Creative Help, that’s literally who I am. I can’t think of a name that describes me better.

From a young age, my curiosity led me on a journey of discovery, shaping my diverse skill set and professional trajectory.

At just 12 years old, I embarked on 3 job shadowing experiences that opened my eyes to the world of creativity in unexpected places. While I initially dreamt of becoming a veterinarian, the last day at a local cable television station ignited a newfound passion for television production. This began my decade-long dedication to volunteering and immersing myself in all aspects of television, from shooting video, teaching new volunteers to directing, and editing.

Fuelled by this passion, I pursued a formal education in Television Broadcasting, where I honed my skills and built valuable connections. Freelancing opportunities during and after school solidified my path in the industry.

After my college years I was given a unique opportunity to work in television in Iqaluit, Nunavut, that truly expanded my horizons. What began as a short contract evolved into three enriching years of producing, training, and immersing myself in Inuit culture.

Not only was I a Producer but I was also working on graphics left and right, I was behind the camera capturing all the action and diving into the editing room to stitch it all together to create 26 shows a year. And get this – I was creating and editing a show that at the time was all in Inuktitut!

Yep, you heard me right. I’d whip up the English scripts, and hand them over to my amazing team who would work their magic, translating, doing voice overs where needed and nailing those interviews, all in Inuktitut. But when it came time to editing and rolling those credits, that was my jam – I took the reins and made sure everything was spot on. I even taught myself how to write in syllabics. I mean, who does that? But hey, it was worth it because I got this crash course in Inuit Culture, honed my teaching skills while travelling around the Arctic and became a master at producing, graphics and editing.You know that saying about how teaching something is the fastest way to learn it yourself? Is that ever spot on! It’s like my personal mantra now, guiding me through every twist and turn of life.

I made my way back to the Ottawa area, still riding the wave of excitement from my TV gig, but hungry for more. For another three years, I kept the momentum going, shining a spotlight on all the incredible Inuit organizations and youth programs across Ontario.

Then, this little thing called YouTube started to make some noise. I thought to myself, “Hey, maybe I should dip my toes into web design.” See, I’ve always been a tech enthusiast, and picking up new software felt like second nature to me. Plus, with the way things were headed, it seemed like web design could be the next big thing in TV land.

Off I went to Algonquin College, diving into evening courses on Web Design, CSS, HTML, Dreamweaver, and a bunch of other techy stuff. Can’t recall all the specifics, but let’s just say my brain was a sponge soaking it all up. And wouldn’t you know it, right as I wrapped up those courses, fate stepped in. The Ottawa Sun had a job opening, and guess what? They wanted someone who not only had video production chops but was also web savvy.

Now, let’s take a little trip back to 2007 – the era of budding social media giants like Facebook and the rising star, YouTube. Back then, hardly anyone was dabbling in video beyond traditional TV and movies. But the winds of change were blowing, even in the newspaper industry. They had their eyes set on the digital horizon, eager to beef up their website with video content to complement their print stories. And who did they call on to lead the charge? Yours truly, to teach their reporters and photographers the ins and outs of wielding video cameras like pros.

I’m out there in the field with the reporters and photographers, helping to teach them the ropes of crafting compelling video stories. I also flexed some of my own storytelling muscles, pitching in with writing including a blog on OttawaSun.com, chronicling my personal journey to shedding 80 pounds. It was more than just a weight-loss diary – I tapped into the local health scene, interviewing dietitians and personal trainers and meeting some amazing people in the healthcare field along the way. Oh, and did I mention in my free time, I managed to whip up a bunch of slick WordPress websites too? Yeah, I was on fire.

But the adventure didn’t stop there. Algonquin College came knocking after seeing a video I created while at Algonquin College (Glued for Guinness), they asked me to craft a brand-spanking-new course for their journalism students – one that delved into the world of radio and video broadcasting. Talk about a golden opportunity to share my passion and expertise with the next generation of media mavens.

Fast forward a bit, and after six solid years at the Ottawa Sun, the winds of change were blowing once again. Layoffs were hitting the newspaper industry hard, and it was time for me to pivot. Enter: the government gig.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Did you know the government has its own multimedia gigs? Yeah, neither did I. I used to scoff at the idea of working for the government, thinking it wouldn’t be creative enough for me. Boy, was I wrong! If only I’d known back then about all the creative opportunities waiting for me in the government sector – I would’ve never doubted it for a second!

I landed my government gig on the strength of my TV background, with grand plans of setting up a full-blown television studio. But as fate would have it, those plans took a detour. Instead, I found myself diving headfirst into a melting pot of tasks. From mastering Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, to tinkering with Audition, I became a jack-of-all-trades. Graphics for print, web, and video? You name it, I whipped it up. I’d shoot and edit videos, while also cranking out training tutorials using Camtasia Software. These past ten years have been a whirlwind of learning opportunities, each one adding another layer to my skillset. From crafting interactive PDFs to designing business cards, I’ve done it all. And when the pandemic hit, I found myself knee-deep in Learning and Development, lending my creative touch to e-learning initiatives.

Side gigs became my playground for exploration, a chance to dip my toes into areas untouched by my day job. MLMs taught me the ropes of small business management and social media and marketing strategies. Climbing the ranks to director at Tupperware was a badge of honor, but the time commitment outweighed the rewards. I craved something more impactful, something where my efforts directly benefited others.

Enter my latest ventures: assisting small businesses in getting off the ground swiftly and affordably, and lending a hand to my welder fiancé with design work at PYG Welding. From crafting his business logo to setting up his online presence, including his website at pygwelding.ca, and even designing templates for his CNC Plasma table – I’ve been knee-deep in the creative process.

And you know what? Helping him sparked a wildfire of requests from other small business owners seeking similar assistance and that’s how Creative Help was born. Whether it’s taking the reins and doing it for you or guiding you through the process yourself, I’m here to lend a hand.

But it doesn’t stop there. I’ve been diving into learning Fusion 360 and mastering my new Cricut machine, all in the pursuit of creating eye-catching designs and crafting some killer business swag for all of you. Oh, and did I mention? Teaching is always part of the journey. So, buckle up – there’s a whole world of creativity out there, and I’m here to help you dive right in.