Local Journalism Initiative Impact

In 2024, as a reporter for Simcoe Community Media, I, Deepak Bidwai, had the privilege of bringing powerful visual stories to life from Barrie and across Simcoe County—stories that often go untold. I covered diverse issues spanning the county, from Barrie, its largest urban center, to Tiny Township, a region far greater than Barrie in land area but with less than a tenth of its population.

Giving Voice to a Diverse Community

Produced by civic journalist Jake Boudrot, Episode 48 of Strait Talk explores the Municipality of the County of Richmond’s efforts to raise public awareness about the importance of properly displaying civic numbers on properties—crucial for helping emergency personnel respond more quickly and accurately.

The episode came about after Richmond Warden Lois Landry reached out to Telile with the idea of hosting a show on the topic. She was joined by Isle Madame Volunteer Fire Department Deputy Chief Codie Forest and Kelly Diggdon, owner/operator of Fleur de Lis Signs.

Parmi toutes les entrevues réalisées depuis que le projet est débuté, les plus significatives sont celles réalisée avec M. Rick Lavergne, directeur général de la MRC des Appalaches et de la Société de développement économique de la région de Thetford (SDE), ainsi que plus récemment avec M. Ludovic Beauregard, le nouveau commissaire à l’économie circulaire de la SDE.

Guy Jacques – Initiative de journalisme local

Our coverage of Amazon’s sudden layoffs in Quebec helped bring attention to a major local issue that was making waves internationally. By giving a platform to voices like organizer and former Amazon worker Mostafa Henaway, we helped spark an important conversation and dialogue about labour rights, corporate power, and the fight for fair working conditions. The mass layoffs of nearly 2,000 workers across Amazon’s Quebec warehouses was allegedly not isolated or disconnected from other factors, but rather influenced by surrounding circumstances and prior similar events.

Dans un contexte d’incertitude et changements après la hausse de 25% des frais de douane imposés par les États-Unis, la Télévision Communautaire de l’Érable (TVCÉ) s’est imposée comme un acteur clé dans la sensibilisation du public à l’importance de l’achat local, faisant ainsi connaître l'impact économique et moral positif que ce simple acte peut générer pour les entrepreneurs et les agriculteurs de la région.

Silvana Suarez Ardila – Initiative de Journalisme Local

The story Montreal Marches for National Day of Truth and Reconciliation shows a large-scale demonstration in Montreal, where thousands gathered to recognize the ongoing impacts of Canada’s residential school system. The march, which was held on September 30, and is also known as Orange Shirt Day, was part of a national movement to honour residential school survivors and commemorate the children who did not return home.

En janvier dernier, la Chambre de commerce et d’industrie Vallée-du-Richelieu – Rouville (CCIVRR) a accueilli Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, chef du Parti québécois (PQ) et député de Camille-Laurin, pour un dîner-conférence à l’hôtel Rive Gauche de Belœil. TVR9 était sur place pour que grand nombre de citoyens puissent bénéficier de ce contenu riche, informatif et pertinent.

Andréane Viau - Initiative de journalisme local

La couverture médiatique que l’équipe de TVCO a réalisée concernant le dossier de la perte du droit de commerce des campings aménagés de la ZEC des Martres dans Charlevoix a suscité bien des réactions dans notre population locale. Tout d’abord, l’entrevue réalisée avec l’équipe de direction de la ZEC a permis d’établir l’historique qui a mené au retrait du droit de commerce par le ministère responsable de l’Environnement au Québec.

Five years ago, Donna Mikeluk, former CEO of the Schreiber Public Library, and Kim Krause, a councillor at the time, ventured into uncharted territory with plans to create a community channel for Schreiber. The Schreiber Media Centre (SMC) was established as a nonprofit organization, supporting the library’s media literacy initiative. A space in the library’s basement was transformed into a small studio equipped for live streaming, green screen production, and three-camera recording. The mixed-use control room/edit suite also facilitates audio mixing and graphic design.

The Canadian housing crisis is no stranger to most areas across the country, but it doesn’t always manifest itself in the same ways. In Neepawa, where a recent housing study indicated that the community will be short almost 500 homes by 2028, rather than seeing unhoused residents we are seeing multiple families in single homes or large families in homes of insufficient size.

By Dimitrije Martiovic

Toronto’s housing crisis demands urgent, sustained coverage. Focus Media Arts Centre, an LJI participant, amplifies frontline voices and holds policymakers accountable. Without civic journalism, systemic failures remain hidden, and urgent demands go unheard.

