January 25, 2012
For Immediate Release
EDMONTON, AB — Seekers Media (founders of SnowSeekers & FestivalSeekers) has spent the last three years delivering TV, online, mobile, and social media audiences the best first-person winter travel and festival content possible.
“With the launch of our new Seekers Media correspondent’s network, we see our content production team grow from four to fourteen—in the short term—with plans to grow this team even bigger moving forward," explains Seekers Media President Jim Barr (aka Doc Pow). "This network ensures that Seekers is in a position to continue to bring our audience the most consistent, relevant content year round for our snow- and festival-seeking efforts.
“Our Seekers Media correspondents live in destinations across Alberta and British Columbia, which really helps us create fresh content for a host of destinations regularly.”
Seekers Media has gathered a dedicated team of professional and amateur writers and photographers. Hailing from all walks of life, this varied group will bring their unique perspectives to Seekers’ audiences through SnowSeekers.ca, FestivalSeekers.com, content distribution affiliations (with destinations directly or via additional media outlets, including Troy Media) and various social media spaces including Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and more.
Seekers Media is pleased to welcome these new members to its team:
Lisa Kadane is a Calgary based writer recently re-joining the freelance world after a seven-year stint as a lifestyles reporter at the Calgary Herald. Recent credits include WestJet’s Up!, Powder, Western Living and Swerve Magazines. She also writes the Spirited Calgary cocktails column in the Calgary Herald. She is excited to once again be writing about her passions of skiing, festivals and travel—now with two young kids in tow—and looks forward to helping Seekers expand its “family friendly” content offerings.
Jeremy Derksen originally hails from Calgary, AB, where he grew up spoiled by the nearby Rockies. He now lives in Edmonton and cherishes every moment in the mountains. After five years as the outdoor adventure editor at Vue Weekly, he launched a successful freelance career for publications including The Ski Journal, Globe and Mail, Calgary Herald and Avenue magazine. Family man Derksen—similar to Kadane—is out to help Seekers expand its “family friendly” content offerings.
Boyd England started his pre-professional ski career in the early 1980’s at Edmonton’s Rabbit Hill. For Boyd it’s all about, “Where can I explore next?” His writing credits include a six year freelance travel and ski writing stint with the Edmonton Sun & Vue Weekly.
Laura England has been on skis or a board for as long as she can remember. With 10 years of freelance writing under her belt with publications including The Edmonton Sun and Vue Weekly, England has shared many experiences in mountain resorts, local hills, and festivals.
Megan Gibson has a brilliant career in tourism development now spanning over ten years. Her background includes being on the sales and marketing team for The North Face, VIA Rail, Marmot Basin, Tourism Jasper, Tourism Whistler and brings with her a “worldly” view to her writing style.
Kamren Farr is an avid snowshoer, Nordic skier, and back-country enthusiast who recently launched the Storm Snowshoe Series in Edmonton. Storm is a fun way to enjoy winter and discover the fun of romping through the snow with friends and family. Kamren is also responsible for Salomon’s Five Peaks Trail Running Series.
Curt Derbyshire is a regular contributor to the Crowsnest Pass Promoter and the Pincher Creek Echo, Derbyshire will bring his unique brand of levity to the Seekers Media team. A lifelong skier, Derbyshire is excited to bring his passion for all things winter to the Seekers audience.
John Devitt has been Living in Revelstoke for the past five years, which has allowed him easy access to the finer things in life: powder, steep lines, first tracks, and some outstanding outdoor adventures. John writes “Higher Ground,” a weekly column for the Revelstoke Current. Prior to his time with the Current, John was the Executive Director of the Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce and Revelstoke Tourism.
Amber Hayes is one of the principal owners of AdventureEngine.com and LiftBusinessCoaching.com, Amber Hayes is also a professional presenter on adventure travel and technology. Based in Rossland BC—as a business coach—Hayes combines her passions for both business and skiing by offering strategic planning sessions and business coaching in the ski environment of her client's choice.
Sterling Todd Keys is a former Albertan, now finds himself residing in the heart of the Comox Valley and within a stone’s throw of one of Canada’s deepest snowpacks at Mount Washington. A habitual photographer and writer by nature, his continued presence on the SnowSeekers Facebook page eventually led to him joining the team as a correspondent through the winter of 2010/11.
Zoe Kruschke is, if you can believe it, just 14 years old, and has already been skiing for eight years (both downhill and cross-country). Downhill skiing, along with yodelling from the chair lift, is her all-time favourite winter activity. It brings a ton of adventure into her life, to say the least. Besides being a huge fan of both Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter (not to mention David Bowie), Kruschke loves to write and ski. Now, with Seekers Media, she gets to do both! Always itching to hit the pow, Kruschke hopes her writing will inspire many other teens to rip it up, too.
About Seekers Media
Seekers Media’s audience continues to thrive, now into the hundreds of thousands of winter or festival specific travelers who trust its web/sites, mobile applications and participate in its thriving social media presence to get the scoop on where to travel next.
Seekers Media continues to receive international media attention for its efforts, most recently its SnowSeekers smartphone application featured in the Los Angeles Times. The company—launched in late 2008—has now expanded to not only include media production for its own media brands, including www.snowseekers.ca and www.festivalseekers.com, but also takes on “for-hire work” in content generation, marketing strategy development, smartphone application development, and event production (specific to the tourism industry). Its client roster includes many destination marketing organizations, tourism attractions, and amenities.
For more on the company and/or this Seekers Media correspondent’s initiative please contact:
Jim Barr, President
Seekers Media
780.983.9913 @email
www.seekers-media.com