Marlene Conibear

In the true spirit of 007, the Prairie Newspaper Group honours our Regional Bond Girl: Marlene Conibear with the CCNA Silver Quill Award in recognition for her years of distinguished service to the Stettler Independent weekly newspaper.

In almost 30 years of continual service Marlene has worked in administration, as publisher and is currently a senior regional administrator with responsibilities for weekly papers in Stettler, Bashaw, Castor, Rimbey and Ponoka. For many years Marlene has provided guidance and leadership in the paper and in the community and we are very proud of her tonight.

Marlene started her work with newspapers as a proof reader at the Medicine Hat News in 1966. She worked there for one year and returned to the newspaper business when she was hired as an accountant in January 1978 in Stettler. In 1981 she was promoted to manager. In 1990 she was promoted to controller and in 1999 she became publisher.

Marlene has contributed directly in making Stettler a regional publishing centre and with a keen eye to detail on the day to day operations across the region she continues to serve her papers and her community using her abilities and experience to the benefit of many. She has been a T-Ball coach, a business owner of The Hide A Way Restaurant & Lounge & CC's Closet Ezze Wear, a vocal member of the singing group A Little Bit of Country, Director of Donalda AG Society, President of Stettler Chamber of Commerce, Director of Stettler Marketing Corp, member of Stettler Doctor Retention Committee and an AWNA Membership Committee Member.

Marlene frequently acknowledges the support she received from her husband Jim and her family. The long days 12 - 14 hours and the missed meals meant something important was happening at the paper and Marlene was needed. Many of her family and co-workers attended the awards dinner where Marlene received her Silver Quill Award.

Written by Fred Gorman