Popplewell’s article was published online by The Walrus on April 15 and is slated to be the cover article in the June edition of the prestigious magazine.

Journalism professor Brett Popplewell on the ground in Nuuk, Greenland.

Popplewell travelled in February to Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, and his feature chronicles how local residents were bracing for invasion.

鈥淭he implausible threat of an American invasion had transformed the quiet Arctic city of Nuuk into an unlikely stage for a global showdown,鈥� Popplewell says. The remote community had become 鈥渁 rallying point for NATO troops and international diplomats all trying to preserve the rules-bound world order.鈥�

Popplewell is an associate professor of journalism at 杏吧原创 and the bestselling author of Outsider: An Old Man, a Mountain, and the Search for a Hidden Past. A contributing writer for The Walrus, he has also written for听Bloomberg, Businessweek,听Mother Jones, the听Globe and Mail, the听Toronto Star,听Sportsnet, and听惭补肠濒别补苍鈥檚, among other publications.

On top of his full-time workload as a faculty member in the School of Journalism and Communication, Popplewell is often out in the field as a reporter. He was intrigued by the unfolding situation in Greenland and convinced The Walrus to commission his report.

鈥淲hat struck me most from my trip was how deeply Trump鈥檚 threats had unsettled local residents,鈥� Popplewell said. 鈥淧eople were on edge. Several told me they鈥檇 drawn up escape plans to Canada and elsewhere.

鈥淭he longer I spent on the ground, the more I understood just how personally the annexation threats had hit people. But more than that, I was struck by the willingness many had to share their stories in the hope that doing so might help shape their island鈥檚 fate. I hope this reporting will add some clarity to this continuing puzzle.鈥�

Student projects with community partners used media production and design tools to address such topics as civic and youth engagement, Indigenous storytelling and sovereignty, community third spaces, municipal and provincial policies and governance and community empowerment. The annual capstone event was this year dubbed 鈥淩eal Designs 鈥� Taking Flight.鈥�

Students from the Arrival Initiative project explain their work with the Arnprior Museum.

鈥淲e are at our core storytellers,鈥欌�� said Prof. St茅fy听McKnight, the interim program director in media production and design and leader of the project.

鈥淲e鈥檙e also acknowledging the folks who have been the longest and the original storytellers here in Ottawa, the Algonquin nation. We鈥檙e very fortunate to have been able to work with various Indigenous partners throughout this year.鈥�

Prof. St茅fy McKnight is the interim program director in media production and design.

McKnight noted that much of the capstone work was the result of deep engagement with community partners in Ottawa, who also have a stake in the storytelling.

This is McKnight鈥檚 fifth year supervising and teaching the MPAD Capstone Projects course.

Students created documentaries, websites, social media campaigns and strategies, as well as workshop and event plans. And the entire exhibition was supported by student fundraising.

The capstone exhibit showcased nine student projects with community partners:

• 613Sounds is a podcast series that highlights Ottawa鈥檚 local music scene, exploring how the city鈥檚 musical environment fosters a sense of community and belonging. Across genres, a range of interviews spotlight independent local artists.
• Crow鈥檚 Path/Aandeg Miikana produced a number of deliverables for Indigenous youth in Thunder Bay, including a documentary Where the Crows Gather, highlighting youth resilience and countering negative portrayals.
• The Arrival Initiative partnered with Emily Stovel, curator and manager of culture for the District of Arnprior Museum. Students developed a workshop to support a project to train local participants to collect interviews with people who migrated to Arnprior in the last 50 years.
• Future Voices partnered with the Institute for Collaborative Innovation Canada to help youth engage with Canadian civic matters. An interactive website takes audiences on a train journey through a fictional representation of Canada鈥檚 future.
• Little Sips was the result of a student partnership with the City of Ottawa鈥檚 Infrastructure and Water Services Department to educate city residents about how to protect the city鈥檚 water systems. A four-part informational video series will be part of the city鈥檚 educational initiatives.
• The Withering Trillium produced a short film and social media series to highlight Bill 5, a piece of provincial legislation that many contend poses risks to the environment. Students partnered with Prof. Chris Russill, academic director at Re.Climate, a centre of climate communication and public engagement.
• The Zine Project, in partnership with the Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority, created an online presence to encourage the creation of zines to boost Indigenous youth mental health. The project promotes zines and zine-making workshops.
• City Studio Ottawa translated the complex data of Ottawa鈥檚 City Transportation Asset Management Plan by using an animated video to provide clearer and more accessible material on how the city evaluates the state of its infrastructure.
• Unedited Women developed a social media campaign, website and video testimonials to create a new branding palette to help Osa Natalie Fraser鈥檚 program reach a wider audience.

