Newspaper awards given for long service

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Published on Friday, May 13, 2016

Photos by Christine Waddell and Sheila Runions. On May 7, Sheila Runions (top photo) and Jessie Bell (bottom photo) were each presented with a Silver Quill award. The award recognizes 25, or more, years of service to the newspaper industry.  They were presented their awards by Greg Nesbitt (left in both photos), Riding Mountain MLA and Chairman and Immediate Past President CCNA, and Ken Waddell, publisher of the Rivers Banner, Neepawa Banner and Neepawa Press.

By Ken Waddell

Neepawa Banner/Rivers Banner/Neepawa Press

The majority of readers will recognize the names Jessie Bell and Sheila Runions as being regular contributors to these pages. While Sheila is currently on staff at the Rivers Banner, what some may not know is that Jessie is officially retired and writes the many stories she does out of love for her community. Because of her dedication and history of involvement with Rivers’ newspaper, Jessie was nominated for a newspaper award. 

The Canadian Community Newspapers Association (CCNA) has a program which recognizes individuals for “long-standing service to the newspaper industry and those who have made a distinguished contribution to the association.” Earlier this year, we submitted the names of both these women to CCNA for consideration of a Silver Quill, which is given for 25 or more years of service.

With permission of Riverdale District Health Auxiliary, we hijacked the opening of their annual Florence Nightingale Tea to surprise both women with these recognition awards. Jessie was lured there under the guise that the auxiliary was going to honour her in some way as being their charter president; Sheila simply came for the surprise on Jessie… little did she know! 

Each lady was pinned with an orchid corsage by co-owner/publisher, Christine Waddell, and each were given a decorated cake to cut. Jessie’s cake was served at the hospital dessert tea. Besides the corsage, each received a framed certificate and a silver quill pin.

We were very pleased that Jessie’s daughter Heather made a surprise trip from Kelowna to celebrate with her, son Jim (Edmonton) was unable to attend because of scheduling conflicts. Most of Sheila’s Manitoba family were present and Greg Nesbitt, Chairman and Immediate Past President CCNA as well as a former president of MCNA, also attended and read a short speech after I read Jessie’s nomination form, which is reprinted here.

Jessie Mae McGregor Bell (nee Veitch, who grew up in the Bradwardine district) received her Psychiatric Nursing diploma in 1947 and later (1953) earned her Registered Nursing certificate. She worked at hospitals in Rivers, Dauphin, Brandon, Winnipeg (Grace and Children’s) and Ninette Sanatorium. On June 28,1956 she and her late husband Larry Bell  purchased Rivers Gazette-Reporter, which they ran for 30 years, selling on Sept. 24, 1986.

Jessie was familiar with most of the old heavy equipment of the day: a single revolution letterpress, which weighed 6.5 tons, the linotype and a Heidelberg press. In later years, she worked with layout sheets, light tables, platemakers, wax machines, a photo offset press, the large floor camera and IBM machines. She was responsible for stationery sales, darkroom work, typesetting, composition, binding and attending/reporting on community meetings and events. Even after they sold in 1986, they stayed on “indefinitely” to assist in the transition to the new owners. They also renovated the interior and exterior newspaper office three times in those 30 years, once to make room for stationery sales and supplies. 

Jessie had a 15-year hiatus while she cared for her ailing husband, but a year after his death (2005), she went back to her career roots and once again began attending meetings and events, contacting coaches of various sports, and submitting stories for her town’s newspaper, all without receiving a pay cheque. As she says, “Put a pencil and paper in my hand and I have to write.” And write she does! Jessie owns no computer or typewriter, so she submits everything handwritten on newspaper blanks. While she has not been part of the paper business for 30 years, she still has ink in her veins and we are very pleased for her faithful support and submissions. When Rivers Banner decided to have a mural painted on its building, she even insisted on providing some financial assistance toward that project.

