Living through the COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging, complicated, anxiety inducing and - at times - scary. Documenting it on the news each night hasn’t been easy either, but I try and bring a bit of humour and fun into my storytelling
Our workflow is completely different, but it’s also been fun. It’s turned creativity from a “nice to have” into a “need to have.”
Don't forget to stay connected to the senior in your life, especially during COVID-19 and all this physical distancing. Introducing my Nan! ;)
We explore what a state of emergency means in Ontario. When it's called and what it allows the premier to do? This piece played on CBC TV's Toronto News at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17.
"I don't think it really is a snitch scenario, we're all doing it to protect someone that we know that we love," says BC woman. She called police on her neighbour, during COVID-19 pandemic, to report a party. This piece played on CBC TV's The National Thursday, March 26.
Amplifying voices of civic leaders demanding people to respect social distancing rules, especially snowbirds returning home. This piece played on CBC TV's The National Wednesday, March 25.
"I hear the word essential but to me really what you're saying is we're expendable," says Toronto construction worker. He and others are calling for construction work to stop in Ontario. As you see, the demands are intensifying & becoming more personal, especially as other provinces shutter job sites during pandemic. This piece played on CBC TV's The National Friday, March 27.
In March 2020, after more than three months investigating surrogacy in Canada and interviewing more than 50 people connected to the industry, my team and I rolled out extensive coverage on nearly every CBC News platform.
While many surrogates and parents shared positive experiences, the industry has evolved over the past two decades into a system that is not working for everyone. Legislative and medical help is needed.
Prioritizing Social and Podcasting
In order to reach as many Canadians as possible, we leveraged CBC News platforms and shows in new ways. Of course, we aired our coverage on traditional national broadcasts, such as CBC’s flagship television newscast The National, and CBC’s top-rated radio broadcasts World Report and The Current. We also created two unique podcasts, one delving into the surrogates and one all about the parents and videos designed specifically for social media.
The surrogacy industry presented a unique challenge to investigate because it’s small, highly inter-connected and secretive. Many of the families who experienced problems with the industry were afraid to speak out. They expressed fears the small community would turn on them, and some couldn’t go public because they were filled with shame and embarrassment.
In the end, we uncovered Canadian laws lack transparency around payments to surrogates in our first online article about the industry. These half baked laws are leaving parents at risk of paying too much without even knowing it and, in a bizarre snag, they are also leaving parents at risk of criminal liability for these payments.
Over the course of our two day roll out, I did morning radio spots for up to 30 cities across Canada and did eight live hits on CBC News Network — the most watched news network in Canada.
For months I found myself on phone calls with complete strangers who unravelled a web of problems in the surrogacy industry. Conversations would often begin light and upbeat, but I became increasingly accustomed to hearing shocking revelations from surrogates, in particular, sharing stories of medical struggles they’d dealt with during the surrogacy process.
In our second online feature article we explored how surrogates, who are offering families the greatest gift — a baby — are left at risk by Canada’s advanced medical system. There are no mandatory wait times in between surrogacy pregnancies, and psychological preparation and guidance for these women is sorely lacking.
Our investigation aired on CBC’s The National both evenings, along with all major CBC local television newscasts in Canada.
The adrenaline rush of anchoring TV and radio programs always keeps me coming back for more. At CBC Toronto, I regularly fill in as the host of the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. TV newscasts. I’ve also anchored several live election specials, including CBC’s 2018 Toronto municipal election, the 2016 Manitoba provincial election and a six-hour marathon coverage event of the Manitoba NDP Leadership election which was streamed online, carried on TV and broadcast on radio.
I think my greatest strength as a TV host is my ability to reflect the tone of the story I’m covering and connect with viewers. I feel comfortable in front of the lens and am quick to show emotion and share a laugh to engage with the story. I’m a dynamic storyteller and my live abilities have been tested in some exhilarating circumstances. (Please let me tell you about the time a shopper ran me over with a shopping cart live on TV!)
Live election coverage is a passion of mine. I was raised in a political family who enshrined in me the importance of public service and holding politicians accountable.
I often appear on CBC News Network and its political show Power and Politics with stories of regional and national significance. I recently reported hourly for CBC News live from the NDP Headquarters on the evening of the 2018 Ontario election and the floor of the 2018 Ontario PC leadership convention. I also co-hosted CBC Manitoba’s provincial election show in 2016 and anchored special live coverage of the Manitoba NDP leadership convention in 2015.
As the legislative reporter at CBC Manitoba, I cultivated sources and was well-poised to break several stories in the lead up to the 2014 rebellion against then-sitting premier Greg Selinger. My political expertise was showcased in a regional analysis blog that lifted the curtain on Manitoba politics and was frequently published nationally.
I also anchored CBC Toronto’s innovative live coverage of the 2018 municipal election. Our broadcast was Canada’s first election special to be offered in vertical video format and offered simultaneously on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
I’ve covered major news events like the Yonge Street van attack and the Danforth shooting. These devastating stories are often a window into the worst of our communities, but throughout each crisis I’ve covered in the region and nationally, I’ve also been proud of my work to search out and expose the bright stories, which warm our hearts during the chill of terror.
It’s the stories of light in the darkness I most want to share. Of the shop owners who sprang into action to save lives and comfort the injured and dying in the Danforth shooting. Or the family friends of the 10 people killed in the van attack, who picked up the pieces of the lives lost, raised money for their families and were brave enough to carry on.
