Meet the recipients of the 2025 CBC News summer scholarship for emerging journalists
CBC is proud to offer the CBC News Summer Scholarship in memory of Joan Donaldson and Peter Gzowski to aspiring journalists from across the country in 2025.
Here are the 14 successful recipients of this year's scholarship.
Camryn Farquharson
Camryn Farquharson is a multimedia journalist born and raised in Niagara Falls, Ont. For as long as she can remember, she has experienced a need to tell stories. Whether it was through dance, creative writing or theatre performance, Camryn felt most fulfilled when sharing meaningful stories for others to connect to. She is currently a student in the Master of Media in Journalism and Communication program at Western University. Through various mediums, her work often explores topics in arts and culture and spotlights artists, entertainers and local creatives. She completed her undergraduate degree in psychology and criminology at the University of Ottawa in the French immersion program. She turned to journalism after she realized that what she loved most about psychology was the opportunity to understand people more deeply by hearing their stories. Her background has lent itself to writing that explores restorative justice, forensic psychology, victim rehabilitation and mental health. She hopes to continue to cover stories that spotlight the meaningful work of 'everyday' people— whether that be a fashion designer or a criminal defence attorney. In her spare time, you are likely to find her at HomeSense "just browsing", vintage shopping or performing Taylor Swift songs in her car. You can find her on Instagram @camrynfarquharson
Charlotte Lepage
Charlotte Lepage is an Ottawa/Gatineau-based journalist who loves to connect with passionate people and tell their stories. She'll cover just about anything, but science, agriculture, environment, and community topics hold a special place in her heart. She's always wanted to be a writer and started writing "books" in her Hilroy Canada notebooks when she was eight. Charlotte also found a passion for radio after an internship with CBC's Quebec AM show, after which she was hired as a researcher to continue her exceptional work with the team. She is graduating from Carleton University with a bachelor's in journalism with honours and a minor in criminology. She made the Dean's list every year, received multiple scholarships to honour her outstanding work, and was vice president of finance for Carleton's Journalism Society. Her work has appeared in the CBC, Capital Current, and student publications. She loves to know everything there is to know about a subject and will gladly spend hours in a research rabbit hole. Outside work, you can find her learning about mythology and ancient history, reading books and catching up on the dozens of newsletters she's subscribed to.
Hayley Carolan
Hayley Carolan is a journalist from Vancouver Island, now living in Montreal. With a degree in behavioural neuroscience from the University of British Columbia, she is interested in health reporting and narrative journalism. She is currently studying a masters of journalism at Concordia University, where she is a staff writer for The Link, a student-run paper. This winter she interned as a researcher for CBC Montreal's afternoon radio show, where she worked on a variety of topics, from cervical cancer, to potholes, to pet pigeons. She loves stories and is happy that her job is to listen to them all day long. She thinks people are very interesting and strives to tell their stories with as much care as they would. Outside of work, Hayley reads, walks and misses the ocean.
Isabella Calissi
Isabella Calissi is a multimedia journalist based in Vancouver, B.C. She recently graduated BCIT's broadcast and online journalism program and has previously studied at Infocus Film School for film production. Isabella has always held a passion for storytelling – writing for fun for as long as she can remember. This combined with her deep love of personal narratives is what drives her journalistic endeavours. She has a particular interest in creating space to hear from people who may not traditionally have been given the microphone. This includes Indigenous issues, people who are unhoused, 2SLGBTQ+, and people with disabilities. She previously interned at CBC Vancouver and City News Vancouver, the latter of which she holds bylines on stories ranging from how cost of living affects oral health, to human trafficking numbers climbing in Canada. She also has articles and photos published in LINK, BCIT's student magazine. She was one of the recipients of the BCIT's 2024 Alexis Mazurin Award and received academic awards for her consistent excellence throughout her classes. Outside of news, Isabella loves playing bass, reading, and doing nature photography.
Josiane N'tchoreret-Mbiamany
Josiane N'tchoreret-Mbiamany is a bilingual multimedia storyteller and emerging journalist currently completing her master of media in journalism and communication at Western University. She holds a bachelor of arts in communication from the University of Ottawa, where she specialized in strategic communication and digital design. Over the past several years, Josiane has built a diverse portfolio through roles in government communications, community engagement, and digital media production. Her experience includes crafting public messaging at Global Affairs Canada, managing media relations for the City of Ottawa, assisting in the production of a francophone film and supporting inclusive outreach initiatives at CBC/Radio-Canada. Whether co-ordinating social media campaigns, producing bilingual content or leading student associations, Josiane has consistently used storytelling to bridge cultural perspectives and engage with diverse audiences. Driven by a passion for stories that inform, uplift, and reflect the richness of Canadian life, Josiane is committed to journalism that celebrates diversity, deepens understanding, and brings people together — values that align closely with the CBC's mission and the spirit of the CBC News summer scholarship for emerging journalists.
