This feature on Wolseley’s Villa Rosa centre was published in the Feb. 20, 2019 issue of The Metro.
Continue readingVilla Rosa offers crucial resources
Category: Writing
Longread: Knights of D-Day
This multimedia longread about a group of Westman veterans is the culmination of months of video interviews, international phone calls, and historical research. The project included a five-page spread in the paper and a series of mini documentaries. It went live on June 6, 2016 — the 72nd anniversary of D-Day.
I wrote the article, edited the videos (shot by Colin Corneau) and helped promote the project website (created by Andrew Nguyen). In September 2016, the project was awarded an EPPY Award for best news or event feature video and in March 2017, Knights of D-Day was nominated as a Canadian Association of Journalists awards finalist.
View the full project here: bdnsun.ca/veteransdoc.
Former Ninette Sanatorium patients recall abuse suffered at hands of staff
Alex Harris was kept at a tuberculosis sanatorium in Ninette along with George Pelletier in their youth. (Colin Corneau/The Brandon Sun)
While the experiences of indigenous patients in Manitoba’s racially segregated tuberculosis treatment centres are less well-known than those of residential school survivors, they share many disturbing similarities. After connecting with researchers from The University of Winnipeg, I wrote a series of articles for The Brandon Sun aimed at shedding light the abuse suffered at Manitoba’s sanitoria.
I heard first-hand accounts from former patients George Pelletier and Alex Harris — featured in the story after the jump — and Catherine Mason. Many other patients, family members and sanatoria employees contacted the paper after the series was published.
For Your Entertainment: 7 Ages plans twist with new take on ‘Oliver’
“For Your Entertainment” was a weekly column about music, theatre and the arts in western Manitoba. It appeared in The Brandon Sun’s community newspaper and aimed to inform residents about local events and the city’s growing arts scene.
Continue readingDoctor shortage gap widening between rural and urban Westman
Through a lengthy Freedom of Information request, this data-driven project uncovered a growing doctor shortage in rural Western Manitoba and provided insight into the continuous problem of doctor retention in small towns. This article ran in The Brandon Sun in April 2016.
Interviewing Mitch Podolak, the founder of the Winnipeg Folk Festival
I wrote this story for Winnipeg Folk Stories, my storytelling project about the people who go to the Winnipeg Folk Festival. It was also published on Community News Commons to coincide with the Folk Fest’s 2015 lineup announcement.
It wasn’t until I was walking up the steps to Mitch Podolak’s Wolseley home that I realized I was nervous. All of a sudden, I felt like I was about to knock on the door of a celebrity — albeit a small scale celebrity and one known more for being infamous than famous.
Manitoba Housing move shocks Minnedosa seniors
Townview Manor in downtown Minnedosa. (Eva Wasney/The Brandon Sun)
In December 2015, a seniors home in downtown Minnedosa was the target of upgrades and renovations by Manitoba Housing. The residents were surprised to receive eviction notices ahead of the New Year. A follow-up seven months later revealed construction had yet to begin at the provincially-run complex.
Caw of the wild: Brandon crow bonds with rescuer
The story of Charlie the crow and his human caretaker is a heartwarming example of human kindness and animal connection. It ruffled more than a few feathers — in the best possible way — and attracted media attention from as far away as Winnipeg.
This story ran in The Brandon Sun on August 15, 2015, and was republished in the Winnipeg Free Press.
Thousands in equipment stolen at Manitoba studio
This story came about through the power of social media. After noticing a post on a local instrument buy-and-sell page, I connected with the robbery victims via Facebook. The story ran in Metro Winnipeg on April 18, 2015.
Can’t bank on equality
While reporting for Metro Winnipeg I broke this story about the failed Access and Assiniboine credit union merger due, allegedly, to homophobic sentiments from one side. This article ran on the front page of the paper on April 24, 2015.
Eva Wasney 