2024 Joan Donaldson CBC News Scholarship recipients
- Benjamin Lopez Steven
- Bridget Stringer-Holden
- Camilla Faragalli
- Catriona Koenig
- Giuliana Grillo de Lambarri
- Jocelyn Shepel
- Joseph Ryan
- Julia Israel
- Kaity Brady
- Mikaela Delos Santos
- Taylor O'Brien
Benjamin Lopez Steven | Carleton University (Ottawa)
Benjamin Lopez Steven is an Ottawa-based multimedia journalist from Vancouver, B.C. A political nerd at heart, Ben wanted to take his passion for writing and apply it to public service, kickstarting his journalism career. He graduated from Carleton University with a combined honours degree in journalism and political science, where he received the K. Phyllis Wilson Scholarship and the Karen Birchard Memorial Scholarship in Science Journalism. Ben covered the 2021 federal election as the National Editor for Carleton's student newspaper — the Charlatan — and later became Chair of the paper's Board of Directors. He then began working for CBC News. Over his two years with the broadcaster, Ben has worked as a senior writer and breaking news producer for CBC News Network, and as a digital writer for CBC Ottawa and CBC Politics. His stories have also appeared in Maclean's, the National Post and Capital Current. Ben strives to take national political conversations and ground them in real, observable impacts in the communities they affect. Outside of work, Ben can be found watching motorsports, listening to a podcast or air-drumming awkwardly as he walks. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @bensteven_s
Bridget Stringer-Holden | UBC (Vancouver)
Bridget Stringer-Holden is a trilingual (English, French, Spanish), Vancouver-based journalist, passionate about the environment and climate issues. Drawn to journalistic endeavours from a young age, she started a school newspaper in Grade 6 and hosted and produced her own francophone television show in high school. During her undergrad, Bridget worked her way from contributor to news editor at the school paper and was involved with a variety of clubs and associations. She graduated as Valedictorian and with the Dean's Award of Excellence in Communication Studies and Business Administration. Following that, she completed her Master of Journalism at UBC, where she was vice president of the School of Journalism Student Association. She hopes to pursue a career in either news or investigative journalism, with an environmental focus that also gives voice to underrepresented communities. Her work has been featured on the front page of The Globe and Mail, and in Radio-Canada, The Georgia Straight, BCBusiness, Vancouver Magazine and various student publications. She was nominated for the Canadian University Press' 2023 Student Journalist of the Year award and is a recipient of the Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship for her research into the Sunshine Coast's water shortage. In her free time, you'll often find her crafting, creating magnificent cinnamon buns and enjoying the small-town charm of the Sunshine Coast where she grew up. You can find her on Twitter at @bridget_sh.
Camilla Faragalli | Centennial College (Toronto)
Camilla Faragalli is a Toronto-based, multimedia journalist with a passion for human-centric stories and a dedication to trauma-informed reporting. From her multimedia feature about a group of urban Indigenous firekeepers to a mini-documentary about the permanent resident of a Toronto homeless shelter, Camilla's work focuses on representing marginalized and underserved communities. Camilla has professional experience across a variety of mediums: she has worked full-time as a news reporter for The Equity, an independent print and digital newspaper in rural Quebec; she has freelanced for Toronto publication, The Green Line, and interned at CBC Toronto's flagship national radio news show, Your World Tonight. Camilla holds a graduate degree in multimedia journalism from Centennial College, where as well as refining her practical skills, she developed an interest in journalistic ethics; won the Dean's Award for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and the Global Summitry scholarship; and contributed regularly to Centennial's independent student newspaper, The Toronto Observer. Camilla also holds an undergraduate degree from McGill University, where she majored in English and specialized in cultural studies. With language skills in English, Italian and French, Camilla hopes to pursue the intersection of journalism and humanitarianism while informing her audiences' perspectives, as well as her own.
