Leah Borts-Kuperman (Freelance Journalist)

Internal studies at CFB Moose Jaw reveal contamination risk | The Narwhal Despite contamination with ‘forever chemicals,’ the federal government maintains CFB Moose Jaw is safe for employees

"Military’s own study finds harmful contaminants in Moose Jaw base building": The base is one of many across Canada dealing with contamination. Internal studies I obtained reveal an apparent discrepancy as the federal government maintains the site is safe for employees: thenarwhal.ca/cfb-moose-ja...

Internal studies at CFB Moose Jaw reveal contamination risk | The Narwhal Despite contamination with ‘forever chemicals,’ the federal government maintains CFB Moose Jaw is safe for employees

Former employees of a military base in Moose Jaw, Sask., believe workplace contamination is responsible for their cancers and other life-altering illnesses. An internal military report confirmed the presence of chemicals experts have linked to serious disease.
thenarwhal.ca/cfb-moose-ja...

A matcha shortage is coming for social media’s latest obsession TikTok has helped propel the green tea powder into the next big functional ingredient. But the explosive demand is straining supply and fueling a rise of online scalpers.

"A matcha shortage is coming for social media’s latest obsession."

TikTok has helped propel the green tea powder into the next big functional ingredient. But the explosive demand is straining supply and fueling a rise of online scalpers.

My latest for Food Dive: www.fooddive.com/news/a-match...

Cooking up opportunity: Co-ops, worker-led business models helping newcomers thrive | Future of Good When you move into a country as large and diverse as Canada, it can be difficult to find a taste of the familiar.

Newcomer women in Canada are turning recipes into revenue—and reclaiming community through food and co-ops. From empanadas at Granville Island to multilingual translation services, Flavours of Hope and Culture Links are rewriting the immigrant recipe. Read the full article here: tinyurl.com/mrx69sr5

My latest article for @futureofgood.bsky.social!

Massive nickel mine planned north of Timmins, Ontario | The Narwhal Amid a critical minerals rush, Canada Nickel’s Crawford mine project offers risks and opportunities for Timmins, in northern Ontario.

We hear a lot about Canada's push for critical minerals, and new policies and plans to see it through. It isn't always clear how exactly that will play out on the ground, so @leahbortskuperman.bsky.social headed to Timmins, Ont., to find out: thenarwhal.ca/critical-min...

Having my own photos accompany a feature I wrote was also exciting first for me. Check out the full story about what is planned to be the second largest nickel mine in the world here: thenarwhal.ca/critical-min...

Thank you so much to my amazing editor @elaineanselmi.bsky.social for the trust!!!

Massive nickel mine planned north of Timmins, Ontario | The Narwhal Amid a critical minerals rush, Canada Nickel’s Crawford mine project offers risks and opportunities for Timmins, in northern Ontario.

My latest for @thenarwhal.ca: A massive nickel mine, and the community that wants to love it. Timmins, Ont., has a long history of mining and its economy could use another boom. But, who will protect the town from financial and environmental bust?

thenarwhal.ca/critical-min...

Massive nickel mine planned north of Timmins, Ontario | The Narwhal Amid a critical minerals rush, Canada Nickel’s Crawford mine project offers risks and opportunities for Timmins, in northern Ontario.

Timmins, Ont., has a sordid history with mining, from boom to bust, and the scars left behind. With a massive nickel mine set to open nearby, many want the jobs and benefits, but also a more cautious approach to critical minerals. @leahbortskuperman.bsky.social reports: thenarwhal.ca/critical-min...

Toronto indie mag pushes back against ‘AI-generated slop’:
Editors @thegrindto.bsky.social caught 7 articles for one special edition they suspected were AI fakes. The scammers went to unbelievable lengths to keep up their cons.

Read the full story @jsource.bsky.social: j-source.ca/toronto-indi...

High coffee prices brew interest in bean-free alternatives Costs tied to climate change and tariffs could position substitutes made from broken rice or other ingredients as cheaper, more sustainable options.

High coffee prices brew interest in bean-free alternatives: Costs tied to climate change and tariffs could position substitutes made from broken rice or other ingredients as cheaper, more sustainable options.

My latest for Food Dive:

Thanks for reading!!

Seriously, this was a highlight of my summer!! Thank you for the opportunity to get obsessed with bats!!!

Shawanaga First Nation gathers to help endangered bats | The Narwhal In Ontario’s Georgian Bay region, Shawanaga First Nation leads an effort to protect little brown myotis bats

7 out of Ontario's 8 bat species are endangered, including the little brown bat. But in Shawanaga First Nation, where hundreds of bats have moved in, a unique species-at-risk program brings the community together to help them. New from @leahbortskuperman.bsky.social: thenarwhal.ca/shawanaga-fi...

loved editing this story by @leahbortskuperman.bsky.social about the Shawanaga First Nation species-at-risk program — a reserve with fewer than 200 residents, many of whom pitch in to monitor and support these nocturnal neighbours.

Thanks so much, Shawn!! Agreed, Jarett did an AMAZING job!