During the Bell’s leadership, the newspaper won: best all-round newspaper titles in 1967 (third place), 1968 (first), 1969 (second); best front page in 1969 (second place), 1981 (first and third places), 1983 (second), 1984 (third); best in class 1981 (third), 1982 (third), 1983 (second); best editorial 1982 (third) 1983 (third), 1984 (third); best typography 1982 (third), 1983 (first). 

Outside the newspaper office, Jessie was secretary-treasurer for Rivers and District Chamber of Commerce for more years than anyone can recall, historian for Rivers Legion Ladies Auxiliary and the first president of Riverdale Hospital Women’s Auxiliary (1959). She spent eight years of her life literally flipping every single page of Rivers’ old newspapers from 1908-2000 doing research to compile a history book for Rivers. Prior to the Rivers research, she also assisted for many years (1999-2003) with compiling information for Bradwardine’s history book and acted as that committee’s secretary. At 88 years of age, she is still an active member of Rivers Train Station Restoration Project (since formation in 2007 to present) and St. James’ Anglican Church; she let her Chamber of Commerce membership lapse two years ago. She was a member of Queen Esther Chapter No. 12 Order of Eastern Star (approx. 1960-90) and Rivers in Bloom (2000-12) during their years of service here. In 2013, she was presented a centennial medal from Town of Rivers for her “significant contributions to the community of Rivers.”

Greg was right when he said, “Jessie has ink in her veins. When I was in Rivers a year ago during the nomination process — besides CCNA chairman, I’m your newly-elected MLA — Jessie came to the meeting and sure enough, she had her pen and paper. It’s people like Jessie who are the heart and soul of the nearly 1,000 community newspapers across Canada. Without these people, community papers wouldn’t be what they are — a reflection of all walks of life in a town. I know you will join me in wishing her many more years of health and happiness and continued contributions to Rivers Banner.”

Greg “changed hats” and brought “official greetings from Premier Brian Pallister and the government of Manitoba” at his “first official function” as Riding Mountain MLA.

Sheila began working for Christine and I in a casual capacity when she would travel with her dad, Ken Szapko, who was our bookkeeper in the early days (1989) of Neepawa Banner. Sheila helped stuff flyers into newspapers and when she had her own driver’s licence, she began delivering our newspaper to surrounding communities. When we opened Hamiota Banner in 1992, her workload increased to two days a week and in June 1993 when we bought Rivers Gazette-Reporter, she became our full-time staff and has remained all those 23 years as our office manager. In 2005 she won a provincial newspaper award for creating the best grocery store ad out of all submissions received that year from the entire province.

Her community activities are vast; to read her annual Christmas newsletter is exhausting! In 2004, she was recognized by UCT with the Volunteer of the Year Award (International level) and was the youngest person ever to receive that award; two weeks ago, Sheila was elected UCT’s regional (Manitoba-Saskatchewan)secretary-treasurer. She was Mrs. UCT when it was in Rivers (1994-2009). She has been an active member of Rivers & District Chamber of Commerce all 23 years of our business and served as a board director, president and co-ordinated the Crafty sale for seven years; she’s been the Christmas Cheer co-ordinator in Rivers the last 18 years; the secretary-treasurer for Rivers Channel 12 for 15 years (and volunteers to record events, put ads on the channel, etc.); treasurer of Rivers TOPS for 14 years; is treasurer of Rivers History Book Committee and also spent many years working on that project (typing, editing and proof reading) as well as volunteering all her time to design the 512 page book; served on the board of Rivers/Rapid City Senior Services for six years, the last three as president; a pianist at Rivers Baptist Church for 20 years. Past community involvement includes many years each given to Rivers Ag Society, Manitoba Youth Job Centre, Rivers Legion Auxiliary, Rivers Economic Development Committee and Keystone Seedcoaters Grow Bond Project. Outside of Rivers, she is involved with the annual Singing Christmas Tree presentation in Brandon and serves on the executive of both Strathclair Theatre Chorus (travelling choir) and Strathclair Drama Club (musicals at Bend Theatre). Like Jessie, Sheila was also presented a centennial medal in 2013.

We ask the women to wear their Quill pins with pride; we truly appreciate their dedication and steadfastness.