Surviving Hate

Pearl Gambler touches one of many memorials at her home to her daughter Sakihitowin, whose name means “love.”
Pearl Gambler touches one of many memorials at her home to her daughter Sakihitowin, whose name means “love.” In the summers, friends and family remember Sakihitowin by filling the planter with flowers. (Photo by Danielle Orr)

Surviving Hate is a collaborative journalism project co-ordinated by Humber College’s StoryLab seeking to fill the data gap on the reporting of hate crimes and incidents in Canada, with a focus on anti-Indigenous racism.

Academic partners include the University of Toronto’s Investigative Journalism Bureau, Algonquin College, Trent University, the University of King’s College, Toronto Metropolitan University, Carleton University and the Centre for Human Rights Research at the University of Manitoba.

Our media partners are Canada’s National Observer, the Toronto Star, TVOntario and JSource. Surviving Hate is supported by the Inspirit Foundation, Google News Initiative and Journalists for Human Rights and Humber College’s Office of Research and Innovation and Faculty of Media and Creative Arts.

Surviving Hate is a finalist for the Canadian Journalism Foundation (CJF) Jackman Award for Excellence in Journalism. Read More

Read the latest Surviving Hate stories:

Participate in the Surviving Hate collaborative journalism survey


Why Surviving Hate?

In Canada today, the tracking of hate crimes nationally is woefully inadequate. Federal sources such as Statistics Canada rely on reporting from law enforcement. This aggregate data lacks context and doesn’t take into account the potentially large number of victims that have chosen not to make a formal report with police.

Surviving Hate is inspired by the work of ProPublica’s groundbreaking project, Documenting Hate.

Questions about Surviving Hate? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions page or contact us at survivinghate@protonmail.com.

Resources for Victims and Witnesses of Hate Crimes and Bias Incidents:

If you know about useful resources that you feel should be added to this page, please email them to us at david.weisz@humber.ca.

If you are experiencing an emergency, please call 911.

  • Canadian Suicide Prevention Services: If you are in immediate distress, Canadian Suicide Prevention Services has a 24 hour hotline and text service.  Available toll-free anytime at 1-833-456-4566 or by text between 4pm and 12am daily at 45645.
  • Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime has resources for victims, witnesses and supporters.
  • The Indian Residential School Survivors Society Crisis Line (1-866-925-4419) provides 24/7 support for anyone experiencing distress or pain as a result of residential schools.
  • The Hope for Wellness Help Line provides Indigenous people with immediate mental health support and crisis intervention. They are available anytime by phone at 1-855-242-3310 or by online chat on their website: https://www.hopeforwellness.ca/.
  • Naseeha offers counselling to Muslim and non-Muslim youth at 1-866-NASEEHA (627-3342). Their phone lines are open 12pm-12am every day, and by text Monday to Friday.
  • Trans Lifeline offers trans-led peer support to trans people 24/7 by phone at (877) 330-6366.
  • Kid’s Help Phone has a guide for dealing with online harassment and cyberbullying.
  • The Trevor Project offers 24/7 support by phone, text or chat to LGBTQ people under 25 – call the helpline at 1-866-488-7386, chat online, or text START to 678-678.

For longer-term support:

Meet the Team

  • Martha Troian

    Martha Troian

    Investigative Lead

    Martha Troian is an investigative journalist and producer who has worked with and contributed to media outlets across North America. She practices investigative journalism, data journalism, radio, and online storytelling. Experienced in both mainstream newsrooms and reporting independently, Martha has been involved with small to large scale collaborative projects that focus on data journalism, Indigenous politics, environmental issues, justice, and human rights issues.

    She obtained her Master of Journalism degree from Carleton University with a specialization in broadcast journalism and a Master of Journalism from the University of King’s College with a specialization in investigative journalism. Martha is originally from Obishikokaang (Lac Seul First Nation), with ties to Wabauskang First Nation in northern Ontario. She is a mother to a young boy and lives between Manitoba and Ontario.

  • David Weisz

    David Weisz

    Director, StoryLab, Humber College

    David Weisz is a data journalist and educator passionate about storytelling, spreadsheets and pandas (both furry and Python varieties). Creator of Data Driven, Canada's premier data journalism symposium. He is currently exploring new ways to collaborate on data-driven storytelling as a co-founder and director of Humber College's StoryLab.

  • Kunal Chaudhary

    Kunal Chaudhary

    Investigative Journalist, StoryLab

    Kunal Chaudhary is a graduate of the University of King's College journalism program. His work has appeared in the National Observer, Spacing magazine, and the West End Phoenix. He is based in Toronto.

