Prominent journalist believes news should take more responsibility for well-being

Gordon Edgar - Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com

Tamara Cherry is a Regina-based award-winning journalist, author, researcher, and communications consultant who spent nearly 15 years as a crime reporter for the Toronto Star, Toronto Sun, and CTV News Toronto.

Her latest book, The Trauma Beat: A Case for Re-Thinking the Business of Bad News (2023), examines the impact of media reporting on trauma survivors. Cherry also takes a close look at the impact of trauma reporting on members of the media themselves.

On July 13, Cherry gave a presentation of her work during a workshop at the Moose Jaw Public Library, as part of the 2023 Saskatchewan Festival of Words.

Cherry’s career in crime reporting during an internship with the Regina Leader-Post,” CherI interviewed a woman whose father died from Alzheimer’s. And I was taken aback when she started crying during the interview.

“In the end, she was crying, I was crying, and that was the story, like, three days into my journalism career, that made me fall in love with telling stories that can make people feel something, or make people care.”

Cherry went on to the Calgary Herald, where she interviewed a newly widowed woman and had to take a someone else from a different department had also interviewed. The woman had had to go through the experience twice with one publication, and Cherry’s interview would not even be used.

“I’d been tasked with interviewing her for nothing,” Cherry said. “‘What the f***?’ is what I later wrote in my journal. I was 20 years old and had never been taught anything about trauma, about interviewing trauma survivors — nothing.”

Cherry went on to a distinguished, respected career as, of all things, a crime reporter. She loved the rush, she said, and seemed to have a knack for it.

“I think it was rooted in my love of telling very authentic stories that can make people feel something.”

She developed a niche for herself in domestic sex conducting countless interviews.

As she says in her book, Cherry did not understand the harm and the impact that her aggressive approach to stories had on survivors. She also developed post-traumatic stress, often waking in cold sweats from nightmares and struggling with her closest relationships.

“I have no idea how many hundreds of trauma survivors I interviewed in nearly a decade on television,” Cherry said. “But the stories are etched into my brain.”

What can journalists do better?

In 2019, Cherry switched careers to found Pickup Communications. The company is a public relations surrounding them. It has also evolved to provide training for those whose jobs frequently involved interacting with trauma survivors.

In 2020, she conducted research in which she inter- bers of missing people, and survivors of mass violence. She also interviewed more than two dozen journalists.

That research resulted in a well-regarded peer-reviewed paper: Trauma survivors and the media: A qualitative analysis, her book, and a catalogue of training materials specialized for service providers, journalists, homicide investigators, and more.

“What I didn’t realize until this research project is that practicing trauma-informed journalism, and longform storytelling, is not only necessary to protect the survivors you’re writing about, it is necessary to protect yourself.”

Cherry now advocates for trauma-informed training for reporters. Part of that is taking more responsibility for the well-being of interviewees.

“When it comes to stories about trauma, it’s just different,” Cherry said with heavy emphasis. “We as storytellers cannot apply the same rules to these stories as we do to others.”

Although she believes everyone should have the ben-nalists can do better with traumatic stories without any training at all:

Give survivors more agency, such as giving them the option to refuse interviews, take a break during an interview, or see the interview before it is published.

Be compassionate, rather than assuming a façade of professional separation that, in the end, helps neither person. Consider an interview location the interviewee can be comfortable in and ask if there is someone who could support them through it.

Ask survivors if there is a particular message theyvors that there is hope and help.

Follow up: Reach out after the story is published to see how it affected them. Have the conversation and experience of a person’s life into a story for mass consumption.

“I truly believe,” Cherry said,” that if we all understood more about trauma in general, our world would be a much better place — more compassionate, more patient, and safer.”

Takeaways from 2023 Sask Festival of Words

Gordon Edgar - Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com who recently took the job as administrative assistant for the Festival. “I felt like I was prepared for if anything went wrong, I knew what to do, so I was surprised when it just went pretty well! the tables out and the barriers, and then getting hit withally bringing everything back inside, like, OK, we tried.”

The 2023 Saskatchewan Festival of Words is over, and as organizers begin recovering and preparing to prepare for from them on this 27th edition.

