The Narwhal has been named as a finalist for six Canadian Online Publishing Awards, including best publication and best news website.

Launched four months ago, The Narwhal’s team of investigative journalists dives deep to tell stories about Canada’s natural environment. The Narwhal is one of a small handful of non-profit news organizations in Canada and has just three full-time staff.

The Narwhal is a finalist for best publication and best news website, alongside publications such as Maclean’s, the National Observer and HuffPost Canada.

Our small team also earned a nod for best continuing coverage of a news story for Judith Lavoie’s series on the imperilled Wood Buffalo National Park, featuring images by Louis Bockner and videos edited by managing editor Carol Linnitt.

In the best investigative article category, The Narwhal has been named as a finalist for Linnitt’s exposé of the relationship between the coal company TransAlta and the University of Alberta — an investigation that was later replicated by CBC News.

The Narwhal has captured both finalist spots in the best photojournalism category — one for a reader-funded photo essay by Garth Lenz documenting the mining boom along the B.C.-Alaska border and another for a photo essay on Giant Mine by deputy editor Jimmy Thomson and photographer Matt Jacques.

In the best video content category The Narwhal is a finalist for a feature on the Wuikinuxv First Nation’s efforts to harness small-scale hydro to replace diesel fuel produced by Thomson and filmed by videographer Nicholas Castel.

We are so proud of the incredible work of our entire team of reporters, editors and photographers, but the biggest applause goes out to our readers and members who make all of this possible. Thank you for reading, sharing, commenting and contributing financially. You really have made our vision over here at The Narwhal a reality.

More than 300 Canadians are monthly members of The Narwhal. If you support our work, please become a member today.

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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.

DeSmog Canada has been named as a finalist for “Best News Coverage” by the Canadian Online Publishing Awards.

The awards recognize the best of the country’s online publishing and are judged by a panel of experts from Canada and the U.S.

The other finalists in the “Best News Coverage” category are The Globe and Mail, CBC News, Macleans Magazine and The Huffington Post Canada.

DeSmog Canada submitted three stories for consideration for the award.

I Went to the Mount Polley Mine Spill Site by Carol Linnitt is a first-hand photo essay of the aftermath of the Mount Polley tailings pond disaster in August 2014.

Field of Dreams: Peace Valley Farmers, Ranchers Fight to Keep Land Above Water As Site C Dam Decision Looms by Emma Gilchrist profiles those who stand to lose the most from the construction of the most expensive public project in B.C. history: the Site C dam.

Companies Illegally Dumped Toxic Fracking Chemicals in Dawson Creek Water Treatment Systems At Least Twice, Officials Report by Linnitt rounded out the submission. In that article, Linnitt tells the story of companies thwarting fracking waste disposal laws.

At an awards ceremony last week in Toronto, The Globe and Mail took the gold prize for its coverage of the deadly attack on Ottawa last year. Maclean’s Magazine was awarded the silver prize for its coverage of the same event.

For our part at DeSmog Canada, we are beyond thrilled to be recognized alongside such heavy hitters in the news industry. As a small, non-profit news outlet, sometimes we feel like a small fish in a big pond. This recognition goes to show that when people come together and support independent media, big things can happen — thank you!

By the end of the year we need to raise $20,000 to continue our ground-breaking energy and environment reporting. Please donate what you can today.

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.