The Narwhal has been recognized with nine Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) award nominations for work including on-the-ground coverage of the Wet’suwet’en crisis, reporting on the plight of fisheries observers and a series on nature-based climate solutions.

The nine nods announced on Monday place The Narwhal right at the front of the pack, behind only the CBC in number of CAJ selections — a feat that comes less than three years since our publication was founded.

“At The Narwhal, we often talk about how our non-profit online magazine can play a role in redefining the journalism landscape,” co-founder and managing editor Carol Linnitt said. “It’s amazing to see how our small team with limited resources can have such a big impact in our industry.”

“What’s even more rewarding is the fact that our readers, who are our single biggest source of revenue, actually helped make this possible,” Linnitt added. “We’re restoring those connections between journalists and the public they serve and producing award-worthy journalism at the same time. What a miracle.”

Those connections between journalists and the public sparked the publication of an investigation examining workplace abuse of fisheries observers in B.C.’s coastal waters, a piece that was named a CAJ finalist for labour reporting. Jimmy Thomson’s story, which included interviews with 11 current or former at-sea observers, was inspired by a tip from a member about a festering issue hiding the true impacts of the province’s trawl fishery.

Fisheries observers are responsible for monitoring bycatch on industrial trawlers off the B.C. coast. Many of these individuals feel not enough is being done to protect them from intimidation and harassment while at sea. “It’s a very dangerous thing for observers to be out there,” one whistleblower told The Narwhal. “You’re out there alone, often without cell service or contact.” Photo: Taylor Roades / The Narwhal

Thomson was also nominated in the daily excellence category for his profile of Ghanimat Azhdari, a beloved Iranian scientist studying at the University of Guelph who spent her life fighting for Indigenous voices in conservation. Azhdari was among the 176 victims of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, which was shot down shortly after takeoff.

The Narwhal’s Steph Kwetásel’wet Wood was named a finalist for the emerging Indigenous journalist award, a recognition of exemplary journalism produced by a First Nations, Inuit or Métis journalist who is at the beginning of their career. Since joining The Narwhal in early 2020, Wood has reported on issues including the Sinixt peoples’ fight to have their rights recognized by the federal government, the impacts of logging and climate change on B.C. fish populations as well as an ecosystem that could prove to be a secret weapon against sea level rise.

Northwest B.C. reporter Matt Simmons was nominated for the APTN/CAJ reconciliation award, which recognizes reporting by a non-Indigenous journalist that has broadened the understanding of the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. A profile of the life and legacy of Xenaksiala Elder Wa’xaid Cecil Paul and a piece on Canada’s first Indigenous coast guard program were among the works in Simmons’ nominated portfolio.

Sarah Cox’s investigation into problems with B.C.’s Site C dam, based on 2,247 pages of documents acquired via a freedom of information request, was nominated in the scoop category. The nod came on the same day Cox was honoured as a co-winner of the 2021 Press Freedom Award for her relentless reporting on the provincial government’s mishandling of the hydro project. Cox’s coverage of Site C has also been nominated for the Canadian Journalism Foundation’s Jackman Award.

Cox was also nominated by the CAJ for environmental and climate change reporting for her feature on B.C.’s looming extinction crisis. The story looked at the dire situation facing the fisher and more than 2,000 other species at risk of extinction as the province fails to follow through on a commitment to enact a standalone endangered species law.

The Narwhal’s Carbon Cache series on nature-based climate solutions earned a nomination in the online media category. The ongoing series has looked into everything from the Cree Nation’s fight to save the Broadback Forest to the fate of the carbon-rich peatlands in the development hotspot that is Ontario’s Ring of Fire.

The Narwhal’s emphasis on visual storytelling was recognized with two nominations in the photojournalism category. Aaron Vincent Elkaim’s photo essay earned a nod for its exploration of the legacy of Manitoba Hydro and the impacts of its projects on the lives and livelihoods of Indigenous communities. Amber Bracken was also nominated for her photo essay of the Wet’suwet’en matriarchs who were arrested by RCMP officers enforcing the Coastal GasLink pipeline injunction in January 2020. Bracken was previously recognized by the CAJ as one of three journalists covering the Wet’suwet’en crisis to receive the Charles Bury President’s Award, which honours those who have made outstanding contributions to journalism in Canada.

