I am a professional writer and editor with over a decade of experience in online media.
A fourth generation Vancouverite, I've also lived in Toronto, NYC, and LA. Currently the Managing Editor of Vancouver Is Awesome. Previously the Food Editor of Daily Hive, Senior Editor of Vancity Buzz, and Editor-in-Chief of LAist, I earned a Master's in English, attended culinary school, and taught English at Cal State LA. My first published piece was in 1980 in The Province; it was my letter to Santa.
A fourth generation Vancouverite, I've also lived in Toronto, NYC, and LA. Currently the Managing Editor of Vancouver Is Awesome. Previously the Food Editor of Daily Hive, Senior Editor of Vancity Buzz, and Editor-in-Chief of LAist, I earned a Master's in English, attended culinary school, and taught English at Cal State LA. My first published piece was in 1980 in The Province; it was my letter to Santa.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Currently I'm the Managing Editor of Vancouver Is Awesome and co-host/co-producer of the V.I.A. Podcast.
I joined the team at V.I.A. in October 2017 as a Senior Writer, covering primarily lifestyle, food, arts, events, and news. I curate our weekly print "wrap" that showcases some of our best content for delivery in the former Westender newspaper distribution area, and I write a weekly events column for the Vancouver Courier. I've been the co-host and co-producer of the weekly V.I.A. Podcast since its launch in late 2017. As part of the Glacier Media Family, my stories are often re-published on sibling sites and in papers like the Courier, Burnaby Now, New West Record, Richmond News, North Shore News, and Delta Optimist. During my first months on board with V.I.A. we have hit, and continue to re-establish all-time site traffic highs. In August 2018 I was promoted to Managing Editor.
Before that: From July 2014 to June 2016 I was a Senior Editor at Vancity Buzz. In June 2016, I was named Food Editor of Daily Hive, the evolution of Vancity Buzz.
I started at Vancity Buzz as a freelance writer in May 2014, moving to a full-time Senior Editor--a position created for me--in July 2014. In that capacity, I handled the site's food section, as well as wrote and edited in sections across the site, like news, arts, and business. With the addition of Calgary Buzz in 2015, I added YYC coverage and editing to my roster. Armed with my trusty Canon Rebel, I also take pride in my photography, which often accompanied my pieces, or was used independently.
It's no secret that I was a key hire for VcB, and it was a move that paid off. Within just a couple of months of coming on board full time our monthly pageviews nearly doubled, and then some. The increased traffic allowed the site to bring on more employees. Once "Full Time Employee #3" on a team of three, at my time of departure there were well over 30 full-time employees in the Vancouver HQ alone. The site's trajectory, increased legitimacy, and visibility are undeniable, and I was instrumental in that phenomenal progress.
I wrote hundreds of stories in my three-year tenure at VcB/DH, however these are a few of my favourites:
My prior full-time job says a lot about me. From November 2010 to October 2013, I was the Editor-In-Chief of LAist.
I joined the team at V.I.A. in October 2017 as a Senior Writer, covering primarily lifestyle, food, arts, events, and news. I curate our weekly print "wrap" that showcases some of our best content for delivery in the former Westender newspaper distribution area, and I write a weekly events column for the Vancouver Courier. I've been the co-host and co-producer of the weekly V.I.A. Podcast since its launch in late 2017. As part of the Glacier Media Family, my stories are often re-published on sibling sites and in papers like the Courier, Burnaby Now, New West Record, Richmond News, North Shore News, and Delta Optimist. During my first months on board with V.I.A. we have hit, and continue to re-establish all-time site traffic highs. In August 2018 I was promoted to Managing Editor.
Before that: From July 2014 to June 2016 I was a Senior Editor at Vancity Buzz. In June 2016, I was named Food Editor of Daily Hive, the evolution of Vancity Buzz.
I started at Vancity Buzz as a freelance writer in May 2014, moving to a full-time Senior Editor--a position created for me--in July 2014. In that capacity, I handled the site's food section, as well as wrote and edited in sections across the site, like news, arts, and business. With the addition of Calgary Buzz in 2015, I added YYC coverage and editing to my roster. Armed with my trusty Canon Rebel, I also take pride in my photography, which often accompanied my pieces, or was used independently.
It's no secret that I was a key hire for VcB, and it was a move that paid off. Within just a couple of months of coming on board full time our monthly pageviews nearly doubled, and then some. The increased traffic allowed the site to bring on more employees. Once "Full Time Employee #3" on a team of three, at my time of departure there were well over 30 full-time employees in the Vancouver HQ alone. The site's trajectory, increased legitimacy, and visibility are undeniable, and I was instrumental in that phenomenal progress.
I wrote hundreds of stories in my three-year tenure at VcB/DH, however these are a few of my favourites:
- Is Vancouver street food really "too expensive"?