“Probably the most memorable part for me was Dr. Norma Dunning, one of our authors, kept getting wrong directions in Crescent Park on Friday morning,” said Amanda Farnel, executive director of the Festival. “That was my adventure for the weekend ... We found her eventually. The only building she could see was the [Phyllisnally, we told her, ‘Stay exactly where you are, we will

“I think the highlight for me was our dramatic reading,” said Sarah Simison, the Festival’s managing artistic director, speaking about The Dripping Honeys, a song-cycle ensemble created by Regina-based Listen to Dis’ Community & Arts Organization.

“Shaylee Rosnes was one of our interns for two summers,” Simison continued, “and she was a teen writing student before that. Now she’s involved with Listen to Dis, so it was this really exciting thing to see somebody grow through our organization. And then, to have her return as part of a presenting organization, yeah, that was, for me, the most beautiful and unexpected moment.”

Farnel, Simison, and Grimes have begun going through Festival feedback forms, they said, and although it will take some time for a comprehensive evaluation, so far attendees are very positive.

“I don’t remember the exact wording, but one person wrote something along the lines of, ‘This festival is a gateway into a reader’s paradise’,” Grimes said, “which is so great.”

“A lot of the feedback forms have mentioned, you know, that this is its own form of community,” Farnel said. “Coming back each year, seeing people you haven’t seen in a while, learning what they’ve been doing.

“A lot of the feedback is very positive around the changes we made as well. The Street Fair, for example, yes, it ended up being indoors, but people still really liked the idea and enjoyed it.”

Other reviews have mentioned appreciating the diversity of authors at the festival, and how the different presenter pairings sparked interesting conversations and read.

“I noticed, after the Ali Hassan, Casey Plett, Ken Carriere session, that all three of them were downstairs afterwards at the autograph table getting each other’s books, and getting them signed by each other,” Grimes said. “And the reading sessions are like the backbone of the festival, and that reading session created this unex- pected little author’s friend group.”

“Someone made a really nice comment to me about the reading sessions,” Farnel added, “just saying that the way we put the authors together seemed very purposeful and created these surprising and beautiful moments. I thought that was amazing.”

Glenda Julian has been attending the Saskatchewan Festival of Words for many years and served as chair of the festival board. She said she enjoyed everything.

“I love the interplay between some of the authors and how their areas of interest intersect, even though one you think they’re on the same wavelength, but they disagree in important ways.

“So, it’s fascinating how literature brings people together, and makes you think more deeply about the world. me start thinking about everything around me, and the people around me, differently.”

By Patricia Hanbidge

Trees and the Environment - Part I

If you have ever asked yourself about how important it is to have trees in the environment, or had a niggling sense of guilt when you turn on your air conditioner then this article will be a great read for you. As gardeners, somehow we have a natural tendency to appreciate the beauty of nature but we often forget about some of the other important aspects that trees and greenspaces give to us when they are part of our landscapes.

It doesn’t matter where you plant trees in your comchange. Plants are such a wonderful thing as they have the ability to harness light energy from the sun and create usable energy through the process of photosynthesis. It is also true that through this natural process of photosynthesis, trees will also absorb pollutant particulates, carbon dioxide and then store the carbon and emit or release pure oxygen.

For your landscape, if you plant deciduous trees on the south and west sides of your home it will help keep your home cooler in summer and still allow the sun to warm your home during our cooler months. The added bonus of making your landscape more beautiful could also save you up to 30% of the energy used to both heat and cool your home. Another thought is utilizing trees or shrubs to shade your air conditioners so the unit will stay in full sun.

Good planning and development of our green spaces gives urban residents the opportunity to have access to safe green spaces and to reconnect with nature. Studies show that those who live closer to green environments increase in health. Green spaces increase physical activ- decrease in stress which also improves both mental and physical health. Green spaces will decrease urban noise value of surrounding homes and businesses but they also serve many other functions in a community. Attractive and proper placement of softscape materials will actually make it easier for people to locate a business. The framework provided by trees and vegetation can serve as a form of focal point which enhances the buildings that are present.

Business districts that are adjacent to green spaces show an increase in customer satisfaction. When shopping, customers will actually spend more on individual items and will purchase more items as well. Employees and residents will both be happier in environments that have a view of green spaces and have shown to be more productive. Sick time by employees is also decreased. - tion possible with properly planted trees and shrubs. They reduce the need to heat in the cooler seasons, if the buildings are sheltered from the wind by the landscape. In the warmer seasons, trees and vegetation that shade the buildings from the sun during the heat of the day will reduce the cooling needed for the comfort of those inhabiting the buildings.