Catriona Koenig | Carleton University (Ottawa)
Catriona Koenig's first job was delivering a local newspaper to her neighbourhood in Ottawa. She grew up writing stories, filming videos on her mom's digital camera, and participating in speech competitions. Now a graduate from Carleton University with a bachelor's degree in journalism and a minor in law, Catriona's love for multimedia has only grown. During her time at Carleton, she interned as a reporter with Cabin Radio in Yellowknife, completed 210 hours as a mentee with The Globe and Mail, worked as a researcher for The Globe and Mail's History Project, and edited for The Globe and Mail's Indigenous Enterprises series. She also co-wrote a report on mental health, well-being and trauma among Canadian media workers after attending a roundtable alongside global experts, top newsroom leaders, journalism educators and industry stakeholders. Additionally, she collaborated with a professor to develop a website showcasing a course on reporting in Indigenous communities. Catriona has received multiple awards, reflecting her proficiency in broadcast journalism, investigative reporting and community service. As a member of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, Catriona enjoys covering Indigenous and human-interest narratives, continuing the rich tradition of storytelling with authenticity and impact.
Giuliana Grillo de Lambarri | St. Thomas University (Fredericton)
Giuliana Grillo de Lambarri is a journalist based in Fredericton from Lima, Peru. She arrived in Canada in 2022 to study journalism at St. Thomas University and has since fallen in love with the community and the student-led newspaper, The Aquinian, which she was editor-in-chief of. During her four years at the university, she has worked covering local, national and international news, working as an intern reporter for New Canadian Media and writing for the National Desk at the Globe and Mail. Giuliana has also won two JHM Awards for Investigative Reporting Award (Under $75K) and Indigenous Reporting Award. As a Donaldson Scholar, she hopes to explore her special interests, which include immigration, labour rights and more! In her free time, she can be found on the phone talking to her family, going on walks and trying (but not succeeding) to take photos of squirrels, pigeons and any urban animals she comes across.
Jocelyn Shepel | BCIT (Vancouver)
Jocelyn Shepel is a Vancouver-based multimedia journalist and photographer who grew up in Kelowna, BC. She recently graduated from BCIT's Broadcast and Online Journalism program and previously studied political science and philosophy at the University of Victoria. Shepel's interest in journalism is rooted in persistent curiosity for the world around her. With a commitment to ethical and engaging storytelling, she was a contributing writer at LINK, BCIT's campus magazine. There, she covered various aspects of student life through longer-form articles and photo pieces since her first year of studies. Shepel continued to work in media through the summer of 2023 at 107.5FM, a radio station in the East Kootenays. She interned at CBC Vancouver last fall and was a storyteller intern with bylines at IndigiNews in 2024. Of mixed Cree and settler descent, Shepel is dedicated to amplifying Indigenous voices and creating meaningful work with care throughout her career. She also finds immense joy in capturing visual moments; when she's not taking photos for work, you can usually find her out and about snapping pictures for fun.
Joseph Ryan | Toronto Metropolitan University
Joseph Ryan is a Toronto-based journalist passionate about local and breaking news. He recently graduated from Toronto Metropolitan University's Bachelor of Journalism program, where he developed an interest in the evolution of news consumption. Ryan also developed a passion for broadcast by volunteering with Halton News. He also interned at CBC's Quebec AM and Breakaway in Quebec City. There, he covered various stories, from the Klingon language to Quebec's language laws impacting Canadian video game companies. At that point, Ryan realized that his true passion was around local news and building relationships with diverse backgrounds from the community. He continued to work with the Creative School's Top 5, covering alums and community news around the Faculty of Arts at TMU. In his final year, he received the Weather Network Scholarship and Lauder Internship Award. Ryan strives to keep local journalism alive by implementing new technology in news and building on the digital outlets available.
Julia Israel | Concordia University (Montreal)
Julia Israel, a Montreal-born multimedia journalist, is driven to tell stories about the complexities of the human experience with empathy, accuracy, and creativity. With a degree in Gender Studies from McGill University, along with minors in Political Science and Indigenous Studies, Julia aims to challenge the common narratives present in society to depict reality in its most honest form. Julia's passion for storytelling has taken them across Canada, from New Brunswick to Northern B.C., and around the world. From farming in the Gulf Islands, to teaching English, to tree planting, these adventures have sparked a deep curiosity in the diversity of individuals living in Canada. Julia seeks opportunities to tell stories that get to the core of a situation by highlighting human experience and emotion. "Their first feature article showcased their ability to share strength, pride, and community empowerment by sharing the experience of a person coming out as a 2SLGBTQ+ person and seeking asylum in Canada. Julia's time co-hosting the morning show on Concordia's CJLO radio further allowed them to share topics of greenwashing politics, student activism, and the rights of queer youth in Canada. Now holding a graduate diploma in Journalism from Concordia University, Julia has learned that making sense of polarizing experiences means engaging with people critically and with empathy. As a Donaldson scholar, Julia is particularly interested in expanding their storytelling skills through narrative podcasting and video journalism. Outside of journalism, Julia loves to dance, sing and talk to strangers.