To raise funds for the capstone project, students hosted a live show at the Ollies campus bar in January. And local realtor Team Makan Real Estate also supported the capstone event.

As 杏吧原创 journalism professor Matthew Pearson explained, a zine is a publication that often addresses topics from an independent or alternative viewpoint, emphasizing editorial control by the producer. Zines can break from conventional formats and are often photocopied, folded or stapled.

Final assembly of the zines produced by students in Matthew Pearson’s Trauma-Informed Journalism class

Many see a resurgence in zines as a reaction to the ephemeral nature of today鈥檚 pervasive digital media world, a place where content can be here today and gone tomorrow. Zines are a rollback to a more analogue time, permanent publications that you can hold in your hand and will never go away.

Journalism professor Matthew Pearson

And as Pearson pointed out, zines as a medium often provide space for marginalized voices and stories that are often excluded from traditional journalism.

In a way, what we now call zines have been used throughout history: in the secretly written and circulated literature of the Soviet era, in 1970s-era fanzines about punk culture and direct action, in the 1990s when zines explored feminist topics and described experiences with sexism, mental illness, body image and more.

鈥淶ines are a creative act and at times, even an act of resistance,鈥欌�� said Pearson, who used zine production as a class project in his course Trauma-Informed Journalism.

鈥淚 was interested in bringing zines and zine-making into the classroom, especially at a time when I see so many young people gravitating to this form,鈥欌�� Pearson said. 鈥淪tudents created zines to explore ways to approach the coverage of a range of issues with greater care.鈥�

A number of Pearson鈥檚 students spoke about their experiences with the zine project during the April 1 event in the school鈥檚 resource centre.

鈥淎t a time when journalism feels increasingly dehumanized because of AI 鈥� it was really special to work in such an imperfect and human medium,鈥� said fourth-year journalism student Elissa Mendes, who was part of a team producing a zine called 鈥淗ow to report with care – even when it feels like the world is on fire.鈥�

鈥淚t was just really nice to be able to operate outside of the framework of what was significant, interesting and new and satisfying to corporate media and focusing on what sells and generate clicks and instead, focus on how we can serve communities,鈥� Mendes said.

Abyssinia Abebe, also a fourth-year journalism student, spoke of her team鈥檚 experience producing a zine called 鈥淭he War on Women 鈥� online gender-based harassment.鈥�

鈥淎ddressing this online-based harassment is about addressing misogyny in our society and that鈥檚 what we tried to get at here,鈥欌�� Abebe said.

Some of the zines produced by students in the Trauma-Informed Journalism class

Another of those who spoke at the event was 2024 journalism graduate Laura Blanchette, producer of the Mid City zine that focuses on municipal politics. Notably, Blanchette launched the Mid City zine project 鈥� which recently produced its ninth issue 鈥� with the support of The Peter Mansbridge Emerging Reporter Fund, a 杏吧原创 award designed to support undergraduate and graduate journalism students pursuing an innovative research or reporting project with a focus on topics of governance and public social policy.

Blanchette spoke about a resurgence in 鈥榓nalogue鈥� publications that keep things local and focus on community.

