New from @alexboyd.bsky.social and me: A 'jaw-dropper' new survey from pollster Cardinal Research last month showed surging support for the Alberta Republican Party. But neither the firm nor the party disclosed they have common DNA: party leader Cam Davies. www.thestar.com/news/investi...

A new poll last month made waves when it showed 11 per cent support for the Republican Party of Alberta and their push to separate. Turns out the pollster and the party shared some DNA. New story from @emmamci.bsky.social and me. www.thestar.com/news/investi...

Callout for Jays fans in BC and Alberta: are you heading down to Seattle for the ALCS? Why or why not? I’m on the weekend shift today and the Star wants to hear from you!! DMs open, or email me at [email protected]!

A new study finds dozens of heat waves would be "virtually impossible" without the activity of major fossil fuel producers, including oil companies.

Israeli air strikes on Nasser Medical Complex have killed 20 Palestinians, including journalists, healthcare workers, rescue personnel and patients. Middle East Eye contributor Mohamed Salama was among the victims.

The latest in the Star’s reporting on Ontario Place: Biz reporter Ana Pereira and I got ahold of financial records that shed light on how Therme passed Ontario’s financial test to secure its lease — and raise questions about the Ford government’s due dilligence. www.thestar.com/news/investi...

This is your reminder that we are actually barely two-thirds through summer. Justice for September as a summer month!!

ICYMI, the Star published two Ontario Place investigations over the weekend The first, from the excellent Ana Pereira and me: The Ford government touted Therme as a ‘world-class’ partner for Ontario Place. In Europe, ‘significant’ concerns have emerged over finances www.thestar.com/news/investi...

The Ford government touted Therme as a ‘world-class’ partner for Ontario Place. In Europe, ‘significant’ concerns have emerged over finances #StarInvestigation

The Ford government touted Therme as a ‘world-class’ partner for Ontario Place. In Europe, ‘significant’ concerns have emerged over finances, records obtained by the Star show. From the front page of today's paper, by Ana Pereira and me: www.thestar.com/news/investi...

Huge climate win from the ICJ that sharply rebuked Canada which argued it was not bound by international law to seriously fight climate change. Going forward “Canada's pursuit of mega fossil fuel expansion projects stands in stark defiance of the ICJ." www.nationalobserver.com/2025/07/23/n...

This is a perfect story thelocal.to/ontario-nigh...

Mushkegowuk Chiefs designate Ring of Fire as ‘protected homeland’ mushkegowuk.ca/2025/07/16/m... #onpoli #cdnpolj

“York University scientist Sheila Colla remembered as a fierce advocate to save wild bees. Colla, 43, died Sunday of cancer. She successfully fought for the rusty-patched bumblebee to become the first bee listed as an endangered species in Canada and the U.S.” www.thestar.com/news/gta/she...

Awful news. Sheila did such incredible work, and was so good at explaining it in ways journalists and the public could understand. Condolences to her family and friends.

NEW: Ontario’s environment minister is feeling the heat after writing to his federal counterpart asking Ottawa to repeal a slew of climate laws, a few months after briefing documents showed his government was set to miss its own emissions targets. #OnPoli globalnews.ca/news/1128222...

New from me and @sheilawang.bsky.social: A mining firm with a history of pollution allegations in the U.S. wants to dig for gold upstream from Grassy Narrows First Nation. The plan risks worsening the effects of old mercury lingering in the rivers, the nation says. www.thestar.com/news/investi...

A New Canadian Group Launches to Defend Palestinian Journalists, by @kristendejager.bsky.social thetyee.ca/News/2025/06...

Following yesterday's story on Ontario's lax environmental regulations for industrial pollution in Sarnia, @emmamci.bsky.social looked at instances in internal documents where Ontario could have cracked down on Chemical Valley emissions, but chose not to: thenarwhal.ca/chemical-val...

This investigation into how Ontario has allowed pollution to persist in Sarnia's Chemical Valley has been a long time coming. Huge kudos to @emmamci.bsky.social on this reporting. It's such an important story. thenarwhal.ca/sarnia-ontar...

My final investigation for The Narwhal:

The truth that nobody is ready to hear is that the average Alberta indie band is way better and more original than the average Toronto band… I’m so sorry but someone has to say it

So proud to have supported early drafts of this beautiful, thoughtful article by @emmamci.bsky.social in @thenarwhal.ca through our 2025 Wilderness Writing Residency. thenarwhal.ca/ontario-blac...

