Flying a drone to capture logging in Canada’s forgotten rainforest. Shining a spotlight on a First Nation fighting to protect its territory. Talking to fisheries whistleblowers and digging through documents.
These may be three different stories, but each of them represents the core of our journalism at The Narwhal: in-depth, compassionate and visually compelling. And they all made waves this week.
Two of those pieces have been honoured with silver medals by the Digital Publishing Awards.
Judith Lavoie’s on-the-ground feature detailing the Tsilhqot’in Nation’s 12-year battle against a proposed Taseko Mines project was recognized for excellence in feature writing, a selection that came just weeks after a Supreme Court of Canada ruling that killed the New Prosperity mine.
A feature on deforestation in Canada’s rare inland temperate rainforest took home a silver in the photo storytelling category, thanks to the stunning visuals captured by Taylor Roades — and a reader tip that sparked the story idea.
For Roades, it was her first assignment using a drone, a method that she says gave her the “perspective to see the effects of logging on such a large scale.”
Of course, awards are just icing on the cake. Ultimately, our work is about staying true to that time-honoured journalistic mantra to afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted.
Case in point: our investigation into B.C.’s trawl fishery, which revealed at-sea observers were facing threats and harassment while trying to do their jobs out at sea, a revelation that not only raised workplace safety issues but also called into question the sustainability of bottom trawling.
Now, weeks after Jimmy Thomson’s investigation was published, a skipper accused of abuse by several observers has resigned from his position as a director of a fisheries society — a role he had held for more than 20 years.
We want to be able to tell even more of these ambitious stories. But producing them takes time, effort and resources to get right. If you’re able, please consider supporting our investigative, non-profit journalism by becoming a monthly member of The Narwhal.
Thanks, as always, for reading.
We hope you are staying healthy and safe.
Arik Ligeti
Audience Engagement Editor
By Jimmy Thomson
By Sharon J. Riley
By Julien Gignac
By Ben Parfitt
By Raina Delisle
Note from a Narwhal
We’re in love with this note from Ana, who messaged us on Instagram to wish us a happy two-year anniversary.
“It’s immensely admirable that you have created this award-winning news platform in such a short amount of time. The writing is crisp, compelling and completely trustworthy with stunning photography on top. I appreciate how The Narwhal focuses on the social dimensions of conservation and how loss of the environment affects those that live and work in wild places. I hope your platform continues to thrive and tell Canadian stories that need to be heard. Best wishes for the future!”
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