  • Janice Saji

    Janice Saji

    Project Assistant, Humber College

    Janice Saji is project assistant with Humber College's StoryLab as well as Humber Press. She completed her postgraduate studies in Journalism from Humber College, Toronto. She previously worked as an intern-journalist at The Hindu in India, writing stories covering crime, art, and science. When she’s not busy chasing stories, you can find her stalking the neighbourhood cats and binge-watching stand-ups.

  • Terra Ciolfe

    Terra Ciolfe

    Faculty Advisor, Humber College

    Terra Ciolfe discovered data while working as an editor/reporter in the Toronto area. She completed a master of investigative and data-driven journalism at the University of King’s College and has since worked at The Globe and Mail, CBC, Maclean’s, and The Canadian Press. She is currently a full-time professor at Humber College’s school of journalism.

  • Robert Cribb

    Robert Cribb

    Investigative Journalist, Toronto Star

    Robert Cribb is founder and director of the Investigative Journalism Bureau and an investigative reporter at the Toronto Star. He has received national reporting awards and citations for investigations into offshore tax evasion, child exploitation, human trafficking, dangerous doctors, environmental threats and public safety. He was part of the international reporting team that produced the Pultizer Prize-winning Panama Papers investigation in 2017.

    Cribb is founder of the National Student Investigative Reporting Network, past president of the Canadian Association of Journalists, the first international board member of Investigative Reporters and Editors, current president of Canadian journalism charity Veritas – Advancing Journalism in the Public Interest and is co-author of Digging Deeper: A Canadian Reporter’s Research Guide (Oxford University Press). Cribb is recipient of both the Massey Journalism Fellowship and the Atkinson Fellowship in Public Policy Reporting. He teaches investigative reporting at Ryerson University’s School of Journalism and the University of Toronto.

  • David McKie

    David McKie

    Deputy Managing Editor, Special Projects, National Observer

    David McKie is an award-winning, Ottawa-based journalist. David teaches courses in data journalism and reporting methods, and has co-authored three journalism textbooks and user guides on access to information and privacy.

  • Melody Lam

    Melody Lam

    StoryLab Intern, StoryLab

    Melody Lam is a research assistant with Humber College’s Story Lab. She is currently a postgraduate journalism student at Humber College. She holds a bachelor's degree in science, majoring in environmental science. Before coming to Canada, she worked in an international humanitarian organization in Hong Kong. She is passionate about human rights and environmental issues.

  • Antonio Peláez Barceló

    Antonio Peláez Barceló

    StoryLab Intern, StoryLab

    Antonio Peláez Barceló is a multimedia journalist who has covered mainly economic, cultural and entertainment issues. He holds a degree in Economics and a PhD in Social Communication with a thesis focused on cultural diversity in film festivals. He is equally fond of Iranian cinema and Sandra Bullock movies, as well as semi-infinite spreadsheets and QDA programs. He is currently enrolled (and enjoying!) the Humber Ontario Graduate Certificate in Journalism.

  • Danielle Orr

    Danielle Orr

    Investigative Journalist, StoryLab

    Danielle is a freelance journalist and private investigator (OSINT) based in Ontario. Prior to joining Humber College’s StoryLab, she worked on investigations for the Investigative Journalism Bureau and the Toronto Star, and produced audio projects with Fixt Point Arts and Media and Sheridanlife Radio. When she’s not working with audio, she can be found hiking the Bruce Trail.

  • Keith Grosbeck

    Keith Grosbeck

    Community Outreach Liason, Humber College StoryLab

    Keith Grosbeck is a Creative Director that works in film, photography, motion graphics, graphic design for print and web, consultation, web and media management, sound design and many other creative areas. He has been an independent contractor for over fifteen years with his personal studio, Oddest Age (oddestage.com). He is also a lifelong music lover, having spent the majority of his life sharing or experiencing music in many capacities.

    Keith has Plains Cree, Chippewa, Munsee-Delaware, Oneida, Mohawk, Blackfoot and European heritage. He was born and raised in Canada, primarily in the Chippewas Of The Thames First Nation community where he is a Registered Indian under the Indian Act Of Canada. With his unique heritage and cultural background, he has traveled and lived across North America in his lifetime. He currently calls North America (Turtle Island) his home.

  • Maggie Rahr

    Maggie Rahr

    Investigative Journalist, StoryLab

    Maggie Rahr is an award-winning investigative journalist whose work often focuses on violation and institutional failure. Most recently Rahr wrote and hosted the CBC podcast Carrie Low VS. which chronicles a sexual assault survivor's battle against police as Carrie attempts to solve the crime she endured. Rahr has developed a system of reporting which is built on a foundation of consent, humane investigative practices, and the rigorous pursuit of information. This work spans print journalism across the country. Rahr also wrote and hosted the podcast What Happened to Holly Bartlett, a series examining the suspicious death of a blind woman who was found in a locked compound below a bridge, and whose death police considered accidental. Rahr lives in Nova Scotia with their two children and is passionate about music, delicious snacks, and documenting seaside life in writing and photography.

