Pat Kane

On the left: a photo of an aerial view of a diamond mine being filled with water. On the right: text that reads “How to close a diamond mine in the northwest territories. After shutting commercial operations, Diavik wants to disappear without a trace.”

150 million carats later, the Diavik Diamond Mine is closing. For miner Melanie Rabesca, it’s not just the end of a job but the end of a family built over fifteen years. Visual storyteller Pat Kane captures the people at the heart of the operation: https://ow.ly/rtTC50YlF54

On the left: a photo of an aerial view of a diamond mine being filled with water. On the right: text that reads “How to close a diamond mine in the northwest territories. After shutting commercial operations, Diavik wants to disappear without a trace.”

Canada’s North has seen mines abandoned before—take Giant Mine, for example, which left 237,000 tons of arsenic behind. Now, as Diavik Mine closes, Pat Kane‬ considers the massive cleanup ahead and the potential of history repeating itself. https://ow.ly/MRX950YmaGe

How to Close a Diamond Mine in the Northwest Territories | The Walrus After shutting commercial operations, Diavik wants to disappear without a trace

My latest for @thewalrus.ca thewalrus.ca/how-to-close...

Inside the plan to bring the first public visual arts centre to Northwest Territories A group in Yellowknife is approaching government, foundations and businesses to fund a gallery to showcase artists in the North

Great story about NWT art and our work to build an art centre in the territory, with photos by @patkanephoto.bsky.social and interviews with @melaw-nakehko.bsky.social and Sarah Swan www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/art-...

Photographer and news outlet sue RCMP, alleging wrongful arrest at pipeline protest VANCOUVER — A photographer and the news organization that sent her to cover an anti-pipeline protest in British Columbia are suing the RCMP for wrongful arrest in a case they say has implications for ...

The Canadian Press has also covered the first day of our trial alongside photojournalist Amber Bracken as The Narwhal fights for press freedom in Canada. ca.news.yahoo.com/photographer...

When Diamonds Are Not Forever

Latest for @nytimes.com. As the diamond mines come to a close, what is the future of the Northwest Territories?

www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/w...

On the left: a photo of a cloud of smoke rising above a forest of trees. On the right: text that reads “Wildfires have threatened the existence of this tiny northern town. Here’s how it’s fighting back. A garden and greenhouse in Kakisa could protect the remote Northwest Territories community in emergencies.”

Drought and wildfires have emptied rivers, burned berries, and driven moose away in the North. In a community garden in Kakisa, Northwest Territories, photojournalist @patkanephoto.bsky.social‬ finds a fragile buffer against climate upheaval. thewalrus.ca/tiny-town-wildfi...

I Saw the Northern Lights Once, but This Play Took Me Deeper

Latest dispatch for The New York Times -- I travelled to Fort Simpson with Matina Stevis-Gridneff to do a review of "Kiuryaq". I often take for granted how special the aurora is, but a play like this can show us how meaningful it is to Northerners. Enjoy!
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/30/w...

Careers & Fellowships | The Walrus Work with us at The Walrus! As a registered charity, we publish independent, fact-based journalism; produce national, ideas-focused events; and train emerging professionals in publishing and nonprofit management.

Are you interested in learning about editorial fact-checking? The Walrus is currently accepting applications for two Editorial Fellows. These are remote, paid 12-month positions, with a November 2025 start date. Apply today! thewalrus.ca/about/careers/

Pat Kane: In the Frost Where Stories Speak (Part 1) Podcast Episode · The Camera Cafe Show · 2025-08-10 · 43m

I recently had a great talk with Tom at The Camera Cafe Show about working in Indigenous communities in Northern Canada. Have a listen to Part 1 of our conversation. Enjoy!

podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/t...

Kakisa is the smallest community in the Northwest Territories. The original settlement was moved to its current location because of wildfires about 60 years ago. Over the past decade fires have come close to burning the tiny community, triggering memories of forced relocation due to climate.

