Star wins three CAJ awards

The Toronto Star took home three prizes at the annual awards ceremony for the Canadian Association of Journalists on Saturday night.

“Tainted Water,” a yearlong investigative series and a combined effort of more than 120 reporters, looked into the amount of lead levels in drinking water in11cities across Canada. The project was proposed by Robert Cribb, an investigative reporter at the Star.

Global News, Le Devoir, the Regina Leader-Post, and the National Observer were also the recipients of the award along with the Star.

Marco Chown Oved won the environmental and climate change award for “Undeniable: Life and Death Under the Dome,” an investigate piece on Canada’s changing climate, the deadly heat wave in Montreal that killed around 66 people and the ultimate effect of heat waves on the sick and elderly.

The Star and National Observer combined to win in the human rights category for coverage of the oilsands plant leak in Fort McKay, Alta. Emma McIntosh, a reporter at Star Calgary, and Mike De Souza, a reporter from National Observer, won the award for their joined work.

“This is a moment of light and recognition,” Star editor Irene Gentle said of the winners, “as they and all journalists work fiercely amid logistical, financial and many other challenges, of pandemic and more. Their efforts aren’t always recognized but their public spirit is immense. “The Star awards have a through line to them, of partnership, collaboration and ambition on issues that matter vitally to Canadians. There is another connection: editor Lynn McAuley, who has been exemplifying these values for years, to the betterment of journalism. Congratulations to all.” The CAJ Awards were presented online this year.