National Defence plans housing on contaminated sites | The Narwhal As Canada increases military might, National Defence aims to solve its housing crunch by cleaning up sites containing PFAS, PCBs and other toxins

Facing a housing crunch, National Defence plans to build on bases across Canada. But, @leahbortskuperman.bsky.social reports, every one is contaminated with chemicals linked to cancer, heart issues and more. Can they be cleaned up enough to keep military families safe?
thenarwhal.ca/national-def...

Training citizens to watch the watchmen: Documenters Canada brings transparency to your neighbourhood public meetings | Future of Good "Now these folks know, and … when there's development in their neighborhood, they're going to know that they can go and take part in that.”

"Training citizens to watch the watchmen: Documenters Canada brings transparency to your neighbourhood public meetings." My latest for @futureofgood.bsky.social with interviews @magdakon.bsky.social, @neeeda.bsky.social‬, and others improving #onpoli accountability:

futureofgood.co/training-cit...

Training citizens to watch the watchmen: Documenters Canada brings transparency to your neighbourhood public meetings | Future of Good "Now these folks know, and … when there's development in their neighborhood, they're going to know that they can go and take part in that.”

With the decline of local journalism and mainstream media resources, it becomes difficult to truly understand what happened at local public meetings. This is one solution to help solve that problem.

Read the full article here: futureofgood.co/training-cit...

Canadian Armed Forces: CFB Moose Jaw contamination, explained | The Narwhal Veterans and employees working on Canadian Armed Forces’ CFB Moose Jaw base are ringing alarm bells. Here’s what you need to know

From cancers to neurological disorders, veterans and employees working on a Canadian Armed Forces base are ringing alarm bells. @leahbortskuperman.bsky.social explains the key takeaways from her months-long investigation into federal contaminated sites: thenarwhal.ca/canadian-arm...

Using Bees to Spread Pesticides - Offrange Scientists say “bee vectoring” could help control pests — but how viable is it?

Honeybees distribute pollen, so what if we got them to spread organic pesticides and beneficial microbes?

New from @leahbortskuperman.bsky.social:
ambrook.com/offrange/tec...

Oh, thank you so much, @wencyleung.bsky.social !!

I spent the last eight months investigating a cluster of life-altering and terminal illnesses on a military base in Moose Jaw, Sask. What I found will stay with me forever. Give it a read here:

Staff at Canadian Armed Forces base say contamination made them sick | The Narwhal CFB Moose Jaw is contaminated with forever chemicals (PFAS). Employees say toxins at the Canadian Armed Forces base caused cancers, neurological disorders and other illnesses

Military vets and civil servants say contamination at CFB Moose Jaw, home of the Snowbirds, have led to cancers, neurological disorders and more. @leahbortskuperman.bsky.social ‬spent eight months on an investigation into PFAS (forever chemicals) and more on the base thenarwhal.ca/canadian-arm...

Can chocolate substitutes step in as cocoa prices soar? As Hershey and other confectionery giants continue to navigate higher costs, startups and ingredient suppliers are looking to scale alternative options to help manage the volatility.

As cocoa prices soar, cocoa-free chocolate substitutes offer a cheaper and potentially more sustainable solution for the sweets sector... But can consumers be convinced to give up their chocolate addiction? My latest for Food Dive: www.fooddive.com/news/chocola...

Using Bees to Spread Pesticides - Offrange Scientists say “bee vectoring” could help control pests — but how viable is it?

"Using Bees to Spread Pesticides," my latest for Offrange, looking at a buzz-worthy biological control solution to pests and plant diseases destroying between 20 and 40 percent of the global annual harvest:

ambrook.com/offrange/tec... #agriculture #solutions #sojo #bees #pollinators

Wild Wild City | The Local In different corners of Toronto, human and animal worlds are colliding in unexpected ways. From divisive fights over cormorants and coyotes, to the rise and fall of niche industries, to Indigenous-led...

Today, there's a constant barrage of bad news coming from...everywhere. @thelocal.to's latest issue, Wild Wild City, offers a similar chance to see the world from a different perspective. thelocal.to/summer-2025/ 3/

End Times at Ontario’s Roadside Zoos? | The Local Ontario’s lax regulations have made the province the “wild west” for exotic animals. But as public concern over animal welfare grows, some zoos are buckling under the pressure.

“If I wanted to open up a zoo in my backyard, fill it with dangerous, exotic animals who don't do well in captivity… I would be perfectly able to do that.” thelocal.to/ontario-road...

Thanks so much for reading and sharing, Alexandra!! :)

End Times at Ontario’s Roadside Zoos? | The Local Ontario’s lax regulations have made the province the “wild west” for exotic animals. But as public concern over animal welfare grows, some zoos are buckling under the pressure.

Ontario’s lax regulations have made the province the “wild west” for exotic animals. But as public concern over animal welfare grows, some zoos are buckling under the pressure.

Read my latest for @thelocal.to: "End Times at Ontario’s Roadside Zoos?"

thelocal.to/ontario-road...