The Narwhal’s reporters are telling environment stories you won’t read about anywhere else. Stay in the loop by signing up for our free weekly dose of independent journalism.

The Canadian Association of Journalists has recognized photographer Amber Bracken for her exceptional coverage of the Wet’suwet’en crisis in The Narwhal, praising her “moral courage” in defending the public’s right to know.

Bracken, Jerome Turner and Jesse Winter — all of whom reported on RCMP raids in Wet’suwet’en territory — were awarded the Charles Bury President’s Award for their outstanding contributions to journalism in Canada.

The three journalists were on the ground in northwest B.C. in February when the RCMP threatened to arrest reporters and implemented an exclusion zone to prohibit media from monitoring police activity. 

The police force subsequently reversed course amid widespread criticism from the Canadian Association of Journalists, Amnesty International and news organizations including The Narwhal.

Canadian Association of Journalists president Karyn Pugliese praised Bracken, Turner and Winter for their “moral courage” to report in the face of those threats, adding: “Nothing is more critical to a free and just society than the right to know.”

Photographer Amber Bracken.

In her acceptance speech, Bracken acknowledged the concerted efforts to defend press freedom.

“It would have been a much scarier place to be without the support that was shown by CAJ and without the resolute support of Emma and Carol at The Narwhal, and all of my other colleagues there who were working tirelessly behind the scenes to write and contextualize what I was seeing on the front line,” Bracken said.

“There is no minor infraction on the right to report and we really do need to stick together and we really need to have each other’s backs,” she said. “Considering the times we’re living through, it’s more important than ever that we be really tenacious about defending our right to report.”

What an incredible honour and wonderful company to be in—thank you. I can’t say enough about, @thenarwhalca @carollinnitt and @reporteremma who’s support bolstered my courage and who never once made me feel I was on my own. As a freelancer, that is a really big deal. https://t.co/V54F9Z9OQx

— Amber Bracken (@photobracken) May 31, 2020

“The crisis on Wet’suwe’ten territory goes to the heart of The Narwhal’s reporting on Indigenous rights and the management of natural resources, especially in places that are remote and often out of sight for the vast majority of Canadians,” said Carol Linnitt, The Narwhal’s managing editor.

“Amber’s bravery and commitment to tell the story through her photography — even in the face of intimidation — played an invaluable role in keeping the public informed about this critical issue.”

Bracken spent one month in Wet’suwet’en territory while on assignment for The Narwhal, producing in-depth reporting and photography on the RCMP raids as well as the cultural impacts of the Coastal GasLink pipeline on Wet’suwet’en territory. 

The Wet’suwet’en standoff in opposition to the pipeline sparked international media coverage along with protests and blockades across Canada. Amid the backlash, the federal and B.C. governments agreed to sit down with Wet’suwet’en hereditary leaders to discuss rights and title. An agreement between the three parties was reached last month.

This year’s Canadian Association of Journalists Awards were held virtually after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the gala in Montreal. 

Beyond Bracken’s work, The Narwhal received nominations for its investigation into Alberta’s oil and gas regulator as well as a photo essay documenting a Canadian mining company’s impact on a small Mexican town.

The Narwhal’s reporters are telling environment stories you won’t read about anywhere else. Stay in the loop by signing up for our free weekly dose of independent journalism.

When people ask me why I decided to go to journalism school, I always tell them I was inspired by The Narwhal. 

I’ve been following the online magazine since it launched two years ago, and I’ve witnessed how well-told stories have the power to break open political silos and hold power to account. It’s a critical time for our planet, and we need this kind of journalism now more than ever. 

That’s why I’m over-the-moon-excited to be The Narwhal’s first-ever intern. 

As a journalism student, I often hear that I’m entering into a dying industry. 

The Narwhal offers a powerful example to the contrary. 

In a decade of unprecedented layoffs across Canada’s media industry, The Narwhal is bucking the trend. It’s hiring more journalists to write groundbreaking investigative stories and signing up more monthly members to support that invaluable work.

Even in the midst of the global pandemic, The Narwhal had the most successful membership drive in its history. In fact, more than 450 people have become monthly members since the COVID-19 crisis hit. 

Those numbers tell us part of the story, but we learn even more when members explain why they’ve decided to support right now. 