Beautiful writing and stellar reporting on those pesky black bears Ontarians apparently complain about a lot, by @emmamci.bsky.social thenarwhal.ca/ontario-blac...

A few years ago, a black bear tried to break into a cabin as I slept inside. The incident changed my relationship with bears forever. This is my attempt to reckon with my role in what happened -- and the many ways Ontario is failing our ursine neighbours. thenarwhal.ca/ontario-blac...

When I left Calgary I was excited to stop having my summers ruined by wildfire smoke so much. Joke's on me I guess!

Ontario Line construction has unleashed a rat problem for some residents living nearby. Metrolinx has promised to pay for exterminators — but many say they’ve been left with the bill. From @andytakagi.bsky.social and me: www.thestar.com/news/investi...

Finally picked up my copy of @gabrielledrolet.bsky.social’s book and you should too!!

The report shows this was a government-wide, systemic refusal to process FOIP requests. It's a damning indictment of the UCP's extreme culture of secrecy. And the UCP is further reducing FOIP access, which is yet another red flag re: growing authoritarianism. oipc.ab.ca/information-...

Oh my goodness!! I loved working on this pod with the original team behind the Big Story and it is so lovely to see their efforts recognized. Congratulations to the other nominees!

Congratulations to Bert Bruser, ‘The man behind the curtain,’ who pioneered media law. Félicitations à Bert Bruser, « l'homme derrière le rideau », pionnier du droit des médias. Learn more: buff.ly/qgrV5jx #PressFreedom

Incredible, nuanced story from @royinori.bsky.social. Absolutely vital election reading.

All journalists: harbour opinions. Not all journalists: register as a third party advertisers in an election they’re also covering. See? Different.

Ontario Greenbelt’s controversial ‘Mr. X’ is banned from lobbying for two years. Story from The Star's @robertbenzie.bsky.social and @krushowy.bsky.social with a small assist from me: www.thestar.com/politics/pro...

Ahead of this evening's critical — and chaotic — Canadian election leaders' debate, the debate commission has given right-wing conspiracy news outlet Rebel News *five times* as many spots for its (fake) journalists as actual news outlets. www.thestar.com/politics/fed...

The NY Times has published an investigation into the Therme development at Ontario Place. It found that while the company told the province it had a proven track record of operating six spas around the world, at the time it had only ever operated one. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/16/w...

Today is my first day with @thestar.com’s investigations team. It’s a real dream job in a million ways. Grateful to be here and excited to get started! My new inbox is open for tips: [email protected]

My final newsletter for the Narwhal 💚😭 and with that, -30-

In Toronto, it would take you 157 years of skipping out on a daily latte to save enough for a down payment: globalnews.ca/news/1111977...

One of my last stories for The Narwhal, a look at a mess created by the Crown in 1849 that’s still dividing First Nations in northern Ontario today:

The process of establishing the Robinson-Huron and Robinson-Superior treaties in northern Ontario created a mess of jurisdiction and rights for First Nations that’s now playing out in court. via @emmamci.bsky.social thenarwhal.ca/netmizaaggam...

Canada updated its travel advisory for the US, telling travellers to "expect scrutiny at ports of entry, including of electronic devices," adding, "If you are denied entry, you could be detained while awaiting deportation.": travel.gc.ca/destinations...

This is truly surreal! Congrats to the other nominees — these are such revelatory, amazing stories and I’m baffled but honoured to see one I wrote among them. All the kudos in the world to editor extraordinaire @elaineanselmi.bsky.social as well 🥳

Hello, I have some personal news: next week will be my last with The Narwhal. It has been a wonderful, whirlwind 3.5 years — wild and fulfilling in ways I never could have imagined. So many feelings that can't fit in a post on social media! I'm so thankful for my time here.

Today the IJF published thousands of pages of records from Canada's residential schools, making them available to the public for the first time. Read @bethanylindsay.bsky.social's story about this database and how it corroborates what survivors always knew theijf.org/residential-...

They are just disappearing people off the street. Having a hard time thinking about literally anything else.

!!!!

Not content with literally winning a Hillman Award this week, @drewanderson.bsky.social is back with another banger of story. Amazing reporting on its own, even wilder if the name Robyn Lore means anything to you! thenarwhal.ca/alberta-oilp...

🥲🦌🌊

I won a Hillman Prize (!!!) for digging into Alberta's renewable energy moratorium. #ableg. www.hillmanfoundation.org/canadian-hil...