Heather Latter
Ryan Wood of Spruce Grove, Alta. was watching Global National’s news on Friday afternoon and was surprised to see a photo of his hometown of Fort Frances during the broadcast’s sign-off.
Former resident Carrie Halwachs-Zechel, meanwhile, said she almost jumped off the couch after seeing the photo of the town’s water tower.
A number of other local and former residents also were pleased to see Fort Frances make the newscast.
It was all thanks to 14-year-old Jordan Eldridge, who sent in the photo.
“He asked his dad if he could walk home from school on Thursday,” explained his mom, Hue.
Eldridge had a plan to use the camera on his cellphone to take some photos of the water tower to send in to Global National for its “Your Canada” segment that ends each broadcast.
Global National asks people to send in photos of a place in the country that you love.
“It could be almost anywhere or anything, whether it be somewhere you live now, somewhere you grew up, a landmark, a statue, or one of Canada’s hidden gems—please let us know about it by snapping a photo,” Global’s website requests.
Eldridge is an avid news watcher and enjoys keeping up on current events.
“I thought it would be cool to see a picture of the town on the television,” he remarked, noting he took about 20 photos and submitted six.
He wanted to get shots of the water tower because he knew Global National looks for photos that are unique.
In fact, Global National indicates it “prefers to see one-of-a-kind buildings, structures, sculptures: something that is unique to your community.”
“And the water tower for the town is pretty unique,” Eldridge said.
While he was at school on Friday, the teen received an e-mail from Global National.
“I wasn’t really sure what it meant because it was pretty vague, so then I went and watched the news and I saw it,” he said.
“I think there was a desire to see his own name up there on the National news across Canada,” noted his dad, Don, referring to the photo credit that adorned the picture.
Eldridge posted the photo to the “You grew up in Fort Frances . . . if you remember” Facebook page.
The post has received upwards of 170 “likes,” as well as comments from people saying they saw it in Regina, Edmonton, and Calgary.
“I didn’t even know until he came to tell us it was on,” said Hue Eldridge, adding it was something he did all on his own.
Don Eldridge had an idea his son was up to something but didn’t think he’d get a picture on the news.
“We don’t know how many photos are submitted each day but I thought the odds would be pretty slim,” he conceded, noting the photo was chosen and used the very next day.
“This is the first time he’s ever done this and he gets it on the news,” Don Eldridge added.
“We’re proud of our boy,” he enthused. “He did a great job getting his community on the news.
“I think people get a kick out of seeing their town on the news,” he reasoned.
“It’s a boost of civic pride.”
“I think it’s pretty cool that my picture is being seen all over Canada,” Jordan Eldridge said.
