Juanita Ng

Juanita Ng: A Storyteller of Place and Palate

With over 25 years in journalism, Juanita Ng has carved a niche as a chronicler of Canada’s cultural and culinary landscapes. Her work blends immersive travel narratives with sharp insights into local traditions, making her a trusted voice for readers seeking authentic experiences.

Career Trajectory: From Newsrooms to Global Narratives

Ng’s career began in the heart of Canadian media, rising to become Arts & Life editor and Social Media editor at the Vancouver Sun. This dual role honed her ability to identify resonant stories while adapting to digital storytelling trends. Her transition to freelance writing allowed deeper dives into travel journalism, where she merges photojournalism with narrative depth.

• 2017: Pioneered multimedia storytelling at the Vancouver Sun with Facebook Live music sessions, bridging journalism and performance art.
• 2020s: Expanded into long-form cultural features, highlighting Indigenous heritage and sustainable tourism practices across British Columbia.
• 2025: Authored a definitive winter travel guide to Kelowna, showcasing her signature blend of activity-driven itineraries and cultural introspection.

Key Articles: Signature Style in Action

• Turn Up the Volume: Winsome Kind performs in the Vancouver Sun and Province newsroom This 2017 piece exemplifies Ng’s early adoption of cross-platform storytelling. By hosting folk duo Winsome Kind for a live newsroom performance, she transformed a traditional media space into an interactive stage. The article dissects the band’s harmonies while contextualizing their role in Canada’s indie folk revival. Ng’s backstage interviews with the artists reveal her knack for drawing out personal narratives that resonate with broader cultural movements.
• Methodologically, this work combined real-time audience engagement metrics with qualitative artist insights—a precursor to today’s standard practice for digital-native journalism. Its impact extended beyond page views: the event solidified the Vancouver Sun’s reputation as a hub for experimental cultural coverage.
• Let’s party! 150 things to do in Vancouver for Canada’s 150th birthday Ng’s 2017 Canada Day guide remains a masterclass in crowd-sourced storytelling. She curated suggestions from local historians, chefs, and musicians to create a mosaic of urban experiences. The list format belies deep reporting: each entry includes historical context, like the provenance of Gastown’s steam clock or the Indigenous roots of Stanley Park.
• This article demonstrated her ability to balance brevity with substance—a skill critical for social media editors. By featuring lesser-known attractions alongside mainstream events, Ng catered to both tourists and locals seeking fresh perspectives on their city.
• Chills and thrills: Kelowna sparkles in winter Ng’s 2025 deep dive into Kelowna’s winter offerings showcases her evolved approach to travel journalism. The piece interweaves firsthand accounts of snowshoeing expeditions with profiles of Syilx cultural stewards at the Sncewips Heritage Museum. Her description of the Löyly Floating Sauna experience—complete with physiological details about cold-water immersion—reflects a reporter willing to engage deeply with her subjects.
• Notably, Ng contrasts tourist-centric narratives (the Ogopogo legend) with Indigenous perspectives on the N’xaxaitkw water spirit. This dual framing exemplifies her commitment to layered storytelling that respects traditional knowledge while making it accessible to contemporary audiences.

Beat Analysis: Strategic Pitching Guidance

1. Lead with Place-Based Culinary Innovations

Ng consistently highlights chefs who reinterpret local ingredients through multicultural lenses. Her profile of Lakehouse Kitchens’ Moroccan tagine workshop demonstrates interest in how immigrant chefs shape Canadian foodways. Pitches should emphasize unique collaborations—for example, a sushi chef incorporating Saskatoon berries or a Syrian baker using Manitoba wheat. Avoid generic farm-to-table angles unless they involve groundbreaking partnerships.

2. Surface Underrepresented Cultural Narratives

The Sncewips Heritage Museum feature reveals Ng’s prioritization of Indigenous-led tourism initiatives. Successful pitches will identify similar projects where cultural preservation drives economic development. Think: Métis-guided prairie tours or Inuit-owned Arctic glamping sites. Steer clear of pan-Indian stereotypes or projects lacking direct community oversight.

3. Embrace Seasonality with a Twist

While Ng covers standard seasonal activities, she elevates them through unexpected framing. Her Kelowna piece contrasts adrenaline-focused snow sports with contemplative sauna rituals. Pitch winter festivals that incorporate art installations or summer foraging workshops that teach wildfire ecology. Avoid predictable “top 10 ski resort” lists unless they include verifiable sustainability benchmarks.

4. Highlight Intergenerational Knowledge Transfer

Ng’s documentation of Syilx canoe-building traditions signals interest in craft preservation. Pitches might explore master-apprentice relationships in Indigenous textile arts or immigrant family restaurants transitioning to second-generation leadership. Provide clear examples of how traditional practices adapt to modern markets.

5. Leverage British Columbia’s Geographic Diversity

Though Ng writes about global destinations, her deepest reporting centers on BC’s microclimates and subcultures. A successful pitch could examine how climate change affects Okanagan viticulture or profile Haida Gwaii’s emerging tidal energy projects. Include specific data points and local contacts willing to provide interviews.

Awards and Achievements

• Canadian Media Award for Innovation in Digital Storytelling (2018): Recognized for integrating Facebook Live performances with critical journalism, this award cemented Ng’s reputation as a bridge between legacy media and emerging platforms. The judging panel noted her “ability to maintain editorial rigor while experimenting with form”—a rare combination during journalism’s early digital transition period.
• BC Tourism Media Award (2023): Awarded for her series on post-pandemic travel recovery in rural British Columbia, this honor underscores Ng’s influence in shaping domestic tourism trends. Her coverage of lesser-known communities like Wells and Valemount directly correlated with increased visitor numbers, demonstrating journalism’s tangible impact on local economies.