BRACEBRIDGE HONOURS LATE LOCAL JOURNALIST MARY BETH HARTILL WITH ‘MEMORIAL MEDIA TABLE’

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

BRACEBRIDGE — In a move today that showed both respect and class, Bracebridge council dedicated its press table in memory of the late local journalist Mary Beth Hartill.

The Muskoka Region reporter, who died of cancer last April, was a regular reporting weekly from the council chambers and on community events throughout the “Heart of Muskoka.”

Mayor Rick Maloney joined local media in saying it was a “pleasure and honour” to recognize her with a black ‘Memorial Media Table’ plaque that will hang on the wall above the table, which now has but two chairs  — left empty for the occasion as a half dozen media sat in the public gallery to cover the event out of respect.

Reporter Mary Beth Hartill covered news and community events in her hometown with professional integrity and heart, Mayor Rick Maloney said in honouring her this afternoon before a council meeting.

But over the years Hartill prominently occupied one of those spots covering municipal government.

Maloney offered his “heartfelt condolences” to her family again; and said this afternoon Wednesday December 13, before the council meeting he said he “misses looking over and not seeing her.

“There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about her and the relationship she had with us as council.

“She was a journalist with integrity and professionalism, who every day shared stories that informed and challenged, while advocating for people with compassion and who loved her family and hometown of Bracebridge.”

Maloney added Hartill knew the challenges of the community and “wasn’t afraid to report them.

“But did that with the interests of making sure it was for the betterment of the community.

“She was a special person to us and special person to the community.”

Hartill never liked to take a day off from “telling town stories” and worked “night and day” throughout the Muskoka River flooding – even filling sandbags.

Retired Metroland editor Pamela Steele thanked Maloney and council saying Hartill hated to take time away from reporting and “telling town stories.”

“During the flood she didn’t take a day off day and night — in addition to filling sandbags.

“It’s a wonderful tribute to a wonderful journalist.”

Steeled added that “it says something about Bracebridge, too.

“Journalists aren’t generally celebrated like councils or politicians for the hard work that we do.

“But it says a lot about the ethics of this town that you can celebrate a journalist like this.”

Maloney said: “For journalists here today and in the future they have a special place here and understand that you’re sitting in a spot that is named after a great journalist in our community.” 

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