LETTER FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Working for this magazine over the last eight years, I’ve had time to get used to the realities of travel journalism. Dining alone in a grand restaurant where the service is tightly choreographed by a cabal of maître d’s and waiters no longer intimidates me. (Granted, there are worse ways to make a living.) I’ve also mastered the art of travelling for a few weeks with no more than a carry-on. Really, the only thing that still gets me is goodbyes. My trips have led to many memorable encounters, like the time I crisscrossed Tasmania by car with a tour guide who has since become a friend. But no matter the outcome, farewells are never easy.
That’s truer than ever this month, as I turn a significant page in my career. After almost three years piloting Air Canada enRoute, it’s time to hand over the controls. During its half-century of existence, this magazine has been a go-to for travellers looking to discover how Canada intersects with the world. Serving as its editor-in-chief was an honour I had aspired to for a long time.
During my years here, I’ve had the opportunity to assign stories on almost every continent – Antarctica, I’m coming for you – and call up chefs all over the country to tell them they had made the list of Canada’s Best New Restaurants. I’ve come to know the smartest team of editors I’ve ever had the pleasure of leading and worked with some of the most talented journalists and photographers in the world. Best of all, I’ve had the pleasure of checking out your own travel takeaways and memories on social media (as well as your criticism when we’ve messed up). I’ve navigated all this and come out the other side exhausted but proud, just like after my first solo trip abroad.
With confidence and humility, I now pass on the duty to Rachel Giese, a seasoned journalist you may already be familiar with from the pages of Chatelaine, The Grid or The Walrus, or perhaps have heard on CBC Radio, where she appears from time to time. Rachel is a talented storyteller who is sure to take you on incredible new adventures over the next few issues. The only thing left for me to do is to say goodbye, then. And safe travels.