Selected Articles

Award Winner

"Adam's Fall" - The Coast, February 8, 2008.

The long-form, investigative feature on bridge suicides won two big-brand awards in 2009, the Canadian Association of Journalist's and the Atlantic Journalism Award, but more importantly it was followed by the installation of bridge barriers.

It tells the story of 19-year-old Adam Cashen, who jumped to his death from Halifax's famous landmark, the Macdonald Bridge, and of how suicide prevention barriers could save lives on it.

International Reporting

"Unembedded in Afghanistan" - The Coast, October 1, 2009.

This is a long-form account of my first trip through Afghanistan, where I spent a month alone traveling, living, and disguised as a local.

"Pakistan's Other War" - The National Post, May 14, 2009.

The long-running separatist conflict in Baluchistan has always played second fiddle to Pakistan's other conflicts. Now, with the world's attention riveted on the rise of the Taliban in Pakistan's tribal areas, Baluchis feel more forgotten then ever. Yet this conflict--which seems set to enter another intensifying phase--has vital implications for NATO's war in Afghanistan. I travel to the forbidding border town of Quetta to report for the National Post.

"Iran's Strongman Shows Signs of Weakness" - The Globe & Mail, February 14, 2009.

As Iran's oil-dependent economy plunges, criticism of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's policies is growing. With the entry of his predecessor Mohammad Khatami into the upcoming presidential elections, Iran's financial bind is sure to be a central part of both candidates' campaigns.

"Into Afghanistan" - The National Post, December 21, 2008.

The National Post has published a three-part series by me on my month-long journey alone through Afghanistan. I travelled through the mountainous heart of the country, often disguised as an Afghan, in order to photograph and chronicle the lives of ordinary people there.

"Turbo-Folk Tycoon" - Bad Idea Magazine, Fall Issue, 2008.

This article profiles the rise and success of Croatian turbo-folk kingpin Alen Borbas. In what I hope is an entertaining read, I chronicle this colourful figure's flamboyant lifestyle, sharp and shady business dealings, and connections to indicted war criminals, while casting light generally on the rise of a post-war nouveau riche in Croatia.

You can download a PDF version here (Right click and choose "Save As" to download.)

Travel

"African port in a storm" - The Toronto Sun, February 18, 2007
Cape Verdean city of Mindelo offers a quiet harbour and a friendly greeting.

"In Brittany's Bunkers" - The Toronto Sun, September 17, 2006
In Camaret-sur-mer, history wears her broken heart on her sleeve.

"Antilles of the North" - The Toronto Sun, August 13, 2006.
Nestled just 35 km off England's southwestern tip are islands you'd expect to find in the Caribbean.

"Ireland pulled in two direction" - The Toronto Sun, July 30, 2006.
Cruising the Emerald Isle's coast.

The rest of my weekly columns for the Toronto Sun can be found here.

Arts

Anew Airship - The Coast, January 3, 2008.
Folk-popsters Anew Airship have lift-off, thanks to a Los Angeles production deal for singer-songwriter Jeremy Francis.

Elizabeth Hay - The Coast, March 27, 2008.
The Giller Prize winning novelist talks about her latest book, and dishes on her craft in general.

Andru Branch - The Coast, January 24, 2008.
Although his tapes were stolen twice, Andru Branch's second roots reggae album sticks to themes of love and spiritualism.