Aspiring food journalist joins Times staff

Posted on May 8, 2025 by Taber Times

By Jared Vas
Taber Times

You might know me as Moonpie from the local band Another Simple Solution, or maybe you have seen the video I made for the Taber Food Bank.

Now you get to know me for the Taber Times! My name is Jared Vas and this is my first piece I am writing as a practicum student from Lethbridge Polytechnic.

Although I was born in Lethbridge, I was actually raised in Taber by Wild Bill Lawson and Jackie Vas.

As a kid, I didn’t watch cartoons or the Disney Channel.

Instead, I watched the Food Network.

I always thought I was going to become a chef.

Then I got a job cooking and realized that I love talking about food even more than preparing it.

That’s when I knew I wanted to tell the stories of food.

Besides that, I’ve always had a knack for creation, photography and storytelling.

I hope my experience at the Taber Times allows me to become a dependable part of this community.

Before attending Lethbridge Polytechnic, I graduated here in Taber at W.R. Myers High School.

I remember going into the office, confused about the spares on my schedule, to talk to Principal Johanna Kutanzi.

I quickly made sure that I was learning as much as possible.

They ran out of media and design classes to give me, so I became a teacher’s aide for the multimedia class.

I took some time off after high school because I was still deciding whether I wanted to become a chef.

While I dabbled in photography and design and expressed interest in telling stories, I was pushed by my girlfriend, Sam Moline, who believed in me and helped me get here.

For my practicum, I chose the Taber Times because I wanted to serve the community in which I was raised.

For my short time here, I will be covering a variety of topics from politics, sports, to local businesses to the arts.

I am prepared for the challenges and welcome new experiences.

After my practicum, I hope to be able to become a voice for local food.

I want to inform the public about what’s going on in restaurants, farms, production plants and even local bakers and with the trendsetters shaping how we eat.

Food matters here—not just because we grow the best corn, but because Taber is a part of Canada’s food corridor.

That makes us one of the most important agricultural regions in the country.

From farmers to chefs, to truck drivers to bakers, community gardeners and festivals, Taber doesn’t just produce food—we live it.

When I’m not doing work at the Taber Times, I can be found on stage with a number of bands like Another Simple Solution or Eons of Earth.

This summer is exciting for me as Another Simple Solution is opening for Tom Cochrane at Cornstock ’25 and Eons of Earth is writing a new album.

My girlfriend, Sam and I are excited to have moved back to this small town with our two ferrets.

As much fun as the city is, nothing beats a quiet night under the stars.

I can’t wait to be a part of this community.

I hope to become a dependable resource you can turn to for anything you need to know, whether it’s local events, the best food, local news or even useful tips.

So, if you have any questions, opinions or just want to chat, come find me!