I鈥檝e been in the Comox Valley and at the Record for a year now.
In that time, I鈥檝e gotten some fantastic stories out in the community and met a lot of cool people that have told me stories about their lives, their experiences and informed me of the community in general.
I鈥檝e also grown as a writer and find myself more confident as days go by - I hope that you as the reader have seen this as well.
But I鈥檝e also really embraced my new life in the Valley and found myself out and about with my dog more often than not, seeing all the natural beauty.
We鈥檝e explored Seal Bay in all different pathways - the Forest Loop being our favourite, enjoyed Bevan trails to Nymph Falls, explored Goose Spit and Kye Bay. I鈥檝e immersed myself and my dog, Bosch, into nature. This has been an unexpected bonus to my move to the Valley. Bosch was a city dog, having been a rescue that came to me via L.A. in 2019, but now he is a nature boy and loves all things water (except swimming).
I never thought I鈥檇 be here. If you had asked me a year ago, when I was still working on finishing my degree, where I would find myself working, I would not have guessed it would be in the Comox Valley. I was freelancing and mainly a music writer, interviewing bands, reviewing shows and albums. Music is still my happy place and I jump at the chance to interview bands when they come to the Valley.
I have found myself moving from writing about everything music to getting to do profiles on community members and programs, attending events at 19 Wing, helping release a marmot on Mount Washington and immersing myself in everything the Valley has, news-wise.
I do have a bit of a connection to the Valley, even before moving here. My grandfather was in the RCAF, and Comox was his last posting - he and my grandma stayed in Comox after his retirement. My dad graduated from G.P. Vanier high school. Both of my paternal grandparents are buried at Courtenay Civic Cemetery, and because of this, I was vaguely familiar with bits and pieces of the area, but I鈥檇 never explored like I have for the past year.
I find myself lucky to have found such a beautiful place to now call home and write about. While I will never not be homesick for my best friend and her family, for concerts almost every week and getting to interview touring bands, this move has been great for my journalism career. I look forward to many more years here.
And if you got the musical reference in the title of my year reflection, you should reach out because you have great taste in music.
I appreciate all the story tips I have gotten over the past year, helping me set up contacts with various people in the community and making the Valley my home.
Email me anytime (raynee.novak@comoxvalleyrecord.com) with things you want to share with the community, things you find important or interesting and I will do my best to get the word out.