I’ve also handled some of the biggest crime and court stories Toronto has ever lived through, including the investigation into alleged serial killer Bruce McArthur, the three murder trials against Dellen Millard and the murders of billionaire philanthropists Honey and Barry Sherman.
Struggling to pay rent and feeling as though home prices were completely out of reach, my friend and colleague Shannon Martin and I put our anger and frustration to work, and dreamed up No Fixed Address.
We envisioned a series that would cultivate sources right from social media, build a community of like-minded housing sufferers and propel the housing unaffordability conversation forward, with the dream of enacting real change in Toronto.
The conversation we sparked ultimately resulted in the Ontario government’s expanded rent control and the foreign buyers tax, all part of a legislative package called the Fair Housing Plan.
No Fixed Address won two awards, in-depth reporting and online engagement, at the Central Region RTDNAs and then went on to win a National RTNDA award. I’m so proud of the work we put into getting this series right.
2018 will go down in history as the year Canada ended prohibition on the first illicit drug since the 1930s. This epic cultural shift was applauded by some and feared by others. It required intense scrutiny from the public especially around the vast business opportunities it was set to create in Canada.
Joint Ventures (probably most proud of the title I came up with) profiled the ‘highs’ and lows of the cannabis industry on the brink of expansion.
Since ending the black market trade of cannabis was a priority of legalizing weed, the series took a hard at how the policies that were being developed would help or hinder organized crime’s monopoly of the drug. We also profiled a series of the green rush entrepreneurs with visionary plans to cash in on Canada’s newest crop.
I’ve developed myself as CBC Toronto’s go-to cannabis reporter. The legalization of marijuana has created endless avenues of stories to explore, expose and discuss.
I’ve covered every angle of the controversial drug from cannabis as a medical tool for children to cannabis use on the job.
Having more drivers stoned behind the wheel is one of the biggest fears of legalizing cannabis. Police forces have sounded the alarm for months saying that they are not prepared with staffing and equipment. This report delved into the on-the-ground work officers are already doing scouting for impaired drivers on cannabis and it profiled a new technology that could help catch and ultimately penalize these drivers.
Legal weed introduces health and safety risks for families, including for children, pregnancy and breastfeeding. Aside from the obvious physical risks, there are also some risks to the way parents raise children and use the drug around their children. Others though say it’s as safe as a glass of wine during story-time. (Read the story)
A TTC employee says she's back on opioids because her employer told her she can't use medical marijuana and remain as a subway operator, even though her doctor thinks cannabis is the best treatment for her chronic pain. (Read the story)
After a series of violent episodes linked to autism, 19-year-old Dina Dedes struck her father. Her mother, Joanne, turned to a controversial therapy that she says saved her daughter’s life — cannabis. (Read the story)
Toronto police say there have already been four robberies of storefront marijuana dispensaries so far this year — and slammed store owners for not always reporting the robberies to police.
In a saturated media landscape you need to stand out from the herd to get noticed. Solid journalism is the bedrock of every great story, but creative storytelling can make it a more cozy ride for the viewer. So I like to tap into the latest technology to ensure my TV and radio stories look and sound different. It doesn't work every time — not even close — but when it does, it's magic.
Solo anchoring a live election special with no prompter is thrilling enough, but add a bit of innovation into the mix and this night was magic. We were the first to broadcast an election special in vertical video format so it could stream on every mobile social platform. Watch the full election coverage.
What’s better than explaining the thrill of the world’s longest, fastest and tallest Dive Coaster? Showing the fear in my eyes in real time on board the ride. I strapped the GoPro on the seat back in front and used a regular news camera to capture good audio to build a story that tried to pack as much of a rush as the ride itself.
Since this story was all about the potential security failures of an iPhone, if disposed of improperly, I wanted to shoot the whole thing on my phone. But selfie style in my hand would have looked like a rookie. To take this storytelling to the next level, I used the stabilizing extender arm of the Osmo to utilize every angle and push this tale forward visually.
This little gem was entirely gathered on my iPhone 8 Plus using FilMiC Pro. My mobile kit included a mic, a couple cables, a light and a tripod. I even managed a couple of on cameras with the gear. I edited the piece on my phone using iMovie. It won’t work for every story, but this technique will do in a pinch.
Over the past 10 years, I’ve been a news anchor, reporter and producer based in Toronto, Winnipeg and Halifax with a breadth of regional and national experience.
It’s a privilege to be a TV, radio and digital storyteller. I take great pride in my career and am always looking for innovative ways to reach audiences.
I have a unique perspective that I’m excited to share with TV and radio audiences. I was the award-winning theatre kid, who was also the MVP of my high school’s rugby team. It’s part of my dichotomous life that keeps people interested.
I have a special love for all things politics, both Canadian and American. Mostly because, as the son of a political staffer (mom) and a political lawn-sign campaign chair (dad), I have been in the thick of politics my whole life.
Whether I’m investigating the treatment of foreign workers languishing in the basement of a Toronto temple or exposing the deadly lack of oxygen on air ambulance flights in Steinbach, Manitoba, I have proven myself as a journalist who will dig in the pursuit of social justice.
At CBC News Network, I held a number of leadership roles. As the national afternoon coverage producer, I led story meetings, assigned writers and vetted copy. I also worked as a control room producer, line up producer, and was pulled to produce several live specials, including two federal budgets and the Royal Wedding.
