Energeticcity.ca Weekly Review: Newsroom Shake-Up

Welcome to the next installment of the Weekly Review, a series where we mention what’s going on behind the scenes and showcase the previous week’s top stories.

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Behind the Scenes

There is a bit of a shake-up happening in the newsroom this month. The good news is we are joined by Steve Berard​ who is our new General Reporter. The bad news is we are saying farewell to our Associate Editor/Multimedia Reporter Jordan Prentice.​ Here is what they two had to say about joining and leaving the team respectively:

Steve: I came to Fort St. John from a tiny community in eastern Ontario to serve as Energeticcity.ca’s newest General Assignment reporter. I started my career by doing freelance voiceover work in high school, entering the news industry in 2021 after studying Radio Broadcasting at Algonquin College in Ottawa. I spent two and a half years as a reporter and news anchor in the world of small-market radio before bringing my talents to the North Peace. Outside of news, I have been writing for my entire life. When I’m not writing, I’m probably watching a documentary, talking about basketball or MMA, or talking himself out of adopting another dog.

Jordan: April 26th will be my last day as a reporter here at Energeticcity.ca, as I will begin a new position as a Videographer for Global News Lethbridge next month. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for my time in the Peace region. I feel incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to listen to the stories and experiences of countless community members and to report on the significant issues that have shaped the Peace.

Looking back on my time here, a few experiences have resonated with me over the last (almost) two years. Covering the Battleship Mountain, Boundary Lake, Stoddart Creek, Donnie Creek, and West Kiskatinaw River wildfires really gave me a taste of what it meant to report “in the field.” Though the circumstances were devastating, it was an amazing experience to be able to get up close to film unique footage of these wildfires, all for the purpose of showing Peace region residents what was truly happening so close to their homes, keeping them informed for their safety.

I am honoured to have been able to learn from and hear the stories of Doig River First Nation’s Elder Gerry Attachie, Chief Trevor Makadahay, and local activist for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Connie Greyeyes. These were some of the most insightful and memorable experiences of my career so far. 

And, of course, because hockey is the best sport in the world,  I thoroughly enjoyed covering local hockey and the one-of-a-kind Crystal Cup Pond Hockey Challenge. Overall, my time here has been a positive, unforgettable experience. The Peace region and all the memories and relationships I was able to create here will hold a special place in my heart forever. 

If you see Steve out and about, make sure to give him a warm Peace region welcome. For Jordan, thank you for all your hard work and we wish you luck in your future endeavours!

Most-Read Stories of the Week

It’s always interesting to see what the readers of Energeticcity.ca are most curious about. Sometimes it’s a big decision that will impact property taxes, and sometimes it’s a new restaurant coming to town. Here are the most-read stories for the week of April 14 to 20, 2024:

1. Dawson Creek Home to be Removed: due to structure damage. Council voted in favour of imposing remedial action due to the property’s significant damage posing a risk to public health and safety.
2. Police Standoff Ends Peacefully: in Dawson Creek according to the RCMP. The incident occurred on April 16, 2024, at the intersection of Old Edmonton Highway and Highway 2. 
3. Court Report: for April 8 to 12, 2024. Included are the latest sentences handed out from the Fort St John and Dawson Creek Provincial Courts.

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