These warm early summer nights are probably what will stick out the most. A steady, calming breeze as the seemingly everlasting twilight fades into darkness. But even at night the sky here is so wide. The moon carries a luminance that appears to stretch halfway across the world. And the stars shimmer brighter through the clean Prairie air.
And of course, the next seasonal worry sets in. We escaped with just minor flooding in the spring - now the question is: will it rain enough this summer to keep the fields alive? It's like an endless conundrum. How forgiving will mother nature be to the Prairie people? The past winter was one of the harshest I've ever seen. About a month straight of -30C temperatures. Fall seems to be the only forgiving time of year, but only if there's a good crop.
These are stories that replay year after year. But stories I have had the fortune of telling since I've been out here. Almost 200 so far - covering an expanse of subject matter even I didn't think I was capable of. From how a brutal war in the Middle East had people here on the edge of their seats for weeks; to how a convicted pedophile struck fear in a nation for days last summer; to an alleged drug dealer turning a sawed-off shotgun on three Winnipeg cops; to how the people here cope with yearly challenges like floods, droughts, and intense cold.
These stories have taught me how complex this part of the country is. How there are stories here that are unrivalled anywhere else in the world, for their intensity, authenticity, and emotion. They've also taught me a great deal about myself and my craft, and how much more there is to learn and grow. And because of that, I'm looking forward to telling at least 200 more.