Peak publisher Joyce Carlson was in the spotlight at the Ma Murray Community Newspaper Awards on Saturday, April 14.
Carlson received a prestigious British Columbia and Yukon Community Newspapers Association Honourary Life Membership, which recognizes distinguished service to the association and the community newspaper industry.
Carlson was on the BCYCNA board of directors for 25 years. Her last term ended on the day of the awards ceremony.
“It felt like the right thing and it was the right time,” said Carlson. “I have always enjoyed my association with BCY. Being a publisher in an isolated community, it was an opportunity to learn from my peers. When you live in Powell River you can’t hop in your car and drive 25 miles to have coffee with another publisher.”
Carlson has been in the newspaper business for 42 years. “I’m still passionate about it,” she said.
Before starting the Peak in 1995, Carlson had worked for the Powell River News for 19 years, starting as a stringer writing a minor hockey column. She rose to become publisher before moving to Salt Spring Island in 1989, where she was the publisher of the Gulf Islands Driftwood. She was BCYCNA president in 1989-1990 and took a second term when the incoming president was unable to fulfill the duties of the office. She was one of three BC representatives on the Canadian Community Newspapers Association for nine years, serving as its president in 1994-1995.
