areas of expertise

As a journalist, I have extensive experience writing and editing material for brands and major media outlets. There’s nothing I love more than working with a client to shape a story’s concept and craft evocative articles tailored to a brand’s style.

I'm lisa jackson, founder & head writing wizard of westdale creative

Hey
There!

I hold an Honours B.A. in English Literature and History from the University of Toronto and I’ve got more than a decade of writing professionally under my belt.

I’ve drafted everything from speeches for politicians to feature stories for The Globe & Mail, Al Jazeera News, and The Toronto Star to custom content for corporate brands like Sobeys, Hilton, GEICO, MasterCard, and TD Canada Trust.

To keep up with the fast-moving technological times, I’ve also taken courses on SEO with Moz and on content marketing with The School of the New York Times. That means that I know the latest and greatest strategies to amplify brand messaging, attract audiences, and measure the impact of curated content.

About Me

fun facts

1.

I started my career writing speeches and policies for elected officials before going out on my own as a freelance journalist. I’ve spent almost a decade writing about everything from Canada’s intake of Syrian refugees to overcoming my needle-phobia to Caveman Bill – a guy who’s lived in a cave in the Yukon for over 20 years.

2.

I'm food-obsessed. My kitchen is full of cooking gadgets and I’m constantly on the lookout for new recipes to try. This hunger has spilled into my professional life, with food writing being one of my specialties. For clients like Sobeys, The Food Network Canada, The Italian Trade Commission, GEICO, Saveur Magazine, and CAA Magazine, I’ve written stories on cooking tips, trends, recipes, and hacks; interviewed top chefs like Michael Smith and Chuck Hughes; and written feature articles on unique culinary destinations around the world. True story: I’m related to the chef who invented Irish coffee – a fun story you can read on Roads & Kingdoms. So it runs in my blood!

3.

I used to be a social worker. I spent a few years working in public health office in Northern Ontario, translating mind-boggling scientific evidence into health promotion campaigns that everyone could understand. Surprisingly, my M.S.W. comes in real handy for journalism, as I’m trained to expertly draw out people’s stories.

4.

I’m a life-long learner. I’ve taken a bunch of memoir and creative non-fiction writing classes at the University of Toronto and Ryerson University, which have really honed my ability to tell an enticing story. I’ve completed courses on SEO with Moz and on content marketing with The School of the New York Times. Because even “old millennials” need an update now and again.

5.

I've got a bad case of wanderlust. I've travelled to over 30 countries and written about my adventures. I’ve chased the Northern Lights in Finland’s Arctic, visited the real Hobbiton in New Zealand, and explored the secret, closed-door restaurant scene in Buenos Aires. A few years ago, I took a break from working to backpack through Australia and New Zealand, and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. I also wrote about my adventures: read about my trek in Tasmania and chasing Uluru’s rare waterfalls.

6.

I’m fired up about human rights and environmental issues. I’ve reported on the wild rice wars in Canada for Al Jazeera News, shared a backstage look at how climate change is killing Australia's Great Barrier Reef for Globe & Mail readers (a story that got major shade thrown from the Australian government), and profiled the best zero-waste restaurants in Canada for The Food Network Canada.

about me