In some ways, the last twelve months feel like one big blur.

It’s difficult to try and capture all of DMS’s accomplishments, but some definite highlights come to mind. 

This year, our main boardroom was the site of over a dozen – many, political – editorial roundtable discussions featuring Federal Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath, and Federal MP and Minister of State for of Foreign Affairs (Americas) Peter Kent.

We also had visits from various Ontario government Ministers, MPPs, provincial agency representatives, even a renowned Italian chef … George Smitherman (then-Energy Minister), Aileen Carroll (Culture), Peter Fonseca (Labour), Jim Bradley (Transportation), John Milloy (Training, Colleges and Universities & Research and Innovation), Jim Watson (Municipal Affairs and Housing), Laurel Broten (Children and Youth Services), Newmarket-Aurora MPP Frank Klees (MPP for Newmarket-Aurora), Metrolinx CEO Robert Pritchard, and preeminent Italian Chef, and TLN personality, David Rocco.

Italy’s Consulate General in Toronto, Italy’s (then) Ambassador in Ottawa Gabriele Sardo, representatives from the US Consulate General, and many other special guests also stopped by.

Events and visits such as these are crucial to provide a ‘gravity point’ to our partner publishers and their readers, particularly to enable access to government…but it also represents an opportunity for government to reach out and connect with “that other 50%” of Canadians who are not being accessed via mainstream media.

On a personal note, I covered many of these discussions live via Twitter – so to those who were online and participated by submitting questions and commentary, thank you. And to our media partner publishers, it was wonderful to meet up with you again and experience first-hand your commitment to your readers and the issues of the day.

Another highlight has been the fascinating proprietary insights that have bubbled up over the last year, mainly as a result of our direct experiences within the various markets themselves.  Case in point:  Polish and Aboriginal workers occupy disproportionately large segments in key industrial sectors that suffer the highest incidences of the most common workplace injuries.  These populations are focused in communities outside the accepted major centers in Ontario and therefore wouldn’t be reached in any meaningful way through traditional mainstream outreach. Ok,”to each his own”…maybe that tidbit doesn’t thrill everybody; but suffice to say, it’s easy to consider Toronto as the “multicultural capital” of Canada and that any diversity outreach begins and ends there; but our country’s multicultural make-up is so much more. I like to think of DMS the same way, so much more…a passionate group of folks, CEO Lori Abittan and Director Joe March in particular, who continue to represent and recognize the “other half of Canada” as the whole of Canada.

In addition to the copious amounts of commentary and information I’ve discovered online, much of which I’ve bookmarked in my Delicious.com account, I’ve also discovered an incredible online community, many through Twitter…and, yes, I’ve even met some of them in real life. Far too many to mention here, but thanks to all of you, I hope you’ll know who you are — you, too, have made the last year so enjoyable, engaging, informative, rewarding and fun; I don’t think there’s been one day that you haven’t made me laugh out loud, feel supported, learn something new, and be motivated to take action.  Amazing.

To the other contributors of this blog over the last year, Guy Jarvis and Patrick Gossage, thank you guys! Your perspectives, commentary and ideas are really appreciated (and, yes, that means I’ll be calling on you again for 2010).  Finally, to those who subscribe to this blog’s newsletter or have taken the time to post comments, thank you…it means a great deal to know you’re out there, and we hope you will continue to return.

Quite a year…but I know 2010 will be all this and more.  One project on the horizon, that will also include a web destination, is really exciting: a national civic literacy project that we believe is truly historic…a project that not only exemplifies the importance of our media partner publisher network, but that is also truly “all-Canadian for all Canadians.”  The master plans says early in the new year, so stay tuned. You will hear about it here.

In closing, on behalf of all of us at DMS, I wish you and yours a Happy and Healthy New Year.  Salut!