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New reporter excited to be on board for the summer months

My name is Ashton Faulkner and I am the newest member of the team at the Rocky View Weekly.

My name is Ashton Faulkner and I am the newest member of the team at the Rocky View Weekly.

I just completed my third year of the journalism program at Mount Royal University, and thankfully I only have one year left to go! As much as I’ve enjoyed having various communication theories drilled in to my head for six semesters, I’m ready to be out the door and see where journalism might take me. So, spending the summer working and getting some new experience is right up my alley, and I’m really looking forward to hearing about what’s going to keep me busy this summer in Rocky View.

I moved to Chestermere with my family in 1996 from Stonewall, Man. My dad saw an opportunity in Alberta not only for himself, but for my mom, sister and me as well. My family still lives in Chestermere, but I have since moved to Calgary to be closer to school.

I graduated from Chestermere High in 2007, before picking up and moving to Lethbridge to start university. I attended U of L where I was enrolled in the English degree program. I hoped to spend four years there and graduate with a BA in English, and then find a career in editing or publishing in the media. I soon realized that I wanted the hands-on experience of media instead, so I moved back to Calgary to attend Mount Royal University (MRU) in the journalism program. I have never looked back.

After my first year in the program, I was lucky to land a gig with the newspaper in Chestermere. I was the news reporter for the Anchor Weekly for almost two years, and I contributed to the Calgary Journal, a publication put out by the journalism students of MRU. I also spent last summer working for the Stonewall Teulon Tribune, the local publication in my hometown.

When I’m not busy doing community news, you can find me spending lots of time with friends and family. I love to travel, and I escape to Arizona as often as I can.

I’m an animal lover and volunteer at the MEOW Foundation in Calgary, which is a no-kill cat rescue shelter. At home, I have a cat named Penwick who, I’m pretty sure, is plotting my untimely demise. My parents recently got two Scottish terrier pups – Monty and Jock – who keep me pretty busy as well.

I’m a huge sports fan, which is what drove me to get into journalism in the first place. I hope to be involved in sports media in any way in the future, whether it’s print, radio or broadcast.

I have been a hockey fan for as long as I can remember, and as difficult as it is, I’m a Flames fan. However, being from Manitoba, my allegiance has recently been split down the middle with the return of the Jets.

My Winnipeg ties also reveal that I’m a big football fan, so if you see a blue Mazda 3 tearing around Rocky View this summer with a Blue Bombers plate on the front – that’s me!

I spent lots of time getting to know the community of Chestermere for over the past two years, and I really enjoyed being able to be a part of everything from fundraisers to sporting events. I met a large amount of awesome people that I hope I will run into again in the next few months, but I also hope to see lots of new faces and establish even more great connections.

I’m delighted to be here and I hope 2012 is a summer to remember!


Airdrie Today Staff

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