Hello members of the Shilo community and readers of Shilo Stag News! My name is Maria Matthies. I’m happy to meet you here on the pages of the news site. I am a recent high school graduate who is taking a year off from studying to work and complete a student volunteer placement at Shilo Stag Media – The Heart of CFB Shilo and the surrounding communities.

I know the press here in Shilo, since I am a local for most of my life. I grew up just outside of Shilo, while attending school on the Base. My dad was a warrant officer with 2PPCLI – some of you may know him.

I am very excited for this opportunity because I want to expand my interest in writing and photography through journalism and explore the field as a potential career path.

As I spend more time in the Stag office and have more writing opportunities, I hope to get a taste of what a future in news media could look like. I’m looking forward to gaining reporting experience and strengthening my writing skills—all while getting to know the Shilo community.

Check out my first article about CFB Shilo Fire and Emergency Services making a wildfire impression on the cover of Firefighting in Canada, the national industry magazine.

I hope to hear your stories soon, so send them to me at shilostagnews@mail.com, and we’ll be sure to cover them.

READ MORE: The not-so-invisible front cover for CFB Shilo Fire Crews – Maria Matthies