Let's work together to Spotlight Press Freedom in 2025!
Building on the success of our 2024 campaign that drew collaborators from across Canada and Australia, we're inviting like-minded individuals, organizations and public institutions around the globe to help #SpotlightPressFreedom — literally and figuratively — on UN World Press Freedom Day (May 3).
Our THANKS to the illumination board at Niagara Parks for being the first to confirm their participation in 2025!
For campaign details and to learn how you can participate, check out the FAQ.
Let's work together to #SpotlightPressFreedom in 2025!
Building on the success of our 2024 campaign that drew collaborators from across Canada and Australia, we're inviting like-minded individuals, organizations and public institutions around the globe to help #SpotlightPressFreedom — literally and figuratively — on UN World Press Freedom Day (May 3).
Our THANKS to the illumination board at Niagara Parks for being the first to confirm their participation in 2025!
For campaign details and to learn how you can participate, check out the FAQ.
Let's work together to #SpotlightPressFreedom in 2025!
2024 World Press Freedom Day
May 3rd is UN World Press Freedom Day and, as we have since 2021, we are asking civic leaders across Canada to help us recognize this important day for building healthy democracies.
This year's WPFD theme is A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the face of the Environmental Crisis
In 2024, our campaign partners again include:
May 3rd is UN World Press Freedom Day and, as we have since 2021, we are asking civic leaders across Canada to help us recognize this important day for building healthy democracies.
This year's WPFD theme is A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the face of the Environmental Crisis
In 2024, our campaign partners again include:
- the Canadian Commission for UNESCO
- journalism students at the College of the North Atlantic and Western University
- World Press Freedom Canada
THANKS to municipalities, provinces, and managers of landmarks who have already granted our requests to help recognize WPFD 2024 by issuing proclamations; raising UN flags; lighting infrastructure; and/or acknowledging the day on elected leaders' social media.
Check out our map of confirmed civic recognitions to date! Pins are coloured purple for proclamations; blue for flag-raisings; yellow for sign and infrastructure lighting; and orange for social media mentions.
Check out our map of confirmed civic recognitions to date! Pins are coloured purple for proclamations; blue for flag-raisings; yellow for sign and infrastructure lighting; and orange for social media mentions.
Municipalities
Victoria, BC; Vancouver, BC; Prince George, BC; Whistler, BC; Camrose, AB; Red Deer, AB; Prince Albert, SK; Moose Jaw, SK; Regina, SK; Selkirk, MB; Winnipeg, MB; Thunder Bay, ON; Sault Ste. Marie, ON; Mayor of Strathroy-Caradoc, ON; London, ON; St. Thomas, ON; Kitchener, ON; Waterloo, ON; Hamilton, ON; Mississauga, ON; Toronto, ON (independent of our campaign); Ottawa, ON; Ville de Gatineau, QC; Saint John, NB; Moncton, NB; Charlottetown, PEI; County of Kings, NS; Halifax, NS; St. John's, NL.
Landmarks
CN Tower in Toronto; Niagara Falls; the Province of Nova Scotia's Province House; Confederation Building in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador; Matagarup Bridge, and other bridges and tunnel, in Western Australia
And more!
Merimac State School, Merimac, QLD, Australia
2023 World Press Freedom Day
May 3rd is UN World Press Freedom Day.
As in 2022, we partnered with World Press Freedom Canada — and journalism students at the College of the North Atlantic and Western University — and asked municipalities across Canada to recognize May 3rd as World Press Freedom Day.
We were also delighted that the Canadian Commission for UNESCO partnered with us for the campaign as, according to our agreement, our "campaign aligns with CCUNESCO's strategic priority to promote freedom of expression to advance an inclusive, just, and peaceful society."
Thanks to the City of Kitchener, ON, for being the first to grant our request! We raised the United Nations flag outside of city hall on May 3! We also thank Victoria, BC; Vancouver, BC; Prince George, BC; Whistler, BC; Port Moody, BC; Red Deer, AB; Prince Albert, SK; Moose Jaw, SK; Regina, SK; Saskatoon, SK; Selkirk, MB; Winnipeg, MB; Thunder Bay, ON; Sault Ste. Marie, ON; Strathroy-Caradoc, ON; London, ON; Mississauga, ON; Cambridge, ON Hamilton, ON; Toronto, ON; Kingston, ON; Ottawa, ON; Moncton, NB; Charlottetown, PEI; Halifax, NS; St. John's, NL; and Iqaluit, NU for their commitments to recognize WPFD 2023 in various ways.
Check out our map of confirmed civic recognitions! Pins are purple for proclamations; yellow for lightings; orange for proclamation + lighting; and blue for flag-raisings.
2022 World Press Freedom Day
May 3rd is UN World Press Freedom Day.
So in partnership with World Press Freedom Canada — and journalism students at the College of the North Atlantic and Western University — we asked mayors across Canada to recognize May 3rd as World Press Freedom Day in their municipalities.
