Moving to a new place is always an experience, but making the decision to move to the Sunshine Coast was an easy one.
Having grown up in Vancouver's Kitsilano neighbourhood, I have been lucky enough to visit the Sunshine Coast several times over the years. The beauty and tranquility of the area have always captivated me. When I saw the job posting for a reporter at Coast Reporter, I wasn't just interested in applying for the job but applying for the area's lifestyle. My first day on the job was a complete immersion of seaside life, including the well-known commute on B.C. Ferries. I have heard some locals describe it as a love/hate relationship. Either way, it's an undeniable part of life here.
Being a city dweller, I have relied on public transit for quite some time. While I am in the process of looking for a vehicle, my first few days on the Coast were powered by the almighty transit system. Leaving at 5:45 a.m., I took a bus from where I live in Vancouver's West Side neighbourhood to the downtown area. I then took another bus to the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal. I hopped on the ferry, where I kept my nose pressed up to the glass looking for signs of sea life. Yes, it had been a while since I had been out of the city!
After arriving in Langdale, I proceeded to take one last bus. Two hours and several coffees later, I made it to Sechelt. Although the trip was long, it ran smoothly and efficiently. At the end of the day, I made the commute back to Vancouver with no problems at all. Funny thing was, after being back in the city for only one day, all I could think about was how I looked forward to returning to the Coast. Even if it did include a 5:45 a.m. start on public transit, three buses, a ferry and undesirable, overpriced ferry food -I knew the Coast was exactly where I wanted to be. That was just my first day, but how did I end up here exactly?
After studying liberal arts and working towards my associate of arts degree, I took a journalism course at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. Then and there, the media bug bit me. A love of politics and social justice issues and an insatiable need to always know what's going on fuelled me further into journalism. After landing my first "gig" as a reporter for a community based newspaper in B.C.'s Southern Okanagan, I became passionate about local news, leading me to pursue further education in the media field. Returning to the city, I went back to school and received my publishing diploma from Vancouver's Langara College.
I am excited to be part of the Sunshine Coast community. Even though I have only recently landed here, I have been welcomed with open arms and already feel at home. I am energized by the community's passion and dedication to keeping the Coast a beautiful and incredible place to live or visit. Enthusiastic about sharing words, I look forward to hearing and crafting together people's stories, while helping those find a voice.
I remember flipping a coin on that early morning ferry ride. Heads meant the Coast was where I belonged. Tails meant to wait and see what would happen. The coin flipped heads, and here I am. That same coin remains in my pocket.
