Like all young boys growing up in Derby, England, Matt Howard and his mates partook in the occasional cricket match and spent countless hours kicking the ball around the soccer pitch. Nothing else mattered. Sporting events like ice hockey and especially rodeo were activities that were seldom viewed and even less considered to ever be part of their lives. Little did the youthful Matt Howard know at the time, however, that these sports would someday help pay the bills and support a young family.
Matt’s journey began in 2006 when he came to Canada to continue his film and television studies in an exchange program at the University of Regina. Matt planned to complete the program, return to England and pursue a career as a cinematographer. What he didn’t plan for was Tiffany, a young woman studying education at the university. Tiffany caught Matt’s eye and she changed his life forever.
I met 31 year old Matt Howard at the Benalto Pro Rodeo where he was working as a camera operator for a Regina based company hired to film the event. He was also one of five Matt’s on the crew; each one was given a nickname for easy identification when communicating by radio. Matt Howard’s nickname was, fittingly, English. I was photographing the rodeo and had my equipment set up next to their production van. As we set up our respective areas, Matt and I began chatting. I found him to be a very personable individual and we openly shared our stories while going about our business. Matt expressed his amassment at the sheer size of Canada, noting that five England’s could fit into Saskatchewan. Matt told me that he did live in Vancouver for a short time and that he was eager to explore more of his new home in time.
After meeting Tiffany, the two dated until she decided to go off on her own adventure, a trip to Australia. Following a brief period of what is frequently fatal for many couples, the long distance relationship, Matt followed her there to add yet another chapter to his own journey, one that he certainly hadn’t planned for when he moved to Canada. Fortunately, everything worked out for the young couple. In 2008 the couple returned to Regina, married and now have a 2 year old boy named Everett. Tiffany is a school teacher in Regina and Matt is a very well respected and sought after freelance videographer shooting ice hockey games, rodeo’s and other events, including soccer games.
One of the members of the film crew told me that whenever they shoot a soccer game, Matt is the go-to guy behind the camera because he knows the game well and can follow the action better than anyone. And of course Matt is following the World Cup, and you know what team he is rooting for.
Best wishes and the hope for much happiness and success go out to Matt and Tiffany as they raise their family and explore this great country.
