I have now been Editor-in-Chief of Seaside Magazine since 2008 (minus a maternity leave). Sixteen years!
It has gone by in the blink of an eye, and I can hardly believe how far the magazine has come since I moved from Vancouver to the Island to take the job – with Tim Flater at the helm in those days – all those years ago.
As I started to settle into my role at Seaside, one of my favourite parts was getting to know all of our clients. Since so much of my job is done via email, I loved popping into all of the businesses I knew on the Peninsula, saying hello to the lovely shopowners I communicated with via the magazine every month. The majority of these shopowners were – and still are – women. Some of the shops have closed over the past years, but many are still going strong, joined by new neighbours, further growing our local economy and maintaining their place as fixtures of our community.
In 2011 Sue Hodgson purchased Seaside and took over as publisher. Since then she has been a force to be reckoned with, a true Woman to Watch. She has brought the magazine further than I think many of us thought was possible – shepherding it through the Covid years and coming out the other side with more support than ever. “Seaside Sue” cares about this magazine and our community so deeply and it shows. At our recent rebranding launch event, clients and friends spoke about the magazine and you can see that that love is reflected back on her.
As I reflect on these past 16 years, I feel immense gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to Seaside’s growth and for the relationships I’ve built along the way. Here’s to many more years of celebrating the heart of our community and the remarkable women who shape it.
Allison Smith, Editor-in-Chief
This puppy may have found a family before this issue hits the streets, but there are many animals waiting for their forever homes at
www.victoriahumanesociety.com.
Photo Janis Jean
