Postmedia Network journalist Aaron Beswick, a reporter at the Chronicle Herald in Halifax, has been named journalist of the year by the prestigious National Newspaper Awards, one of two Postmedia winners at a gala ceremony Friday night.

Beswick, who was also the winner of the E. Cora Hind Award for Local Reporting, was honoured for his coverage of lawlessness in Nova Scotia’s lobster and eel fisheries.

“He shed light on a topic that is important to the industry, Canadians nationwide and internationally,” the award judges said.

That award is meant to recognize such extraordinary journalism that it deserves further recognition. Judges selected Beswick’s work as a stand-out among the 16 winning works submitted by one or two journalists.

“Some stories are simply unforgettable, some journalists beyond exceptional,” the National Newspaper Awards says in its explanation of the award.

Beswick was joined as an award winner by Postmedia journalist Brandon Harder of the Regina Leader-Post, for his intensive telling of the story where police went undercover to get Joe Thauberger to confess to the murder of his brother. Harder won the William Southam Award for Long Feature.

“Our strength has always been rooted in our deep connection to communities across the country, with our organization being almost entirely focused on local reporting, so I’m gratified to see the recognition for Brandon Harder of the Regina Leader-Post and Aaron Beswick of The Chronicle Herald in Halifax,” said Duncan Clark, Postmedia’s chief content officer.

“Aaron being chosen as Journalist of the Year is also a wonderful representation of the commitment from all our teams in Atlantic Canada that made our recent acquisition there so important.”

Michael de Adder, a freelance cartoonist whose nomination included work for the Chronicle Herald, received the editorial cartooning award.

Multiple other Postmedia journalists received nominations for their work.

“We are immensely proud of all our nominees and congratulate our deserving winners tonight,” said Clark. “It’s no mistake that the common thread in all the nominations from Postmedia’s products is how they speak to our mission to bring Canadians together through informed, meaningful journalism.

The Calgary Herald and Calgary Sun jointly received three nominations. The Financial Post, Vancouver Sun/The Province, Ottawa Citizen/Ottawa Sun and Saskatoon StarPhoenix also all received nominations.

Naimul Karim, of the Financial Post, was nominated in the business reporting category for his coverage of Canada’s changing immigration laws and the way they are affecting thousands of foreign workers.

At the Calgary Herald, cartoonist Patrick LaMontagne was nominated for his editorial cartoons. Jim Wells, a long-time Calgary photographer, was nominated for best news photo for his stunning shot of people trying to rescue a deer that had fallen through the ice of the Bow River.

The Calgary Herald/Calgary Sun was also nominated for the John Honderich Award for Project of the Year for its “Squeezed” series, which looked at the rising cost of living and how it’s affected Calgarians.

Kim Bolan, a veteran crime reporter at the Vancouver Sun/The Province, was nominated for the Norman Webster Award for International Reporting. Bolan reported from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Southeast Asia, detailing the reach of B.C.’s criminal organizations.

In the local reporting category, which Beswick won, Julia Peterson at the Saskatoon StarPhoenix had also been nominated, for her extensive coverage of the two inquests into the James Smith Cree Nation mass killings.

And in the sports reporting category, Ken Warren and Tony Caldwell at the Ottawa Citizen/Ottawa Sun were nominated for their feature about an Ottawa man who cuts a hole through the ice so he can hop in for a daily swim.

The awards were announced at a gala Friday evening in Montreal.

The NNAs received 864 entries from 82 publications across Canada for the 2024 iteration of its awards.

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OTTAWA — Liberal Leader Mark Carney said on Friday he is “open” to revisiting electoral reform but that it’s not a priority in the current political climate. And if he were to follow that route, he would not look to “tip the scales” like his predecessor Justin Trudeau.

Speaking in Sault Ste. Marie, Carney would not directly commit to changing the current electoral system and said that commitment is absent from his party’s platform. Trudeau abandoned the idea in his first term in office and

recently said it was one of his biggest regrets

.

“Government is about making priorities and given the scale of the economic crisis that we’re facing, the security crisis we’re facing, our commitment to supporting Canadians through a range of social programs… Candidly, it is not in the platform,” Carney said.

