More journalistic stuff.

I've had an article published that means a lot to me. I wrote about a reformed gang member that I met at a gang rally earlier this year that stood out to me because he was very open about his past. I knew he would be on board to tell his story and pitched the idea to my editor at the Now. He went for it, and here it is. It's a web exclusive, so you can only read a few paragraphs in the print edition of the paper and must pop online to read it in it's entirety.

Click here to check it out!

Yesterday, I put together a slideshow for the Now from photographs that Brian Howell took at the Vaisakhi celebration in Surrey last weekend. Here it is

Coming soon: I made a visit to a day spa in White Rock today and wrote about a treatment I took in an infrared sauna. That will be published in the next edition of Look magazine! More details to come.

First slideshow published.

Through my experience and education in journalism I have discovered that more than anything, I enjoy putting together multimedia projects.

For the Surrey Now, I put together an audio slideshow that takes a look at the Surrey Festival of Dance's first weekend. The month-long festival is on at the Surrey Arts Centre. I urge people in the community to check it out. It features the talent of dancers and performers from all over B.C.

Click here to check it out.

My journalistic journey thus far.

Through my journey as an intern at the Surrey Now newspaper, I have a couple of pieces that I am quite proud of.

I can definitely say that there are two articles in particular that stand out to me. I believe they are my favourite of all the pieces I've had published to date.

Check them out!

The first, a feature on a Surrey luxury car club. Harvey Sangera gives me a ride in an Audio R8. Just one of his luxury vehicles that you can drive - for a price! CLICK HERE!

The other, a feature on a local White Rock artist. Art and environment meet on canvas. CLICK HERE!

The Surrey Festival of Dance.

The Festival of Dance kicked off today, celebrating its 43rd year of existence.

I attended some performances today to collect images and audio for a multimedia project I'm working on for the Surrey Now newspaper's website. The project will include images of dancers, brief interviews with organizers and participants - and of course, music.

There were a couple of pictures that I loved and felt the need to share with cyberspace.

The Surrey Now!

Wesley Romey, the boy featured in the article, is a 13-year old autistic boy who has had success with ABA therapy.




An autistic boy waits in the lobby for the presentations to begin.



Some young volunteers help out at the event.

These photos accompany an article that I had an article published in the Surrey Now on Oct 7.

The article is available to read online and the link is below,

http://www.canada.com/surreynow/news/story.html?id=8f45d08d-d1ba-40e0-b9c0-012848401d38

Published!

The Delta Chamber of Commerce published a few of my photos from the all-candidates' meeting at the North Delta Inn on Oct.2. The link is below.

http://www.deltachamber.com/events/All_Candidates_Oct_1_08.aspx

Also, from the same event, the Surrey Now published a blurb I submitted to editor Beau Simpson on their website. Currently, no credit is given, but that is going to change. Still exciting, though!

http://www.canada.com/surreynow/news/story.html?id=63497286-5eff-4848-8507-da9afa2ebc1b

Delta Chamber of Commerce hosts all-candidates' meeting for Newton-North Delta

The Delta Inn's banquet room was buzzing last night, as residents gathered for an all-candidates meeting to hear from their candidates in the Newton-North Delta riding.

Questions, which were asked by the Surrey Now's editor, Beau Simpson, were created by residents through the newspaper. Questions were also submitted during the meeting by members of the audience.



The candidates were asked a range of questions including issues surrounding the economy, health care, immigration, youth crime and specific questions were asked to some candidates.



Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal, the current MP for the riding for the last two and a half years, stressed to the crowd that he takes guidance from his constituents and takes those issues to the House of Commons, not the other way around. He mentioned his efforts during his time in house and said his first and foremost priority is that Newton-North Delta has a voice in Ottawa.



Conservative Sandeep Pandher stressed his support for lowering tax burdons, acting tough on crime and was the only candidate to support the Conservative idea that 14-year-olds should be tried as adults. He stated that the Conservative government will go forward with these amendments to the Youth Criminal Justice Act if re-elected.



Green Party Liz Walker has lived in Surrey since 1983, and since has been involved in years of volunteer surrounding the environment. Walker strongly supports the green vision and repeatedly mentioned the "Green Tax Shift" which will tax items that produce pollution and CO2 emissions and will put those tax dollars into things that promote a healthy environment.



Independent John Shavluck, nick-named as Shrek, spent two years with the Green Party and following that joined Mark Emery's Marijuana Party. Shavluck asked the crowd to vote for the "Newton-North Delta riding" as he suggests if you vote for the other candidates, you are voting for the parties.

Teresa Townsley was unable to attend due to a child being struck ill and apologies were given. James Miller-Cousteau was scheduled to attend, but no explanation for his absence was provided.



The next all-candidates meeting will be on October 8 at St. John's United Church at 7:30 pm.