Hi, I’m Kiara Collinge. I was born and raised in Port Alberni, BC. I am a proud Métis-Cree Video Journalist and Content Creator. Growing up, I have always been very busy and determined. I was a competitive figure skater for 15 years and a dancer for five years. I have always had a busy schedule, which has sharpened my time management skills and made me more determined.
Even in my high school days, I mentored under a Shaw Spotlight employee. I developed my skills in producing and post-production, completing high school courses in news production and editing and other media classes. With Shaw Spotlight, I created my segment called Young Alberni, which aired on the Island Shaw channel weekly. Young Alberni focused on the talented youth in Port Alberni, which was mainly musicians. After interviewing a few bands, they asked me to join their team as a media content creator. I’ve travelled with bands on tour, attended music festivals, and produced music videos. I have also been able to work for Zattzoo Project and Alberni Drug & Alcohol Prevention Services (ADAPS), creating video content. When working for ADAPS, I made a video for Naloxone training that will be shown to students and companies in Port Alberni.
I am fortunate to have followed my passion at Toronto Film School, graduating from their two-year Video Production program with honours in June 2021. Then graduated at the British Columbia Institution of Technology, from thier Broadcast and Online Journalism with distinction. I have received a Jack Webster Foundation Indigenous Student Journalism Award, presented by the B.C. Teachers’ Federation, in 2021 and 2022. I’ve also been honoured to accept the Alexis Mazurin Award and The Michael K. Thurston High Flight Memorial Award in Journalism in 2022.