Chris Stewart
APTN National News
Media of all forms were in Edmonton over the weekend as the Canadian Association of Journalists held its annual conference and awards gala.
APTN was nominated for four national awards, capturing two. APTN Investigates won with Dennis Ward and Murray Oliver taking home the award for human rights reporting for their story, a Soldier Scorned, that detailed an Inuk woman who faced racism and sexual harassment in the military.
“You know, Murray and I are the two that are holding on these plaques and stuff (but) a lot of people at APTN work on these stories,” said Ward. “This is a real team effort. That’s how APTN is. A big team.”
APTN Investigates took its second award with Melissa Ridgen’s story, Hunting for Work, about Indigenous workers in Winnipeg working under unsafe conditions and getting hurt picking up the city’s garbage.
“It’s a great night for APTN,” said Ridgen. “This shows that APTN is covering a lot of stories that matter to Indigenous people.”
APTN reporters also took part in journalism panels throughout the weekend.
Tina House moderated a panel on missing and murdered Indigenous women where panelists thanked APTN for how reporters have worked on countless stories for many years.
Jorge Barrera and Ridgen also hosted a popular panel on how to follow the money on First Nations.
The CAJ conference is being held in Toronto next year.