Carney offered his personal view on the issue. “I think… a prime minister should be neutral on these issues, so that a process — if a process is developed — that they are objective and not to be seen to tip the scales in one direction or another,” he said.

“I think that… looking back on what happened previously, that probably is part of what stalled progress on it,” he added.

Trudeau famously promised that the 2015 election would be the last time Canadians elect their federal government under the first-past-the-post system — where the person which gets the most votes in each constituency becomes the member of Parliament.

An all-party committee released a report in December 2016 recommending that a referendum be held to switch to proportional representation, but it became clear that there was no emerging consensus from all parties — especially from the governing Liberals.

While the report had the sign-off from the Conservatives and the Bloc Québécois, the NDP and Greens agreed with the overall conclusion of the report but questioned the necessity to hold a referendum.

Liberals released their own supplementary report which suggested that their prime minister’s self-imposed deadline to approve of a new system by 2019 was too “rushed.”

Trudeau opted to abandon his election promise a few months later. In a mandate letter to his newly appointed Minister of Democratic Institutions, in February 2017, he wrote that a “clear preference for a new electoral system, let alone a consensus, has not emerged.”

Trudeau had made it clear by that point that he was not as interested in changing the system by which his party won power.

And while at the time Trudeau did not openly push for a ranked ballot — which allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference and eliminates the least popular option until a candidate has more than 50 per cent support — it was clearly his preferred option.

In 2021, he admitted that

he “never flinched in (his) desire for ranked ballots”

and said he would not favour proportional representation because it would help fringe parties.

When Trudeau announced his resignation as prime minister in early January, he said that not moving forward on electoral reform was one of his “many regrets.”

“I do wish that we’d been able to change the way we elect our governments in this country so that people could choose a second choice or a third choice on the same ballot,” he said.

“Parties would spend more time trying to be people’s second or third choices and people would be looking for things they have in common rather than trying to polarize and divide Canadians against each other.”

Carney said there “may be a point” where a re-elected Liberal government may have advanced on “other immediate, pressing priorities” like Canada’s relationship with the U.S. and that “those more structural issues in our democracy could be addressed.”

In French, he said he is “open” to the idea but that now is not the moment to engage in the process.

National Post

calevesque@postmedia.com

• Poilievre pledges to cancel Parliament’s ‘summer vacation’ to pass three key bills
• John Ivison: Fresh questions about Carney’s strategy on Trump

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Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. — Mark Carney has a winking problem.

He winked at the camera at Rideau Hall on the day he became prime minister.

He winked at a senator when he appeared before a committee last May.

In 2014, the Daily Telegraph remarked on how he tipped the BBC’s then-economic editor Robert Peston the wink during a press conference when he was governor of the Bank of England. The Telegraph interpreted this as Carney letting the recipient of the wink know: “Yeah, we both know this is theatre.”

If all the world’s a stage, then politicians are its key players.

The revelation that the Liberal leader told the truth, but not the whole truth, about his March 28th call with Donald Trump plays into the idea that he is playing to different audiences. On Thursday, Carney confirmed that Trump spoke about Canada becoming the 51st state — which was not the impression he left after the call when he maintained that the president had respected Canada’s sovereignty.

A senior source with knowledge of the call has told the National Post that the perception created by the Canadian read-out after the call is at odds with what actually happened. The Canadian read-out said the call was “a very constructive conversation about the relationship between the two countries.”

The official release said the leaders agreed to begin comprehensive negotiations about a new economic and security relationship and that Carney told Trump that his government would implement retaliatory tariffs to protect Canadian workers after April 2nd.

Since then, the central plank of Carney’s campaign is that he is taking a tougher line with Trump than other international leaders, and is best positioned to negotiate a new deal with the president.

But the source said the read-out did not include the fact that Carney flagged for the president that he would need to talk tough about America and Trump during the election.

Carney is also said to have called Trump “a transformative” president that he’d like to work with.

A spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office said Carney did not tell President Trump that he would have to criticize him during the campaign.

Readers can make their own minds up what they believe. I would only note that the Prime Minister’s Office denied details in the Radio-Canada story on Trump and Carney’s call, before the Liberal leader confirmed its central premise.

It is important because Carney’s whole campaign revolves around his assertion that Trump “betrayed us” and that he will take a hard line in future negotiations.

