CUBA'S - techlife magazine

photo by jason ness
stephanie barsby spends her workday predicting the future. as the meteorologist for cbc edmonton, she tells
listeners and viewers what to expect from the weather. but it’s been a long road: after graduating from radio and
television in 2000, she embarked on a country-wide, resumé-building spree, reporting and anchoring for radio and
television in places like medicine hat, sudbury and winnipeg. recently, she fit in an interview between her weather
updates to explain what it takes to be a soothsayer.
— Lindsey Norris
fORECAST
Radio and Television grad
Stephanie Barsby on the way the wind blows.
the
i left edmonton for eight years to concentrate on
my career, but my dream was to get back, and I thought
the best way to do that was to become a meteorologist.
So I took Mississippi State’s online meteorology
program and when I graduated in 2007, I accepted a
position with CBC Edmonton.
i make my own forecasts. That’s the difference
between being a meteorologist and a TV “weather
presenter”; every map and graphic you see, I’ve created.
I don’t rely on forecasts from Environment Canada. It
takes about three hours: I have four computers in front
of me and I look at factors like temperature, wind, sky
condition, precipitation . . .
being out in the community is an important part of
the job. Every day is different: I may be broadcasting
from a festival or another event. I really enjoy going into
classrooms and talking about the science behind the
weather. It’s a shining moment in the day.
i’m a single mom, and as any working mother will
tell you, it’s almost impossible to find childcare past
6 p.m. I work until 6:30 p.m. at a minimum. I have a
great support network and I’m a true believer in the
saying, “‘it takes a village to raise a child.” Probably the
hardest thing is giving CBC 110 per cent every day and
being a good mom, because you can’t do that and be a
workaholic. It’s a balancing act.
why is the forecast sometimes wrong? Well, it is
not an exact science. In the end, you’re trying to predict
the future.
the SKInnY
JOB DESCRIpTION
is briGhT
• Pay:
$69,201 (average annual
salary)
• location:
With few meteorologists in
Canada, most urban centres
are looking to hire.
• Work hours:
40 hours a week, minimum
• education requirements:
Meteorology credentials
and broadcast experience
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