Rebecca Bollwitt, Miss604
It’s not a big leap to say that Rebecca Bollwitt loves Vancouver. Since 2004, she’s been sharing news and events and interesting tidbits about the city and surrounding communities on her award-winning Miss604 blog. The 604, of course, stands for the ubiquitous Vancouver area code, tying her online presence to her hometown.
“I've always had a passion for online publishing,” Rebecca explains. “I started my first website when I was in high school in 1997 and learned how to write HTML, and when blogs came along that was kind of an easier publishing platform. It just kind of evolved, my love for online publishing and for web development, and now I've made a career out of it.”
Born and raised in Surrey but these days living in downtown Vancouver, Rebecca started watching Knowledge Network when she was a kid. She’s still a fan, finding it especially valuable during the pandemic when she could tune into the Knowledge app on her TV and explore the world beyond her four walls. “I love the unique programming, especially the BC content, and learning stories from all around the province – of a radio station in Bella Coola or a civic election in Nelson. Those are my favourites,” she says. “Public television is so important because it tells our stories, it's accessible and it’s free.”
That’s the reason why Rebecca decided to go from being a Knowledge viewer to a Knowledge Partner. “I was getting this great programming for free but I wanted to give back. I want to ensure that the programming can continue and we can fund more filmmakers and producers and all these wonderful programs.”
