The Narwhal

Our dedicated team of investigative reporters explores Canada's natural environment, uncovering unique stories that you won't find elsewhere. We adhere to two fundamental principles: 1) Stick to the truth. 2) Be straightforward. We're frustrated with misleading narratives and the usual way of thinking. We proudly believe that Canada’s greatest treasures are our communities, lakes, rivers, and forests. Our mission is to highlight the stories overlooked by major Canadian media, helping our readers understand complicated (and often messy) issues. As a non-profit publication, our focus isn't on generating ad revenue or catering to corporations — it's about delivering fact-based news and insights for all Canadians. In 2018, The Narwhal was honored with four Canadian Online Publishing Awards, earning silver for best news website and best publication, along with gold and silver for outstanding photojournalism.

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Celebrating 7 years of The Narwhal

1 day ago | thenarwhal.ca | Carol Linnitt

Get the inside scoop on The Narwhal’s environment and climate reporting by signing up for our free newsletter. The year before we launched The Narwhal, Emma Gilchrist and I sought the advice of a pollster who asked us an intriguing question about the, well, soul of the publication we wanted to bring to life:“If these folks were throwing a party, what kind of party would it be?
My love letter to Emma Gilchrist

6 days ago | thenarwhal.ca | Carol Linnitt

Dear Narwhals, How can you truly sum up your friend’s incredible journey to journalism and leadership? Some time ago I sat down to tackle a daunting but deeply gratifying task: writing a letter to nominate The Narwhal’s co-founder, Emma Gilchrist, for a national leadership award. In a way, the activity was cathartic — I put aside all my other duties to write up a small catalogue of all the incredible things I had learned and witnessed first-hand about Emma and her inspiring path through life.
The Narwhal snags 11 national award nominations

1 week ago | thenarwhal.ca | Jacqueline Ronson

Get the inside scoop on The Narwhal’s environment and climate reporting by signing up for our free newsletter. We’re thrilled to share that The Narwhal’s independent environmental journalism is once again turning heads on a national stage, earning two nominations from the Canadian Journalism Foundation and nine from the Digital Publishing Awards.
Alberta separatism plan is really about oil

1 week ago | thenarwhal.ca | Drew Anderson

Get the inside scoop on The Narwhal’s environment and climate reporting by signing up for our free newsletter. The day after the federal election that saw Mark Carney installed as prime minister, Alberta’s premier, Danielle Smith, introduced sweeping changes to democracy in Alberta. Among those changes was a relaxation of the rules around referendums, paving the way for a separation vote. All of it is driven by a perception that Alberta’s prosperity is under attack by a hostile force.
Governor General Mary Simon aims to be an Arctic fox

1 week ago | thenarwhal.ca | Michelle Cyca

Through a tumultuous few months in Canadian politics, one person could always be counted on for calm: the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada. That’s the job, after all — the Governor General serves as the diplomatic head of state, above the political jockeying and heated campaigning. Simon, whose mother is Inuk, is a long-time champion for Indigenous Rights and became the first Indigenous person to serve as Governor General when she was appointed in 2021.
Will B.C. family farmers be left behind in Trump's trade war?

1 week ago | thenarwhal.ca | Paloma Pacheco

Get the inside scoop on The Narwhal’s environment and climate reporting by signing up for our free newsletter. On a warm September evening nearly 15 years ago, Katie Sardinha had her first real glimpse of what life as a farmer could be. It was harvesting season in Summerland, B.C., where she’d grown up on her parents’ 10-acre apple orchard.
The Narwhal’s TC Energy investigation makes Jackman Award shortlist

1 week ago | thenarwhal.ca | Denise Balkissoon

We’re excited to share that an investigation by The Narwhal is a finalist for the Canadian Journalism Foundation’s Jackman Award for excellence in journalism. The nominated series revealed the inner workings of fossil fuel company TC Energy and was written by northwest B.C. reporter Matt Simmons, former director of investigations and enterprise Mike De Souza and Ontario reporter Fatima Syed.
The Narwhal’s oilsands portraits nominated for magazine award

2 weeks ago | thenarwhal.ca | Sharon Riley

Get the inside scoop on The Narwhal’s environment and climate reporting by signing up for our free newsletter. We’re chuffed to see photojournalist Amber Bracken’s work for The Narwhal has been nominated for a National Magazine Award!Bracken’s work features a series of intimate portraits of residents of Fort Chipewyan, Alta. and was nominated in the photo essay and photojournalism category. In Fort Chip, as locals call it, residents have long been worried about their water.
B.C. plans to reduce regulations to become ‘world leader’ in clean energy

2 weeks ago | thenarwhal.ca | Shannon Waters

Get the inside scoop on The Narwhal’s environment and climate reporting by signing up for our free newsletter. The B.C. government says it is seizing “a once-in-a-generation opportunity” to become a world leader in clean energy by making it quicker and easier for renewable energy projects and major power lines to get shovels in the ground.
Shad says nature is ‘a spiritual need’

2 weeks ago | thenarwhal.ca | Denise Balkissoon

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.