A new report from SHJN and TUHU condemns Toronto’s response to homelessness, citing 766 deaths in three years, including 135 in early 2024. At a press conference, advocates Lynn Walker and Jennifer Jewell exposed the dangers unhoused people face, especially those with disabilities.

NACTV’s Community Round Table program recently made a significant impact by shining a spotlight on the pressing needs of seniors in the area. The program brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including local municipality representatives and community organizations,  all united by a common goal: to improve the quality of life for seniors.

Caption: Members of ACORN NB held a protest in Saint John, N.B., during a housing summit organized by the provincial government and the New Brunswick Real Estate Association, on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. Photo: ACORN NB.

The NB Media Co-op has been at the forefront of covering the housing crisis, activism from tenant and community groups, and policy and program changes introduced by the province in response to the crisis.

TVC22 organized and broadcasted live and uploaded on their media a political debate between the provincial candidates for the provincial elections on February 27. Since there wasn't any other debate for the candidates of the Glengarry-Prescott-Russell area in front of a public, we had the exclusivity on the matter and the public was very thankful of our initiative to hold a debate. We even held and uploaded the debate before the anticipation round of votes was open, so everyone could have been well informed well in advance.

In response to recent geopolitical shifts and the suspension of U.S. financial aid to Ukraine, the Ukrainian community in Winnipeg has become increasingly concerned about its future. This concern was highlighted in a podcast episode featuring Vasyl Malyk, a long-time community activist and volunteer. Having lived in Canada for nearly seven years, Vasyl has made significant contributions to the Ukrainian diaspora, particularly in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The Yaran Iranian Group in Vancouver hosted a panel discussion with Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and MP for North Vancouver. The event provided an opportunity for the Iranian-Canadian community to engage directly with the minister, discuss key federal initiatives, and voice concerns.

Skyrise Media Society: A Community-Driven Impact

From Struggle to Strength: How Community Stories Sparked a Movement

In addition to coverage of the monthly committee-of-the-whole and regular monthly meetings of Richmond Municipal Council, Richmond Warden Lois Landry wanted to do a program to directly engage with residents, businesses, and organizations.

This year’s 54th annual Santa’s Helpers Telethon is a testament to CHCO-TV’s profound impact on its community. The five-hour broadcast raised nearly $44,000, providing essential support to families in one of Canada’s most economically challenged regions. Every dollar contributed will go toward holiday gifts for children and Christmas meals for families across Charlotte County, where the need has grown due to rising living costs.

In an era when media consolidation has left many communities without truly local news coverage, CHCO-TV continues to stand out as a beacon of independent community television. During New Brunswick’s provincial election in October, the station reaffirmed its commitment to civic journalism by delivering some of the most comprehensive election coverage in the province, setting a new benchmark for what a small, independent broadcaster can achieve.

Le Groupe de concertation des bassins versants de la zone Bécancour (GROBEC) nous a permis de faire partie d'une des expéditions réalisées dans la région pour sauver la salamandre pourpre, une espèce qui joue un rôle essentiel dans l’équilibre des écosystèmes forestiers mais qui fait face à des menaces multiples, notamment la perte de son habitat naturel, la pollution de l'eau, et les changements climatiques.

Silvana Suarez Ardila – Initiative de journalisme local

Service organisations such as the Rotary Club are known for giving back to their communities, usually in the form of monetary donations and volunteer hours. The Rotary Club of Neepawa wanted to take that even further, with the contribution of information. 

The housing problem isn't just confined to large cities but extends to smaller towns like Neepawa. As the town experiences an influx of immigrants, the demand for decent and affordable housing has risen. This has placed pressure on the existing housing market, making it difficult for many to secure homes due to the high costs involved in building new ones.

Au cours du mois d’octobre 2024, un groupe de promoteurs de Charlevoix a tenu une consultation publique, qui portait sur la mise sur pied d’un sentier à fonctions multiples (marche, vélo, raquette, ski de fond) entre Baie-Saint-Paul et Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive, en bordure du fleuve Saint-Laurent. Le groupe souhaitait présenter une version préliminaire du projet et entendre les avis citoyens à cet égard.

At U Multicultural, our mission has always been to empower voices within the Winnipeg community, fostering connections and generating meaningful dialogue. This October, we proudly launched Coffee with Genny B, a new program hosted by the enthusiastic and community-driven Genny Sacco. Genny’s passion for Winnipeg shines through in her conversations, making her program a platform for exploring the fabric of our community and celebrating its vibrancy.

