My name is Joseph Jack and I am a new reporter with the Northern View.
When I saw the opportunity arise at the Northern View, I jumped at the chance to return to Prince Rupert. I visited here once in the early nineties when my father brought me on the ferry from Haida Gwaii so he could watch a Dr. Hook concert.
Born and raised in Kamloops, my trip from one of the sunniest cities in Canada to the rainiest was not a straight line. The journey was far longer than the 1,300km I drove (in one day) to arrive in Prince Rupert.
I attended university right out of high school and realized quickly that the world was calling me. I left school and moved to Cleveland, OH, because I wanted to work at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I worked there for four months before returning to Canada to make another attempt at university.
Unable to enroll in the classes I wanted to take at Thompson Rivers University, I left school again and ended up working for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines as a cruise director’s staff (think Julie McCoy from the Love Boat,) visiting many ports in the Caribbean and working with crew members from more than 65 countries.
After leaving the cruise industry I found myself working at a coffee shop and wanting more. Eventually, I was accepted into the journalism program at Thompson Rivers. After graduation, I worked for my people at the Okanagan Indian Band in communications.
Despite the rain, this city shines. The people I’ve met so far are friendly, compassionate and welcoming. I look forward to spending more time in the community to meet people, experience the sights and for some strange reason I can’t get Dr. Hook out of my head.