As the newest addition to The Observer team, I would like to share my background and goals as a reporter with you. First, let me begin by saying how excited and humbled I am to have been given this opportunity. As a consumer of media, I understand the profound impact it can have on peoples' lives. I recall not too long ago reading a piece in the Toronto Star about a retired firefighter who lived a few blocks away from where I was living at the time.
The man lived a more-or-less solitary lifestyle and passed away in his home due to natural causes. Eventually, the authorities were notified and once they arrived at the man's home, an officer pieced-together that the deceased was a retired firefighter. Quickly realizing that no arrangements had been made to honor this man for his life of service, the officer ran to the closest dollar store, purchased a Canadian flag and draped it over the fallen hero before carrying him out in public view. Reading this story brought both tears to my eyes and a renewed sense of gratitude towards those who dedicate their lives to ensuring the safety of others (who are often complete strangers). In other words, I feel like the media is an invaluable tool for strengthening ties in the community.
Although I was born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario, my paternal grandfather and father himself were born in Saskatchewan; my grandfather in Rush Lake and father in Regina. Some of their best qualities I attribute to their Prairie roots; for example, their tremendous work ethic, practicality and humility. And so, I have recently moved to Saskatchewan in part to emulate these role models of mine.
As a recent graduate student and research assistant, I have spent a significant amount of my time writing over the past few years. My thesis involved interviewing physicians in a semi-rural Ontario town and writing about their experiences transitioning from a paper-based to electronic medical record system. Also, between writing essays for classes, I always made an effort to contribute to the various student newspapers circulating around campus.
Lastly, I have always taken a keen interest in history as a subject. We all know the saying that 'to know your future you must know your past'; a society or culture needs a memory by which to build a future upon. I see a parallel between the roles of historians and reporters. By covering events, the reporter is creating a historical record of a place and its people. This of course comes with its share of responsibilities; accuracy and fairness being two of the main ones.
It is the combination of these experiences that I bring with me as a reporter at The Observer. Ultimately, my goal is to connect you, the Reader, to events taking place in-and-around the community. I hope to achieve this by reporting in a manner that is both enjoyable and informative. This is my promise to you.
