Times Colonist columnist Jody Patterson, who comments on issues both local and provincial, is voluntarily leaving Victoria's daily newspaper to become executive director of the Prostitutes Empowerment Education and Resource Society. Ms. Patterson started working as a reporter for the Colonist in 1989. She became the city editor in 1993, assistant managing editor in 1995 and managing editor in 1996. That was followed by a stint as the newspaper's editorial page editor in 1997, before she became a full-time columnist the following year. No word yet on the reason for her departure, which becomes official at the end of the month.