Sophie Gray
Sophie Gray
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
To my new community and readership: hello! I am the newest addition to the Osoyoos Times reporting team, focused on covering Indigenous affairs around the area.
I come to you from the big smoke, Vancouver, where I was born and raised. I am somewhat familiar with the Okanagan, coming here during the summer months every once and a while to camp by the lakes and take in the sunshine that we never see on the coast. Beyond one of the annoying holiday-ers, however, I don’t know much about this little town, but would love to learn more about it. Which is where you come in.
During my time as a journalist, I’ve learned that your work is only as good as the people in it. Without the community giving me the scoop, I don’t have much hope in making it in this business! So I am asking for your help and a warm welcome to the community.
In order to get that, I’d like to share a little about myself in the hopes that you, the readers, will reciprocate. I have a B.A. in English Literature and Archaeology from Simon Fraser University, followed by a Master in Journalism from UBC. During these studies, I developed a keen interest in Indigenous cultures around the world, but particularly here in Canada. The UBC School of Journalism helped me incorporate this interest into my career through programs like Reporting in Indigenous Communities, where I wrote stories and learned first-hand about Canadian Indigenous Communities and their relationship with media.
I also completed a stint in New Zealand, my mother’s birth place, working as an intern for Vice. I wrote on anything from arts and culture to politics and Indigenous affairs. I then became a Fellow of the Global Reporting Program, travelling to Turkey to report on refugees and migrants, an experience that really opened my eyes to the struggles many face in the world. I then continued on to freelance, publishing stories with Vice Canada, Huffington Post and CBC.
Outside of my academic and professional life, I am an avid traveller, borderline helicopter dog mother and a fairly decent snowboarder. On weekends you’ll likely find me at the dog park or sourcing out the best spot for brunch and a decent cup of coffee, or going for a jog in sunshine.
I hope to use my experience and interests to further the great coverage I’ve seen so far in the Osoyoos Times. So please drop me an email, a voice mail, or even a text about what’s happening or even just to say hi. I’d love to get to know the Osoyoos community and what makes it tick.