“In these very difficult times, with potentially looking at a whole year without income, it’s not an easy decision,” writes Michael, a new monthly member. “But what you do is that important. Thank you and keep going. You are on the right path.”

For The Narwhal’s second birthday, I got the chance to ask founders Carol Linnitt and Emma Gilchrist to reflect on their first two years and weigh in on what’s next. 

Why did you start The Narwhal?

Emma: We started The Narwhal because there’s been a huge erosion of environment reporting in Canada over the last decade or two. I was working at the Calgary Herald about a decade ago and at that time there was an environment reporter at almost every newspaper in Canada. If you fast-forward to today, almost none of those environment reporters are left. We saw this huge void at a time when biodiversity loss and the climate crisis were top concerns for Canadians. 

Carol: We were in this unique position as journalists to reflect on how many fascinating and sometimes harrowing stories about the environment were going untold. We started to dream up a publication that would not only fill that gap, but would actually reimagine the way that environmental journalism was done. We wanted the publication to have a pulse. We wanted our stories to have this verve and a sense of urgency, even a sense of excitement, to them — and to bring those environmental stories to the world. 

How did you come up with the name?

Emma: I was looking for a Father’s Day present for my dad at one of those kooky gift stores, and they had this Canadiana apron with Mounties, trees, moose and a narwhal. I saw it and I was like, “The Narwhal!”

Carol: Emma just texted me “The Narwhal,” and I was like, ooh!

Emma: So I went home and bought the domain. And I also bought the apron for my dad — he still has it.

The famous apron that inspired our name. Narwhal Editor-in-Chief Emma Gilchrist gifted this beauty to her dad, Peter Gilchrist, on Father’s Day 2017. Can you spot the narwhals? Photo: Carol Linnitt / The Narwhal

The Narwhal began during a decade when record numbers of publications across Canada were going out of business. Why do you think The Narwhal has succeeded against the odds?

Emma: It comes down to our relationship with our readers. Sometimes they send us story ideas and sources. And they’ve also become financial supporters of the organization by becoming monthly members and donors. It’s that direct relationship with our readership that is unique and that has made us succeed during otherwise difficult times. 

We don’t run any advertising, and it’s really the ad business that’s been falling away for media. We very consciously chose to be a nonprofit, and that fosters a very direct relationship with our readers because they’re the only people we serve.

What role do you think The Narwhal plays in Canada’s media landscape?

Emma: I’m proudest of our work to bring readers into the heart of the process and give them a meaningful way to take part in democracy — because journalism is such an essential part of an informed democracy. We also bring a different tone and voice as an organization that’s run by young women. We’re not trying to be a traditional news outlet that covers the environment. We’re trying to bring a little more voice to it and be more engaging. 

Carol:  Sometimes I describe The Narwhal as telling ugly stories beautifully. The subject matter we cover is difficult. It can be exhausting. We recognize that there is a well-researched problem of people tuning out to what’s happening with the natural world because it’s so overwhelming. And it’s very difficult for people to know where their power is, where their voice is and how they can help in meaningful ways. 

We want to reinvigorate people’s relationship with the natural world, but also wanted to re-enchant what journalism could be. Sometimes it’s about oil and gas companies not paying money into the orphan well levy, which can be kind of dry and policy-heavy. But we’re also sending journalists and photographers into the field to tromp into forgotten rainforests and look at enormous cedars and tell the other, beautiful side of the story of destruction. Our emphasis on visual storytelling is on full display in the fact that we had four of six nominations in the photo essay category of this year’s Digital Publishing Awards. 

What has been your most rewarding moment at The Narwhal?

Emma: I think the most rewarding moment has been during the COVID-19 crisis, when we have had the most support from our readers ever. One of my favourite parts of my job is reading the donor comments. I love reading why they decide to become monthly members. These comments are a constant reminder to do right by these people. We’re built on the small donations of thousands of people. 

Carol: For me, it was receiving the gold in the photo essay category at the Canadian Online Publishing Awards and getting to get up on stage to say, “This is the accomplishment of our readers.” After telling our audience that we needed to raise $10,000 to get photos of a new, remote generation of mines in B.C., they stepped up to the plate and fully funded that award-winning piece of content.

What has surprised you most during these first two years?