The Focus Media Arts Centre video "DSP Activist Isabella Gamk: A Legacy of Courage in the Face of Toronto's Housing Crisis and Ableism" resonated deeply with our community, garnering 1,970 views on our YouTube channel. This remarkable engagement highlights the significance of Isabella's story—a testament to the power of activism intertwined with civic engagement.

Dr. Suzanne Filion, une auteure et psychologue de la région, nous a donné un accès à la diffusion complète de ses conférences gratuites ici, à Prescott-Russell. Ces conférences portaient sur les options disponibles à notre communauté pour pratiquer la luminothérapie, c'est-à-dire la pratique qui consiste à s'exposer intelligemment à une certaine quantité de lumière afin d’influencer notre cycle circadien dans le but de réduire la dépression saisonnière, entre autres.

Young activists from Bangladesh, the Philippines and El Salvador recently toured Eastern Canada to raise awareness about the global movement for sexual and reproductive health and rights.

David Gordon Koch – Local Journalism Initiative

The Canadian Iranian Foundation is a charitable organization based in Vancouver that, with the support of the community, provides annual scholarships worth thousands of dollars to eligible students and financial assistance for various community needs.

One of the foundation's most significant challenges is effectively raising awareness about its activities. In a recent program, we interviewed members of the foundation’s board, who shared detailed insights about their initiatives and programs with the public.

The story of this tragic fire in North Vancouver deeply impacted our community, inspiring collective efforts to support Noora, a young woman battling cancer who faced homelessness after the fire. Many members of our community came together to assist her in securing shelter and finding a suitable home near the hospital where she receives her treatments.

Thanks to the generosity of the community, over $8,000 was raised to support Noora during this challenging time.

In this holiday-themed episode of Strait Talk, Civic Journalist Jake Boudrot attended two December events aimed at supporting the community: one focused on helping seniors facing social isolation, and the other was a fundraiser to assist residents grappling with affordability challenges.

TELUS Optik TV has informed TCCTV that they no longer wish to provide funding to organizations, such as TCCTV, that make community access programming in partnership with community partners such as the Coquitlam Public Library, the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Rotary clubs, heritage societies, arts groups, and other service organizations of the region. A big "Thank You" to the Rotary Club of Port Moody which has helped by stepping up to offer $2,000 in funding to help TCCTV purchase new production equipment.

In Episode 31 of Strait Talk, Telile brought the community an in-depth look at coastal erosion and rising sea levels through a discussion with Dr. Donald L. Forbes, recorded on November 3 at the St. John’s Centre for the Arts in Arichat.

Dr. Forbes, a Research Scientist Emeritus with the Geological Survey of Canada at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography and Canada’s Past Vice Chair of Future Earth Coasts, has dedicated his career to marine geoscience. Over time, his work has focused on coastal hazard reduction and sustainability in coastal communities.

In one of our most impactful pieces this quarter, Dapo Bankole, an African immigrant, shared his powerful journey of integrating into Canadian society, sparking widespread dialogue about the systemic barriers faced by skilled immigrants. His story, captured through a TEDx talk that went viral, with over 7,000 views on one of our platforms, has not only resonated with immigrants but also with local decision-makers and communities across Nova Scotia.

Gbenga Akintokun – Local Journalism Initiative

The RPTV coverage of the Emancipation Month flag-raising ceremony, featuring Mayor Olivia Chow and Councillor Chris Moise, had a significant social impact on Toronto’s Black community and beyond. The video, which garnered 2,500 views on YouTube—a substantial reach—helped raise awareness of the ongoing fight against anti-Black racism and honoured the legacy of activists like Elder Louis March.

Dimitrije Martinovic – Local Journalism Initiative

If one thing has changed most in classrooms over the past decade or so, it’s the use of new technologies by students and educators. In its three-part series on technology in the classroom, NACTV shed light on the many ways technology has changed the way students are being educated, some of which were not at all what people might have been expecting. While many technologies were covered, including smartboards, drones, and even classroom lighting, it was personal devices that turned out to be in the hot seat.

NACTV’s Seniors Update has evolved into more than just an informative television program; it has become a vital forum for seniors to engage with their elected officials. In partnership with Home Assistance Neepawa & District (HAND), a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting seniors and individuals with disabilities, this initiative addresses the pressing concerns of the senior community in the area.