My close friends and family have always known I had a passion for a different kind of journalism - broadcast journalism.
Growing up in Saskatchewan and then B.C. I was fascinated by news and sports broadcasters - so much so, that after graduating from high school, I applied for the broadcast journalism course at BCIT.
I completed several introductory night school courses, scored well on entrance exams - even got to a group interview stage for possible acceptance into the program. But, unfortunately, I didn't quite make the final cut. I switched my focus to the print medium and the rest, I guess, is history.
That was until last Thursday.
I was invited by the fine folks at Coast Cable 11 to host their Parliamentary Talkback program with Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons. In fact, Nicholas suggested my name to Coast Cable.
I was thrilled at the prospect. Here was my chance to show the folks at BCIT that they were wrong and maybe I was cut out for the broadcasting world. Nicholas and I met the day before to set up a script and talk about some of the topics we wanted to cover. We received several excellent calls from the public, discussed many issues and had a great show. I watched the replay after getting home from the studio and was pretty impressed. Yes, I'm tooting my own horn, but it was a good show. I've received lots of positive compliments from our staff here at the paper and from the community at large.
The experience gave me a firsthand look at what goes into producing a show every week. I was impressed. Whether it's Parliamentary Talkback, Inside Out (of which Coast Reporter is a sponsor and does voice-over work on weekly), the Rotary Auction or Elves Club Telethon, Coast Cable produces some great programming. The students are very talented and professional. I want to thank them all for making me look so good. I hope I'm asked back again. I had a great time and getting the chance to be in front of a camera instead of in front of a computer screen was a welcome change.
I want to send kudos out to another wonderful and talented group of people as well this week.
Last Friday I was honoured to attend the sixth annual NCO mess dinner for the 858 Skookumchuk air cadet squadron.
This is the second year I have been invited and I always love attending. One of the perks of this job is that you are invited to lots of events in the community. Some of them can be a bit much. After a long week, sometimes the last thing you want to do is get dressed up and go out to attend yet another evening event. But I enjoyed myself so much last year, I couldn't pass up the invitation this year.
The food was fantastic (another perk of the job), the conversation was engaging and I learned a bit more about this youth organization and the good things they are doing in the community.
I was pleased to see invited guests and involvement from the army and sea cadets at the dinner as well. All three cadet movements are working more closely and co-operatively, which does nothing but benefit this community. These young people are the future leaders. It's great to see that they're becoming such positive role models.
