As I sit here on a Thanksgiving Monday with a full belly and a grateful heart, I find it’s important to not only reflect on the things we’re thankful for in our own lives but also the wonderful things we have going for us in our communities.
It’s been a tough eight years with the CAQ trampling over English rights. And while some fear the divide between English and French could get worse with the Parti Québécois, it’s important to give them a chance.
But aside from the political landscape and being grateful that this newspaper never again has to write “MNA Robert Bussière did not return the Low Down’s calls,” there are plenty of other things to be grateful for.
Health advocacy in the Hills
We need to tip our cap to health advocacy organizations like the Des Collines Health Foundation, Vigi Santé and SOS Outaouais, who consistently call out and expose the major problems with our healthcare. The work of Vigi Santé and the Des Collines Health Foundation can be credited with securing $850,000 for Wakefield Hospital: a new X-ray machine will take tech workers out of the Dark Ages; a new isolation room to make psychiatric patients feel more at ease and a new articulated arm for a patient room that will make doctors’ work more efficient.
A Parti Québécois minority, not majority
It was a bit scary watching the PQ’s projection numbers climb past 60 seats during election night. IIf the party secured a majority, you could almost guarantee that we would have seen a referendum. But with both anglophones and francophones not having much of an appetite for Alberta’s dirty leftovers, a minority was the best we could hope for. Plus, the Outaouais – and the rest of the province – showed that they clearly had enough of the CAQ’s overspending and wiped them off the electoral map. We may not love all of the Liberal policies and decisions that come forth from David Logue, but at least you can count on him answering questions in public and speaking to the local newspaper.
An MP who cares about local journalism
Liberal MP Sophie Chatel has been a supporter of local journalism since she took office. In 2024, when local journalism funding was nearing its end, she voiced support for the program and pushed for an extension, which was eventually successful. This paper has written both praise and criticism of Chatel’s voting decisions, but she continues to champion the federal government’s regulatory efforts to establish sustainable revenue models for local newsrooms. Just this past week, she praised the work of the Low Down in the House of Commons for our coverage of suicide rates in the Hills and how young men continue to struggle with mental health.
A Cantley mayor who listens to the people
Cantley Mayor Nathalie Bélisle wasn’t afraid of taking on big developers when she and her council canned the large Lorne Mountain development. Previous mayor, David Gomes, would have likely gone ahead with the development, as he had repeatedly said that he wouldn’t risk multi-million dollar lawsuits in cancelling a project that had prior approval. When hundreds of Cantley citizens showed up at a council meeting to voice their opposition to the project, Bélisle listened and took the risk.
Our readers
Low Down readers continue to pick up our paper, read it cover to cover, write letters and op-eds, and offer criticism. A healthy newspaper needs readers – and more importantly – critics to let us know when we’ve missed details or lost the plot entirely. We’re so grateful to have newshounds in the Hills.
These, and many other things, are what I – and the Low Down staff – are grateful for.