“The president’s latest comments are more proof, as if we needed any, that the old relationship with the United States is over,” he said in a press conference at Algoma Steel on Friday morning. “We will stand with every single Canadian worker targeted by President Trump’s attacks on our country. We will stand with you.”

But it sounds like the reality on March 28th was hardly elbows up.

Is that a bad thing? Not necessarily. Trump is a narcissist, so flattering him is the quickest way to his heart. Carney has already committed to securing a new deal on trade and security, which would buy time, even if there would be no guarantees that the president would stick to its terms.

But if the prime minister tipped the president the wink in his call, tacitly urging him to ignore anything said during the campaign, it calls into question Carney’s authenticity on the stump.

During his press conference, he was asked about the need for new ethics and transparency laws in government.

Carney said he would distinguish between rules and conduct. “If there were specific proposals, obviously we would look at them. But what’s important is bringing that spirit of honesty, the highest integrity, and my track record is consistent with that, but also that commitment that goes with it to transparency,” he said.

The Liberal Party has a history of hubris and quickly becoming too comfortable in power.

Treating voters like the audience of a conjuring trick would be an inauspicious end to this campaign.

jivison@criffel.ca

Twitter.com/IvisonJ

• John Ivison: Carney’s luck is so good, even his scandals work in his favour
• Carney admits Trump talked about Canada becoming 51st state during call last month

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Melania Trump attended the 2025 White House Easter Egg Roll this week wearing a notably subdued and minimalist ensemble that drew attention for its Canadian connection.

The highlight was an off-white, double-breasted trench coat by Canadian luxury design house,

Mackage

, specifically the “

GAEL-V Maxi Leather Trench Coat

.” The coat featured a storm flap and was belted at the waist, creating a structured silhouette.

This Canadian brand is also 

favoured by Meghan Markle

, who has stepped out in Mackage designs on more than one occasion.

Mackage, was founded in Quebec in 1999, then sold to the American private equity group Lee Equity in 2017, but remains headquartered in Montreal.

Melania also showcased a French luxury pump of gray patent leather pumps from Roger Vivier, a classic and understated choice that complemented the muted palette of her outfit, according to

Footwear News

.

The fashion press noted that her choices stood out for their lack of festivity. The look was described as “muted” and “subdued” by

Vogue

, a contrast to the pastel and festive attire typically associated with Easter.

During Donald Trump’s first term, the first lady wore more

traditional Easter attire

for the annual egg roll. In 2017, she opted for a pale pink dress from Hervé Pierre; the following year, she wore a pale blue cashmere jacket from Burberry; and in 2019, she wore a blue dress by Michael Kors.

During the event,

Melania participated

by reading to children in attendance. She was acknowledged by President Trump for her efforts in organizing the festivities.

The subdued look was interpreted as

reflecting a more somber or restrained mood

at the event, especially in light of the news that day of the passing of Pope Francis, which was acknowledged during the festivities.

Her choices are not “necessarily political,” wrote the

New York Times

. After all, Melania, “long ago rejected the idea that, when it came to clothes, she would have to play by anyone’s rules other than her own.”

• onald Trump on ‘great’ First Lady Melania Trump, from her big hat to her aching feet
• Melania Trump says she supports women’s ‘individual freedoms,’ including abortion rights

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OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s riding of Carleton saw the highest early voting turnout in Canada, as 43,394 residents flocked to advance polls over Easter long weekend, according to preliminary

data from Elections Canada

.

This total, making up

45 per cent of registered voters

in the Ottawa-area riding, was 5,926 votes higher than the second-highest turnout, in Green party Elizabeth May’s riding of Saanich—Gulf Islands.

The eye-catching early-voting tally comes amidst speculation that Poilievre, who has held the riding for two decades, may be in a

tight race

to be re-elected on Monday.

Bruce Fanjoy, Poilievre’s Liberal challenger, told National Post he sees the Carleton race as a referendum on the Conservative leader’s combative style of politics.

“Carleton, because of circumstance, has a remarkable opportunity to make a statement on the type of politics and direction that we want Canada to go in,” said Fanjoy.

“Although it’s technically just one of 343 ridings in the election, this one carries extra significance.”

