This year GCL has shared hundreds of pieces from across the country, from deep-dive investigations and personal essays, to profiles and reported features. It’s a daunting (but exciting) task to sift through them to pick out favourite pieces from the past year.
This year in particular was challenging because it was a particularly strong year for Canadian longform writing, despite the continued pandemic. As a result, this year’s list features 12 pieces instead of the usual 10.
The following list, unveiled Thursday, Dec. 16 on our Twitter account is presented in alphabetical order of the author’s last name. It comprises a dozen pieces from 2021 that are especially notable for their quality and craft.
Happy reading. (And continue to wear a mask!)
Rob Csernyik
December 29, 2021
GREAT CANADIAN LONGFORM’S BEST OF 2021
Emma Gilchrist, Maisonneuve
Mostafa Henaway, The Breach
The Shadowy Business of International Education
Nicholas Hune-Brown, The Walrus
Aaron Hutchins, Maclean’s
Lindsay Jones, The Atavist Magazine
Erica Lenti, Xtra
Tori Marlan, Capital Daily
Samantha Nock, Maisonneuve
The joke that went to the Supreme Court
Marie-Danielle Smith, Maclean’s
Richard Warnica, Hazlitt
Brandon Wei, Hakai Magazine
Patrick White, The Globe and Mail
Great Canadian Longform 