The day has come.
This week we say goodbye to your friend and ours Lexi Bainas, who is retiring from the newspaper business after 40 years.
It is a bittersweet occasion, as we will miss her dearly at the Lake Cowichan Gazette and the Cowichan Valley Citizen both.
Lexi started in the news business at Lake Cowichan, going to work for The Lake News in October of 1979. She notes in this week’s Flashback column on page 9 of this edition that she is now meeting herself full circle, reviewing some of her first stories at the Lake.
Lexi has always been full of boundless energy and a bright outlook, countering the sometimes cynical mindset one can develop after years in the news business. She has always been friendly and professional, the person you could talk to after a tragedy, or when you were excited about a new project. This made her an invaluable part of our news team, as she was always curious about what was happening in town and what people of all walks of life were doing.
Over the years she has covered everything from the steady decline of the forest industry, including the closure of the Youbou sawmill and others, to the latest show from the Kaatza Lakeside Players, or the Lake Cowichan Minor Hockey Jamboree.
Her keen photographic eye has allowed us to build for you a picture of the people and events of Cowichan Lake.
When the editorial team at the Cowichan Valley Citizen took over the writing of the Lake Cowichan Gazette, Lexi was our invaluable ace in the hole. She has lived at Cowichan Lake for decades, and has always said she can’t imagine living anywhere else. This has shone through in her dedication to bringing you Lake-centred news. Her commitment and love of the community are second to none and she has demonstrated it with every edition.
On that note, we ask for your help. We hope that our loyal readers will continue to let us know about what’s going on up at Cowichan Lake, from controversies to milestones. Think of us as one of your neighbours. Send us a quick email or message. We hope to continue on from Lexi’s great work.
But this is also a happy day. Nobody deserves a happy retirement in the place she loves more than Lexi does. You will certainly continue to see her around town and we have no doubt she will now be applying her dedication and energy to new projects (we wouldn’t be surprised to end up interviewing her at some point).
So join us in wishing Lexi all the best in her future life.