7 minute read
Two Decades at the Helm
Johnson at work in 2004
Mirabliss promotional shot
Johnson’s CBC TV headshot
Angela By Nicole Brooks de Gier Photography contributed
In Hollywood, calling yourself a multihyphenate is the ultimate resume booster. Actor-singer-songwriters or model-danceractors pad their resumes with their unique talents to stand apart from the rest. For Angela Johnson, she chooses to downplay her status as journalist-university lecturer-producereditor-communications professional. Despite her long list of undertakings, Johnson demurs at the opportunity to be boastful and instead says, “I’m not remarkable. I’ve enjoyed my work and I just hope it has contributed to something greater.” Born in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Johnson moved often as a child. Her father was in the military and had several posts throughout her childhood. The longest time the family spent in one place was when Johnson was aged 5 through 13 when her father was stationed in West Germany. While growing up in the private military quarters, Johnson who has long preferred to work behind the scenes, often wrote plays and skits for her friends and sister to perform. “I would sell tickets, round-up an audience, and direct my friends from backstage,” she said. “Looking back now, my writing was rudimentary and makes me cringe, but even then, my strength was in creating and organizing.” It was also while stationed in Germany that in Grade 3, Johnson opted to conduct an interview for a project assigned by her teacher Mrs. Smith. Mrs. Smith’s assignment feedback shaped the course of the rest of her life. “She told me, ‘Angela, you know that people do what you just did for their grown-up jobs,’” Johnson remembers. “It was the first time I thought about it as a possibility.” After that pivotal conversation, Johnson continued to excel in English literature, creative writing, grammar, language arts and history. She also volunteered to write and edit school newspapers, newsletters and yearbooks. Eventually, this led Johnson to studying journalism at Ryerson University in Toronto and a 15-year career as a CBC journalist and producer both in Toronto and Halifax. Johnson says, “I wanted to know why people do the things they do; to discover the uniqueness of others while also demonstrating the similarities in our humanity.” While living abroad and working and studying in Toronto, Johnson experienced a variety of different cultures and peoples. As the newcomer community began to grow in Halifax, she saw an opportunity to share the stories of new Nova Scotians. This was the genesis of her television program Our Community, the result of a successful pitch to her senior producer for a series that shares the backgrounds and customs of diverse communities in Nova Scotia. “I created, wrote, hosted and did the interviews for Our Community,” Johnson shares matterof-factly. Johnson’s passion for understanding people and sharing their stories blossomed into careers in various departments and agencies with the Government of Nova Scotia, including a tenure at the Office of African Nova Scotian Affairs. At the same time, she was a lecturer at the University of Kings College School of Journalism, the managing editor of Black to Business magazine, all the while running her own production company, Mirabliss Media Productions. “Creating stories, lesson plans, going into business for myself with my own production company – each role has given me the opportunity to develop and create.” Johnson’s professional accomplishments are staggering and inspirational, yet she pivots from accolades when discussing one of her biggest projects: a documentary titled Holland Remembers that saw her travel to the Netherlands with her grandfather, father and
Two Decades at the Helm
AngelaJohnson
a film crew to capture her grandfather reminiscing about his role in the country’s liberation. The film was first screened at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia with guests that included those who had been part of Johnson’s professional journey up to that point – the province, CBC and the University of Kings College. Her current role as Director of Internal Communications with Nova Scotia’s Public Service Commission is another result of Johnson seizing an opportunity in an otherwise unoccupied space. She develops internal communications strategies for government departments that focus on the way government employees process information and communications on an individual level. “It was an idea to do something that hadn’t been done in government up to that point,” she says. “I developed a plan, piloted it and was given the green light to run with it.” Two years post-pilot, the program has been rolled out across departments. “Recently, my executive director asked me if I’d had a chance to reflect on the success of this program and my own accomplishments since its launch and I admitted that I hadn’t. Yes, this has been a lot of work, but I’ve enjoyed it and there’s more to come.” Like poet Dylan Thomas, Johnson also has promises to keep and miles to go before she sleeps. “I’ve taken to scheduling my downtime and recently, I’ve realized that I need to pull back in order to tell more.” As such, Johnson recently ended her parttime lecturing position at Kings College, a job she held for nearly a decade, and also retired from the position of managing editor of Black to Business magazine. Johnson started as managing editor of the magazine in 2001 and oversaw the content creation, design, and editing of more than 60 issues. “Black to Business is both communitybuilding and business-building,” Johnson says. “It serves as a vehicle for sharing the stories of Black business and also provides free advertising for the businesses.”
Two Decades at the Helm
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Over her nearly two-decade tenure at the editorial helm of Black to Business, Johnson has witnessed first-hand the evolution of businesses in the community and the rise of youth starts-ups. “I hadn’t realized how impactful the magazine had become until we did our two anniversary issues that featured artwork of all the past covers. Seeing the faces of all the businesspeople over the years who have become successful was a powerful reminder of the community’s growth.” Johnson also says she has witnessed the shift from “bricks and mortar” trade-based businesses to e-commerce, marketing and other Internet-based companies, which she attributes to the support of the Black Business Initiative’s (BBI) composite companies and its Business is Jammin’ programs for youth. “Business is Jammin’ is teaching our young people how to think and grow as entrepreneurs.” Cynthia Dorrington, former board chair of the BBI applauds Johnson’s contribution to the BBI and community, “As managing editor, Angela’s intuition in creating an impactful and insightful magazine has allowed our numerous stories to be told with kindness and shared with love.” Johnson downplays the accolades. “There’s a long-standing tradition of oral storytelling in the African Nova Scotia community. It’s an honour to be a small part of that tradition.” Though she’s given up two roles to concentrate on her new role with the provincial government and allow for more flexibility in her calendar, Johnson has no plan to take any significant time off. In addition to her business responsibilities, Johnson is also a board member of the Canadian Women’s Foundation, where she is the Vice Chair and the Human Resources Chair. “I’ve always been an advocate for women’s issues and women’s rights,” said Johnson. “Beyond being creative, I want to further support women’s issues – particularly building their self-esteem and encouraging them to find their voices and use them.” Recently an unsolicited e-mail from a university regarding a learning opportunity landed in her inbox. The e-mail was about a master’s degree in Women’s Leadership and Community Development. It piqued her interest. Johnson admits, “I immediately thought, ‘What could this be? Maybe my next chapter?’” Based on her already long list of achievements, Johnson’s next chapter will be nothing other than an unequivocal success.
