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We’ve pulled off the improbable — and we need your support to keep growing

What was just a dream a little over two years ago is now the vanguard of non-profit media in Canada. But in order to keep digging into stories that would otherwise go untold, we need to grow our membership pod

You know that feeling when you’re too close to something to really appreciate it? It’s like trying to view a piece of art that’s one inch away from your nose. 

Well, that’s a bit what being at the helm of The Narwhal these past two years has been like. We started out as two young women with a dream to fill a void in the Canadian media landscape by offering in-depth and investigative journalism about Canada’s natural world. 

We hoped (and prayed) that Canadians would step up to support us. 

But what happened next exceeded our wildest imaginations. 

More than 1,600 readers stepped up to support us by becoming monthly members

Hundreds of thousands of readers now rely on our reporting each month. 

And at a time when most news organizations have been laying off reporters, we’ve hired eight journalists in a little over a year

Now this dizzying growth has caught the attention of the Ryerson Review of Journalism — the country’s go-to publication for news about the media industry — which just published a glowing feature about us (*blushing*). 

Not only are we filling a void in environment coverage, the article notes, but we’re telling stories differently — by centring Indigenous voices, by building community and by doing it all as an independent, non-profit outlet supported by 1,600 members. 

If you believe news organizations should report to their readers, not advertisers or shareholders, please become a monthly member of The Narwhal today.

“I think [The Narwhal] really fills a need that a lot of mainstream outlets wouldn’t have the capacity or the expertise for,” author and journalist Chris Turner told the Ryerson Review.

Ryerson Review of Journalism Narwhal article

The Ryerson Review of Journalism’s feature on The Narwhal included the voices of several experts who praised our publication for filling a void in media coverage.

“They can do deep dives into things that we can’t or don’t,” says columnist Jack Knox of the Victoria Times Colonist, which has republished our stories.

“I think mainstream journalism often underestimates its readers or listeners or viewers,” notes retired Mount Royal University journalism chair Ron MacDonald. “One of the great things about The Narwhal is that it does not do that. It regards its readers as intelligent, concerned, committed, engaged people and it writes to them.”

What was just a dream a little over two years ago is now the vanguard of non-profit media in Canada. But here’s the thing: we need to sign up 100 new members of The Narwhal by Sept. 30 to keep producing hard-hitting journalism. Can you become a member today for any amount you can afford?

With your support, we’ll be able to investigate Canada’s plans for a green recovery, how B.C.’s LNG ambitions line up with its climate promises and what the oil price crash means for Alberta.

We know there’s a pandemic going on and some of you may not be in a position to give right now, but if you’re able to, please consider chipping in whatever monthly amount you can afford by becoming a member todayEvery bit counts

With gratitude,

Emma Gilchrist
Editor-in-Chief

P.S. I know that these days the world’s problems can feel a *touch* overwhelming. It’s easy to feel like what we do doesn’t make any difference, but becoming a member of The Narwhal is one small way you truly can make a difference. Together, our 1,600 members contribute $260,000 a year, which means we can report hundreds of stories that would go untold otherwise. Please help us sign up 100 members by Sept. 30 by becoming a member today.  

Another year of keeping a close watch
Here at The Narwhal, we don’t use profit, awards or pageviews to measure success. The thing that matters most is real-world impact — evidence that our reporting influenced citizens to hold power to account and pushed policymakers to do better.

And in 2024, our stories were raised in parliaments across the country and cited by citizens in their petitions and letters to politicians.

In Alberta, our reporting revealed Premier Danielle Smith made false statements about the controversial renewables pause. In Manitoba, we proved that officials failed to formally inspect a leaky pipeline for years. And our investigations on a leaked recording of TC Energy executives were called “the most important Canadian political story of the year.”

As the year draws to a close, we’d like to thank you for paying attention. And if you’re able to donate anything at all to help us keep doing this work in 2025 — which will bring a whole lot we can’t predict — thank you so very much.

Will you help us hold the powerful accountable in the year to come by giving what you can today?
Another year of keeping a close watch
Here at The Narwhal, we don’t use profit, awards or pageviews to measure success. The thing that matters most is real-world impact — evidence that our reporting influenced citizens to hold power to account and pushed policymakers to do better.

And in 2024, our stories were raised in parliaments across the country and cited by citizens in their petitions and letters to politicians.

In Alberta, our reporting revealed Premier Danielle Smith made false statements about the controversial renewables pause. In Manitoba, we proved that officials failed to formally inspect a leaky pipeline for years. And our investigations on a leaked recording of TC Energy executives were called “the most important Canadian political story of the year.”

As the year draws to a close, we’d like to thank you for paying attention. And if you’re able to donate anything at all to help us keep doing this work in 2025 — which will bring a whole lot we can’t predict — thank you so very much.

Will you help us hold the powerful accountable in the year to come by giving what you can today?

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Cartoon title: Risks of reading The Narwhal. Illustration of a woman sitting with a computer that has a Narwhal sticker on a park bench. A narwhal sitting next to her reads her computer screen over the shoulder. Text reads: "Wait — the government did WHAT?"
More than 800 readers have already stepped up in December to support our investigative journalism. Will you help us break big stories in 2025 by making a donation this holiday season?
Every new member between now and midnight Friday will have their contributions doubled by two generous donors.
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Every new member between now and midnight Friday will have their contributions doubled by two generous donors.
Let’s match
Cartoon title: Risks of reading The Narwhal. Illustration of a woman sitting with a computer that has a Narwhal sticker on a park bench. A narwhal sitting next to her reads her computer screen over the shoulder. Text reads: "Wait — the government did WHAT?"
More than 800 readers have already stepped up in December to support our investigative journalism. Will you help us break big stories in 2025 by making a donation this holiday season?