She sees the mission of her zine as 鈥渂ringing people into politics, especially city politics and local politics because that is where I think we can have a big impact, as citizens and as journalists.鈥�

The Grief Cafe zine produced by Matthew Pearson and illustrator Sara Mizannojehdehi, was released March 31

The journalism school event took place the day after Pearson launched his own zine – The Grief Caf茅: a hands-on guide to heartache and healing 鈥� at an emotional event held at the Happy Goat coffee shop, on Laurel St. in Ottawa. Working with illustrator Sara听Mizannojehdehi (a graduate of 杏吧原创鈥檚 Bachelor of Media Production and Design), Pearson produced a powerful collection about grief and how to deal with the aftermath of losing a loved one.

Alboim’s remarkable career and his deep love and care for his family – wife Kathy, children Jennifer, Jesse and Jaime and his seven grandchildren – were celebrated in two hours of powerful, emotional and at times hilarious tributes.

The best way to take in the event is to watch the recording, which has been preserved on the journalism program’s YouTube site.

A veritable Who’s Who of Canadian journalism and public life attended the service. A gallery of photographs from the event is featured below.

Alboim’s family has established the to support students in the School of Journalism and Communication.

Audio technologist David Sarazin leads prospective students through a newscast exercise.

The recruitment fair was staged all over the 杏吧原创 campus, with presentations for the Faculty of Public and Global Affairs clustered in Richcraft Hall, also home to the School of Journalism and Communication.

In total, five Journalism faculty members, three members of staff and two Journalism students took part in the day-long recruitment exercise.

The program and networking fair took place in the Richcraft atrium from 9:30 to noon, with a table and representatives for every 杏吧原创 program.

A round of detailed information sessions rounded out the morning and early afternoon. The School of Journalism and Communication held an initial joint information session at 11 a.m. featuring Irena Knezevic, the undergraduate supervisor for Communication and Media Studies, Allan Thompson, program head for Journalism and Stefy McKnight, interim program director for the Bachelor of Media Production and Design.

Video technologist Dave Elliott provides instructions to prospective students taking part in a newscast exercise.

At noon, separate and more in-depth information sessions for Journalism, Communication and Media Studies and the Bachelor of Media Production and Design were offered, with Aneurin Bosley, the journalism undergraduate supervisor leading the journalism session.

More than 90 participants registered for Journalism studio tours that took place between 2 p.m. and 3:30. Participants started in either the audio studio or video studio, then swapped places after 45 minutes.

Journalism students Kennedy Gillingham and Nahan Cox helped out with information sessions.

During the hands-on workshops, Adrian Harewood provided a primer on audio storytelling, followed by a mock radio newscast workshop led by audio technologist David Sarazin.

At the same time, in video, Kanina Holmes took participants through an explanation of 杏吧原创鈥檚 video journalism offerings and then video technologist Dave Elliott guided those who wanted to take a turn on camera, reading a newscast from the teleprompter.

To finish off the day, Stefy McKnight led a tour of the a media production and design project located in Dunton Tower.

Thanks to all those who gave up their Saturday to take part, including faculty members Aneurin Bosley, Adrian Harewood, Kanina Holmes, Stefy McKnight and Allan Thompson, staff members Dave Elliott, Pam Lamba and David Sarazin and journalism students Kennedy Gillingham and Nathan Cox.

But most important, thanks to the prospective students and family members who came to check out 杏吧原创.

And across close to five decades as a journalist with the CBC and a journalism professor at 杏吧原创 University, he was a no-nonsense mentor to generations of young journalists.

Alboim died of heart failure on February 8, 2026, at the age of 78.

Elly Alboim taught journalism at 杏吧原创 since 1980, training hundreds of students in television and political reporting. (Earnscliffe photo)

Within hours of Alboim鈥檚 passing, news spread literally around the world and tributes began to pour in.

Alboim had an extraordinary impact on Canadian journalism and political life in 45 years spent teaching the subject to undergraduates and masters students at 杏吧原创, 23 years at CBC Television News and another 32 years at Earnscliffe Strategies.

