Apologies to those who are interested for my lack of communications since I returned to B.C.

I’m back home in the beautiful Okanagan valley to enjoy the tail-end of this fine summer. I’ve finally found some time to get into the great outdoors! A friend and I spent three days tramping around in the Canadian Rockies in Kootenay National park—albeit in the snow—and today I’m heading up into the hills above Lumby for a brief session of uncoordinated fishing.

Back to the journalism grind immediately after Labour day. Looking forward to seeing some familiar and friendly faces in Van-city.

Back in Vancouver after two months in Ottawa. Made it home a couple of days ago after a brief visit to New York City and an even quicker stop in Montreal.

The Rideau Canal at sunset in Ottawa. Photo by Elyse Fortin

Good to be home amongst our mountains and our fresh coastal pacific air. A nice reprieve after living in the perpetual steam of the Ottawa valley and tramping around in the concrete mega-sauna that is NYC—though the entire experience was wonderful and un-repeatable. Wonderful places, people and experiences.

I put up a few photos on flickr for those who are interested. (You can access the rest of the photos by clicking on one of the pictures on the side bar).

Now, time to get outside and enjoy this British Columbian summer.

Happy 143rd  birthday Canada.

Celebrating this day in Ottawa seems to come with its own set of responsibilities. Firstly, I must find something red to wear immediately. I came here quite unprepared.

Happy Canada Day. Photo courtesy of Creative Commons (ScottsPicks)

I think it might actually be a misdemeanor to leave the house on July 1 without the proper Canadian colour.

Secondly, I need to accept the mission of celebrating as enthusiastically as possible. I think the masses are already assembling in front of the centre block for what I hear is the party of the year.

Word is the Queen is joining us later on the hill for a little shout out.

Rather enjoyable.

I’m heading east to join the team at Embassy Newsweekly, one of Canada’s premier foreign policy reports.

Parliament Hill, Ottawa. Photo courtesy of Creative Commons: bouche.

Should be an interesting experience monitoring and reporting on the complex political machine that is our foreign affairs. I’ll be interning at the mag for June and July and hopefully pumping out interesting stories about trade, diplomacy and international development.

Feel free to contact me at evan@evanduggan.com if you have any news tips related to Canada’s foreign policy.

I’m all ears.

Greetings all.

May 3 happens to be World Press Freedom Day.

Some of the best journalism often comes at a cost. In many situations and countries across the world, journalists must pursue their work without the support of civil rights protections. Censorship, intimidation and barriers to governmental information continue to impede democracy and journalism.

Take a moment to check out what Amnesty International has to say about this important issue.

Thank you to everyone who has visited the site over its first few months.

I want to wish everyone a merry Christmas and a happy new year. I haven’t written much over the last couple of weeks, but I’m looking forward to producing more content after the holidays.

Please keep checking back, and feel free to comment on any the posts, or on anything that you feel warrants some attention in current affairs, politics or human rights.

Much more to come.

Half way through the term.

At this point, it makes more sense to be studying than to be blogging. I have many things all going on at once, and I have had little opportunity to develop anything of substance for the site.

That said, there is much more on the way.

Keep checking back voraciously.

Telling a influential story doesn’t always require words.

102 Minutes that Changed the World is a piece of journalism that says a lot, by saying little. The collection of footage of the moments between the impact of the first plane and the eventual collapse of the second tower of the World Trade Center on 9/11 is emotional and shocking.

I remember the morning that it happened. My sister woke me up because our Dad had called the house from work to tell us that the United States was under attack.

I got out of bed in time to watch the second plane hit.

I cannot remember a word spoken by any reporter or broadcaster. I can’t remember what President Bush said. I don’t think I was even listening. What could they say that could further explain what I was witnessing?

I can only remember the vivid blue sky; a distinct backdrop hanging over Manhattan as smoke billowed from both towers. I was 16, concerned not with politics and war, but with my car and my girlfriend. I spent more time goofing around with my friends than reading or consuming the news.

The impact of the second plane forcefully adjusted my perspective. I realized that I lived in a complicated world. It was ugly. It was confusing.

I find myself now, an aspiring journalist, still confused, but trying to reconcile my confusion by finding and reporting stories with consequence and with impact. The events of that day forced me to seek out understanding. It shaped my studies, and my pursuits.

Eight years later, 102 Minutes connected faces and voices to the images that I witnessed at 16. Shocking voyeurism that required no narrative or explanation. It brought the story down to street level, into people’s homes, and exposed the tragic horror that those people were experiencing.

I didn’t need a reporter to articulate the weight of what was happening in Manhattan at that point in history.

Over the last week I have been reporting for The Ubyssey about the potential expansion of the Millennium SkyTrain line to UBC.

To make a short story even shorter. Nothing is happening.

Translink media relations contact, Ken Hardie told me that TransLink is “certainly not in the position to expand anything,” and that there are other transit projects which may be wiser investments at this point in time.

Timothy Chu, the AMS VP External at UBC said that the student government doesn’t even have an official opinion on the matter of the SkyTrain. Chu explained that the current system is over-capacity, but the real problem with student commuting is a lack of student housing on, and around campus.

So students who enjoy the convenience, capacity and velocity of the SkyTrain had better get used to those buses.

Yesterday, the official transit plan for the Olympics was released. It clearly outlines the temporary expansion of SkyTrain and bus service throughout the duration of the Olympics.

Also within it, may be the explanation regarding the inactivity of transit development to UBC. While the Olympics increasingly attract funds and attention, other interests and initiatives will continue spinning their tires while getting nowhere.

One of the more exciting aspects of my early journalism pursuits has been engaging various people in the city and hearing their opinions on certain topics.

One of my instructors has repeatedly explained that journalism is a conversation. Other qualities such as independence, verification and originality are considered the pillars of the practise, but conversation seems to be the objective of quality journalism.

Thus far I have encountered people in this city from all walks of life including politicians, media relations people, business owners, students, parents, and marginalized individuals who find themselves living on the fringes of Vancouver society.

Each encounter is a special experience, and each person carries with them a unique perspective. At times, approaching complete strangers can be awkward or strange, especially considering the technological changes which facilitate modern communication. We spend far more time focused on online networks, email, text messages and cell phones rather than on the people around us.

An email is an easier transaction than looking someone the eye and telling them how you feel. Digital communication has provided a social crutch.

I am finding that human to human contact carries a distinct value that cannot be replicated in the digital world. The role of a journalist carries a certain license to approach people and ask them questions, yet I am finding that people have a lot to say, and most people I’ve met are very passionate about aspects of their communities. Conversation opens the door to the expression of that passion.

I am discovering quickly that good journalism relies more on listening than on focusing on what I have to say.