Gemma was first bitten by the journalism bug during a high school field trip to the Edmonton Journal in 2004.

A desire to write, combined with her nerdy passion for politics, took Gemma to the University of Victoria where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in political science and minor in journalism.

Gemma worked at The Martlet — UVic’s independent weekly newspaper — throughout her degree. Her job titles included everything from volunteer to sports editor, and senior living editor to news editor. Upon completing her degree in 2010, she decided to stick around for one final year to run the show as editor-in-chief.

Gemma adventured to the Great White North in 2011, working as a summer intern for the Whitehorse Star. She wrote stories on everything from an overflow of puppies at the local shelter, to a multi-million dollar arson at the community recreation centre. Her favourite job at the Star was filling in as political reporter and covering the ruling Yukon Party’s leadership race. Gemma’s Whitehorse Star stories went across the country via Canadian Press, landing in publications from coast to coast, including the Globe and Mail.

In fall 2011, Gemma returned to academia, undertaking a Masters of Journalism degree at Carleton University in Ottawa, Ont.