- How firecrackers and fireworks became a Vancouver Halloween tradition
- The game changer: Robert Belcham and Fuel's enduring impact on the Vancouver culinary scene
- 101 things to eat and drink in Vancouver before you die
- A food lover's tour of Bowen Island
- "Pop This!" Pop culture meets feminism in new podcast
- Best new restaurants in Vancouver 2016
- Botanist: High concept with a big payoff at stunning new restaurant (PHOTOS)
- Vikram Vij dishes on the simple art of pairing wine with Indian food
- 8 food trends on the rise in Vancouver in 2017
- Some of Vancouver's best sandwiches are in this Surrey strip mall
- 17 things for food lovers to do in the South Okanagan
My prior full-time job says a lot about me. From November 2010 to October 2013, I was the Editor-In-Chief of LAist.
LAist is one of the most popular and successful hyperlocal city sites in Los Angeles. When last I was at the wheel in 2013, the site regularly brought in 3-3.2 million pageviews a month. Covering all things newsworthy, curious, cool, and delicious in the greater L.A. area (or of interest to Angelenos), the site has risen to prominence over its decade-long existence amidst a sea of similar city blogs and sites.
I started with LAist in February 2005 as a volunteer contributor. I was then its volunteer Food Editor, and eventually I got on the payroll as the Co-Editor. LAist ultimately became my full-time job.
I started with LAist in February 2005 as a volunteer contributor. I was then its volunteer Food Editor, and eventually I got on the payroll as the Co-Editor. LAist ultimately became my full-time job.
It would take me a long time to tell you all the things I did at LAist that were great. So here are a few things I'm most proud of:
- As EIC I grew the site's readership nearly two-fold, as well as the number of paid staff
- I expanded and honed our social media strategy across multiple platforms
- I also created how-to guides for my colleagues at the other -ist network sites so they could do the same
- I covered powerful fast-paced major news events with up-to-the minute posting, like the Occupy L.A. encampment raid, and the manhunt for rogue ex-LAPD cop Christopher Dorner
- I broke the story about the nation's first cupcake ATM
- Speaking of food, I did some incredible food stories, including interviews and reviews. Through my work I met many of my food idols, ate some incredible meals, and even got to tour the famous See's Candy Factory—the one that inspired the "I Love Lucy" chocolate-making episode
- Fostered the expansion of the site's Food section and brought on a Food Editor to manage the section. Much of our Food section materially was suitable for syndication across the -ist network
- I represented LAist on the radio (CKNW news, KCRW's "Good Food,"); on TV (CTV's Canada AM); and on professional panels (TechMunch, New Media Expo).
- More fun than conference panels: I've been a judge for Pie, Panini, Cupcake, and Cocktail contests, to name a few.
- I was part of what I've deemed a onetime "garage band" style blogging operation to a full-fledged revenue-generating professional web publication
- I instituted and ran the site's intern program
- I fostered positive, productive, and professional relationships with other local publications, PR and marketing reps, businesses, and civic leaders.
- I wrote 9,418 posts. Seriously. Nine thousand, four hundred and eighteen posts. (And those are just the ones with my name on them.)
You'll find me on Instagram @squashblossom
EDUCATION
I have two degrees: BA in English (CSULA '04) and MA in English - Creative Writing (CSULA '06)
After completing my MA, I taught English Composition as a Part-Time Faculty Lecturer at CSULA
After completing my MA, I taught English Composition as a Part-Time Faculty Lecturer at CSULA
GEEK OUT MOMENT!
I completed my Master's degree with a 4.0, and earned Distinction for my Thesis
I served as EIC of the school's literary journal, Statement, for two years
I participated in the Teaching Assistant's program and worked as a Writing Center tutor as a grad student
I was selected as a Pre-Doctoral Scholar (but realized before it was too late that the PhD path wasn't for me)
I completed my Master's degree with a 4.0, and earned Distinction for my Thesis
I served as EIC of the school's literary journal, Statement, for two years
I participated in the Teaching Assistant's program and worked as a Writing Center tutor as a grad student
I was selected as a Pre-Doctoral Scholar (but realized before it was too late that the PhD path wasn't for me)
Interesting things about me:
- I was born in Vancouver, grew up in Toronto, lived in L.A. for 23 years (minus some time in New York), and returned to Vancouver in 2013
- I come from two families with deep ties to Vancouver. My maternal great-great grandparents, Charles and Minnie Cornish, came to Vancouver in 1885; Cornish Street in Marpole is their former land and was named for them. The Nemetz family came to Vancouver in the early 20th century; there is a book about my paternal grandfather's family that came out in early 2017.
- I attended culinary school at the New School of Cooking in Culver City, California
- David Duchovny once told a story about me when he was a guest on David Letterman
- Excerpts from my first blog (2002-5) were published in an anthology about sex and dating. I was the "Bridget Jones-type" as described on the jacket.
- I studied improv and performed with Los Angeles Theatresports (now known as ImproTheatre)
- For two consecutive years I was part of a group of elite L.A. bloggers who threw an invite-only Blogger Prom party for charity
- I'm passionate about regional history, the local food movement, social media, the written word, creating community, good coffee, sustainability, and much, much more.