable to taxpayers. We make change happen. Personally, my career has been life-changing and a continuous journey of ed- ucation. I look back at old news- paper clippings covering my youth: Baseball at bats, graduations, even the fluo- ride rinse program at schools! And it's those moments that people still long to see in their newspaper. I un- derstand that, and I'm so happy to have been able to be a part of that for all these years. Julie Slack is a reporter for the Burlington Post, Milton Canadian Champi- on and Oakville Beaver. We welcome your questions and value your comments. Email our trust committee at trust@metroland.com. 3 : RE "THE LARGEST SALE IN | PEEL REGION i 455 GIBRALTAR DR. i MISSISSAUGA th ' Bas We oy Js a git (RR x Nikki Wesley/ Metroland DTW, Julie Slack Na Ee i REGU eS SR aad : For more infomation 8 BEL SEE RIT ef ~ www.warehousesalesamtack. com o www.facebook. Somygamiack Si "¥ Rad LEI ERSTE