The time has come to leave the nest, or more literally, the Enterprise-Bulletin's editorial department.

I was hired last April as the guinea pig in a program designed to take on new journalism grads, train them under the direction of Morgan Ian Adams, and guide them into the world of Sun Media dailies. Hired at a time of change within the chain, with Sun TV on the horizon and a growing emphasis on social media, video content, and news packages, I was encouraged to think beyond the traditional notion of the community newspaper.

With the encouragement and support of the E-B staff, I've hired by our sister paper in Orillia, The Packet and Times. While excited for the new challenges, I must admit I am sad to go.

Another keen, green, newbie will be taken on in my place.

Collingwood is a wonderful town to get acquainted with and I am very glad to have had the honour of meeting so many lovely people during my time here.

Often I found myself saying "It was my pleasure," following a community event, or human interest piece -- and it truly was.

I am so very grateful to the always elegant Doreen Sykes and the esteemed Ian Adams, for giving me a chance, and for encouraging me to keep striving to reach my potential.

Starting out at a paper with such a hardworking, experienced, and intelligent managing editor has been a wonderful learning experience.

I'm appreciative of the E-B's staff, especially our circulation manager, April MacLean, who, through her good nature and open-hearted personality, made me feel comfortable in my new home.

When I picked up and moved here last April, I was a little concerned about coming into a community as active and engaged as Collingwood, but I felt welcome and appreciated during my year here.

For that, thank you.

Collingwood is an easy community to care about and I will certainly miss being here.

Writer Kristen Smith begins her new job as a multimedia journalist with the Orillia Packet and Times on May 22.

- kristen.smith@sunmedia.ca