Page 14 - 04_May-2025

EDS
BACK
WHERE
THE STORY
BEGAN
Edify’s new editor-in-chief on
finding home inside these pages
with comments
from the
publisher
The first time I met our publisher, Trudy
Callaghan, in 2008, I unknowingly made a lasting bad
impression — or so she loves to tell it.
I was a week into my internship at Edify’s predecessor,
defined as
Avenue, when Trudy returned from vacation with her
one who is
late husband, then-publisher Orville Chubb. Upon
precocious and
finally meeting my employers, I allegedly made a smug
mischievous
little “huh” sound — as if unimpressed. In her words —
recalled often, sometimes publicly — I came across as
“a little shit.”
I’ve thought about that moment a lot since becoming
editor-in-chief. Though I don’t remember making that
sound, I recognize the nervous tic she’s describing.
At 21, I’d recently moved from Vancouver after being
fired from my first movie job (the fifth Air Bud sequel,
for the record). I’d landed in Edmonton mainly for the
affordability of living with my parents, who’d retired
here after selling their Burger Baron. Magazine writing
seemed a fine creative outlet, but I was disoriented,
directionless and totally out of my depth.
Truth be told, I had no business informing readers
about a city I was planning to ditch. My employers and
colleagues, however, were deeply invested in Edmonton,
embodying the aspirational spirit of the community
and magazine. How long could I keep up this charade?
As it turned out, I didn’t have to. Through the
magazine, I got to know Edmonton — its culture, art,
fascinating personalities, quirks and complexities —
and soon couldn’t fathom leaving. I found both my
home and my calling.
I left in 2012 to freelance as a journalist, author and
filmmaker, bringing Edmonton stories to international
always with
affection
all
interns
are
that fact
was not
on his
application
14 EDify. MAY.25
me too
audiences, and occasionally returning to these pages —
including writing Edify’s first cover story in 2020 and
being featured in Top 40 Under 40. (Not bad for a little
shit, huh Trudy?) Yet, my most fulfilling work has been
as an instructor mentoring emerging writers, many of
whom launched their careers in Edify.
It’s hard to express how special this full circle moment
feels to me — to come home and collaborate with other
writers to shape Edmonton through stories we
discover and develop for you, our readers. With that
comes responsibility. While the city has matured
over the past 18 years, journalism has atrophied. I feel
lucky and deeply responsible as editor-in-chief of one
YES,
and
don’t
forget
it!
of Canada’s few remaining city magazines dedicated to
high-quality, fact-checked reporting and writing.
I don’t take that for granted and ask you not to either.
Tell me what matters to you — what inspires and
represents you as an Edmontonian. Drop me a line,
shoot me a letter, accost me in the grocery store.
Italian Centre,
Let’s make this magazine a conversation and tell
Little Italy
our stories together.
Omar Mouallem
[email protected]
photo AARON PEDERSEN