Most of his time at the CBC, from 1970 to 1993, was spent as the network鈥檚 Parliamentary Bureau Chief in Ottawa. Beginning in 1977 as Bureau Chief, he oversaw CBC鈥檚 coverage of some of the most important events shaping Canadian politics for the past half-century. That included four federal election campaigns, including Joe Clark鈥檚 victory in 1979, Pierre Trudeau鈥檚 return in 1980 and Brian Mulroney鈥檚 tenure from 1984 to 1993. His last event leading CBC鈥檚 political coverage was the Progressive Conservative convention that chose Kim Campbell as leader in 1993.

His insights helped shape CBC TV News reporting on everything from the 1980 Quebec referendum to the Trudeau government鈥檚 National Energy Program, Canada-United States free trade negotiations and the rise and fall of the Meech Lake and Charlottetown accords.

鈥淓lly had a huge impact in so many ways and in so many fields,鈥� said Peter Mansbridge, the CBC鈥檚 longtime anchor and chief political editor.听 鈥淗e impacted every journalist who passed his way, both in the Ottawa bureau he so cherished, and at 杏吧原创 with the impact he had on generations of journalists who learned the skills he taught.

鈥淏ut he was more than a journalist, teacher and leader, he was a mentor that so many depended on to guide them.听 I was one of those and still live a life that benefited from the lessons he taught me.听 We were also friends.听 Our kids grew up together.听 Summered together.听 My lasting memories will be of swimming together, campfires together and Elly, yes, crusty old Elly, singing听show tunes under a full moon.鈥�

While still at CBC, Alboim began to teach TV news and political reporting at 杏吧原创 in 1980 and has been a mentor to hundreds of students. He was succeeded as Bureau Chief by Chris Waddell, who would later join Alboim teaching journalism at 杏吧原创.

鈥淓lly was a huge presence at CBC News for more than two decades. The things he taught so many at CBC had a continuing impact in the decades after he left the public broadcaster through the successes in the careers of so many journalists who spent time reporting from the CBC鈥檚 parliamentary bureau under his leadership,鈥� said Waddell, professor emeritus at 杏吧原创.

After leaving the CBC in the fall of 1993, Alboim played a key role at Earnscliffe providing public opinion research and analysis as well as public policy and strategic communications advice to federal government departments and corporations dealing with government. Much of his work involved helping shape the content and communications around federal budgets. He was also a senior advisor to Paul Martin during his years as federal Finance Minister and Prime Minster. Alboim also ran debate preparations for Liberal leader St茅phane Dion and Ontario premiers Dalton McGuinty and Kathleen Wynne.

Colleagues have fond memories of the irascible Alboim, who would often remain silent throughout an hour-long faculty meeting, then finally look up from his BlackBerry to succinctly summarize the entire discussion and suggest a way forward. And he was almost always right.

鈥�I had enormous respect for Elly,鈥� said longtime 杏吧原创 journalism colleague Mary McGuire, who worked with Alboim for nearly 30 years. 鈥淗e was incredibly smart, intimidatingly so at times. But his advice to us all, especially about big picture issues, could be so valuable,鈥� McGuire said.

鈥淎nd yes, while he could be crusty, he could also be incredibly kind. When I retired, he wrote me a note outlining what he saw as my valuable contributions to the school. I was so moved by it and still treasure it.鈥�

Students like fourth-year Journalism undergrad Emma McGrath appreciated Alboim鈥檚 direct style. 鈥淲hile he was an unconventional teacher, I appreciated his no-frills style,鈥欌�� McGrath said. 鈥淭here was no wasting time on things that were not important, but he was always ready with incisive answers to any questions sent his way,鈥� said McGrath, who took political reporting with Alboim in the fall term and signed up right away to take this term鈥檚 class on political communication. 鈥淚 feel very fortunate to听have been one of his students,鈥� McGrath said.

The current head of 杏吧原创鈥檚 journalism program, Allan Thompson, was a student in Alboim鈥檚 TV reporting class in 1984 and then a colleague at 杏吧原创 for two decades.

