The Top 4 Independent Canadian Publications to Read Right Now
Written by Bailey Kennedy
With headlines full of bad news, click bait and scare tactics, we wanted to round up the best publications focussed on content that makes you feel good, is educational and — most importantly— is all-Canadian.
The Best Independent Canadian Publications to Read Right Now
By The North is an independent Canadian digital publication covering culture, creators, travel, entrepreneurship, and ideas shaping Canada today. The platform features original storytelling in the form of articles, interviews, essays, and guides that highlight Canadian brands, artists, founders, and communities from coast to coast to coast.
By The North exists to help readers discover the people, places, and ideas shaping modern Canada. BTN began with a simple idea; supporting local, at a national level. There is something unique about the way Canadians create, live and connect – and that deserves to be celebrated.
As Canada’s newest digital publication, at BTN they share stories of Canadian life and culture. They seek out the people and places shaping the North, and highlight Canadian-made excellence.
The Walrus provokes new thinking and sparks conversation on matters vital to Canadians. As a registered charity, they publish independent, fact-based journalism, produce national, ideas-focused events, and train emerging professionals in publishing and nonprofit management.
The Walrus is invested in the idea that a healthy society relies on informed citizens. They publish a national magazine eight times a year along with daily content at thewalrus.ca. The Walrus also entertains, with fiction, poetry, photography, illustration, and a wry sense of humour that rewards readers seeking a lively literary experience.
The editorial policy of The Walrus is to explore ideas and issues, and to elevate public discourse on matters of importance to Canadians by publishing essays, articles, and reviews based on facts and research.
Maisonneuve has been described as a new New Yorker for a younger generation, or as Harper's meets Vice, or as Vanity Fair without the vanity—but Maisonneuve is its own creature. Maisonneuve's purpose is to keep its readers informed, alert, and entertained, and to dissolve artistic borders between regions, countries, languages and genres. It does this by providing a diverse range of commentary across the arts, sciences, daily and social life. The magazine has a balanced perspective, and "brings the news" in a wide variety of ways. At its core, Maisonneuve asks questions about our lives and provides answers free of cant and cool.
The Narwhal is a team of investigative journalists who dive deep to tell stories about the natural world in Canada you can’t find anywhere else.
Their philosophy has just two rules: 1) Follow the facts. 2) Tell it like it is.
Their ethos is based on the fact they think Canada’s greatest assets are our people, our lakes, our rivers, our forests. They tell stories Canada’s big news outlets miss and hustle to help readers make sense of complex (sometimes downright messy) issues. As a non-profit online magazine, the goal isn’t to sell advertising or to please corporate bigwigs — it’s to bring evidence-based news and analysis to the surface for our readers.