Maya Johnson

Birthplace: Montreal, Quebec

Education: Concordia University, BA (Specialization in Journalism)

Free time: Loves spending quality time with family and friends, reading, listening to a wide range of music, and travelling -- especially to Jamaica, the birthplace of her parents.

Little known fact: Maya can speak basic Italian, after spending a session studying at the Michelangelo Italian language and culture school in Florence, Italy.

Maya is endlessly curious, a keen reader and a lover of the English language -- all thanks to her book-loving mom! She set her sights on becoming a reporter by her second year of high school, and was happy to stay in Montreal and study at Concordia. She made the leap into broadcasting in 2005, after one of her teachers suggested she apply for a summer internship at CTV Montreal (when the station was still called CFCF.) It took just over a month of working behind the scenes as a researcher before Maya was assigned to her first story - making her the youngest reporter in the newsroom. After her internship ended, Maya headed back to school for her final year of studies. She continued working at CTV Montreal as a freelance reporter and has been at it ever since.

While studying at Concordia, Maya received a scholarship from the Montreal branch of the Canadian Women's Press Club. After graduating, Maya was profiled as an up-and-coming journalist in "Watch This Face", a feature in The Gazette. She has also been featured as a Young Achiever in The Chronicle.

Maya loves reporting for television, but she has also been a freelance writer for local newspapers, including Community Contact, a biweekly publication serving Montreal's black community. In addition, Maya volunteers her time hosting community events, giving speeches at special occasions, and speaking to students of all ages about her developing career as a journalist.