鈥淵ou keep hearing that word, crusty. Yes, he had that Jonah Jamieson quality for sure, right down to the cigar. But don鈥檛 be fooled. Elly was a gem, a brilliant mind, a terrific editor and a tireless mentor to our students,鈥� Thompson said. 鈥淔rom his hospital bed on Friday, he was sending email messages to make arrangements for his class. It is difficult to imagine 杏吧原创鈥檚 journalism program without Elly.鈥�

Alboim, who was a devoted husband, father and grandfather, leaves his wife Kathy Alboim, three children and seven grandchildren.

The family is holding a visitation, celebration of life and reception in the atrium of Richcraft Hall, on the 杏吧原创 University campus on Sunday, March 22. Visitation will be held from 9-11 a.m., the celebration of life from 11 a.m. to noon and the reception thereafter.

Please consider making a donation to a scholarship fund being established at the 杏吧原创 University School of Journalism and Communication in Elly’s honour (), or, a donation in Elly’s name to support the Cardiac Care Unit at the General campus of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation (), in thanks for the exceptionally kind and diligent care that he received in his final days.

听

With the program extended until 2030, journalism students Sarah J. Harb and Alexa MacKie have been chosen for the 2025-26 Globe and Mail Ottawa Bureau/杏吧原创 University Mentorship Program for Indigenous and Racialized Journalism Students.

Master of Journalism student Sarah Harb

Harb and MacKie were selected by the journalism program鈥檚 Permanent Working Group for Anti-Racism & Inclusion (PWG) to join the Globe’s Ottawa bureau, where they’ll work alongside reporters and editors covering parliamentary affairs. The PWG is a faculty-led committee focused on broader commitment to equity and inclusion.

The Globe and Mail mentorship program was developed through a partnership with the School to provide students with hands-on, paid experience in one of Canada’s major newsrooms. Mentees participate in daily news meetings, cover events, and learn to navigate essential reporting tools including the access to information system, lobbyist registry, spending reports and the courts.

Harb is a Master of Journalism student who brings a diasporic lens and familiarity with Arabic-language media to her work. She focuses on political and investigative reporting that examines how power operates through language, institutions, and public policy.

Bachelor of Journalism student Alexa MacKie

MacKie is a fourth-year journalism and law student at 杏吧原创 and Arts Editor at The Charlatan. She has interned with the Ottawa Citizen, CBC Montreal, and other outlets. Raised in Ottawa as an adoptee from China, she focuses on community-based stories with intersectional perspectives.

鈥淲e are thrilled to see Sarah and Alexa join this program,鈥� said Nana aba Duncan, Chair of the PWG and the journalism program鈥檚 Carty Chair in Journalism, Diversity and Inclusion Studies. 鈥淭he mentorship is part of the School鈥檚 commitment to create pathways for Indigenous and racialized students in journalism, to help make sure Canadian newsrooms better reflect the communities they serve.鈥�

Renewed commitment

Ottawa bureau chief Bob Fife says the mentorship program is mutually beneficial. 鈥淚t鈥檚 richly rewarding, and not a one-way street,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e learn from the students as well, which helps shape our journalism. Our goal is to get the students writing and reporting so they have strong resumes for future employers. In doing so, we are changing the makeup of the country鈥檚 newsrooms to be more reflective of the country.鈥�

The students will begin their mentorship immediately, working one day per week with the bureau. They’ll have opportunities to assist Globe journalists with reporting assignments and develop their own work for consideration and potential publication.

Harb and MacKie follow last year’s mentees, Ijeoma Ukazu and Abyssinia Abebe.

Registration for , and based on past experience, spots are likely to go fast.

The will be offered the week of Aug. 4-7. Two sessions of the will be on offer this summer, the weeks of Aug. 10-14 and Aug. 17-21.

杏吧原创 journalism professor Adrian Harewood will lead the new video journalism camp.

