More about me

My path to becoming a skilled investigative researcher began in 2007, when I attended the Global Investigative Journalism Conference. It blew my mind. I entered the event as an activist hoping to learn a few more skills to support the groups I worked with. I left deeply inspired and committed to becoming the best researcher and investigative journalist I possibly could.

I dove into soaking up as many methods for tracking down information as possible. To this day I am dedicated to continually developing my research abilities.

I soon began writing stories for alternative media publications, exploring all the ways I could put these skills to use. I coordinated the Alternative Media Centre that covered the 2010 G20 protests in Toronto, and wrote an exposé on undercover police at that protest, based on Freedom of Information requests. 

Before long, I was writing stories for widely circulated publications. These included a front page story in the Toronto Star on an RCMP program to gather intelligence on indigenous protest groups, and an article in the Guardian about the briefings that energy companies were receiving from Canadian police and intelligence agencies. 

As a freelance journalist focused on ground breaking investigative stories, I was working for months on an article but being paid comparable rates to journalists who worked overnight on their stories. I slowly shifted my primary focus from journalism to freelance research. Although I still occasionally work on journalist projects, such as working as an Associate Producer for CBC’s investigative documentary program ‘the fifth estate’, the bulk of my work is now as a researcher-for-hire.

Instead of seeking out work from corporations, I have focused on obtaining work for clients engaged in socially progressive work that matches my activist roots. I try to be generous with my skills and often support underfunded activist groups by providing advice on how they can go about research themselves.

I view research as a creative endeavour to figure out all the possible ways to obtain the answers and records I seek. The act of finding information is incredibly fulfilling to me. Being able to use my skills to support important causes and groups in significant ways only adds to the passion I find in investigative research.