COCHRANE— Known for his giant heart and passion for news, Jack Tennant's legacy lives on at The Cochrane Eagle.
Jack founded The Eagle in August 2001 with his wife Brenda and son Ian Tennant.
To quote one of Jack’s favourite sayings, "Unless you're dead or in Edmonton," you will have heard of the legendary photojournalist-turned-columnist, publisher and philanthropist.
Ian described Jack as an "old newspaper guy through and through."
Jack first cut his teeth in the industry at The Brandon Sun in Manitoba. He grew up as a farm boy working a labour-heavy job in the Westman area and saw an advertisement in the paper looking for a photographer.
“He had never taken a photo in his life but he thought it’s got to be easier than what I’m doing,” Ian said with a laugh. “He got the gig … And loved it and started a 50-year career in journalism.”
While he had no formal training in journalism, Jack was street-wise and was able to bring his life experience to the industry.
Jack's most important lesson in journalism was to “keep it simple stupid” and this philosophy has guided Ian throughout his entire career.
Through his father, Ian got his love for the business and Jack helped nourish this passion— A gift he had for finding in others.
Jack cherished the platform of the paper to not only help others but hold those in power accountable. Ian said Jack’s popular column Wee Jackie weighs in was often the most read article in Cochrane— In it, he would capture an audience with his passion for standing up for the little guy.
“He used his column to help people and to promote causes. He had no shame at all in helping to promote a cause or some person's event,” Ian said.
Jack also gained infamy for his column in The Calgary Sun and later played a pivotal role in launching the Sunshine Fund.
Jack especially loved connecting with Cochrane and Stoney Nakoda First Nation community members. Ian said he took great pleasure in working with the Stoney Nakoda First Nation and helping out in any way he could.
One of Jack's favourite things in town was the Cochrane Pipe Band.
Pipe Band member Leslie Deans connected with Jack shortly after he sold Cochrane This Week.
At that time, the Cochrane Pipe Band was formed by Susan Flowers and Deans’ husband Rick, she said, and Jack was excited to see bagpipes come to the Bow Valley.
“He told me he had his own kilt and the Tennant tartan,” Deans said. “He was very thrilled to have a pipe band in town and became a big supporter of the Pipe Band.”
He was a long-time friend and supporter of the band and was named Clan Chieftain, an honourary position held forever by the name holder. Wherever the band was playing Jack always had a front-row seat.
“He was always good to have a heated discussion and it always ended up in fun. He was open-minded that way,” Deans said.
Stoney Nakoda First Nation elder Sykes Powderface read Jack’s columns in the Olds Albertan before he had the chance to meet him. He was always struck by how Jack spoke his own mind, often because they were subjects ignored by other journalists.
“He always impressed me as a person who was honest enough to speak from the heart,” Powderface said. “He spoke to his own convictions.”
The two became fast friends when they were able to meet in-person coming across each other at a restaurant in Cochrane.
Powderface said the adversity Jack faced in life helped him connect to and understand the people he encountered in his daily travels. He was able to share many stories and managed to build a paper that was meaningful to those who read it.
“He was a great man who represented a lot of people [in the paper],” Powderface said. “He spoke about what was real to him.”
Jack respected the Stoney Nakoda First Nation community and knew when to ask questions, and when to hold back.
“He had this way of having a conversation around what he wanted to talk about and he would get it from different people,” Powderface said.
He appreciated that as the paper grew an emphasis was placed on sharing stories from Stoney Nakoda, and the connections Jack was able to foster with the community. Powderface said Jack was always saying, that while he spent as much time as he could in Stoney Nakoda each week it was never enough.
He was always looking to work with the Nation, especially in regards to Truth and Reconciliation. Jack wanted to see people take action to repair the racism, prejudice and discrimination Stoney Nakoda First Nation members faced each day.
“Jack was all about making friends,” Powderface said. “He put people at ease to talk.”
Powderface said he respected Jack and this feeling was shared by many in Stoney Nakoda. Jack has bestowed the Stoney name “Tataga Tawachi Thnigan” (Gentle Buffalo) to honour his place in the community.
Former Eagle journalist Lindsay Seewalt described Jack as an incredible person. He took Seewalt under his wing when she started at The Eagle.
“He was always up to something,” Seewalt said with a grin. “He always had a card up his sleeve.”
Jack would light up any room he entered, and had an innate ability he had to connect with others and have an open conversation.
“You always felt good when you were around him— He always knew when people were in pain and needed help,” Seewalt said. “He was a legend.”
It was especially incredible seeing the way he was able to build bridges with Stoney Nakoda First Nation and ensure their stories were told.
It was fitting seeing the Jack Tennant Memorial Bridge named after him, because of his ability he had to bridge the gap between Stoney Nakoda and Cochrane.
While Jack embodied empathy, Seewalt said, he also knew when to stir the pot and get people talking.
“He had an incredible ability to infuriate council,” Seewalt said with a smile. “He was always stoking the fire.”
Seewalt still remembers the day Jack died in May 2018.
She wrote a memorial tribute honouring her mentor, and it was one of the most meaningful articles she published while at The Eagle.
“You can’t go into the world of journalism without hearing the name Jack Tennant,” Seewalt said. “He was larger than life … I’m really lucky to have known him.”
Jack was a pillar of the community and would not miss a community event— A philosophy he instilled in the newsroom.
“I love that his legacy goes on in that newsroom,” Seewalt said. “That newspaper was really the heart and soul of Jack and who he was.”