  • Kerry Potts

    Kerry Potts

    Faculty Research Lead, Humber College

    Kerry Potts is a Faculty Research Lead for Surviving Hate who has Teme-Augama Anishnabai/British/Scottish heritage with familial roots in Temagami and Prince Edward Island. As a professor of Liberal Studies at Humber College, and a member of the Indigenous Education Council, her focus has been on developing Indigenous-focused training, content and courses, and created the general elective “Indigenous Perspectives on Music, Film and Media”. Kerry began her academic career at Trent University (Bachelor Arts, Honours, joint major Indigenous Studies and Anthropology) and OISE/University of Toronto (Masters, Sociology and Equity Studies) and has taught at George Brown College, Seneca College, and OISE/University of Toronto. She has participated, worked and volunteered in the Indigenous community in Toronto for over 20 years at social service, performing and media arts organizations, including Native Women’s Resource Centre, Native Women in the Arts, National Indigenous Media Arts Coalition, imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival, and currently volunteers with Susan Aglukark’s Arctic Rose Foundation.

  • Amber Bernard

    Amber Bernard

    Journalist

    Amber Bernard (she/her) is Mi'kmaq (We'koqma'q First Nation) from the unceded territory of Mi'kma'ki or more commonly known as Nova Scotia. She is a journalist and communications professional who has worked with various outlets in Canada. Her most notable work was with APTN National News as a television reporter. She was a part of the award-winning project 'Tracking Transmountain,' which received an RTDNA data storytelling award in 2019. Her career continues to focus on Indigenous priorities, whether it's through her work as a journalist or communications professional. Amber's stories have explored many areas of Indigenous rights, climate change, and social justice.

  • Amy Jackson

    Amy Jackson

    Centre for Human Rights Researcher

    Amy Jackson comes from a Cree and Metis background who spent a number of years in politics before deciding to go work toward a degree. She is currently a full time student at the University of Manitoba where she is doing a masters degree in Native Studies. Amy obtained her Bachelor of Arts at UCN with a major in History and minors in Social Science and Native Studies. When she’s not multitasking, she is playing fiddle or designing digital artwork.

  • Dani Monterroso

    Dani Monterroso

    StoryLab Intern

    Dani is a graduate of Humber Polytechnic. She previously worked as a research assistant intern on two StoryLab projects, Surviving Hate and Decoding Two Decades of Federal-Provincial Health Transfer Payments. Passionate about photography and research has driven her to focus on work that encompasses human relations and lifestyle. When she’s not focusing on work, her favourite pastimes include reading, hiking, travelling, and spending time with friends and family.

  • Hansil Mehta

    Hansil Mehta

    StoryLab Intern

    Hansil Mehta is a student journalist based in Toronto. He is passionate about storytelling and has worked at a South Asian radio station in the GTA for the past five years. He has a deep interest in telling stories about politics, human rights, climate change and sports.

  • Jamie Monastyrski

    Jamie Monastyrski

    Faculty Lead, Humber College

    Jamie is a communications and media professional within the Indigenous political, media and arts sectors in Canada. He is a citizen of Couchiching First Nation, Treaty #3 and creates communications and media strategies for Indigenous organizations and political offices. He has held senior communication roles at the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), Chiefs of Ontario and Indspire. As an editor and reporter, he has worked for Wawatay News, AboriginalVoices Magazine, Spirit Magazine, APTN, the Globe and Mail, the National Observer and Indian Country Today and continues to write for and support various media outlets and Indigenous organizations. He is a part-time instructor at Humber College’s school of journalism teaching the ‘Reporting in Indigenous Communities’ course.

  • Jeremy Honess

    Jeremy Honess

    StoryLab Intern

    Jeremy Honess is a student journalist based in Toronto, Ontario and is currently enrolled in the Bachelor of Journalism degree program at Humber College. In his off-hours, Honess follows the automotive industry and keeps tabs on the latest automotive trends but ultimately hopes to become a multi-faceted journalist.

  • Ryan Running Rabbit

    Ryan Running Rabbit

    Journalist

    Ryan Running Rabbit is Blackfoot, from the Siksika Nation in Alberta. He is currently a radio anchor/reporter at 660 News in Calgary, where he has been for the last three years covering various roles in the newsroom. Before 660 News, Ryan went to SAIT where he graduated from the RTBN program in 2017. Aside from news, Ryan has a deep passion for encouraging First Nations youth to seek higher education.

