Seattle Journalist Joel Connelly's Decades-Long Engagement with British Columbia
VICTORIA — Joel Connelly, the esteemed Seattle Post-Intelligencer columnist who passed away this week at age 78, forged an extraordinary journalistic relationship with British Columbia that spanned nearly five decades. His career demonstrated how cross-border reporting could illuminate shared regional issues while captivating readers on both sides of the international boundary.
The Barrett Interview That Opened Doors
In his second year at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Connelly traveled to Victoria to interview Dave Barrett, then in his second year as British Columbia's NDP premier. This 1975 encounter would become legendary in Connelly's reporting repertoire and establish his credibility with editors who initially questioned covering Canadian politics.
The interview occurred during heightened tensions over British Columbia natural gas pricing during the 1974 Arab oil embargo. Barrett had significantly increased prices for natural gas exported to the United States, prompting pressure from Washington state's powerful senators Henry Jackson and Warren Magnuson on the U.S. State Department to intervene with Canada.
When Connelly asked Barrett about his response to the senators, the premier delivered what the journalist would later describe in a 2018 obituary as "a Bronx cheer and raised the middle fingers of both hands." The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported the incident with remarkable restraint, describing the sound as "Pffttt" and characterizing the gesture as "a gesture of defiance."
Building a Cross-Border Reporting Legacy
Following the front-page Barrett story, Connelly never struggled to convince his editors that British Columbia warranted coverage. He became a regular presence in the province's political landscape, covering multiple administrations with keen insight and occasional irreverence.
Global TV's Keith Baldrey recalls covering anti-Asia-Pacific demonstrations alongside Connelly, who responded to a protester's question about whether they were reporters with the quip: "No, we're with the Trilateral Commission." This deft reference to one of the paranoid left's favorite conspiracy theories exemplified Connelly's subversive wit and deep understanding of political dynamics.
Environmental Advocacy and Personal Connections
Connelly's reporting extended beyond politics to encompass British Columbia's natural environment. A dedicated hiker and camper, he wrote extensively about the province's breathtaking landscapes while simultaneously delivering unsparing critiques of environmental degradation.
His environmental journalism included:
- Scrutiny of old-growth forest harvesting practices
- Documentation of river pollution incidents
- Reporting on habitat destruction and species endangerment
- A persistent thirty-year campaign highlighting Victoria's failure to treat sewage properly
Regarding the sewage issue, Connelly famously declared more than three decades ago that "The B.C. capital believes in using an international waterway as its toilet," maintaining pressure until the situation was finally addressed.
Personal History and Lasting Impact
Born in Bellingham, Connelly revealed in later writings that he had participated in the underground railroad that helped U.S. military deserters reach safety in Canada during the Vietnam War. This personal history informed his understanding of the complex relationship between the two nations.
His reporting occasionally revealed unexpected connections, such as when he quoted Shirley Barrett, Dave's wife, suggesting America had lost valuable citizens when Vietnam War resisters crossed into Canada. When a correspondent asked if she was a communist, Connelly replied simply: "No, an Anglican."
Throughout his career, Joel Connelly proved that Seattle readers cared deeply about their northern neighbors, establishing a model for cross-border journalism that respected both the shared interests and distinct perspectives of British Columbia and Washington state. His work demonstrated how regional reporting could transcend national boundaries while maintaining rigorous journalistic standards and genuine human connection.
