Eight pieces of outstanding journalism published in The Narwhal in 2022 were nominated for awards by the Canadian Association of Journalists on Friday. 

“We are so honoured to see that non-profit journalism continues to punch above its weight,” said managing editor Mike De Souza. “Aside from CBC, The Narwhal has picked up more nominations than any other news outlet in Canada.”

The Narwhal’s journalism was made possible by donations from more than 6,000 readers in 2022. Here’s a rundown of our team’s nominations. 

Data journalism

An in-depth piece analyzing how the federal government is less likely to protect at-risk fish if people like to eat them by freelancer Jenn Thornhill Verma picked up the nod in the data journalism category. 

Online media

The Narwhal’s climate investigations reporter Carl Meyer picked up a nomination for his investigation that drew on leaked emails and memos from the Alberta Energy Regulator to show how oil lobbyists weakened methane rules. 

Photojournalism

Aaron Vincent Elkaim was nominated for compelling photojournalism for The Narwhal and the Winnipeg Free Press about how devastating flooding was affecting residents of Peguis First Nation.

Carlos Osorio, a frequent freelancer for The Narwhal, was also nominated for a portfolio of his work. 

Daily excellence

Fatima Syed and Emma McIntosh were shortlisted for their authoritative coverage of environmental reforms introduced by the Ontario government as part of its housing plan.

CAJ/JHR award for human rights reporting

A heartbreaking feature by Ian Willms about life and death in Fort Chipewyan, downstream from the oilsands also earned a nod from judges as a finalist.

CWA Canada/CAJ Labour reporting

Stephanie Wood’s in-depth investigation into allegations of workplace misconduct at a B.C. environmental organization was among the finalists for labour reporting.

APTN/CAJ Reconciliation Award

Matt Simmons extensive Wet’suwet’en coverage earned him a nomination for the reconciliation award. 

Francesca Fionda, The Narwhal’s mining reporting, was also nominated in this category for in-depth reporting for The Tyee about the Sisters of St. Ann’s role in Indigenous cultural erasure through schools.

Environmental and climate change reporting

Jolene Banning’s feature about how ice loss was changing an Anishinaabe fisherman’s relationship with Lake Superior was named a finalist in this category. Additionally, Toronto-based non-profit publication The Local earned a nod in this category for a story by Inori Roy on heat wave inequality published as part of a collaborative series with The Narwhal.

The awards will be presented at a gala in Vancouver on April 15.

Updated Feb. 24, 2023, at 2:10 p.m. PT to include Inori Roy’s nomination for The Local.

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