White Rock91裸聊视频檚 Rick O91裸聊视频機onnor is still getting acclimated to relaxation, he admits.

But the former President and CEO of the Black Press Media Group 91裸聊视频� owners of news media outlets in BC, Alberta, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Washington State, Alaska, and Hawaii 91裸聊视频� said it91裸聊视频檚 a transition he91裸聊视频檚 more than ready to make.

91裸聊视频淭he first 10 days has been fantastic,91裸聊视频� O91裸聊视频機onnor 91裸聊视频� who retired from his post on Sept. 2 91裸聊视频� said Monday.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 so used to saying I91裸聊视频檓 not going to do this or that on Sunday, because Monday is coming up,91裸聊视频� he added. 91裸聊视频淣ow Monday doesn91裸聊视频檛 matter as much.91裸聊视频�

O91裸聊视频機onnor said he and his wife Pam, who moved to the Semiahmoo Peninsula in 1991 and raised their family here, are looking forward to eventually travelling to favourite places around the world.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檇 love to do a golf trip to Ireland and Scotland 91裸聊视频� my wife has already been there 91裸聊视频� and to revisit Italy and Hawaii and other places we91裸聊视频檝e been to and loved,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淏ut we91裸聊视频檙e not going to be travelling too much until travel becomes easier.91裸聊视频�

O91裸聊视频機onnor, formerly a Peace Arch Hospital Foundation board member, said he plans to continue his 91裸聊视频減assionate involvement91裸聊视频� with the development and improvement of services at the hospital, and in promoting health care in general in the community.

And while he91裸聊视频檚 not been actively involved in coaching softball and soccer since the days of his children91裸聊视频檚 athletic careers (he was recently named to the BC Softball Hall of Fame for his contributions to the sport, including launching the UBC Women91裸聊视频檚 Varsity Softball program in 2009) he still retains a lively interest in local sporting organizations.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 wonderful to see how, in a community like this, they continue to offer an involvement opportunity,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e not moving anywhere, so obviously we91裸聊视频檒l stay involved in the community in any way we can.91裸聊视频�

O91裸聊视频機onnor said he would probably have chosen to retire a couple of years earlier, after a 40 year-plus career in the newspaper and media business.

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91裸聊视频淏ut then COVID hit 91裸聊视频� which became an exercise in crisis management. We91裸聊视频檝e kind of got through that now, so I thought that this is probably the time to hand things over to other colleagues in Black Press Media.91裸聊视频�

His first involvement with newspapers came in the late 1970s when he was working for a radio station in Prince George that had established a satellite station in Vanderhoof.

91裸聊视频淥ur job was to provide an on-air presence in the morning, to go out and sell ads and then come back and record and produce them,91裸聊视频� he remembered. 91裸聊视频淭hen in the evening we91裸聊视频檇 cover events and add voice clips to the stories.

91裸聊视频淭he radio station was connected to the newspaper there 91裸聊视频� in the same building 91裸聊视频� so I got to watch it at work. Then a little while later, in 1978, when everybody in town was complaining about the existing newspaper, I sold my car, bought some equipment and started a paper of my own.91裸聊视频�

It was a different world, O91裸聊视频機onnor recalled 91裸聊视频� one without cellphones or the internet.

91裸聊视频淭he primary means of communication was through the newspaper 91裸聊视频� it was through that you set about winning the hearts and minds of the readers. Now there are so many different platforms people can receive information from.91裸聊视频�

O91裸聊视频� Connor recalled that some of his happiest times were meeting the challenges of starting up new newspapers 91裸聊视频� something he did in many markets after selling his first two papers to Black Press Media in 1983, first as vice president of newspapers for the Lower Mainland Publishing Company, and later from 1998, as president of the Metro Valley Newspaper Group.

But as 91裸聊视频渆xciting and stimulating91裸聊视频� as these experiences were, O91裸聊视频機onnor 91裸聊视频� who was awarded the prestigious Dean Lesher award in 2009 for outstanding contributions to the community newspaper industry in North America 91裸聊视频� believes the really exciting time to be in the media industry is now, after the last 20 years of technological advances, when news is 91裸聊视频渋nstantaneous91裸聊视频� and there are multiple opportunities for journalists to interact with the public.

While competing for business with media giants such as Google and Facebook presents undeniable challenges, O91裸聊视频機onnor said the benefits of being able to communicate in more sophisticated ways still outweighs them.

More than that, he said, he believes maintaining locally-based media is a crucial component in the fabric of communities, and society in general, with professional journalism continuing to act as as a necessary analytical 91裸聊视频渇ilter91裸聊视频� for the polarized viewpoints to be found all over the web.

91裸聊视频淎nd having watched (hometown paper) the Peace Arch News over the years and the kind of work people there have done, and the work they continue to do for the community, I91裸聊视频檇 like to continue to encourage people to support their local newspaper and media company,91裸聊视频� he said.

Even in retirement mode, he suspects he will still be involved in the industry part-time.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 interested in how we can create a business model for newspapers and media companies that is sustainable 91裸聊视频� how can I use my years of experience to create something, down the road, that everyone will benefit from, not just Black Press.91裸聊视频�

alex.browne@peacearchnews.com
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