Two weeks ago, my old boss reached out to me letting me know that Interrobang is being shut down after over 50 years of print. He asked me to submit one final article outlining what this newspaper meant to me and honestly, it’s been a hard time thinking of what to write. I worked for this paper, as a feature writer, reporter and casual columnist for almost five years and professionally, it was some of the most fun I’ve ever had.

I could talk about how working for this paper allowed me to indulge my love of writing. I could talk about the joy I felt being able to write about the things I love during my tenure here. What other publication would have allowed me to cover local news, pop culture and European football all at the same time? I could even talk about the huge number of incredible writers I had the privilege of working with, some of whom have gone on to be extremely successful journalists at some of the highest levels.

All of these subjects would be valid, wonderful, and extremely close to my heart, honestly this publication means the world to me. It’s incredibly important and to see it go is a massive, massive blow that hits right at the core of what this paper was for. So I want to take this final opportunity to write about that.

I know it’s not original to say but right now, we’re in an interesting time. Whether you’re looking at something as simple as who’s starring in the most recent movie, at whatever the hell is happening in the modern political climate, things are getting pretty damn weird. People seem more divided than ever, everything seems to be an argument, and misinformation is absolutely everywhere.

Right now our local newspaper, along with many others across the country are owned not by Canadians, but by an American company with ties to the current (bonkers) US administration, and that ownership is reflected in the coverage of recent events. During times like this, independent, grassroots and student journalism is absolutely crucial in allowing prospective writers to speak passionately, and more importantly freely, about what they see and how they feel. Allowing students to reach their peers like this has been a crucial service of Interrobang, and to see it go right now is a bitter pill to swallow. I sincerely hope that something can fill that gap at Fanshawe.

Now that I’ve got that off my chest I just want to say thank you to everyone who has made this paper what it is. Thank you to John Said for running the show so well for so many years. Thank you to Erika, Stephanie and Jessica for being fantastic editors, allowing me to write things both silly and serious. Thank you to the many colleagues I worked with in the writer’s room over the years. You’re all incredibly talented and many of you became lifelong friends. Thanks for helping me form a deeper connection to the city, and all the opportunities you gave me. Thank you, Interrobang. You will be missed.