Sad loss for the Medicine Hat News/Prairie Post
The Alberta Newspaper Group lost a key part of its rich history just prior to Christmas. James “Jim” Tennant passed away on December 22.
Mr. Tennant started at the Medicine Hat News in 1975 in the classified department until he worked his way to manager of that department.
He took over the general manager role of the new weekly paper Prairie Post in 1998 which was first based downtown on 2nd Ave. He moved operations to the Medicine Hat News location in 2000. The paper had gone through changes and grew for the ten years he was there. He left in March 2008 after over 32 years at the News. He went to the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede as Sponsorship and Marketing Coordinator and stayed there for a number of years.
“Jim was such a multi-level person. On the one hand, he worked so hard for the newspaper. He was creative, analytical, smart in business and extremely organized,” explained Ryan Dahlman, General Manager of the Medicine Hat News and former co-worked of Jim’s when he was general manager of Prairie Post. “But then he was such a caring guy too. He was concerned about his colleagues and would always be there and stand up for them. He was a such a strong family man and was so devoted to his wonderful wife Bernie and his two sons Jason and Brett. He spent a lot of time volunteering too. He was someone to learn from and emulate. He had a lot of friends in Medicine Hat and you don’t replace someone like that. He was one of a kind.”
Mr. Tennant did not want a funeral at his request but any donations in Jim’s memory can be sent to the Alberta Diabetes Foundation, 1 – 020 HRIF-East, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1 or Canadian Cancer Society, 325 Manning Road NE, Calgary, AB T2E 2P5. Condolences may be sent through www.saamis.com or to condolences@saamis.com subject heading of Jim Tennant.