2023 World Press Freedom Day
May 3rd is UNESCO World Press Freedom Day.
As in 2022, this year we're partnering with World Press Freedom Canada — and journalism students at the College of the North Atlantic and Western University — and asking municipalities across Canada to recognize May 3rd as World Press Freedom Day.
We're asking municipalities for mayoral proclamations, flag raising and/or the lighting of signs, bridges or buildings.
Thanks to the City of Kitchener, Ont., for being the first to grant our request! We will be raising the United Nations flag outside of city hall on May 3! We also thank Prince George, BC; Whistler, BC; Red Deer, Alta.; Prince Albert, Sask.; Selkirk, Man.; Thunder Bay, Ont., Mississauga, Ont.; Hamilton, Ont.; Kingston, Ont.; and Charlottetown, PEI 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 UNESCO 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 UNESCO 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.