My name is Mel Brodie, and would like to start off by thanking Jodi Egan, my predecessor for all her wonderful work and wish her nothing but the best in her future.
I would like to also take this time to introduce myself as the newest member of Rocky View Weekly staff.
Community reporting is some of the most inspiring work, I am very grateful for the opportunity to work in the community in which I live. I have always liked helping tell others’ stories. I guess it’s because I believe community is not just where you live, but a way for people to belong to something bigger than oneself. I am very fortunate to be able to travel from an early age. This has lead to some really interesting experiences including swimming in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
Early in my career I was given this piece of advice, “Never take yourself so seriously you can’t find the humour in the situation and always remember people are watching...”
I’d like to say I responded with some intellectually stimulating jewel of the spoken language, however, my shrug followed by, “I hope people are entertained” spoke volumes about my approach to life.
If you were to ask people close to me they would tell you my love for my three yorkies only surpass my love of books, sports and travelling.
I really do enjoy being in journalism, it gives me a chance to meet new people and find out their unique and inspiring stories.
As any dog lover or pet guardian knows, those critters can be the source of many a frustrating funny and/or heartstring pulling moment.
My three are not immune. I have a three-and-a-half pound teacup yorkie, and her personality surpasses her size. My other female yorkie looks more like a fox or silkie terrier and she is definitely my little backyard assassin, when my fiancé takes her out for a walk the wildlife scatters as she is on the hunt for live squeaky toys. I would have to say out of the three, my male yorkie is the comedian, as he will serenade you if your phone rings or if there’s a song he likes on the radio.
I am not a native Albertan. I was born in Ontario and always felt to truly understand people you have to live there; hence the travel obsession. Even though I wasn’t born here, I do have strong ties to the community and have lived in the area awhile.
I am a graduate of SAIT Polytechnic in the Radio, Television and Broadcast News Program and have decided to take some time off from my University of Calgary studies.
There’s a good chance you’ll see me at one of the dog parks, the local gym or even the library. I am very approachable and love to chat. Something my fiancé and his family tease me about regularly.
However, one thing I live by is there are life lessons your parents can’t teach you and your mother is always right eventually. It may sound odd but I have experienced it more times then I could count.
I am very close with my family and I treat my friends the same as siblings.
Growing up the way I did gave me the independence and confidence to be as silly and goofy as I please.
Ask anyone who knows me and they’d say “challenge accepted” is common phrase.
I really like a good joke; if you make me laugh you’re a friend for life. You can tell if something is truly funny to me because of my laugh.
I have an obsession with sticky notes, the louder the colour the better. I seem to use them and coloured index cards for everything.
Finally I love to collect humourous novelty T-shirts, I feel if you have one of them and someone gets a giggle, you’ve done your job for the day.
I look forward to being part of your weekly reading and please do not hesitate to share a joke or funny T-shirt picture with me.
