Investigative Journalism Foundation Earns Two Nominations for COPA 2025

The Investigative Journalism Foundation (IJF) has garnered two nominations for the upcoming Canadian Online Publishing Awards (COPA) for 2025. This recognition highlights the IJF’s commitment to impactful journalism, particularly in the realms of investigative reporting and data analysis.

One nomination is for the category of Best Continuing Coverage in the Media division, specifically for the **Residential Schools: The Hidden Stories** database. This nomination acknowledges the comprehensive series of articles developed from the information in the database. The recognized team includes reporters Bethany Lindsay, Chantelle Bellrichard, Ninah Hermiston, and Rochelle Becker, along with managing editor Cecil Rosner and technology manager Max Hartshorn.

The second nomination comes in the Best Daily News/Sports Coverage category, celebrating the work of reporter Zak Vescera. His reporting focused on Conservative Members of Parliament who invested in Brookfield Asset Management, a company previously led by Prime Minister Mark Carney. This nomination also acknowledges the contributions of reporter Patti Sonntag, software engineer Martin Allen, and data analyst Sam Park.

IJF CEO Zane Schwartz expressed pride in the nominations, stating, “These nominations speak to the heart of what we do at the IJF. They recognize that combining cutting-edge data analysis with classic shoe leather reporting creates fantastic journalism. I’m so proud of the entire team.”

Recognizing Excellence in Digital Journalism

The Canadian Online Publishing Awards are the largest digital publishing awards program in Canada. They celebrate excellence in content creation across various platforms, including news outlets and business-to-business publications. Organized by Masthead, an influential industry magazine, the awards aim to highlight exceptional contributions within the publishing sector.

Last year, the IJF achieved notable success at the COPA, winning two gold medals. Vescera and CTV News reporter Adrian Ghobrial were awarded Best Investigative Article for their collaborative series exploring a Canadian company linked to a global pyramid scheme. Additionally, the IJF team received recognition for Continuing Coverage due to its procurement database.

The winners of the 2025 Canadian Online Publishing Awards will be announced during a celebration scheduled for February. As the IJF continues to push the boundaries of investigative journalism, these nominations reinforce its role as a leader in the field, committed to transparency and accountability.