Over the past year and a bit, Bradford West Gwillimbury became familiar with journalist and photographer, Jenni Dunning.
As Community Editor and Reporter at BradfordToday.ca, Dunning threw herself into her new community.
From dog-sledding with seniors at The Elden of Bradford, to checking out new virtual reality games at Experience Toys and Games, there was never a dull moment for Dunning while working for the Village Media team.
Dunning, sadly for us, is moving on to a fantastic opportunity at Georgian College. We will miss her!
Dunning always had a passion for writing, but it wasn’t until she was 16 years old during a co-op placement at the London Free Press that she decided she wanted to be a journalist.
“More than anything I wanted to write, and I could see how reporters touched people’s lives with their articles and had an important job to inform the public of what was happening, and that appealed to me,” she shared.
Before working for BradfordToday, Dunning was a reporter and editor for various media publications in Ontario, and has always appreciated and valued the work that goes into local news coverage.
Her view: “Local news matters because it informs residents what is happening in the community, and it keeps local government and organizations accountable. Local news also brings people together by sharing all kinds of stories, big and small. It can drive local fundraisers and make big change.”
That’s the heart of community reporting. And no matter what was happening in town, good or bad, Dunning was there to capture it, and write about the issues that mattered most to residents.
One story that stood out for her was the Quaint House public meeting in May 2019, pertaining to the redevelopment of the 154-year-old building in Bond Head.
That meeting “demonstrated residents’ fierce passion about heritage.” She said she was honoured to be there to listen and share the views of BWG residents.
Asked what she would miss most about working in Bradford, Dunning mentioned the sweet treats served at all the bakeries in town, especially the cookie sandwiches from Sweet B’s Bakery on Simcoe Road.
“I will also miss the many people I have made personal connections with in town, as well as my colleagues at BradfordToday and its parent company, Village Media. They are a wonderful group of people with great humour, drive and passion,” she said.
“I’m very proud of helping launch and grow BradfordToday with a wonderful team.”
Dunning leaves with a note for Bradford residents, new and old…
“You will soon find out that, while Bradford West Gwillimbury is a small town, it has a tonne going on and has a lot of heart. Enjoy it, and say hi to Gwilly for me at Carrot Fest.”
