Words Allison Smith, Owner & Editor-in-Chief
Photo Janis Jean
W e recently got a letter from an employee of a local business, asking if we had a Boss of the Year contest. The employee loves her boss so much that she wants to let everyone know what an amazing person she is. This woman (I’ll keep her name a secret so her employees can surprise her) has contributed to Seaside a couple of times over the years and owns a restaurant that brings the food from local farms to its customers. She is truly woven into the fabric of the Saanich Peninsula community.
I’ve owned the magazine for over four months now, but have been the Editor-in-Chief for over 17 years. Over those years, we have made it our mission to tell the stories of countless local people, businesses and places and so much more. Through that, we have seen Seaside, too, become woven into the fabric of our community.
When I bought the magazine from Sue it was for two reasons – to guarantee my job far into the future, as I am very lucky to truly love what I do, and to protect the magazine and make sure it, too, would be here for the people of the Peninsula for many years to come. Since becoming owner I have been out in the community more and have heard from so many of you with kind words about how much they value this little community publication.
We champion local above all else; after all, without supporting local and being supported in turn we simply wouldn’t exist. I recently learned that our printer of many years, Mitchell Press in Vancouver, had been sold to Ontario-based Dollco Printing. We could continue on as if nothing had changed, but right away I knew that I had to find a new printer, one that is as local as possible.
The issue you hold in your hands is the result. There are no printers on the Island that can produce our type of publication but, with Coquitlam-based Web Express now printing Seaside, we can proudly say that we are printed in British Columbia on paper from B.C. mills. The magazine will feel different, lighter (hopefully a good thing!) and it may take us a while to get all the elements completely dialled in, so we appreciate your patience. But for a magazine that is woven into the fabric of our community, being printed in Ontario simply wasn’t an option. We will always be as local as possible, and thank you, as always, for your support!
Clothing provided and styled by Sidney Pier & Path
Shot on location at Heritage Acres.
