This was not the editorial I intended to write.
I had planned to use this space to share my passion for democracy, my excitement for the election, and the joy I feel when our community comes together to debate ideas and shape the future. I was supposed to be at the Haida Heritage Center tonight, hosting an all-candidates debate.
Instead, I’m sitting here at my laptop — and I’m mad as hell.
I’m angry about the senseless loss of a life. I’m heartbroken for the families who are now grieving. And I’m furious at the grip drugs have on our communities, leaving pain and loss in their wake.
The events of April 22 in Skidegate will leave a lasting impact on this island and its people. My hope is that some kind of peace can be found at the end of this difficult road — though right now, the path feels impossibly rough.
I’m doing everything I can to provide the community with the facts and information you deserve, but I’m also facing a hard deadline. I know this edition won’t contain all the answers so many of you are searching for, and for that, I’m truly sorry.
To those who looked forward to the debate, thank you. Your questions and ideas mattered. I’m especially sorry to the candidates who prepared tirelessly for the event, who believed in the power of public dialogue, and who showed up for Haida Gwaii. Your efforts did not go unnoticed.
There is no easy answer here. Like many of you, I am filled with anger. But we cannot let anger win.
We cannot build anything meaningful out of rage or hate. These emotions are real and valid — and they are heavy. But we must carry them together. This newsroom hurts right now, alongside our neighbours. Because when Haida Gwaii hurts, we feel it too.
One day, the pain will soften. This storm will pass. But until it does, we must not let fear and fury steer the ship.
This island knows better than most how to support and care for one another. Now is the time to draw on that strength. True justice will come — and this newsroom will be watching closely.
Let’s hold tight to what we love most about life here: the kindness, the resilience, the deep roots of connection. Some of the best treasures wash ashore after a storm.
Take care of each other while the waves are high and the winds howl.
Stacey