Carol: The speed of our growth. We hoped that we had landed on a good concept and that we were successfully putting ducks in rows, but I don’t think we had a true sense of just how quickly The Narwhal would flourish. It has genuinely surprised and delighted me.

Emma: We’ve gone from two staff when we launched to 10. The growth has been exponential at a time when a lot of media outlets are struggling. I would have never in a million years believed that we would get 450 new members in six weeks during the greatest economic crash since the Great Depression! 

Carol: Another thing that still surprises me after all these years of being a journalist is what it takes behind the scenes to make a really stellar piece of journalism come to life. We just published an investigation into the harassment of fisheries observers that was so much work — from finding the sources, to talking to the sources, to convincing sources to go on the record, to the rounds of legal review. It’s a monumental effort, and it’s very time consuming and expensive. 

Where do you see The Narwhal headed in the coming years?

Emma: I see our membership program becoming more and more crucial to our success and us being able to expand into more geographic places because of reader support.

Carol: I see us developing more capacity to do more of the in-depth work that we’re becoming known for. We recognize that people don’t want more — they want better. One of the ways I see us growing is by becoming better at what we do and not just getting bigger. 

We’re in the midst of a strange time with COVID-19. What’s keeping you going?

Emma: For me, it’s about getting outside. It helps me keep going and reminds me why we do what we do. Last week, I was out surfing and I had a grey whale in the surf line-up with me — that’s going to keep me going until October! That and the tremendous reader support.

Carol: One of the things that keeps me going is thinking about all the places we can’t go right now. We had to cancel a bunch of reporting trips, and a lot of work that we do is on the ground. I’ve been reflecting on the incredible places that our work has taken us — to Yukon, northern B.C., the coast, northern Alberta. If anything this time of slowing down and focusing has reignited my excitement for getting back out there and exploring these wild places, these endangered places, to meet the beautiful people who live there and tell their stories.

What’s your favourite Narwhal fact? 

Emma: It’s so hard to choose just one! They’re one of the deepest diving mammals and their tusk is actually an overgrown tooth that functions like a very sensitive antenna.

Carol: A group of narwhals is called a blessing, which is, you know, adorable and seems to ring true every day for us around here.

The Narwhal’s reporters are telling environment stories you won’t read about anywhere else. Stay in the loop by signing up for our free weekly dose of independent journalism.

The Narwhal has been named a finalist for two Canadian Association of Journalists awards, a recognition of its investigation into the Alberta Energy Regulator as well as a photo essay on  the aftermath of a Canadian mining company’s operations in Mexico.

These are the fourth and fifth Canadian Association of Journalists nominations for The Narwhal, less than two years after its founding as an ad-free, non-profit publication with a mission to bring reporting on the natural world to Canadians.

Reporter Sharon J. Riley has been nominated for the online media award for her investigation into Alberta’s approvals process for oil and gas wells, which revealed plans by Premier Jason Kenney’s government to rubber-stamp applications via an automated system in as little as 15 minutes. 

15-minute approvals: Alberta plans to automate licences for new oil and gas drilling

This is Riley’s second Canadian Association of Journalists nomination for her work with The Narwhal. Her feature, Life after coal, was a finalist in the labour reporting category last year. The story cast a spotlight on coal miners in Wabamun, Alta., as they grappled with the imminent reality of being out of work.

Other online media finalists include BuzzFeed News, Halifax Examiner, CBC News and Radio Canada International.

In the photojournalism category, Amanda Annand has earned a nod for capturing how the life and death of a Canadian mine in the Mexican town of Cerro de San Pedro has impacted the community.

The pit of San Pedro: the life and death of a Canadian mine in Mexico

Annand is nominated alongside photographers Jesse Winter, Darryl Dyck and Valerian Mazataud.

This year’s winners are due to be announced online on May 30. That’s the same day the organization had planned to hold its awards gala in Montreal, before cancelling the event due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Narwhal is looking to repeat its 2019 win in the photojournalism category, for Aaron Vincent Elkaim’s work capturing the Fort McKay First Nation’s fight to protect a sacred site from rampant industrial development.

The Narwhal’s single largest source of funding is its readers, with more than 1,200 monthly members making it possible to produce in-depth and investigative journalism you can’t find anywhere else. 

