Farewell readers, hello constituents
By Lethbridge Herald on October 24, 2025.
Al Beeber
Leave It To Beeber
Well, that’s a wrap. After a newspaper career that started on May 5, 1980 when I was 20 years old, I’m moving on to new challenges and adventures.
After being elected to Lethbridge city council this week, I end my decades-long career in newspapers with this column.
When I decided to give a year’s notice to the Herald, I wasn’t quite ready to retire – I felt I had more to contribute to this community, and running for office was the best way I felt that could be done.
I am privileged to have enjoyed such a long career in journalism and to leave on my own terms. I want to thank the former owners of the Fort Frances Times for giving me a start in this career and to owners and management of the Lethbridge Herald for letting me serve their readership and our diverse community since August of 1987.
I’m appreciative that I was given the chance to wind down this career by working part-time from home this year, with Izzy at my feet and Lady Diana on my lap. It gave me the opportunity to continue doing my craft at a less frenetic pace.
And now I’m looking forward to picking up the pace again and working full-time in the best interests of Lethbridge residents through my role as a councillor.
Yes, full-time. In theory, council work is part-time but I don’t believe governance of a city of 110,000 people can be done without a full-time commitment. And I will be making that commitment to help lead our community into a better and brighter future for all residents.
I’m so thankful for the support I had in my campaign. I never knew how much I could generate when I launched it but learned I have a lot of followers in this community. Many reached out for signs while others offered to help deliver cards. Others urged their friends to vote for me and a little ripple in a pond grew into a tidal wave as the campaign progressed.
I’m humbled and I’m forever grateful to voters for giving me the chance to serve them in a different manner than I have as a writer and former editor.
I wish my parents, brother, grandparents and my special cousin Marie Antal, as well as Times owners Bob and Del Cumming, were still alive to be with me on this momentous occasion. But I feel they’re watching from another realm.
My newspaper journey has been about service, providing readers with stories that matter to them, giving my communities a voice. I’ve learned so much and met so many fantastic people along the way and I will always be indebted for the kindness I’ve been shown.
When I walked down Scott Street in Fort Frances, Ont. to conduct my first interview, I could never have imagined many years later how this career would have unfolded. Newspapers have given me a good living, put food on the table and a roof overhead and I will always have the proverbial ink running through my veins.
As I write this, I have tears in my eyes because I leave knowing I gave everything I had to newspapering. But as I close the door on this journey, I’m eagerly opening door of a new one.
With the election results now finalized after several stressful, sleepless and worrisome days of waiting for the hand-counting to finish, I can breathe a sigh of relief and briefly relish in this accomplishment. But the real work starts now – proving to all members of the community that I deserved their votes.
Thank you all for being a part of this career and journey, dear readers, as well as present and former colleagues. I’ve worked with some incredibly talented people over the years and will always have them in my heart.
And thank you to my family for their support during my decades in newspapers here, a family that extends well beyond Lethbridge to the shores of Rainy Lake, where it all began.
Before I end this, I want to thank all the other candidates for stepping forward in their efforts to lead Lethbridge for the next four years. I met some kind and considerate people during the campaign and got to know others better. And I hope all will run again in the future. I’m looking forward on Monday to renewing acquaintance with Blaine, Rajko, Mark, Ryan, Belinda and Jenn and getting to know the other newcomers, Rufa and Ryan Wolfe. I know together we will do great things for Lethbridge.
Farewell readers. We’ll meet again in council chambers.
20-19
Thanks for the stories, Al. Best of luck in the new role.
Congratulations Al! I wish you well in your new venture!
Your job as editor of the Herald toughened you from the criticism your had to deal with, so it shouldn’t bother you and you can focus on the duties before you! You know first hand many of the issues which need to be addressed and that should benefit our city!
Was great to meet you, and becoming acquainted with your wife. You will do well in your new venture. Keep those that step out of line back into line. It’s also great to see two media gurus on board. One for paper, one for radio. Can you imagine what it would be like if Roulston got in? We’d get news in all three directions
it is our benefit to have a good person who will be about service to community rather than service to self on our council. wishing you the strength you will need to help right a pretty busted system.