These successful camps give teens aged 13-16 a chance to try their hands at journalism, working with 杏吧原创鈥檚 seasoned instructors and technical staff in our state-of-the-art video and audio studios.

The new video camp will be led by 杏吧原创 journalism professor and former CBC Ottawa anchor Adrian Harewood.

鈥淚 love working with dynamic and ambitious young people eager to tell visual stories,鈥� Harewood said.

The Ravens Video Journalism & Sports camp promises to be a fun, fascinating and hands-on day camp for听teens who want to discover how to tell captivating and compelling visual stories.

Throughout the four-day immersive program, participants will work as a team to explore the essentials of visual storytelling in an engaging, supportive environment. This journalism camp offers teens a unique opportunity to learn in a university setting with seasoned expert instructors who are at the top of their game.

This is a collaborative initiative between听杏吧原创 University鈥檚听School of Journalism and Communication听and the听Department of Recreation and Athletics.

In the first half of each day, campers will be trained to use听industry-standard video cameras,听microphones,听lighting equipment,听and听other state of the art digital gear. They will engage in hands-on activities that will teach them how to storyboard, write scripts, conduct interviews, do live stand-ups, anchor and learn basic video-editing, storytelling, tv production and performance skills.

Campers will also get a chance to produce a full-fledged television newscast by the end of the week and watch their work as a group.

In the afternoons, sports and activities听may include playing a number of games and trying different sports such as ball hockey, basketball, tchoukball, field hockey, soccer, water games and ultimate.

And journalism is once again offering the popular Ravens Podcast Journalism & Sports Camp, coordinated by journalism professor and veteran podcast producer Nana aba Duncan.

The podcast camp offers听fun and educational podcasting activities听for young teens and is meant for those who are fascinated by telling stories, hearing what others have to say and then giving voice to those stories. This journalism camp offers a unique opportunity to learn in a university setting.

This camp is also a collaboration between the journalism program and Athletics. Campers will be trained to use听industry-standard audio recorders, microphones and other gear for hands-on activities听that will provide an opportunity to conduct interviews and learn听basic audio editing听and听storytelling skills. They will get a chance to work on a podcast before the end of the week and then listen to their work as a group.

And just like the video camp, the program includes afternoon sports and activities.

杏吧原创鈥檚 journalism program launched a fundraiser for the with a powerful and emotional event thanking McGuire for her years of dedication and celebrating CBC鈥檚 decision to extend and expand paid CBC North internships for 杏吧原创 students.

The travel fund was the brainchild of McGuire, a long-time journalism professor who had to leave her position on 杏吧原创鈥檚 journalism faculty in 2018 because of a cancer diagnosis. McGuire began her journalism career with CBC in Whitehorse and decided that her legacy at 杏吧原创 would be a travel fund to offset the costs of travel and living expenses for 杏吧原创 students who took up paid internships in the North. And she convinced the CBC in 2020 to create a paid internship in tandem with the travel fund. To date, five students have already benefited from the program.

CBC President Marie-Philippe Bouchard announces the extension and expansion of a CBC North internship program with 杏吧原创.

The Dec. 1 event announced the CBC鈥檚 decision to extend the paid internship program for another five years, to 2030, and to expand the placement period to four months from two. The fundraiser is to boost the travel fund, which will now be called upon even more to cover additional costs for interns.

CBC President Marie-Philippe Bouchard came to 杏吧原创 to make the announcement and to thank McGuire personally. Like virtually every other speaker who came to the podium, Bouchard became emotional when she spoke of McGuire鈥檚 dedication and vision in establishing the travel fund.

Bouchard said the internships and the travel fund 鈥渉onour three of Mary鈥檚 big loves, the North, journalism and youth.

