Toronto. The big smoke, the land of milk and honey, in Canada, at least. Somehow I’ve made the leap from my most recent, modest lodgings in Belleville, Ontario to this. Belleville. Home of legendary ice fishing in the majestic Bay of Quinte. A destination rooted more in necessity than choice. Cue Loyalist College. Maker of dreams, also where photojournalists are factory farmed with an alarming fervor.

Belleville, Ont. – Joseph Marr cannot sit on the couch without being swarmed by his five Chihuahua’s: (L to R) Sally, Sophie, Dizzy, Sadie and Paco. Marr has been surrounded by animals his whole life, growing up in what he calls “Noah’s Ark.” (Photo by Sarah Dea)

Fast forward to summer 2009. And here I am in the thick of it all.

I still remember receiving the call for an interview from the Toronto Star. I was sitting in Frank O’Connor’s staff class on a Wednesday afternoon, discussing the merits of square crops or something. I tried to keep my stomach from falling out my mouth as I spoke to Bruce Duncan, Ken Faught’s assistant, with tacit unease.

Picton, Ont. – Exploring Prince Edward Heights abandoned psychiatric facility. (Photo by Sarah Dea)

When I arrived on interview aka judgment day, I remember peering up 1 Yonge Street. I was in the shadow of giants, quite literally. The slate brown building felt about ready to crush me as I inhaled sharply and finally mustered the guts to walk in. I now do it everyday and the feeling of wild nerves has faded but reincarnated itself in a different way.

Now that I’m about three weeks in, I wonder how the hours have melted away. On my first day I definitely felt inundated by everything; the pace, the scale, the fabled Toronto traffic. But as the days went on, I nestled myself into the challenge and decided to tackle it full force.

The Sisters, Faithful Companions of Jesus House, aka FCJ Refugee House on Oakwood Avenue, serves the needs of refugees at risk due to their immigration status. The house opens its doors to anyone asking for help regarding these issues. This group of refugee women meet weekly for a focus group. Leila and her mother fled from the Republic of Burundi three months ago and recently claimed for refugee status. (Photo by Sarah Dea / Toronto Star)

The learning curve was, at first, unreal and it’s safe to say the big city grind is unmatched. My brain and muscles still have a lot of catching up to do, but all in all, I am overjoyed to have this opportunity. It’s humbling being in that newsroom, surrounded by an array of talent and certain energy. I keep hoping I will be able to osmose some of it by just being there, but I know it takes much more than that.

Although there are days where I feel like I’m doing nothing right, I take it as a lesson for future successes. I look forward to how my brain will be swollen with shared wisdom and my own first hand experience by the end of summer. I can feel it getting heavier already.

Toronto, Ont. – A Michael Jackson bust stares out onto Queen West and Dufferin Street in the front window of Public Butter, a thrift store. (Photo by Sarah Dea / Toronto Star)

Sincerely,
-Sarah Dea
sarahdea@gmail.com
647 996 2737
sarahdea.wordpress.com