Torstar investigation ‘Unchartered’ awarded 2023 Canadian Hillman Prize
The Toronto Star's Rachel Mendleson and the Hamilton Spectator's Steve Buist have won the 13th annual Canadian Hillman Prize for Unchartered," their investigation into how police forces across the country were violating fundamental rights with alarming frequency.
Forty years after the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms set out the limits for acceptable police behaviour, Mendleson and Buist's investigative reporting brought to light for the first time how often those rules are violated," said the press release issued Tuesday, announcing the winners. Across the country, they uncovered over 600 reported cases of serious, and sometimes violent police misconduct, from illegal stops, searches, arrests and detention, to denials of individuals' right to counsel."
Following Mendleson and Buist's four-part investigation into the Charter violations, the Toronto police said they were reviewing officers' conduct in nearly 100 cases.
Garvia Bailey, who adjudicated the work, described the reporting as timely, vital and deserves not only to be read widely, but to be recognized for excellence."
There were many what??' and wow!' moments while reading the clear, concise, and revelatory reporting undertaken by Rachel, Steve, and their team," Bailey said in a statement.
A Global News/APTN investigation by Andrew Russell, Carolyn Jarvis, Michael Wrobel and Kenneth Jackson was cited as an honourable mention. The reporting series uncovered the stark realities of Ontario's for-profit foster home system.
Chantal Lavigne and Gil Shochat of Radio-Canada Enquete were also given an honourable mention for their investigation Recycling's Dirty Secrets," which examined how tonnes of Canadian plastic waste are illegally hidden and exported to other countries, where they are often burned, causing series health effects and environmental pollution.
Investigative journalism is a pillar of our democracy that exposes social injustices and calls for greater accountability from our institutions," said Alex Dagg, Canadian Board Member of the Sidney Hillman Foundation, in the Tuesday press release. This year's Hillman honourees have done exemplary work demonstrating the importance of investigative reporting in spurring public discourse and holding those in positions of authority to account."
The Canadian Hillman Prize has been awarded annually since 2011 by the Sidney Hillman Foundation. It recognizes excellence in journalism in service of the common good."
The Foundation will host an event on March 30 in Toronto to celebrate the honourees.
Joshua Chong is a Toronto-based staff reporter for the Star's Express Desk. Follow him on Twitter: @joshualdwchong