Jason Pires, BC Newsroom Rising Star
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Jason Pires
What does it mean to move to Global News as far as British Columbia is concerned? Jason explains: “It’s a privilege to join Global News - it’s been the undisputed leader for BC news for many decades with a storied tradition of consistently delivering the news of the day to the entire province. Its reach is impressive as well as its impact. It’s an experienced team of journalists and I’m just thrilled to join Global BC’s morning show - a four-hour live broadcast five days a week. It means setting the alarm clock again back to 2:45 a.m.!!!”
Getting ready for Global News debut
Jason is the second son of Ben and Laila Pires. Ben is originally from India but went to the University of the Philippines (UP) for college where he met Laila de Lara. Jason was born and raised in Victoria, BC. He has an older brother and a younger sister, two nieces and a nephew whom he coaches in soccer.
As a young lad, he was a member of the Victoria Filipino Canadian Association’s (VFCA) Sampaguita Dance Group, which won many awards at the Greater Victoria Music Festival and performed at Vancouver’s Expo ‘86. He started dancing the tinikling when he was seven and evolved doing complex and fast moves; but he enjoyed doing the maglalatik the most, particularly at family parties.
He graduated from Claremont Senior Secondary School in 1991, where he played in the school’s soccer, rugby, and basketball teams and chaired the student council. He played for the B.C. all-star youth baseball team and was a goalie for Victoria’s “metro” soccer team.
After high school, Jason went on to earn a bachelor's degree in Psychology at the University of Victoria, where he was a goalie for the Vikes soccer team. He took a year off after that to backpack in Europe and then returned to school to complete his Broadcast Journalism diploma from the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). He started his broadcasting career in his hometown in 2000 as a news reporter for CHEK-TV.
How did his interest in news broadcasting come about? “We were raised in a household that watched the nightly news. Also, my dad took Mass Communications at UP and briefly worked at ABS-CBN News in Manila so perhaps it’s in the genes! I knew I wanted to pursue broadcasting at 12 years old when I created my own radio show with my brother and cousins.”
In 2001 Jason helped launch a brand-new television station in B.C.'s capital (now known as CTV Vancouver Island) and served as its original sports director/anchor/reporter. Under his leadership, the sports department established itself as a market leader in Vancouver Island sports coverage. He joined CTV British Columbia in Vancouver in March 2008 as a sportscaster for CTV News.
Among the many exciting highlights of Jason's career was covering the Olympics and Paralympics in Vancouver/Whistler in 2010, the Stanley Cup run of the Vancouver Canucks in 2011, and the inaugural MLS season of the Vancouver Whitecaps.
With Global News Morning co-anchor Sonia Sunger
He is also fondly remembered by the CTV audience in Vancouver for his prank as Bruno Mars in 2017. Unsuspecting Vancouverites were in shock that day when they spotted Bruno Mars roaming the streets with 2 bodyguards - except that it wasn’t really Bruno Mars.
Impersonating Bruno Mars in Vancouver
Another memorable moment was his trip to Phoenix to cover Steve Nash's back-to-back NBA MVP awards. Jason received an Edward R. Murrow award for producing a special profile on Nash – who was Jason's childhood soccer and baseball teammate back in Victoria.
To the question of what makes him passionate about what he does in broadcast journalism, he replies: “I love that it’s a profession where we are constantly learning and it’s new every day and often unpredictable. I also get the adrenaline from the deadline-driven business and the pressure to perform. And finally - the creative collaboration of storytelling is the best part of the job. Broadcast journalism is the quintessential team sport - from the control room crew to the writers, editors, photographers, reporters, producers and anchors.”
Matching his passion for sports, Jason loves to travel. He had visited 50 countries before he reaches 50 this year on September 9.
Skydiving for a story
He has run in marathons in Vancouver, New York and this year, he will run with his brother Karl in the Chicago Marathon on October 8. He has also run in half-marathons in Bologna, Vancouver, Victoria, Las Vegas, and, in 2010 he went to Brazil to watch the World Cup.
Jason also enjoys volunteering at various community events and fundraisers including the B.C. Cancer Foundation's Tour de Cure (formerly Ride to Conquer Cancer), his 11th time this year; the Kids Help Phone Walk, the Children's Wish Foundation, the JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes, and a handful of charity golf tournaments.
In his spare time, Jason enjoys running the seawall, trying to improve his golf game, and sampling the diverse selection of excellent restaurants Vancouver offers.
In 2013, Jason received the Maharlika Award for Community Service from the Filipino Canadian Cultural Heritage Society. He emceed their events and also, on request from the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver, promoted Filipino events.
Regarding his Filipino heritage, what it means and his service to the Filipino community, Jason states “I’m very proud of my Filipino ancestry (on Mom’s side). One of the best things about Vancouver is it’s tremendously diverse and the Filipino population is especially large. It’s nice to know I represent that ethnic group in a small way and it’s rewarding to profile Filipinos who are doing great work in our community - whether it’s in the arts, healthcare, hospitality, the list goes on! It’s always a treat when we feature Filipino cuisine in the show - even a boodle fight!”
Jason Pires' life and journalism career are nothing short of riveting and exhilarating. From his prominent presence on the screens of CTV News to his audacious transition to Global News, Jason's journey exemplifies a passion for storytelling and an unwavering commitment to enhance the sports viewing experience of his audience. Jason serves as an inspiring reminder that the pursuit of one's dreams can lead to a life filled with excitement and purpose.
Lani Domaloy is a Filipino-Canadian writer, poet, and photographer living on Vancouver Island in Canada. She draws her creative inspiration primarily from her love for the outdoors, nature, traveling, and the arts.