In addition to its Canadian Association of Journalists nods, The Narwhal also won four Canadian Online Publishing Awards in 2018 and received multiple nominations for the Digital Publishing Awards and National Magazine Awards in 2019.

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The Narwhal’s reporters are telling environment stories you won’t read about anywhere else. Stay in the loop by signing up for our free weekly dose of independent journalism.

The Narwhal has earned three nods from The Canadian Association of Journalists for its in-depth reporting and photojournalism.

Launched less than a year ago, The Narwhal’s team of investigative journalists dives deep to tell stories about Canada’s natural environment. The Narwhal is ad-free, not-for-profit and has just four full-time employees. More than 1,200 people donated to support The Narwhal’s journalism in the past year.

The Narwhal’s Alberta reporter, Sharon J. Riley — hired thanks to the support of our monthly members – was named as a finalist in the labour reporting category for her feature, Life after coal, showcasing coal miners in Wabamun, Alta., as they grapple with the imminent reality of being out of work.

“It is such a privilege to have the opportunity to interview Albertans from all walks of life,” Riley said. “The day I spent with coal miners last fall will always stick with me. I’m incredibly honoured that they shared their stories with me and that the Canadian Association of Journalists has chosen to recognize this work.”

Riley travelled to Wabamun with Edmonton-based freelance photographer Amber Bracken and spent an hour or more in one-on-one conversations with each coal miner at their union hall, where she heard a wide variety of opinions on the government’s transition programs, as well as on the reasons for the coal power phase-out itself. The story seeks to convey the complexity of the perspectives of resource workers in the fossil fuel industry.

Other finalists in the labour category include CBC News, CBC Radio, Briarpatch and HuffPost Canada.

The Narwhal’s Alberta reporter, Sharon J. Riley, interviewing a farmer about oil and gas wells near his property. Photo: Theresa Tayler / The Narwhal

The Narwhal also earned two nods in the photojournalism category.

Pat Kane’s photo essay on Indigenous-led conservation in the Northwest Territories showcases how Indigenous people are reconnecting with their ancestral homelands. Kane is based in Yellowknife and covers people, life and culture in Canada’s North.

His photo essay shone a spotlight on Indigenous Guardians programs, which are increasingly being recognized as an important conservation tool that can also help advance reconciliation.

“Programs like these help Indigenous communities become stewards of their ancestral lands, as land/water monitors, park rangers and environmental advisors in addition to building capacity for community-led initiatives,” Kane wrote in his photo essay.

“People are getting back to the land as a way to create jobs, bridge the gap between elders and youth and cope with intergenerational trauma wrought by residential schools and other manifestations of colonialism.”

Kane’s work has been featured in Canadian Geographic, The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, CBC and more. He is a member of the Timiskaming First Nation in Ontario/Quebec.

Aaron Vincent Elkaim was also named a finalist in the photojournalism category for his photo essay on the Fort McKay First Nation’s fight to protect Moose Lake from rampant industrial development.

“Surrounded on three sides by oilsands operations, the Fort McKay First Nation has benefited tremendously from industrial development — while also experiencing firsthand its environmental consequences,” Elkaim wrote.

“While the nation has historically supported nearby operations, when Prosper Petroleum proposed a 10,000 barrel per day oilsands project near Moose Lake, an area of sacred cultural value for the people of Fort McKay, the community reached a tipping point.”

Elkaim’s work has been published in The New Yorker, The New York Times, National Geographic, TIME, Telegraph Magazine, The Canadian Press and The Globe and Mail.

Other finalists in the photojournalism category include Jonathan Hayward of The Canadian Press and Larry Wong of the Postmedia Network.

As a non-profit magazine, our goal at The Narwhal isn’t to sell advertising or to please corporate bigwigs — it’s to produce award-winning journalism for all Canadians.

In November, The Narwhal won four Canadian Online Publishing Awards, including silvers for best news website and best publication and gold and silver for best photojournalism.

The Narwhal’s 583 monthly members are the lifeblood of our newsroom, providing reliable support for our factual, honest reporting. Not a member yet? Please consider becoming a monthly member of The Narwhal today. Every dollar we receive from readers like you goes straight to funding independent journalism.

The Narwhal’s reporters are telling environment stories you won’t read about anywhere else. Stay in the loop by signing up for our free weekly dose of independent journalism.