Climate Change Is Happening. Why Don’t We See It? | The Walrus The photographers making us look at ecological destruction in new ways

A story on photojournalism and climate change I wrote for @thewalrus.ca is up: thewalrus.ca/climate-chan... featuring interviews with @patkanephoto.bsky.social Daniel Schwartz, @lisahogben.bsky.social Nathan Young and Jonas Harvard.

Today’s folio in @theglobeandmail.com

The ‘Stanley Cup’ of Dene handgames electrifies a small northern community In Behchokǫ̀, NWT, players mesmerize with hype and dexterity as tradition changes hands

I covered the ‘Stanley Cup’ of Dene handgames for The Globe and Mail. Check out this great interactive piece on a truly mesmerizing Indigenous sport.

www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...

What Photography Teaches Me about Surviving the News Cycle | The Walrus It is humbling to pause and take note of what we can easily lose

From @patkanephoto.bsky.social in @thewalrus.ca: What Photography Teaches Me about Surviving the News Cycle thewalrus.ca/what-photogr...

My latest for The Walrus

Congrats, @‪@patkanephoto.bsky.social‬! Pat is the Gold winner for Best Photograph for "True Believer, Up Here Business Magazine" published in @upherepublishing.bsky.social. #NMAB2B25

In this remote northern community, Oilers-mania runs deep In Whatì, Northwest Territories, population 550, diehard Edmonton Oilers fans are everywhere

Went to the tiny community of Whati, NWT to report on their love for the Edmonton Oilers.
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...

So nice to see this story I covered about Arctic sovereignty for is nominated for a Digital Publishing Award. All the best to my fellow nominees (and good friends) in this category 😊

On assignment for The New York Times today. Covering the Canadian election from Yellowknife.

In Mark Carney’s northern birthplace, Fort Smith, the election is the talk of the town For voters in the small Northwest Territories community, the only consensus is that their famous son has put them on the map

I visited Liberal leader, Mark Carney’s childhood home of Fort Smith, NWT for The Globe and Mail. Words by the wonderful Marsha Lederman. www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...

📸 Congrats, @upherepublishing.bsky.social Business Magazine! 📸

@patkanephoto.bsky.social is nominated for Best Photograph for True Believer! 👏

📖 View the full nominee list: zurl.co/waBFc

#B2BAwards #NMAB2B #NorthernCanada #Photography

Great idea Phil, did you print yourself or from a company?

Back in 2011, I had 30 seconds to photograph Mark Carney in the Explorer Hotel for this cover of Maclean’s. Then Gov of the Bank of Canada, now soon to be the first NWT born Prime Minister.

Find me on @thefotoapp if you’re there. Hopefully, the start to a full migration away from Instagram.

the.fotoapp.co/patkanephoto

International Photo Contest – The Leica Oskar Barnack Award The Leica Oskar Barnack Award is an international photo contest for photographers. Awarded will contemporary, outstanding reportage photography.

Thrilled to share that I’ve been nominated for the prestigious Leica Oskar Barnack Award, which recognizes photographers working on projects about the relationship between people and the natural world. Thanks to the wonderful Sarah Leen for the nomination 🥰

www.leica-oskar-barnack-award.com/en/

Far North Photo Festival Elevating the work of visual storytellers in the Circumpolar North.

I help organize a photo festival in Yellowknife and this year we have some incredible speakers and workshops. If you want to attend, hit the link. You don’t need to be a photographer, this is for everyone of all professional backgrounds and we’re very pro-DEI.

www.farnorthphotofest.ca

Nunavut’s hunt for healthy food Across Nunavut, food insecurity continues to affect daily life. For many Inuit, the answer lies not in the grocery store, but on the land.

My photo essay on food security in Nunavut is up on @cangeo.bsky.social. Words by Dustin Patar.

canadiangeographic.ca/articles/nun...

First post. I’m a real boy. Follow along for pictures, notes and musings from Canada’s North.