Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you’ve got
‘Til it’s gone ~ Joni Mitchell
* * * * * *
Our award-winning, hard working, thoughtful and intrepid editor, Mr. Don Patterson is moving to Toronto to obtain a Master of Business Administration degree at Ryerson University.
To say that he will be missed here at the Western Wheel is an understatement. I’ve often found Don still in his office at 9 p.m. on a Monday night working on final edits and layout ahead of press day on Tuesday.
Don is one of those rare people who sticks with the task at hand until the job is done. That quality combined with his good nose for news, level-headed leadership of the newsroom and wonderful writing style has led the Western Wheel newspaper to many National and Provincial newspaper awards.
Just last year, Don’s leadership as Editor contributed to the Western Wheel winning first place as Best All-Round Newspaper and first place for Best Editorial Page at the Canadian Community Newspaper Awards. Winning first place as Best All-Round Newspaper is the top honour that can be bestowed upon a weekly community newspaper in Canada.
Don has worked at the Western Wheel for 10.5 years and four of those years as editor. Don was editor when my dad, Paul Rockley, retired three years ago and I took over as publisher. One of the first things that I learned in my initial days as publisher was that the Western Wheel newsroom runs itself with Don’s capable oversight.
We have some ideas as to how we will carry on without our beloved editor and the Wheel will keep turning, but Don Patterson will be missed in so many ways.
Don, we wish you great success in your studies and whatever adventure awaits you afterwards. I know that you will achieve whatever you set your mind to and we wish you all the best.
