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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, September 25, 2015 | 18 continued from p.4 public relations a try and became the communications contact for The Peel Children's Aid Society. It wasn't for her. Davis missed community journalism so much that within a year, she was hired back by the Brampton Guardian as its lifestyles editor. She advanced to the position of news editor, then editor, of the three-editions-a-week paper. Then it was on to Burlington. After several years as Post managing editor, she was reunited with Guardian colleague Don Ford, hiring him in Burlington as news editor. Now, managing editor of the Post, Ford says while he'll miss working alongside his long-time friend and mentor, community journalism is losing a hands-on advocate. "I've come to appreciate her `all-in' approach to keeping her community informed. Accuracy, integrity and the pursuit of uncovering stories that make a difference in the lives of the citizens we serve, has been a hallmark of Jill's career as an editor. "She takes a similar approach to getting to know those she works with -- routinely demonstrating genuine concern when co-workers are struggling with issues inside or outside of the workplace....," observed Ford. He has been directly impacted by her personal approach. "When I suffered a stroke this spring and wondered when I might make it back to the newsroom, the voice making sure I was tak- Davis has an `all-in' approach that will be missed ing care of myself first, and a wonderful mentor to me worrying about work secand many of her staff. Her ond, was that of my longdedication and passion to time colleague," said Ford. community journalism "Still, those of us who has been unwavering. The know her best will be feellevel of excellence Jill has ing a most profound sense created here in Halton will of loss when she leaves our continue through her staff Mainway office for the last that she has assembled time. I will miss Jill's unwavand nurtured these past 20 ering leadership, her wry years. wit and her ability to make "Her reassuring and careveryone around her feel ing manner will be greatly as though they are a valued missed by me, I wish her contributor to what we do well as she moves on to the each week," he added. next chapter," he added. Angela Blackburn, manLong-time colleague, aging editor of the Oakville Post sports editor Kevin Jill Davis Beaver , will be among those Nagel, has sweet memofeeling that sense of loss. ries of what Davis brought "Jill has successfully led the Halton Division's to the job. newsrooms into the digital age, while remaining "No one is more enthusiastic than Jill when a true to the integrity of its print editions. She has big story breaks, or we're faced with hustling to done so through her unwavering leadership, fill a big section," he said. professionalism and great personal commit"But the reward for our work, or any occasion ment, and she has inspired staff to do the same. of celebration, was the appearance of cookies, Jill considers the newspapers, website and staff, cake, cupcakes, chocolate bars, candies or fruit, as an extended family, has unified our news- almost always supplied by Jill." rooms as a team and will be truly missed by all Retired Halton Regional Police Chief Gary as a resource, editor, mentor, and a friend," said Crowell, who interacted with Davis occasionally Blackburn. on various police issues, also praised her work Riziero (Reg) Vertolli, director of photography for the community. for Halton Division, offered: "Jill has been such "Under Ms. Davis' exceptional leadership, the Metroland group of papers in Halton has established a strong, positive reputation for providing fair, balanced and factual news to the people of this community," Crowell said. "She truly is a leading example of someone who consistently demonstrates editorial excellence and an innate ability to connect with her readership by providing news they can use." One of Davis' first bosses, retired Brampton Guardian publisher Ken Nugent, recalled her impact on that paper. "The Guardian in the fast growing city of Brampton (in the mid-1980s) was a big challenge as it was viewed to be underperforming at the time. "....One welcome resource was News Editor Jill Davis. Jill was clearly the go-to person in the Guardian's newsroom. Working with limited resources, a small staff and facing a huge challenge in covering the news in a rapidly-growing city, Jill's job was hectic to say the least.... "Through the many, many changes that the Guardian went through, Jill was always keen to keep her staff up-to-date in the goal we were trying to achieve in providing the best local news coverage...," Nugent continued. "Jill had great knowledge and special relationships with many of the key players (in Brampton). Some of these folks would only deal with Jill. These special contacts were invaluable in moving the newspaper in the direction it needed to go...." -- with Burlington Post files Whether you call it drywall, gypsum wallboard or sheetrock, it's all 100% recyclable to us. Documentation for LEED certification is available. Gypsum is a true closed-loop product, designed for your safety and to be infinitely recycled in to new drywall. 905-847-0520 www.nwgypsum.com Located just off the QEW at 2182 WYECROFT ROAD, OAKVILLE 905-829-1040 www.bombaybhelrestaurant.com Indian Cuisine 2525 Hampshire Gate, Oakville, L6H 6C8