Onto a new journey
Early days at Capital Ideas Edmonton.
It’s never easy to write something like this. I’ve spent the past few years working for Postmedia Labs, doing something incredible. They let me experiment, to test how to build communities - what worked, what didn’t, and how to try and merge the media and startup mindset into one thing. Sometimes we succeeded, sometimes we didn’t.
When you get a group of passionate people to work together on a project, there is always going to be turnover. Out of the original four of us, we were each approached with amazing opportunities along the way, some we took, and some we said no to. I’m slowly getting better at saying no to things. But recently I was approached with a new opportunity, and I said yes. So I’m leaving Postmedia Labs at the end of the month.
For those of you who know me, you know I really hate goodbyes. It’s hard for me to let go, especially when it’s a project I continue to be passionate about and have worked so hard on for so long. But these past few years have taught me so much, and one of the most important lessons I’ve learned is to know when to say goodbye.
What does this mean for Gastropost Alberta? It’s not ending. If anything, it’s stronger than ever. This week marks our 100th mission in Edmonton (so you should #gastropost for it) and in four weeks, Calgary will be at the same milestone. I’m leaving an incredibly fantastic group of people: Robin, Amanda, Adelina, Justin and Reanna, who are creative, brilliant, and amazing. They will continue to make sure Gastropost brings together food lovers and if you #gastropost, you just might see yourself in the paper.
No longer will anyone force you ladies to take selfies on the TTC.
I’m also sad to be leaving the Capital Ideas team. I only just had the chance to work with Jeff again and I’m messing this up by leaving. He, Sam and Baillie have some pretty great things on the horizon, and I hope to still make it to the occasional panel. And don’t worry, I’ll still harass you guys on Twitter to find out if you’re drinking enough water.
Where am I headed? I was offered a chance to join Samantha’s team at the AMA working in Online Travel Services, bringing some of my social media skills to the table. I’m lucky enough to be the last member to the new experienced technical marketing team. Our mission? Moving AMA into the future of digital travel services across Alberta. I won’t say much else, but I think there will be some more awesome things up ahead. (And if you happen to need some help booking travel, I now know some people.) Also, if you’re a developer looking to join a cool new team and work with me, we should chat!
It would be terrible of me to look ahead without thanking everyone who helped me during the past years. I wouldn’t have even have thought joining Labs until Barb called me with a crazy idea. Without the support of Sandra and Taryn who I’ve learned so much from. Vickie, who has vastly improved my life and become one of my dearest friends. There is no way to properly articulate how much our friendship means to me. Thanks for helping me go beyond being a mess and for always being the coolest person in the room. (Also allowing me to sometimes take some really cool photos!)
The “Mack in the Middle” selfie is still one of the best selfies we’ve ever taken.
And of course, thank you to Karen. You put up with so much from me over the past few years, and even though you left last month to focus on Seen and Heard in Edmonton, I hope you know that you will never be rid of me. Thank you for bringing me down a peg when I needed it, helping me reign in my angry moments and not send off those terrible emails, and for all of of the laughs throughout the years.
So if you’ve made it this far, thank you. In good times and in bad, our team at Gastropost always sent pandas as encouragement. So, here’s my last panda, for you.
