King Charles III Coronation Medal

I recently received notice that I had been awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal, a moment that filled me with both pride and humility.

This medal was created to commemorate the crowning of His Majesty King Charles III and is awarded to Canadians who have made a significant contribution to their country, province or community. Just 30,000 individuals across Canada will ever receive this recognition, and to be counted among them is something I will carry with deep gratitude.

I was nominated through a process led by John Barlow, our Member of Parliament, and I want to thank him sincerely. John has always shown unwavering support for rural Alberta and for the value of community-level leadership. I have immense respect for him, not only as a parliamentarian, but as someone who genuinely understands the importance of small towns and the people who work every day to strengthen them.

To receive this kind of recognition is overwhelming in the best way. Like so many of us who serve our communities, I never set out to win awards. I set out to make a difference.

Whether it is in my role as owner of the Crowsnest Pass Herald, as a councillor, or as president of the Alberta Weekly Newspaper Association, everything I do is rooted in one belief: that local matters. That democracy depends on strong, independent reporting. That voices in small towns deserve to be heard just as much as those in big cities. And that the future of Alberta depends on leaders who know how to listen, how to serve, and how to stand up for what is right.

I am incredibly proud to represent all of Alberta’s weekly newspapers. As president of the AWNA, I advocate for our industry with the same passion and conviction I bring to everything I believe in. Local journalism is not just my job, it is my calling. And I will continue fighting for its survival, its recognition, and its rightful place in every community across this province. Our papers may be small, but our impact is enormous. We document local history, challenge power, and build civic pride one edition at a time. What we do in the pages of our publications shapes how people understand their world, their neighbours, and their government.

Suing Google is what I do. When I see an injustice, I fight. I fight for the underdog, whether that means holding Big Tech accountable for profiting off our work without paying for it, or standing up for people in my community who need housing, support or simply someone to listen. I have never been afraid to speak up, and I never will be. Whether the issue is fair compensation for content or equity in housing, I do not back down. I believe everyone deserves to be seen, heard and treated with dignity.

Advocacy is personal for me. I was raised to believe that if something is wrong, you try to fix it, and if someone is being mistreated, you speak up. That belief has guided every part of my career and my life. It is why I push back when government policies hurt small towns. It is why I work to protect vulnerable people in our valley. And it is why I will never stay silent when I see power being abused or people being left behind.

This medal, while an individual honour, represents more than just me. It represents the people who have stood beside me through tough council meetings, tight publishing deadlines, court challenges, and political fights. It belongs to every local reporter, every volunteer, every reader who picks up the Herald, and every person in Crowsnest Pass who believes in community.

Receiving this recognition reinforces everything I stand for and reminds me why I will always keep fighting for the people, the principles, and the place I believe in.