Justin Fiacconi
Justin Fiacconi is a multimedia journalist from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., with a spirited interest in telling stories related to global affairs, human rights, geopolitical conflict, elections, and the intersection of international politics and sports. Born with a curious mind and a love of learning, Justin holds a master's degree in international affairs from Carleton University and a bachelor's degree in political science from Algoma University. He's anticipating graduating from the master of journalism program at Carleton University in April, where he received the Diane King Stuemer award supporting his travels to Norway for his capstone journalism project. Justin has also interned with CBC's parliamentary bureau and spent the summer of 2024 in Ghana working as an intern with Farm Radio International, where he made a podcast episode about how a remote Ghanaian community had been resisting pressure to cut down its forest for charcoal burning. His work is published in CBC News, Canada's National Observer, Ottawa Citizen, and Capital Current. Justin has also developed a passion for documentary filmmaking and hopes to expand his video journalism skill set moving forward. You can find him playing tennis or soccer, watching movies, or practicing his French language skills when he's not working.
Katie Teeling
Katie Teeling is an Edmonton-based journalist with a passion for covering systemic and political issues on a local level, focusing on their impact on underserved communities. Having graduated from the University of Alberta with a bachelor of arts in anthropology, Katie has always held a passion for stories that focus on the human experience. She translated that passion into journalism when she began writing opinion columns for the U of A's student newspaper, The Gateway. As The Gateway's editor-in-chief, Katie continued to tell stories that shone a light on institutional issues, such as the closure of the U of A's Sexual Assault Centre and the harassment of Indigenous student leaders by residential school deniers. Katie has also covered grassroots political organizations in Alberta, writing articles for The Tyee and live-tweeting underreported political events, including Q&As with Albertan politicians and anti-vaccine meetings. As an intern at Alberta Views Magazine, Katie profiled how politics impact the lives of every-day Albertans. Katie hopes to continue this work at CBC — uncovering larger issues through human-centered stories. Beyond journalism, Katie can be found reading books, cuddling her lovebird, and analyzing politics with her friends. Find her on X at @teelingkat.
Katrianna Skulsky
Katrianna Skulsky is a journalist and videographer based in the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations in Vancouver, B.C. Raised among the towering arbutus trees and along the windswept shores of the city, she developed an insatiable curiosity and a deep passion for uncovering the stories that shape her environment. With an academic foundation in English literature and motion picture arts, she is committed to telling compelling stories through visual and written media. Katrianna recently earned her master of journalism from the University of British Columbia's School of Journalism, Writing, and Media, where she served as the first-year student representative, worked as a teaching assistant, and was selected as a Global Reporting Program Fellow. Through this fellowship, she gained invaluable experience reporting on global issues, including a fieldwork assignment at the Haitian-Dominican border, which deepened her resolve to pursue a career in photojournalism and investigative reporting. She is fuelled by a passion to amplify stories of resilience — whether in society or nature — across local, global, and often-overlooked spaces. Her work has been featured in Canada's National Observer, Canadian Geographic, and Canadian Running Magazine.
Kelsea Arnett
Kelsea Arnett is a Calgary-based multimedia reporter. She recently graduated from Mount Royal University with a major in journalism and digital media, and a minor in history. Drawn to writing from a young age, Kelsea thought she would pursue an English degree, but found journalism was the best medium to combine her love of storytelling and current events. In her second year of university, Kelsea interned with CBC Calgary as a researcher and fact-checker during the 2023 Alberta provincial election, contributing to a provincewide citizen's agenda project exploring what issues mattered most to voters. Following that, she completed an eight-week internship with The Globe and Mail, working as a reporter in the Calgary bureau, and as an associate producer for the national news podcast, The Decibel. Throughout university, she has also been an associate producer with the journalism department's Community Podcast Initiative, editing and publishing podcast series focused on amplifying underrepresented voices in the podcasting space. Kelsea seeks to tell authentic stories while approaching topics from new or unfamiliar angles, and is interested in exploring the connections newsrooms and reporters can foster within their communities. Outside of work, you can find Kelsea reading, listening to podcasts or relaxing with family.
