Meet Our Authors

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Analise Saavedra learned to walk in an airport, which has seemingly predestined her for a lifelong passion for travel. She has since visited nearly 35 countries and is always eager to explore more. Analise is a graduate of Trinity Western University, where she earned a degree in International Studies. She began working with Ottawa Life Magazine in 2022 and has written several travel articles, while also managing the Travel Trek & Tour website and social media platforms. In her free time, Analise enjoys photography, playing soccer, and hiking. She is based in Vancouver, British Columbia.

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Jane Staples

Jane Staples is a sommelier and independent wine and food writer. Her articles and wine reviews have been published in Ottawa Wedding Magazine, 55-Plus Magazine and the Italian Trade Agency Newsletter, among others. She has also been a major contributor for several years at Canada’s largest wine website, NatalieMacLean.com, where she has shared over 2,500 wine reviews and numerous articles.

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Chloë Hayes is in her fourth year, studying toward a Bachelor of Journalism degree at Carleton University in Ottawa, with a concentration in health sciences. She started at Ottawa Life Magazine pre-pandemic as an intern and has returned as a contributing writer.

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Dan Donovan is the founding Publisher of Ottawa Life Magazine, the Canadian capital’s largest and longest-running lifestyle publication. His writing has appeared in The Globe and Mail, Financial Post, Ottawa Citizen, and more. He previously held senior roles in government and public affairs, including at Magna International and ICC Paris. A graduate of the University of Ottawa and Université de Strasbourg, he authored True Grits, New Grits (1993).

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Karen Temple is the Web Editor for Ottawa Life Magazine and an award-winning graphic designer. She curates and edits digital content covering culture, travel, food, and life in the nation’s capital, bringing a sharp editorial eye and strong visual sensibility to the magazine’s online presence.

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Kat Walcott is a writer and social media expert. Her work is featured in a variety of different online and offline publications. Topics she enjoys writing about the most include lifestyle, entertainment, culture, and women’s issues. Kat is also a major foodie and music lover, with a great interest in other cultures. Kat holds a bachelor’s degree with honours in communication studies with a minor in sexuality studies from Carleton University.

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Michael Bussière was a producer who developed programs in digital music at Carleton and Mt. Royal universities. He also directed research into virtual classrooms and digital stages. Post-academia, his sanity was challenged as a ministerial speech writer. Michael’s favourite fictional character is Bugs Bunny. His favourite possession is a Langford prospector canoe, and his preferred pronoun is HRH.

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Hayley Donovan

Haley Donovan is a graduate of the Munk School of Global Affairs and the Asian Institute at the University of Toronto. With career experience spanning Beijing and Canada, she has worked with the Embassy of Malta, the Canada China Business Council, and the North American Ecosystem Institute. Passionate about global travel and cultural exchange, Haley specializes in international research and politics.

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Mckenzie Donovan attended the University of Toronto and Carleton University in Ottawa where he graduated with honours degree in history. He has travelled extensively covering politics and culture. In 2022 he was the recipient of the Kazakhstan Through the Eyes of Foreign Media award.

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Jennifer Hartley is a senior features writer and travel writer. Previously, she was theatre editor for Ottawa Xpress and the original Metro newspaper in Canada’s capital. She has written articles for a variety of magazines across the country and abroad in the United Kingdom on arts, life, and everything in between.

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Bruce Sach has been writing travel editorials for over 30 years. He is a longtime member of both the Society of American Travel Writers and the Travel Media Association of Canada.

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Keith Whittier

Keith Whittier is a passionate film critic who has attended festivals worldwide, including TIFF, Sundance, New York, and Whistler. His love of cinema is matched by his enthusiasm for sports, whether supporting Ottawa’s REDBLACKS and Atlético or following UFC and WWE. Keith regularly shares movie reviews on Ottawa radio stations and through his website, wittywhittier.com.