About Us - True North Stories

Our Story

True North Stories began in 2017 with a simple but powerful idea: every Canadian has a story worth telling. Founded in Toronto by a group of journalists and storytellers who believed mainstream media was missing crucial voices and perspectives, we set out to create a platform where authentic narratives could flourish.

What started as a small blog featuring interviews with local community members has grown into a comprehensive storytelling platform reaching readers across Canada and around the world. We've published over 500 stories, conducted more than 200 interviews, and covered communities from coast to coast to coast.

Our journey hasn't always been easy. In an era of media consolidation and declining local journalism, we've remained committed to independent, community-centered storytelling. We've experimented with new formats, built partnerships with grassroots organizations, and continuously refined our approach based on feedback from the communities we serve.

Today, True North Stories is recognized as a leading voice in independent Canadian journalism. We've won awards for our feature reporting, our team members are regularly invited to speak about ethical storytelling practices, and most importantly, we continue to earn the trust of communities who share their stories with us.

Our Mission

True North Stories exists to amplify authentic Canadian voices through thoughtful journalism and compelling storytelling. We believe that the true character of Canada is revealed not through political rhetoric or corporate messaging, but through the lived experiences of everyday Canadians from all walks of life.

We are committed to:

Showcasing voices and perspectives underrepresented in mainstream Canadian media
Practicing ethical, community-centered journalism that respects the dignity and agency of all subjects
Building bridges of understanding across Canada's diverse communities through authentic storytelling
Supporting the next generation of storytellers through training, mentorship, and publication opportunities
Remaining independent and accountable to communities rather than corporate or political interests

Our Editorial Values

Authenticity First

We prioritize genuine voices and real experiences over sensationalism or clickbait. Every story we publish reflects the authentic perspective of the person telling it.

Diversity & Inclusion

Canada's strength lies in its diversity. We actively seek out voices from all backgrounds, regions, and communities to ensure our platform truly represents the nation.

Ethical Journalism

We adhere to the highest standards of journalistic ethics, including accuracy, fairness, transparency, and respect for the dignity of all individuals featured in our stories.

Community-Centered

We believe the best stories come from communities themselves. We work collaboratively with the people and places we cover, not as outsiders looking in.

Transparency

We're open about our processes, funding, and editorial decisions. Our readers deserve to know how and why we tell the stories we tell.

Empathy & Understanding

We approach every story with empathy and a genuine desire to understand different perspectives, even when they challenge our own views.

Meet Our Team

Sarah Chen

Editor-in-Chief

Former investigative journalist with 15 years of experience covering Canadian communities. Passionate about amplifying underrepresented voices.

Marcus Williams

Senior Reporter

Award-winning journalist specializing in feature stories and long-form narrative journalism. Based in Vancouver.

Amélie Dubois

Multimedia Producer

Documentary filmmaker and photographer who brings visual storytelling expertise to our platform. Fluent in English and French.

Raj Patel

Community Engagement Editor

Builds relationships with communities across Canada and helps connect storytellers with our platform. Based in Toronto.

What Makes Us Different

We're Not Traditional Media

True North Stories operates outside the constraints of traditional media ownership structures. We're independent, which means we can focus on stories that matter to communities rather than shareholders. We're not chasing clicks or optimizing for algorithms—we're pursuing depth, nuance, and authenticity.

This independence allows us to take risks on stories that might not fit mainstream media formulas but are crucial for understanding contemporary Canada. We can spend months on a single investigation, spotlight issues before they become trending topics, and amplify voices that larger outlets might overlook.

Community-Funded

Our work is supported by readers like you, small grants from journalism foundations, and partnerships with community organizations. This funding model keeps us accountable to communities, not advertisers. We don't have to worry about offending corporate sponsors or satisfying investor expectations—our loyalty is to the truth and to the communities whose stories we tell.

We believe journalism is a public good that deserves public support. That's why we're transparent about our funding sources and committed to keeping our core content freely accessible to all readers.

Collaborative Approach

We work with the communities we cover, not just in them. Many of our stories are suggested by community members themselves, and we actively train aspiring storytellers from underrepresented backgrounds. We believe the best stories come from people with lived experience, not external observers parachuting in.

Our collaborative model includes sharing drafts with subjects for fact-checking (not editorial approval), crediting community organizations that facilitate our work, and compensating community members who contribute expertise or time. We're not extractive—we aim to leave communities better than we found them.

About True North Stories