JESSIE​ STORM​
What made the Storm...
​Facing the storms of life, knowing loss, feeling sadness and heartache, and falling into the depths of grief can give you strength. You must stand up in the storms. You must face the wind and the cold and the darkness. When a storm blows it is not trying to knock you down, it is really trying to help you be strong~Grandfather ​
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After returning to school at the age of 27, I thought learning the art of Broadcasting at Columbia Academy in Vancouver would be the biggest adventure of my year… I was WRONG! When the school had to close just over half way through my education, I was among the few students offered their Diploma’s, having reach a certain level in training and grading. To me though, it didn’t seem like it was enough for the path I had in mind, so when the school was attempting to reopen under the umbrella of Vanarts – School of Media Arts, I was happy to sign back up and finish my education, while getting the experience I craved.
Though Columbia Academy was where the Storm was born, it was at Vanarts, that it really began to brew!! After returning to school, I was able to continue my volunteering efforts with multiple broadcasting outlets, including Corus Entertainment, Astral Radio, CTV, CiTR 101.9 FM and Bellmedia, where I evidently got hired on in June of 2011. I enjoyed my position at Bellmedia in the promotions department and on their, on-site squad for all of it's three in house stations, The BEAT 94.5, 103.5 QMFM & TEAM 1040 & 1410! It gave me opportunities to not only work in the offices, hands on with the coordinators, but also gave me a chance to volunteer for the morning show on their #1 Hot AC station the BEAT 94.5! Along with all the hard work, the position gave me the chance to network in the industry and work alongside some of the most amazing talents, while I perfected my connecting and networking skills!
All of the experiences, allowed me an insight on how things really do operate in an industry leading on-air booth and radio station, giving me the leg up I needed when moving into my first hosting position at 610 CHTM in Thompson MB. I was the first of the Vanarts graduates to get an on-air position, and I was the first ever to move immediately into the Morning Host/Producer position straight out of the gate!
​Moving to Thompson was not an easy change, but as a Gypsy at heart and with a passion for Broadcasting, I had no choice but to make it work. The people of Thompson were welcoming, allowing me to find a place in the community and my co-workers made it a home! This gave me a chance to give back while getting involved in what Thompson has to offer with my volunteering & hosting. All of the extra work was worth it on multiple levels, as it has helped keep me connected to the city and it's residents,and that in turn has kept the Morning Show and station on a community level!
Broadcasting for me is more then just a job in the spotlight, it's a position in which I can help my community, big or small and possibly.. at some point the world, stay connected. So that everyone can understand each other on a human level, support each other without pregidous and get the information/entertainment they crave.... Rocking out the whole way!!
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It's been a long road and I'd be lying if I said it was easy, but who wants to be boring!
​​My hope for the future is that I surpass even my own expectations with the goals I have set, well using my natural talent, hard work ethic and endless determination, to prove time and time again... don't get in the way of the Storm!