Our THANKS to the 15 participating mayors/municipalities! St. John's, NL; Mount Pearl; Halifax, NS; Saint John; Ottawa, ON; Toronto, ON; Mississauga, ON; Hamilton, ON; London, ON; Thunder Bay, ON; Winnipeg, MB; Regina, SK; Edmonton, AB; Vancouver, BC; Prince George, BC.
May 3rd is UN World Press Freedom Day.
So in partnership with World Press Freedom Canada — and journalism students at the College of the North Atlantic and Western University — we asked mayors across Canada to recognize May 3rd as World Press Freedom Day in their municipalities.
Our THANKS to the 15 participating mayors/municipalities! St. John's, NL; Mount Pearl; Halifax, NS; Saint John; Ottawa, ON; Toronto, ON; Mississauga, ON; Hamilton, ON; London, ON; Thunder Bay, ON; Winnipeg, MB; Regina, SK; Edmonton, AB; Vancouver, BC; Prince George, BC.
Journalism-support motions passed by municipal councils
Thanks to Region of Waterloo councillors who unanimously passed a journalism-support motion on June 3, 2020!
So far, councillors in 29 Canadian municipalities — home to roughly 13 million people in nine provinces — have passed journalism-support resolutions.
View the map.
Region of Waterloo, Ont., council was the first to pass a journalism-support resolution proposed by ink-stained wretches.org The wording (below) is similar to resolutions subsequently passed by all of the municipalities listed above.
Therefore Be It Resolved that Waterloo Regional Council recognizes that a healthy, professional news media is essential to the proper functioning of democracy in the region; urges other municipal councils within the region and across Canada to recognize that a robust news media is essential to the proper functioning of democracy in their jurisdictions; endorses legislation and regulations to support and rejuvenate news outlets across Canada; and urges the federal government to move quickly to pass legislation to ensure an ecosystem for a healthy news media to serve all Canadians. And that the resolution be forwarded to the area municipalities, local M.P.s and M.P.P.s and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and Association of Municipalities of Ontario.
Thanks to Region of Waterloo councillors who unanimously passed a journalism-support motion on June 3, 2020!
So far, councillors in 29 Canadian municipalities — home to roughly 13 million people in nine provinces — have passed journalism-support resolutions.
View the map.
- City of Mississauga, ON (March 23, 2022)
- City of Vancouver, BC (Jan. 26, 2022)
- City of Saint John, NB (Jan. 24, 2022)
- City of Charlottetown, PEI (Sept. 13, 2021)
- Halifax Regional Municipality, NS (June 29, 2021)
- Montréal, QC (June 14, 2021)
- City of Edmonton, Alta. (June 7, 2021)
- City of Winnipeg, Man. (April 29, 2021)
- City of Kamloops, BC (April 20, 2021)
- City of London, ON (April 13, 2021)
- Chatham-Kent, ON ( April 12, 2021)
- City of St. John's, NL (April 5, 2021)
- City of Prince George, BC (March 22, 2021)
- City of Toronto, ON (March 10, 2021)
- Town of Saugeen Shores, ON (Nov. 23, 2020)
- District of Tofino, BC (Oct. 27, 2020)
- City of Kitchener, ON (Sept. 14, 2020)
- Town of Essex, ON (Sept. 8, 2020)
- Town of LaSalle, ON (Sept. 8, 2020)
- City of Cambridge, ON (Sept. 8, 2020)
- City of Kingston, ON (Sept. 1, 2020)
- City of Windsor, ON (Aug. 24, 2020)
- City of Hamilton, ON (July 17, 2020)
- Township of Wellesley, ON (June 30, 2020)
- Township of Woolwich, ON (June 23, 2020)
- Township of North Dumfries, ON (June 22, 2020)
- Township of Wilmot, ON (June 22, 2020)
- City of Waterloo, ON (June 22, 2020)
- Region of Waterloo, ON (June 3, 2020)
Region of Waterloo, Ont., council was the first to pass a journalism-support resolution proposed by ink-stained wretches.org The wording (below) is similar to resolutions subsequently passed by all of the municipalities listed above.
Therefore Be It Resolved that Waterloo Regional Council recognizes that a healthy, professional news media is essential to the proper functioning of democracy in the region; urges other municipal councils within the region and across Canada to recognize that a robust news media is essential to the proper functioning of democracy in their jurisdictions; endorses legislation and regulations to support and rejuvenate news outlets across Canada; and urges the federal government to move quickly to pass legislation to ensure an ecosystem for a healthy news media to serve all Canadians. And that the resolution be forwarded to the area municipalities, local M.P.s and M.P.P.s and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and Association of Municipalities of Ontario.
Petition
Thank you to the 1,171 people across Canada who signed our petition encouraging elected leaders to enact regulation and legislation to shape an ecosystem that supports one of the crucial foundations of a functioning democracy: reliable, local journalism. All campaigns have a limited lifespan. As a result, this petition is now closed.
Thank you to the 1,171 people across Canada who signed our petition encouraging elected leaders to enact regulation and legislation to shape an ecosystem that supports one of the crucial foundations of a functioning democracy: reliable, local journalism. All campaigns have a limited lifespan. As a result, this petition is now closed.