Drew Anderson
Prairies Reporter
Drew Anderson is the Calgary-based Prairies reporter for The Narwhal, covering Alberta and Saskatchewan. He focuses primarily on the intersection of energy, environment and politics, with forays into agriculture, drought, forestry, biodiversity and more. He writes frequently on oil and gas liabilities as well as renewable energy generation and Alberta’s electricity grid.
He has spent his entire journalism career, and most of his life, in Calgary. Before joining The Narwhal in 2021, he worked for the CBC, doing everything from daily news and investigations to features and analysis. Prior to CBC, he edited and published the now-defunct Fast Forward Weekly where he produced some serious work and also got into less serious shenanigans.
Drew’s work at The Narwhal has been nominated for Digital Publishing Awards, a Canadian Association of Journalists Award and in 2025 he won the prestigious Hillman Prize for his work digging into the Alberta government’s motivations behind a moratorium on renewable energy in the province.
Outside of work, Drew reads a lot — especially science fiction. He runs, hikes, swims in the river and occasionally defeats his children in foolishly instigated snowball fights or water gun battles.
Stories by Drew Anderson
‘We need clean water’: logging blockade brewing in Alberta’s Rocky Mountains
In a cherished corner of Alberta’s Kananaskis Country, organizers set up a civil disobedience camp...
What it takes to dig up the dirt in Alberta
Accessing government records in Alberta is tougher than ever. If you want to find how...
‘Direct violation’: Alberta ignored its own rules by transferring wells to delinquent oil company, data suggests
Data shows an oil company owed 10 times the government’s limit on unpaid taxes when...
Breaking down the bills some Alberta oil and gas companies aren’t paying
From lease payments owed to landowners to mounting municipal tax bills and more, we break...
A guide to Carney’s pipeline deal — and the climate policies it weakens
Prime Minister Mark Carney and Premier Danielle Smith have signed an agreement to advance Alberta’s...
Fast track to where? Carney’s major projects list stirs up emotions, and not much else
Alberta is pushing for a pipeline that doesn’t exist to be included on a list...
Alberta let an oil and gas company ‘in survival mode’ take over 170 wells. Now it’s not paying its bills
In an email obtained by The Narwhal, MAGA Energy recommended landowners ask the government for...
‘By the wayside’: rural Albertans are angry at companies not paying their bills
Landowners ring alarm bells about the Alberta government paying them on behalf of delinquent oil...
Sovereignty and oil drive Alberta’s throne speech
Premier Danielle Smith is pushing for pipelines that divide the nation — and Albertans give...