Meet KPU: Kyler Emerson

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Kyler Emerson is a Kwantlen Polytechnic University alumni and multimedia journalist based in Langley. 

Emerson, who was a former editor in chief of The Runner, graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in journalism in 2022 and went to work as a multimedia journalist for the Langley Advance Times. In May, he became editor of the Aldergrove Star. Emerson focuses on community events, crime, and human-interest stories, in which he aims to increase awareness about gender diversity in youth, ecosystem imbalance, and the climate crisis. The interview has been edited for length and clarity. 

This spring, Emerson won two B.C. and Yukon Community Newspaper Ma Murray Awards, receiving silver in the “Spot News Photo” category for his photo of a vehicle explosion, along with “New Journalist of the Year.” In his downtime, Emerson enjoys hiking and honing his photography skills. 

When did you join the KPU community and why?

I joined KPU after I graduated high school in fall 2015. I mainly joined because I was looking for a university that was close to home and a little more affordable and I wanted to pursue psychology, and I really liked the program that they had there.

I was really sick for my last couple of years at high school. I was on the homebound program. Thankfully, I got a diagnosis and I graduated in time. I had to take part in KPU’s accessibility services, which I really recommend to students if they need any support, medical or mental health wise. It was absolutely lovely, they were so supportive and really helped me integrate into KPU. So I was able to thrive in university as I healed and got better.

KPU gave me a good feeling right from the start. It had a good, welcoming impression, and I just really felt like I fit in right away. My first class was introduction to psychology and the instructors and classmates were wonderful. I could just meet with everybody and we’d connect because we shared interests. A huge plus was the smaller classes. I cannot learn in a class of 200 people, I need that relationship with my teacher. I’m glad to see that KPU is keeping that because that is such a huge plus for them, especially as a polytechnic institution, to have those smaller classes for people.

What is your favourite story of your time at KPU?

I absolutely love bees. They’re so important for our pollination, they’re responsible for one-third of the food we eat. We have over 500 species of bees just in B.C., that’s more birds than we have in Canada. 

In 2021, I wanted to do a story about the importance of bees and our local pollinators because we’re in a food crisis. KPU has bee hives on their Richmond farm. They allowed me to come by to do a video and speak with the instructor there. It was incredible to be surrounded by thousands of bees. There’s just nothing like it.

It was awesome to talk with the students and learn why they’re in the program. I was really grateful that I was able to do that because our university had that course, and there’s not many places where you can take a course on beekeeping. KPU has two farms and has a lot of programs about agriculture and farming, and beekeeping is absolutely a part of that. 

What is something you’d like to say to people new to KPU?

Don’t be afraid to try new things or branch out and don’t be afraid to ask stupid questions because there really is no such thing. There’s always going to be someone else wondering the same thing. I think people should really get more involved in the clubs that we have at KPU. It’s a great way to make friends and gain experiences, and incredible people volunteer their time to run these clubs. It’s just a wonderful way to get involved and get some experience that you can put on your resume. It’s an opportunity to discover yourself. 

I didn’t even know we had a student paper until my partner had a class visit by the editors and he was like, “Hey, we have a student paper,” and I’m like, “What?” Even though The Runner has stands all over KPU’s campuses, I don’t know why it never clicked as something that I have access to, as with many services that are provided. 

I’d say to students, don’t be afraid to access services or even get involved with The Runner, it is such a friendly team. Please don’t be intimidated by the editors, they’re students, too. They’re just responsible for making sure the paper does as good as it can so it can live on and provide those opportunities for students to gain experience. 

Students really should get involved with the Kwantlen Student Association. Students pay millions of dollars in fees to the KSA over time to provide mental health services, extended health and dental care, counselling, and the food bank. There’s so much that they provide that students really should get involved with it or hold it to account because you’re paying for that, you have access to that, and it’s your right to utilize all of those services. Even The Runner is student-funded. 

Volunteer — work at the KSA office, KPU has plenty of opportunities, or start something new. Reach out to the KSA or KPU and they’ll help direct you to the right procedure for it.

What are you working on or doing right now?

I’m the editor of the Aldergrove Star newspaper. Aldergrove is a neighbourhood in Langley and it has become its own little community, but it’s still part of the Township of Langley. We have our own paper there which is smaller, usually around 16 pages or so. 

For a long time, the Langley Advance Times team was looking for an editor for this paper. I was working at the Langley Advance Times and my publisher approached me at the end of April. Black Press Media, which owns many community newspapers across Canada, wanted someone dedicated to the Aldergrove Star to manage and foster it because it’s already in a community that’s growing. My publisher thought that I would be a great fit for it, and so I accepted the position. 

I still report to my managing editor and publisher of course, but the Aldergrove Star is my baby. It was an honour to be offered the position, and now I’m focusing on the Aldergrove community. There are just some incredible people out there. There’s a lot of volunteer work, and the community is so supportive. It’s been really great to be a part of that, meet everybody, work with them, tell their stories, and help them where I can. 

What is something you’d like people to know about you?

I’m part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. I knew 10 years ago, but I waited until after high school to come out. It’s hard to see that a portion of the public has been shifting and it’s really disheartening. What I found that helped me is to foster my self love and seek out support from those close to me who have accepted me. It is so empowering to have that supportive network around you. 

I’d like students to know that when you’re feeling down, there’s always somebody that cares, and you matter. Please reach out to anybody. There is going to be a classmate, a teacher, or even KPU accessibility services or counselling at KPU, which is free and included in tuition. They will help you to accept yourself and find your place because we all have a place in this world. 

People don’t speak for you. We are our own advocates because no one else is going to do it for us. Kids and students are not just a group, but individual people — they have feelings, opinions, and thoughts that all matter. In university, you are an adult, you have power, and you can advocate for yourself, and if you ever have any problems just go to The Runner.