Embracing change, honouring tradition

Kateryna Bandura,
Lookout editor 

— 

As we mark 81 years of serving the CFB Esquimalt community, it’s a fitting time to reflect on the journey of our Base newspaper and the transformations we’ve weathered and embraced. The media landscape is once again shifting beneath our feet, and we find ourselves at a familiar crossroads of change and opportunity.

This August, we’re transitioning to a bi-weekly print schedule, a move that might seem like a step back. However, this change is part of a broader strategy to better serve our readers in the digital age. We’re developing a new website that will become a communications vehicle between the military and the civilian community we serve. We will also enhance our social media presence and explore new ways to engage our military members and their families.

It’s worth noting this isn’t the first time we’ve faced such a pivotal moment. Three decades ago, in 1993, the Lookout reflected on the advent of fax machines and cellular phones – technologies that seemed revolutionary at the time. As then-Sub-Lieutenant Conor McKee wrote in his editorial comment from April 1993, “The consumption of news seems faster. People prefer bite size morsels of information. Television has served to reduce people’s attention span”. Today, we face a similar challenge with the ubiquity of smartphones and social media. Yet, here we stand, still committed to our mission of informing and connecting our community.

In an era of information overload, where news from around the globe is available at our fingertips, one might question the relevance of a local base newspaper. But our continued existence is a testament to the enduring value of community-focused journalism. We’ve survived and thrived because we offer something that global news outlets cannot – a dedicated focus on the stories, events, and people that matter most to CFB Esquimalt.

One of our most valuable assets is our extensive archive of newspapers dating back to the 1940s. This collection is more than just a repository of old news; it’s a living history of CFB Esquimalt and the surrounding community. These archives offer a unique window into the past, chronicling the evolution of the base, the Canadian military, and the local area over nearly a century. For researchers, historians, and curious community members alike, this archive is an invaluable resource, providing context to our present and insights into our shared heritage.

As we look to the future, we’re excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. Our commitment to hosting community events like the MARPAC Health and Wellness Expo and Ship-to-Shore Industrial Tradeshow remains unwavering. We’ll continue to provide graphic design services to Base units and publish the Activity Guide, adapting these offerings to meet the evolving needs of our community.

The truth is, as long as there are local stories to tell and a community eager to hear them, base newspapers such as ours will have a crucial role to play. We’re not just surviving; we’re evolving. By embracing new technologies and platforms while staying true to our core mission, we’re ensuring the voice of CFB Esquimalt remains strong and clear for years to come.

As we embark on this new chapter, we invite our readers to join us on this journey. Your stories, your feedback, and your continued support are what will shape the future of this publication. Here’s to more than 80 years of service, and to many more years of keeping our community informed, engaged, and connected.