ARMCHAIR ARCHIVES – The night The Daily News published for the last time
Getting out one last edition of the Kamloops Daily News.
This column was first published Jan. 11, 2014:
I DON’T THINK I’VE EVER SEEN more strength of character in one room than I did at the wake held by Kamloops Daily News staff at Carlos O’Bryan’s tonight.
There was a lot of smiling, laughing and hugging. There were tears, too, but they are such a brave bunch. Some of them have job prospects, some don’t. They all have to figure out some way to support their families. There will be a whole lot of starting over.
But let’s back up, just a bit. On Monday, Glacier Media announced it was shutting down the paper. Tonight, just a few days later, staff was putting together the last edition.
I received a kind invitation to join them for a sort of celebration of life so, at the appointed time, I arrived at the paper’s offices on Seymour Street. The gathering was supposed to kick off at 4 p.m. but everybody was still busy getting tomorrow’s final edition together.
The last pages, except for sports (Gregg Drinnan and Mark Hunter decided to stay at their desks getting the Blazers game results and other sports coverage right up to their usual late-night deadline), were being finished up and proofed, so I pitched in.
On the one hand, it was a good feeling to be a part of it. I even caught a few things that needed fixing. But, damn, it hurt to have to see everybody going through such a night.
Former editor Susan Duncan, news editor Mike Cornell (sitting) and former editor Mel Rothenburger after front page was completed.
When associate news editor Catherine Litt handed me the front page and asked me to give it the first proof, and then send the last batch of news pages to press, I felt sadly honoured to do so.
The whole KDN staff carried on with admirable professionalism to produce that final edition — it is, in effect, the obituary for the city’s daily newspaper and for their own jobs — and I felt the enormity of that as I hit the button.
I will pause here briefly to explain that I was also given the honour of calling “Stop the press!” the night we shut down our press for the last time a couple of years ago.
I would have been happier if those two honours had not been necessary.
During the final hours, there were muffins, donuts and pizza and, yes, I indulged in a glass of wine while I was doing some copyediting but I blame publisher Tim Shoults for that because he’s the one who handed it to me. That’s my story, anyway.
Editor Tracy Gilchrist continued working away in her office. Lorraine Winter, Catherine Litt and news editor Mike Cornell were busy putting pages together. Reporters Sylvie Paillard and Michele Young were helping proof, and Mark Rogers was putting the final touches on the website. Jason Hewlett and Mike Youds were there helping out, too.
Ad reps, production staff, classifieds and business departments carried on. Danna Bach, who edits Kamloops Business magazine and special sections, sported a Daily News shirt. Far from being quiet, there was a buzz in the building almost as if it was just another workday.
At about 5:30, Shoults came through to announce that the website comments had been turned off. There will be no more banter about KDN stories between Grouchy, Snuffy and all the others who have felt so at home there over the years.
Meanwhile, there was a lot of visiting and some chatting and farewells, and much picture taking but, you know what? They still made their deadline.
Working to the very end. Editor Tracy Gilchrist in her office.
Then, they gradually gathered at the bar. It was both a sad and joyful event. Sad for obvious reasons, but joyful because everyone in the room was grateful for having known each other and experienced such a wonderful place to work.
Later on, Shoults and some others made their way back to the office to be there as the sports pages were “put to bed.” Still others hurried ahead hoping to beat Tim there so they could pull off a prank they’d dreamed up.
“Family” was a word used often tonight. It’s almost unbearable to think the link has been broken.
Sometimes, life just sucks.
Mel Rothenburger is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. He has served as mayor of Kamloops, school board chair and TNRD director, and is a retired daily newspaper editor. He worked at The Kamloops Daily News for most of the years between 1970 and 2013. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
I remember going into the newspaper office and meeting with Susan Duncan. She was often writing “something” about city business and bylaws activities.
We had two dogs; one was euthanized but we decided to adopt another dog only a couple of months later. Thinking it was the right thing to do, we bought a city licence for our new dog.
Within a few days, we received a very harshly-worded letter, signed by the bylaw supervisor at the time. The title, in bold print, across the top of the first page was “TOO MANY DOGS”. In the body of the letter, a mini riot act was outlined telling us what we might be able to expect due to this infraction.
My wife cried. I guess I shed a tear or two but then decided to focus attention on the crux of the matter. Losing a pet isn’t easy and being present when the animal is put to sleep can have some unpleasant memories. Mr. bylaw man and Mayor Lake each were recipients of a response letter. Within a few days, we got a letter of apology from Mr. bylaw man. The policy is now in place that an existing dog licence can be used for the replacement dog if the original dog has been put to sleep. (Is that still the case??)
A simple phone call to us from Mr. bylaw man, or his advocate, would have been a bit more appropriate.
Susan had been writing about ‘bylaw issues’ and was attentive to hear the story from us. She even included it as part of her article.
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