Unfinished business with Christopher Seguin
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KAMLOOPS — Christopher Seguin was on the phone, and he was not a happy man.
It was the day before Halloween 2015, and I was giving Seguin the heads-up that I was going to run a story about him. Seguin had been named in a civil suit over a dog fight, and I felt his position as the face of Thompson Rivers University elevated the public interest in the suit. He was incredulous that I was running the story, as he didn’t consider himself the level of public figure for whom a run-of-the-mill lawsuit becomes newsworthy. I argued my side, he argued his, and while we both understood each other, we didn’t come to the same conclusion. It was an uncomfortable call, and I knew the story would damage my relationship with Seguin. I spoke frequently with him on all issues TRU, and it was clear that after this, future phonecalls would be strained at best.
But here’s the funny thing: they weren’t. I’m sure Seguin was unhappy with me for a while, but by the time I spoke with him next, it seemed to be water under the bridge for him. For me, it was an elephant in the room every time Seguin and I spoke, even though he never gave me any indication that it still bothered him.
Given the chance to do it over, I may have handled the lawsuit story differently. I regret that I didn’t get the chance to at least clear the air with him before his passing. And now I never will. It’s a stinging lesson in not leaving business unfinished.
