The plan, for CTV News Ottawa’s Katelyn Wilson, was to go into PR. But fate had other plans, taking her on a path that would include many stops across the country. Each one would play an important role in shaping her both professionally and personally.
It all began when Wilson left her native Kitchener-Waterloo for the University of Calgary, before continuing to Lethbridge Polytechnic for Digital Communications and Media. Her success there landed her an internship with Global National here in Ottawa, based on a story idea she submitted about restaurants requiring female staff to wear high heels. When the story aired, it was picked up in other markets and contributed to change in the industry. “That was the moment I realized that journalism has the power to make a real impact,” she said.
She’s been bettering the lives of communities, subgroups, and individuals ever since.
Today, Wilson is part of the team at CTV News Ottawa. The latest stop in a career that has taken her through Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario. The role, and the city, feel like the right fit.
“It’s in a major market, but it’s a station with deep roots in the community. To be a part of something like that,” she emphasized, “is really special.”
Her husband and two daughters have also embraced Ottawa’s cosmopolitan yet neighbourly vibe as well.
“There are endless things to do here,” Wilson said. “We’re big on anything outdoors: skating, parks, beaches, festivals.” Not to mention snowboarding, the passion that first drew her out West, is now something she shares with her kids.
Before Ottawa, Wilson built her career through a series of stops across the country. Each experience, she says, reinforced the same lesson.
“It showed me how important local journalism is, and how differently national issues impact communities across the country,” she explained. “Reporting in cities like Regina, but also smaller communities like Lacombe, gave me a broader perspective and helped me see how local stories fit into the bigger picture.”
It’s also where she learned to find stories that might otherwise go unnoticed. At the local level, Wilson’s journalistic diligence has helped save a 100-year-old historic building from the wrecking ball, reunited long-lost war medals to families who thought them lost forever, and brought attention to issues like Canada’s parrot crisis.
On a larger scale, Wilson received the RTDNA investigative Dan McArthur award for her role in the “Tainted Water” investigation, which uncovered dangerous levels of lead in drinking water across Canada. She has also reported from the front lines of major events, including the Kenow Wildfire in Waterton Lakes National Park and helped bring the hurt and healing of the Humboldt bus crash tragedy to a wider audience. These experiences have helped shape the sense of humanity that defines her storytelling.
“Even in the hardest instances, it never ceases to amaze me how people show up for each other. It’s the common denominator in every city I’ve been lucky enough to cover, and one of the most inspiring things about my job.”
As for what makes her such an accomplished MSJ (multi-skilled journalist), Wilson points to the evolving demands of the industry.
“The industry is always changing, so you’re constantly working on your skills. I’ve had the opportunity to be a morning live reporter, do in-depth investigations, and work across digital, television and radio platforms. It’s challenging, but it also makes you a stronger storyteller.”
And after more than a decade in the field, she knows she’s not done yet.
“I’ve had the chance to cover so much, but I still feel like there’s a lot more I want to do. I’d love the opportunity to travel more and report from different communities and different parts of the world. But more than anything, I want to keep digging and pursuing investigative journalism. That’s always been a passion of mine, going deeper, asking tough questions, and telling stories that make a real impact.”
Noble as that is, it’s a lot of hours on the job, especially when your co-raising a growing family. Still, Wilson’s passion for what she does is inexhaustible.
“The hours can be long, the job demanding, and there’s a lot of pressure. But if you love it, it’s worth it.”
