Editor’s Note: This story is a part of our series, The Gift, which appeared in the March 2026 issue.
Many organizations across the Ottawa region offer invaluable volunteer opportunities to eager trainees
Jon Willing, pictured here chatting during a podcast, received his first taste of broadcasting as a volunteer more than 25 years ago at a community TV station. Photo Credit Nicole Willing
I remember standing at the hatch of a Rogers TV minivan in Kitchener, Ont. after gingerly loading thousands of dollars worth of broadcast gear into the back and thinking someone must have messed up.
They were actually going to let me leave with this stuff. In their vehicle. To a town on the other side of the region. And report news for a real current affairs show. I was barely out of high school. Surely they had mistaken me for some other veteran volunteer who knew how to write a script, adjust white balance and use a gas card.
That little stint volunteering at Rogers TV confirmed my interest in journalism and provided a sneak-peek into my future career.
Many organizations provide mentorship and take chances on training people who are looking for professional-grade, real-life experiences. We should celebrate them. At the same time, young people hungry for experience during their studies should seek out opportunities to learn the tricks of trade, even if it doesn’t immediately come with a paycheque.
Anyone interested in media would be lucky to have a community TV station in their city.
Federal broadcast regulations on “community programming” have opened opportunities to a media-curious public which would otherwise have no affordable access to TV production. Rogers TV benefits from hyper-local programming driven by the local audience, while the average citizen can gain experience in typical TV roles behind the camera and in front of the lens.
Sometimes the opportunity can launch a glitzy career. The most high-profile example in Ottawa is comedian Tom Green catapulting from community programming to Hollywood stardom.
I hardly reached Green-level fame doing my field reporting on track meets, museum exhibitions and neighbourhood carnivals around Waterloo Region, but it was a thrill watching my news reports aired on TV. More importantly, I was getting experience and building a portfolio to complement my written work.
I was also learning by making mistakes in a low-stakes environment. I learned to check if my microphone was working before delivering a flawless standup and to pack extra camera batteries for a long shoot.
Earlier this year, I was reminded of my time at Rogers TV in Kitchener while taping local politics shows here in Ottawa. I met skilled volunteers who were working the cameras, attaching microphones to guests and calling the shots in the control room, all having a blast.
I’m thankful for local hosts that provide mentorship for my college students in the media and communications industry.
More organizations should consider offering opportunities to young people through academic field work, internships or unique volunteer positions. You don’t have to give them a gas card. Just help provide some fuel for their careers.
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