Watch next week for more on the value of trees and greenspaces in our outdoor spaces.

Hanbidge is the Lead Horticulturist with Orchid Horticulture. Find us at www.orchidhort.com; by email at info@orchidhort.com; on facebook @orchidhort and on instagram at #orchidhort. Tune into GROW Live on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/orchidhort or check out the Youtube channel GROW https:// www.youtube.com/channel/UCzkiUpkvyv2e2HCQlFl0JyQ?

High Street West will be smoothed over in new project

Beginning Monday, July 24, High Street West will be repaired to address the rippled road surface

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express / MooseJawToday.com routed along Fairford Street West with clearly marked detour signage.

The City of Moose Jaw has announced that High Street West will be repaired this week, to address the rippled surface of the road. This is one of the 48 Capital Projects approved by City Council in the 2023 Budget.

Repairs began on Monday, July 24, 2023. Craig Hemingway, Manager of Communications with the City of Moose Jaw stated that “There will start to be some mobilization of crews (on Monday and Tuesday),” and that they anticipate that Wednesday.

Road repairs will take place between Second Avenue West and Eighth Avenue taking place on the 800 block and then working east.

“It’s going to be a couple of days per block, and we’re going to be doing a block co-owner of Cypress Paving. Cypress Paving has been selected as the contractor for the project.

The City of Moose Jaw anticipates that the project will be completed in two weeks, but this will depend on possible weather delays. “Right now the forecast is looking sunny and hot,” Hemingway said.

The current repairs will address set- project. - es from the service connections, in the dips that have settled,” said Williams.

“The service connections had settled,” Williams explained. “It’s more the methodology of how it has been completed. It’s happened on all of the cast iron work, (and) the majority of service work that has taken place.”

Residents can expect a far shorter closure this year, as the nature of the work is different from

“These are two different projects. This project doesn’t involve any underground repair. It’s really just standard milling and paving, which our contractors (Cypress Paving) have been doing in various locations across the cityly manner… This (High Street) will be the same,” said Hemingway.

Williams said that the issue can be largely prevented with better compaction, but a variety of conditions including climate and sub-soil type make any underground repair work prone to settling.

“With better compaction you can minimize it, but it’s something we’ve seen over the last number of years on the cast iron construction. It’s going to happen… with the different soil conditions… around the city,” said Williams.

“We’re going to be milling the edges to try to alleviate any of the joints to make the transition as smooth as we can,” he added.

The previous High severely impacted local businesses and this has some business owners wary.

“Initially, if I remember correctly, it was (supposed to be) a few months, but it went on to over a year or a year and a half,” said Ray Toews, owner of Castle Building Centres, which is located along High Street West. “People who are in a hurry are going to go elsewhere. That’s something I’ve noticed because everybody seems to be in that mode these days,” he said. “They want to get in and out.”

Toews recalled the impact from the various setbacks including the permanent closure of some local businesses including the Scuba Guys’ Dive Shop.

To compound the issue, he mentioned that the COVID pandemic caused a further setback to local business. “It has been a slow recovery from a lot of it,” he said. “Hopefully it goes smoother… this time. We need it to be done a lot faster than last time, that’s for sure. We don’t want to go through it again!”

All local businesses located along High Street West will remain open during the current project. Customers are advised that sidewalks will remain accessible throughout the process.

Drivers are reminded to remain cautious in the construction zone and to plan for possible delays.

“We thank residents for their patience while we improve our infrastructure and ask all drivers to please exercise caution around work zones and pay attention and of everybody,” Hemingway said.

During the Softball Sask U15 AA provinback on Sunday, July 16, a group of parents were huddled around a table keeping tabs on something that was happening on a smartphone.

That ‘something’ was the Gamechanger livestream of the U13 AA championship Ice took on the Regina Fighting Saints for provincial gold.

The game was tied 10-10 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh and the Ice at bat, but something strange had happened -- the app appeared to have froze for several minutes with runners on second

Moments later, the reason for that off, game-winning double, and with that, the Moose Jaw Ice were the 2023 Softball Sask U13 AA provincial champions.

Shortly after, an announcement over the public address system drew a hearty cheer from the hundreds of fans in attendance.

“It was really good, the girls came out on Sunday like they really wanted to win that championship,” said Ice coach Marie Wright. “We have six on the team where this was their third year trying, so they were pretty excited. All the girls came out and played hard and were great.”