鈥淛ournalism internships like this one are essential. They help forge strong journalistic skills which are needed now more than ever, given today鈥檚 environment of polarization, misinformation and disinformation,鈥� Bouchard said. 鈥淚t gives interns a unique opportunity to live and work in the North.鈥�

Mary McGuire, at right, with His Excellency Whit Fraser, CBC News Editor-in-Chief Brodie Fenlon, CBC President Marie-Philippe Bouchard and 杏吧原创 Provost Pauline Rankin.

Some of McGuire鈥檚 closest friends and colleagues gathered for the event. Among them was His Excellency Whit Fraser, the spouse of Governor General Mary Simon and himself a longtime CBC broadcaster across the North and in Ottawa, where he met McGuire.

鈥淣early all of the presentations that I do, I realize right at the beginning, and I always admit I鈥檓 here because I married well,鈥� Fraser joked.

鈥淭oday, I know I鈥檓 here because I carried a microphone,鈥� Fraser said, his voice choking with emotion. 鈥淚n this old heart and in this old head is a reporter, always was and always will be.鈥�

鈥淰ery early in those days in Frobisher Bay in 1967, I learned quickly because we were always by ourselves, to ask the same question every day and sometimes a dozen times a day. What鈥檚 the story?

鈥淭his is a story. This is doing remarkable things for young students and journalists, it is doing remarkable things for the CBC itself and it鈥檚 doing remarkable things for 杏吧原创.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a beautiful story, but my lead, is Mary McGuire. Just to you, lovely lady, thank you for a lifetime of commitment, honesty, hard work, focus, all of the things that make a reporter.鈥欌��

Brodie Fenlon, general manager and editor-in-chief of CBC News, spoke of how CBC North 鈥減lays a critical role in the life of so many northerners,鈥� but also the importance of bringing the North to the rest of Canada.

鈥淵ou really cannot understand Canada until you鈥檝e been there…there are so many stories waiting to be told,鈥� Fenlon said.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a real pleasure to meet Mary McGuire. This travel fund makes it easier for young journalists to get there, live there and work there so they can see firsthand what local journalism means to Canada鈥檚 remote communities and better understand the unique realities of life in the North.鈥�

Fenlon also quoted the head of CBC North, Mervin Brass.

鈥淲orking in the North is similar to being a foreign correspondent, if you come from the south. Working in the north puts you in communities where sometimes English is barely spoken, you鈥檙e working in a different culture, and you need to learn how to build trusting relationships in a matter of hours.鈥�

Fenlon said that CBC has expanded local service across the country. 鈥淭here has never been a more important time for local boots on the ground reporting in communities.鈥�

In a recorded video message, McGuire said her terminal cancer diagnosis made her focus on the things that matter most and how to give back. She noted that she took advice from her son, who encouraged her to 鈥渇ind a project that would honour the way you lived your life and connect the dots of your life and I think this did that so well.

McGuire said it was clear to her from her years of experience at 杏吧原创 that students 鈥渃ould almost never do an internship in the north because of the cost of travel and housing.鈥�

鈥淚 wondered, could I create a fund that would provide some money so that students could do internships in the north and get the experience I had launching a journalism career in a place that was so new and so different and would open their eyes to the country.鈥�

Mary McGuire being interviewed by journalism students after the event.

Allan Thompson, the current head of 杏吧原创鈥檚 journalism program, noted that McGuire鈥檚 legacy will now 鈥渟pan the generations 鈥� past, present and future. Your work here at 杏吧原创 changed the lives of generations of students, many of whom populate the journalism landscape today. And now, through your travel fund, you will continue to change the lives of future generations, even those who will never have the good fortune to meet you.鈥�

McGuire herself took to the stage at the end of the event to respond to a standing ovation.

鈥淚t鈥檚 really hard not to cry after all of those kind words,鈥欌�� McGuire said. 鈥淚 am so full of thanks to all of you.鈥欌��

鈥淭hat I was able to start my journalism career in the North and explore that whole world and meet those remarkable people is something I carried with me through life. And that I can continue somehow to share that gift with many more students into the future鈥arms my teacher鈥檚 heart.鈥�

Event Photo Gallery

Photos by Bryan Gagnon