  • Prabhy Rehal

    Prabhy Rehal

    StoryLab Intern

    Prabhy Rehal (She/Her) is a Humber journalism graduate who is passionate about accessible journalism and storytelling. She is a member of the Sikh community, and a daughter of Punjabi immigrants. These identifiers also inform her advocacy for social justice as it allows for an empathetic approach to her work and the need for precision in storytelling. As a BIPOC journalist she understands the importance of hearing every voice and hopes to highlight stories and share the experiences of those outside the mainstream. Prabhy has worked on two StoryLab projects, Surviving Hate and Decoding Two Decades of Federal-Provincial Health Transfer Payments.

  • Stephanie Roberts

    Stephanie Roberts

    Intern, University of King's College

    Stephanie Roberts is completing a master of journalism at the University of King’s College, with a focus on investigative and data journalism. She has a background in health and research communication and policy, and a science degree from the University of Toronto. She has a keen interest in health, science, social justice and people.

  • Emma Posca

    Emma Posca

    Student Journalist, StoryLab

    Emma Posca is a journalism advanced diploma student at Humber College. She is passionate about investigative journalism and covering crime. Long-form storytelling is in her area of interest and she enjoys collaborating as a team to shed light on injustices happening anywhere in the world. In her spare time, you can find her exploring new places, hiking in forests and keeping her three-year-old entertained.

  • Ishmeet Singh

    Ishmeet Singh

    Student Journalist, StoryLab

    Ishmeet Singh is a journalism student at Humber College. His coverage at Skedline.com has included political, entertainment, and sports news. He is a passionate photographer and documentary filmmaker. He was born in New Delhi and calls Toronto home. He has covered various cities in India documenting the cultural and religious events as a part of the Ministry of Human Resource Development (Government of India) project. His interests include reporting for marginalized communities, locally and internationally. You can reach him at ishimeetsingh@gmail.com.

  • Nitika Mishra

    Nitika Mishra

    Student Journalist, StoryLab

    Nitika Mishra a journalist passionate about making the world a better place. She is a feminist and has always stood up for human rights and openly condemns any form of action that threatens the rights of the 2SLGBTQI+ and POC community. She has worked with Karwan-e-Mohabbat or Peace Yatra, which is a countrywide civilian campaign in India that was launched to show solidarity with the victims of mob lynching or those victimized during the communal or religiously motivated violence. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, she understands their fight for equality and has always taken part in parades and marches. Nitika has previously worked for ABP Networks, NDTV and Election Tamasha.

  • Ramona Leitao

    Ramona Leitao

    Investigative Journalist, StoryLab

    Ramona Leitao (she/her) is an Ontario-based multimedia journalist. She’s reported for The Globe and Mail, Chatelaine, The Narwhal, HuffPost Canada, NOW Magazine and The Local. Through her photo essays and written features, she documents how marginalized communities are impacted by politics, the ongoing climate crisis, agriculture and human rights issues. When she’s not working she’s most likely taking photos for fun, baking bread while listening to Studio Ghibli soundtracks or discovering hidden food spots in Toronto.

  • Shannon Bear

    Shannon Bear

    Research Assistant

    Shannon Bear is from Peguis First Nation. She the daughter of Florence Bear and the late Brian Bear. For the past two years she has had the privilege to teach in her own community of Peguis First Nation. Shannon is currently in her second year of the Master’s in Development Practice Program at the University of Winnipeg. She is interested in learning strategic, innovative and holistic ways to improve social determinants of health for Indigenous people. She is particularly focused on Indigenous people’s access to and quality of education.

  • Rebecca Lyon

    Rebecca Lyon

    Indigenous Research Fellow

    Rebecca Lyon is Anishinaabekwe of mixed descent from North Bay, Ontario. She is a Ph.D student at Trent University looking at Indigenous Identity and Fashion. Some of Rebeccca's work includes being owner and creator of www.powwowjackets.com and writing the research report, "Emerging Voices: A dual examination into access to post-secondary education for Indigenous youth in Ontario, and what journalism schools in Ontario are doing to implement Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Call To Action #86" for Journalists for Human Rights. She is the Indigenous Research Fellow for Surviving Hate.

  • Stephane Gunner

    Stephane Gunner

    Intern, Algonquin College

    Stephane Gunner is James Bay Cree from Mistissini, Quebec. Stephane plays a role in preserving and archiving the Cree language and culture through media. His educational and employment background is in the tourism industry, and he moved into journalism in 2018 to join CBC's Cree unit based in Montreal. A recent journalism graduate of Algonquin College, he joined Humber College's StoryLab team with an open mindset to collaborate in reporting and research. He is a lifelong learner committed to serving the community he engages in by contributing to the responsibility of transferring people's stories through journalism.

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