November 24th, 2002

Today is a significant day in my personal history. Today is the day I left the comfortable confines of home in Edmonton, and moved to Grande Prairie for my first full time job in radio. I was just 21 years old, heading out into the world to see if I could make it. It was on Grey Cup sunday 2002 that I moved. The Montreal Alouettes played the Edmonton Eskimos at Commonwealth Stadium. The Als won 25-16. We pulled into Grande Prairie in time to see most of the second half. My brother in law Rob was a professor at GPRC and was kind enough to let me stay at his place for five months until I could get on my feet and find a place.

I had been hired by Tyler Wold of Big Country 93.1 FM, not as a news reporter, but as a creative writer. It was a quick adjustment. We were heading into the Christmas rush, which is the busiest time of year for creative writers. I'd never had dreams of writing commercials, but I was willing to leap at any opportunity to get into radio. I spent nearly two years in the creative department at Big Country. In that time I did quite a bit of production, and was even given the opportunity to do on air shifts and remotes to earn a little extra cash. It was a fantastic opportunity to learn several aspects of the business.

By September 2004 I was starting to tire of creative. I was eternally grateful for all the opportunities I had been given by management there, but I wanted to move into news and sports, and it didn't seem on the horizon. I had actually typed up my letter of resignation when a spot suddenly opened up. Before I had the chance to speak with the news director, at least one of the salespeople had mentioned to him that I was interested. To be honest, the ND kind of intimidated me, a highly respected man with a booming voice. I wasn't leaping out there to grab his attention. I finally built up the nerve to go see him, and he gave me an opportunity. It has led me to where I am today.

I consider myself one of the luckiest reporters on earth, to be able to learn from the team that I worked with. Gord Sharp, Paul Thomas, Curtis Galbraith and Bryan Fedoruk were all news and sports veterans, all extremely respected in the community, and all willing to share everything they new with the new guy. I would not be where I am today without the help of those guys, and for that, I will be forever grateful. I spent three amazing years in that newsroom before coming to the decision that it was time to move on. It was probably the hardest decision of my life. After five years in Grande Prairie, I had built a life. I had amassed a number of very good friends. I wasn't leaving because I wasn't happy, I felt I needed to leave because it was time to see how far I could go. So again, I was picking up a comfortable life, and moving the furthest away from home that I've ever gone.

About this time last year I applied for a job at CKRM here in Regina. My good friend Chad Jeremy had a job here. We had gotten to know each other when he worked at Sun FM in Grande Prairie. In early December, I received a call from News Director Craig Wallebeck informing me that I was the guy, and my first day would be January 2nd. I packed up my life, went home for christmas, and then with the help of my older brother I moved to Regina on December 30th.

It's hard to believe it's been almost a year since I moved down here. I made it through a miserable winter. They're awful down here! The wind never stops blowing.

In the spring I received an email from a reporter at Global news. She suggested I email the news director there about doing some part time reporting. I did so, and I met with Brent in early May. While nothing came of it then, we did get back in contact in September, and I've been reporting on saturday's ever since. It has been a fantastic opportunity, and has proven to me that the move down here has been a great decision.

So much has happened in the last six years. I have grown up so much and made so many fantastic friends. I can't thank everyone that has helped me get to where I am today, but there are some that definitely stick out.

Gord, Big Joe, Curtis and Fed. I cannot put into words what the four of you have meant to me. Like I said, if I hadn't had a chance to work with and learn from you, who knows where I would be.

Tyler, for hiring me in the first place, and then being such a good friend. I probably would've scrambled home in the spring of 2003 if it weren't for you. Same with you Metsy, Grantsky and Annie.

Kyle, Matty and Jessica, for being such great roommates, when I had so many shitty ones.

Chad, Amanda and all my new friends at Global. You're keeping me sane down here.

And of course, my family. I'd be living in a ditch if it weren't for all of your support.

Watching the Grey Cup yesterday, I couldn't help but think to myself, where am I going to be watching in November 2014? Seems like a lifetime away.