Madison Taylor
Madison Taylor is a multimedia journalist from Wellington, New Zealand, with a passion for storytelling. A recent graduate of Queen's University with an honours in bachelor of arts in English language and literature, she's gained an international perspective, spending time in New Zealand and Spain during her degree. Selected as a 2023 scholar for the Undergraduate Student Summer Research Fellowship, Madison researched finding a sense of place for Black diasporic peoples on Indigenous lands through literature. Madison's pursuit of journalism began outside the classroom. Volunteering at CFRC 101.9 as a host of shows Between Friends and The Indie Wake Up Call, she combined her love for music with her interview skills live behind the mic. Madison was the senior arts and culture editor at The Queen's Journal, where she fell in love with the Kingston community, fostering her love for telling stories with honesty and compassion. Gaining on-camera experience through her red carpet coverage of the 25th annual Kingston Canadian Film Festival, interviewing Blue Rodeo was a highlight. Madison was selected for the Canadian Association of Journalists mentorship program, a valuable learning experience. In her free time, you'll find her watching live music, engrossed in a book, or trying to find some sunshine.
Olivia Piercey
Olivia Piercey is a bachelor of journalism (honours) graduate from the University of King's College in Halifax, N.S. Originally from Ottawa, Ont., Olivia has loved storytelling since childhood and was active in the local Ottawa theatre community for several years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Her time in the theatre had shown how good storytelling can bring people together by starting conversations and this sparked her interest in journalism. Olivia was the publisher of her campus' magazine, The Watch, which she helped bring back to print format this year. She has reported for the Signal, the Dalhousie Gazette, and the Halifax Examiner. She has covered politics, human rights, food security, and the arts. Olivia hosted a weekly radio show on the campus radio station, CKDU, where she shared music and interviewed musicians. As a journalist, Olivia aims to be a facilitator for larger conversations by making information accessible to everyone. She loves to research and hopes her future in journalism will allow her to explore her curiosities while serving the public. She enjoys travelling, attending the theatre, and listening to music.
Prisca Tang
Prisca Tang's passion for journalism started when she interned at the oldest Chinese newspaper company in Macau. Since then, she has been determined to pursue a career in journalism. Born in Canada and raised in Hong Kong, Prisca is fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin, and English. During her undergraduate degree, she worked as a contributing writer for the school newspaper and a reporter at a Toronto-based cultural magazine. After finishing her undergraduate degree, she worked at an English daily newspaper company in Macau for two years. Following that, she completed her master of journalism at the University of British Columbia. In the past two years, she has written for The Globe and Mail, CBC News, Vancouver is Awesome, The Ubyssey, Discorder Magazine, and The Source/La Source. Last summer, she interned at CBC News Network's education and entertainment department in Toronto and gained valuable experience. As a CBC summer scholar, she is excited to work at About That and the Toronto-regional desk. In her free time, she can be found teaching English literature to IB students, reading fantasy novels, or playing with her pet axolotl.
Sarah St-Pierre
Sarah St-Pierre is a bilingual multimedia journalist from Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Conseil, Que. She is graduating from Carleton University's master of journalism program, where she became passionate about broadcast journalism. There, she received the Martin Newland Award for news reporting, as well as the Peter Stursberg Award in conflict journalism to support her master's research project on economic reconciliation in the mining industry. Her CBC roots are with CBC Radio in Quebec City. There, she worked as an intern and researcher. She spent last summer in Zambia, reporting on how smallholder farmers were adapting to a historic drought for Farm Radio International's Nature Answers podcast. Her work has also been published by CIM Magazine, Capital Current and The Mainstreeter. Sarah graduated from McGill University with a first-class honours B.A. in international development studies. During her undergrad, she was editor-in-chief of Catalyst, a student-led international development publication. She spoke to audiences about the role of radio in development at the 2024 Futures Forum hosted by Cooperation Canada, and hosted the keynote session at the Reimagining Political Journalism conference hosted by Carleton's School of Journalism in 2024. When she's not reporting, Sarah likes to obsess over storytelling, shoot film photography, try out new recipes and browse flea markets.
Shaki Sutharsan
Shaki Sutharsan is a Tamil-Canadian journalist based in Toronto who is driven by delivering human-centric and data-driven stories to digital audiences. Shaki is a writer at heart who thrives on pulling together every aspect of a story and ensuring it's heard. She developed a passion for community-driven solutions journalism through her Digital Publishing Award-nominated work with Toronto-based hyperlocal news publication The Green Line. Over the course of a year, she produced several multimedia projects, ranging from digital explainers to longform features centred around local issues. Later, Shaki completed an internship with CBC's investigative unit, where she had the opportunity to analyze extensive datasets for a story on artificial intelligence, deepening her interest in data-driven storytelling. While completing her undergraduate degree in journalism at Toronto Metropolitan University, Shaki worked for the university's independent student newspaper, The Eyeopener, first as the arts and culture editor and later as an online editor. Her arts reporting for The Eyeopener has earned her a John H. McDonald Award nomination. Outside of journalism, Shaki hopes to write and publish her debut novel because she just can't get enough of writing stories — the fictional kind and the kind rooted in the everyday realities of the communities we live and learn within.