Kaity Brady | Concordia University (Montreal)
Kaity Brady is a multimedia journalist from Toronto, Ontario, who graduated from Concordia University in Montreal with a major in journalism and minor in Irish Studies. Kaity came to study journalism because of a lifelong interest in writing and photography. After high school, she went to George Brown College in Toronto for Art and Design. After a worsening of her genetic disease in her twenties, Kaity turned to journalism school. Inspired by her experience navigating disability and health advocacy in Canada, she wanted to tell stories that Canadians haven't heard before, that explain complex social issues, and build community. Kaity previously interned and worked as an Associate Producer for CBC's The Current and as a radio journalist for the Local Journalism Initiative at CJLO1690 in Montreal. She was nominated for two JHM Student Media Awards and received the 2023 Bell Media Scholarship in Journalism. Kaity was a teaching assistant at Concordia's j-school as a video editor and radio newsroom technical producer and served as president of the Link newspaper's board of directors. She's most passionate about journalism that sheds light on the often overlooked issues affecting disabled and rural Canadians. When she's not making news, you'll probably find her hanging with her dog, Prince, riding a horse a little too fast or taking photos at a rodeo. Kaity can be reached at @kaitybrady.
Mikaela Delos Santos | Mount Royal University (Calgary)
Mikaela Delos Santos is a Calgary-based Broadcast Media graduate and multimedia journalist. Born in Manila, Philippines, Mikaela is a first-generation immigrant who moved to Fort McMurray, AB. at the age of 14. Growing up within two different cultures at a young age, Mikaela has always found that her greatest privilege is understanding and experiencing both first-world and developing-world perspectives. At 18, Mikaela moved to Calgary on her own to pursue her broadcasting degree. At Mount Royal University, Mikaela was involved with The Reflector— the university's independent newspaper. She started as a contributing writer and worked her way up to become the Publishing Editor. During her time at school, Mikaela was an intern for the City of Calgary as a part of the Digital Service Squad where she gave consultation to business owners to take their main-street businesses online. In 2021, Mikaela was a recipient for the OMNI scholarship awarded to students with an interest in third-language journalism. Mikaela's inspirations growing up were journalists and broadcasters such as Anthony Bourdain and Kris Aquino. Mikaela is also fluent in Tagalog and Aklanon, languages she continues to speak with her family and community. Outside of work, Mikaela can be found crocheting sweaters for her chihuahua, Panchito. Get to know more of Mikaela through her Instagram @mikaelasds.
Taylor O'Brien | Carleton University (Ottawa)
Taylor O'Brien is a multimedia journalist from Thunder Bay, Ont. passionate about audio storytelling, feature writing, and covering impactful local stories. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in French and English from Lakehead University and a Master of Journalism degree from Carleton University, where she received the Peter Buckley Scholarship in Journalism. Taylor has worked as a reporter and audio producer / technician for CBC Thunder Bay, where she wrote numerous articles that made the CBC News "Top Stories" page and produced audio pieces for CBC Thunder Bay's and CBC Sudbury's current affairs radio shows. She covered various stories, from the closure of local businesses to the evacuation in Eabametoong First Nation. Taylor's work has also been published in The Hill Times, Ottawa Citizen, and Capital Current. Fluent in written and oral English and French, Taylor is dedicated to learning and evolving as a journalist and developing relationships with the people and communities she reports on. Her favourite part about journalism is teaching others about the world around them and stories they may have never known about before. At the same time, she also learns something new. Outside of journalism, Taylor can be found listening to music, going on long runs, or reading. Find her on X: @Taylor_OBrien__.