Charlie Dickson joined the Progress last week as a writer-reporter, and begins his six-week summer employment with the publishing of three stories in this edition. Charlie grew up in Hamilton, Ontario as an older brother in a family that valued literature, curiosity, and knowledge, shaping his interest in journalism and investigation as histeenage years progressed. He attended the University of Waterloo where he studied political science and history, graduating this June. It was here that his specified interest in natural resource politics developed, focusing on both cases of international conflict as well as issues in Canadian political economy, such as forestry policy. At the end of his second year he began writing for Imprint, Waterloo's student newspaper, where he remained an editor and contributor for the duration of his undergrad years. For the last three summers he has worked as a tree planter, toiling in the cut-block forests that surround Ignace, Hearst, Fort Frances, Red Lake, and most recently, Atikokan. Charlie planted his last tree one week ago and is happy to be transitioning jobs after ten weeks deep in the bush. Come September, he will continue his studies at Waterloo, starting a masters degree in political science, where he will pursue a thesis tracing the economic evolution of northern Ontario's forestry industry, and (hopefully) uncover and articulate the many interrelated barriers halting the development of substantial and sustainable value added industries across the region.  He is thrilled to be living in town and serving the paper this summer, and hopes to write honestly and informatively about local issues, events, and people. He is always excited to talk in the office (109 Main Street), in town, or through email (progress@nwon.com).