Things had gone well for Moose Jaw through the round robin, but they weren’t perfect -- the Ice defeated the Saskatoon Raiders 15-2, Lumsden Cubs 12-1 and 13-9 decision to one of their nemesis in the Regina Lazers.

Their 3-1 mark was still more thannals, where they opened with a 10-2 win over the Saskatoon Hustlers. That set up this time things were much different: a in the sixth gave Moose Jaw a 9-3 win.

“We lost the game in the round rob- in to the Lazers and came back and beat nice comeback for us,” Wright said. “They played well all weekend, they got on their bats and their defence was great, especial-

Callie Bell was 2-for-3 with a run scored and four runs batted in to lead the Ice offence, while Aspen Olafson was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three scored two runs. and allowed two runs on two hits over four things off, allowing a run on three hits and

That sent the Ice to the gold medal game and all the drama that unfolded.

Moose Jaw scored a pair of runs in more in the third to lead 7-4 through three innings, and they extended their edge to 9-4 with a pair of runs in the fourth.

The Saints battled back with two runs the game in the top of the seventh, setting up the walk-off win. Emmy Blanchard and Kinley Gottselig hit back-to-back singles by Taya Babich moved them into scoringtitle.

Bell and Gottselig each had 3-for-3 games and knocked in three runs, while Blanchard was 2-for-2 and scored three times. Olafson scored a pair of runs and and scored a pair of runs to go along with her two RBI.

Two local residents involved in female hockey have been invited to Hockey Canada’s women’s selection camps in St Catherines, Ontario this August.

Brooklyn Nimegeers, a well-known Moose Jaw Mavericks product, who now plays for the Regina Rebels U18 AAA franchise, has been invited to Team Canada’s U18 team selection camp.

Alexandra (Alex) Foreman has been invited to attend Team Canada’s national women’s team selection, as well as the U18 camp Nimegeers will be part of.

But here is the catch - Foreman will not be attending as a player but rather as a referee.

“It makes me a little bit nervous to go, but I’m happy to go,” Foreman said.

By Robert Thomas

This will be her fourth trip attending the development camp, as part of Hockey one of Canada’s two national sports. She said that during the weeklong actual game situations.ating) coaches up in the stands to evaluate us throughout the game.” her minor hockey career, Foreman kept on four years out of high school.

For Foreman, attending the camp is another step towards her ultimate goal of refereeing on the international stage.

It’s something she started as a 12 started to referee games.

At the same time, Foreman was also playing hockey as part of the Moose Jaw Mavericks program.

It something her dad and brother were doing when Foreman

Asked if she faced harassment - from fans and parents when she was a teenage referee - she said having her dad and brother also refereeing helped her avoid being threatened on the ice.

“It wasn’t that bad at all…my dad and brother were both well-known in the local hockey community…and most hockey dads don’t yell at females,” she said.

When her minor hockey playing ca- earned

-- on three hits over four innings, striking out eight in the process, before last three innings.

All in all, Wright pointed to the team receiving contributions from throughout the line-up as their major key to the win.

“Some of the girls who had been struggling with the bats had them come alive, so you get the bottom of the order batting in four runs in a game, that realWright said. “And we always have good pitching, so when we can put more runs up that always makes a difference.”

With the provincial title, the season comes to an end for the U13 AA Ice. But there’s plenty of optimism for the future and what this group might be able to accomplish.

“Next year, hopefully this same team has just as good a year and they get to go to nationals,” Wright said. “That would be pretty amazing.” reer ended in U18 hockey, she continued to referee.

For Foreman, attending the camp is a

A resume that has seen her refereeing in the prairie provinces at Esso Cup - the U18 AAA national championship - in the past two seasons.

She also refereed in Morden-Winkler at the U18 national championships in 2019.

“They all build off of each other on my way to referee on the international stage.”

Although refereeing is not her full time job, she actually works at a local insurance agency; Foreman wants to achieve being invited to referee internationally.

“Right now refereeing is a part time thing.”

Foreman said her ability to attend development camps and referee is only posher schedule, allowing her to pursue her passion.

“I have an amazing boss who allows me to pursue refereeing across Canada.”

It’s a passion that will likely lead to https://www.mjindependent.com/ sports/2023/7/17/hzncph5kgx8cdp8rivxr5guly91piq

“It’s my goal,” she said.