Ladysmith residents, Chemainiacs, people of Vancouver Island and all others. My name is Ross Armour and I am the new reporter at the Ladysmith-Chemainus Chronicle.
Two years ago this past September, I embarked on a course at Langara College in Vancouver that I hoped would shape my career. Having graduated from Langara this past spring, attaining my diploma of journalism, I am now very much looking forward to this next step of bringing all forms of news to our local community.
Journalism is a path I have wanted to go down since early on in my teenage years.
Now, at 21, I feel very lucky and privileged to have been given an opportunity to practise something I know I’m going to love.
Having been born to Scottish parents in England, I moved to Vancouver back in September 2008 in search of a new adventure.
Writing has been a long-term passion, having had both poetry and short stories published in recent times. Now, that passion, combined with my enjoyment of news and the thrill of presenting stories to the public, I see as being the perfect catalyst in making this first step in what I hope to be a long and successful career.
At Langara’s journalism school, I was trained by some of the most experienced journalists in Canada. Most importantly, my teachers taught me what news values are and emphasized the importance of freedom of the press in a modern-day democracy.
Back in March of this year, I completed a five-week internship at neighbouring newspaper Cowichan News Leader Pictorial in Duncan. It was a thoroughly enjoyable period and gave me a fascinating insight into what it’s like to be a reporter in the real world.
My past experience also contains reporting for online newspaper Beacon News out of Vancouver, as well as being the editor and reporter for Langara College’s newspaper, The Voice.
Aside from journalism, I have one other major passion in life: Highland Dancing. Yes my Scottish roots remain strong. I am an active competitor of the art and recently won a bronze medal at the world championships. My most recent titles in highland dance include Western Canadian champion, B.C. Open champion, Fraser Valley champion and North American champion. I also won the 12-years title at the world championships back in 2004.
My exploits and escapades in highland dancing are what first brought me to the Cowichan Valley. My close friend Judy Hogg runs local dance studio Celtic Rhythm Dancers based in Maple Bay and first asked me to do a workshop for the group back in February 2011. The rest is history.
I am an avid sports guy, in particular soccer and basketball, and as a general sports fan, this area of writing news stories I would say is a particular strength.
Country would be a favourite of mine on the music front — I guess Canada has taken its toll that way.
Being much-travelled, I believe Vancouver Island to be one of the most beautiful places on earth and I’m excited to develop more friends beginning from my new working base in Ladysmith. Hope to see you around town one day.