Fanjoy said more than 500 volunteers signed up to help him in the first week of the campaign, coming from as far away as New York City.

The Conservative war room

has also reportedly been

sending additional manpower into Carleton in anticipation of a close result.

Poll aggregator 338Canada

listed Carleton as “CPC Likely”

as of Friday, with Poilievre 10 points ahead of Fanjoy in the projected vote.

Poilievre will be closing out the campaign with a final rally in his home riding on Monday evening.

Three-quarters of eligible voter

turned out to vote

in Carleton in the last federal election in 2021, with Poilievre winning easily.

Liberal Leader Mark Carney’s riding of Nepean was also in the top five nationally for early voting, with 32,689 residents turning out to the advance polls.

Across Canada, 7,280,975 early ballots were cast, up a quarter from the then-record early turnout numbers in the last federal election in 2021.

Across Canada, statues are coming down, buildings and streets are being renamed, and historical figures are being reevaluated as institutions grapple with reconciling the past with changing values.

While proponents argue these changes address potential historical injustices, they have also sparked heated debates. Some argue that removing monuments and altering historical names erases, misunderstands or even misrepresents history, while others see it as necessary for a more accurate and inclusive understanding of Canada’s past.

In response to the ongoing debate, the Canadian Institute for Historical Education (CIHE) launched the “

Context Matters

” campaign on April 16. The campaign aims to give people a deeper and more balanced perspective on the country’s past by encouraging them to examine historical figures within the complexity of their time rather than judging them by modern standards.

“In an era of rapid social change and political polarization, it’s more important than ever to understand where we’ve come from,” said James Cowan, an advisory council member of CIHE,

in a press release

. “This campaign reminds Canadians that history is not a tool for division, but a foundation for unity.”

One of the historical figures often up for debate is Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada’s first prime minister, who was once widely celebrated as a nation-builder.

Many cities have removed statues of Macdonald, and places bearing his name have been renamed. One notable example is the renaming of the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway in Ottawa to Kichi Zibi Mikan in 2023, a decision driven by criticism of his Indigenous policies, including his key role in the creation and expansion of the residential school system.

But this conversation isn’t just about one man. It’s about how Canada teaches, remembers, and understands its history.

The campaign warns that Canadians’ lack of a shared understanding of their history is dangerous.

“The removal of statues and renaming of institutions may feel symbolic, but these actions have profound implications for how future generations understand their country,” said Cowan. “This campaign isn’t about erasing history — it’s about reclaiming it with depth, context, and respect.”

As part of the campaign, the CIHE is commissioning new historical research to explore the past of figures like Macdonald. The CIHE is also hosting expert-led events, producing educational content to counter misinformation, and working with educators and policymakers to teach children and teens more about Confederation and civic literacy in schools.

“We shouldn’t just be judging historical figures by the values of our age. We have to understand the context in which they lived,” said Stephan Azzi, a professor of political management, history, and political science at Carleton University and a member of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.

The debate around how we see historical figures is divisive for Canadians at a time when we need to be united, said Azzi.

“People don’t like it when history changes. My mother is upset right now because the street that she grew up on has changed its name, and she feels like her history is being erased,” said Azzi.

Azzi believes the decision to remove or preserve a statue requires thoughtful consideration. “There has to be a balanced assessment of a statue to determine whether it should stay up or not,” he said. “History isn’t black and white; people are complicated.”

Mahatma Gandhi, a key leader in India’s non-violent fight for independence from British colonial rule, expressed racist views toward Black Africans. Frederick Douglass, a former slave who became an important voice in the abolitionist movement in the U.S, made some offensive remarks about Indigenous peoples. Just because they held problematic views doesn’t mean we should ignore all the good they did, said Azzi.

A potential solution is to give more context to monuments and historical sites by adding plaques with explanatory text, said Azzi. “You include some text. You include a plaque that tells us a bit more about the individual, both the good and the bad. The more of the picture that we can provide, the better.”

“I think historic sites and monuments are vitally important to understanding ourselves. We can’t understand Canada without understanding where it came from. We can’t understand our province or our community without understanding how it got here,” said Azzi.

• Historian offers measured defence of Sir John A. Macdonald
• Dundas, Ryerson and Macdonald schools to be renamed in Toronto: TDSB

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