Lorraine Payette - Never stops!

Without a doubt, the one name that those living in the Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands will recognize, even if they have not met this lady, is Lorraine Payette, who has been telling us about every important thing happening in the region for years.

In fact, if you are involved in a non-profit or organizing an event, you always make sure Lorraine is invited, and you appreciate her attendance tremendously. Why? Lorraine was a steadfast reporter at the Gananoque Reporter for many years. She not only attended your events, but also took photos and ensured that everyone knew it was important. But I have a question for you. Did you know that Lorraine has taken on an even greater and more exciting role? She has created a Substack News Service, The Gananoque/TLTI Junction, and is sharing her blog, A Fresh News Start, which she created several years ago.

This week I had the pleasure of asking Lorraine some pertinent questions. Certainly, we agreed that the days of printed news are over. She is adamant that she is looking for news, particularly what she proudly calls, "From MY Community!" She states, "where good people are doing great things and getting little, if any, recognition."

In fact, she says she looks for news about Gananoque, TLTI, Howe Island, and lately Rideau Lakes. All of this makes me excited, as these are my communities, too. By doing this, she wants to reach those who want to know more about what's going on, and when the news is online, it always features her outstanding photographs. 

I smiled when she told me that she does not attend council meetings, but rather relies on the printed minutes or the videos provided to the public. And I agreed fully with her comments about small towns. "Small towns are forgotten. They are being disappeared and forced into the darkest reaches of memory. Everyone wants to eat, but no one wants to know about the farms and gardens and bakeries and other small-town enterprises that make that possible." Certainly, this is true food for thought!

After so many years as a journalist, Lorraine is truthful in expressing her displeasure with the standard journalist situation. But with Substack, she says, "You, the writer, control. You decide what to write about, when to write it, and most importantly, when to post and how often. "The sky is the limit!" (She says if the public likes what you are doing, they will read it; if not, they won't . . . not some middleman or publishing house.)

A big surprise to Lorraine, but not to me, is how hungry people are for news about themselves and their community. In the past, the editor would take all the news stories written and decide on what would be in that week's paper. Now all the stories can be told, and good news can travel far and wide. When she started, she was worried she might get three or four stories a week, but now that people know about her writing and her ability to capture the who, what, when, and why, she is having trouble "keeping up."

And of course, the most important question: both the Substack and A Fresh News Start are on the internet, and you and I can now view them now, at no cost. Will that change? Lorraine says she is trying to figure out how to jump through the hoops to set up paid subscriptions. "Meanwhile, I know full well not everyone can afford to spend money on news every month, so free subscriptions are vital." As a happy reader, I am hoping she finds a way to make her efforts worthwhile.

I closed my interview by asking whether she saw herself as a journalist, a storyteller, or a community advocate. I have to say I answered that for her, as she is certainly all of the above. She admitted that one of her teachers said she was no writer, but then she had a new teacher, to whom she gave a shout-out. Mrs. Kate Phillips, who lived in Gananoque, encouraged Lorraine, "in so many things . . . " and she was a powerful influence on Lorraine's becoming who and what she is now.

As I am someone also involved in so many Thousand Islands happenings, including TI Life, I want to thank this journalist, storyteller, and community advocate for all she has done and will continue to do. Bravo, Lorraine!

By Susan W. Smith, Editor, info@thouandIslandslife.com