A typical question during the job interview for the Queen’s Park press gallery summer intern: Name the premier, party leaders and any members of cabinet. While most applicants might know one or two ministers, Yusra Javed “started rattling off the entire cabinet.”“We had to stop her when she got to about a dozen names,” recalled Allison Jones, a reporter at The Canadian Press and press gallery president.Javed died early Saturday from a rare illness that affects the heart. The well-regarded press gallery intern was 21.“One of the stories she told during the interview that I was most impressed by was that she said while covering last year’s provincial election for Rogers TV Durham, she was at a campaign stop” where Doug Ford hadn’t planned on taking reporters’ questions, Jones said.“Yusra was apparently having none of it,” Jones added. “She said she found his campaign bus ... and waited there, peppering him with questions when he approached and not stopping until he agreed to do an interview with her.”The premier had kind words about Javed, noting she “sure held my feet to the fire a few times.”“It’s absolutely heartbreaking,” Ford said Tuesday. “... I just want to say our prayers and thoughts are with her family and to the press gallery.”A visitation was held Sunday at the Islamic Foundation of Toronto, followed by a memorial service on Wednesday at Ryerson University’s journalism school, attended by more than 100 people including her family. While in hospital, Javed worried aloud that she would not be able to finish her internship or graduate on time with her friends next spring. Ryerson announced Wednesday that she will receive a posthumous degree at convocation.The press gallery will also pay tribute to Javed, hanging her portrait in the gallery lounge at the legislature. The government house leader’s office is planning a mom ...
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