David Olive

David Olive: A Pillar of Canadian Business Journalism

We’ve followed David Olive’s distinguished career as a trusted voice in Canadian business journalism for over two decades. His work at The Toronto Star and beyond blends rigorous economic analysis with a human-centric lens, offering readers clarity amid complex financial landscapes.

Career Trajectory: From Editor to Authoritative Columnist

Olive’s journey began with leadership roles at Report on Business Magazine, where he honed his editorial vision before transitioning to The Toronto Star as a senior writer. Key phases include:

• 2008 Financial Crisis Coverage: His blog The Great Recession became essential reading for policymakers
• Book Authorship: 10 published works dissecting economic trends, including acclaimed analyses of global recessions
• Tech Sector Evolution: Recent focus on corporate responsibility in Canada’s growing tech landscape

Defining Works: Three Signature Analyses

• "A tariff-induced recession in both Canada and the U.S. now seems a certainty" (The Hamilton Spectator) This prescient 2018 analysis dissected the cascading impacts of U.S. trade policies through supply chain case studies. Olive tracked tariff effects from Ontario manufacturing hubs to agricultural exporters, employing rare interviews with cross-border logistics CEOs. The piece’s lasting impact lies in its accurate prediction of sector-specific unemployment patterns that materialized within 18 months.
• "Canadian businesses must protect DEI practices against U.S. trends" (The Hamilton Spectator) Olive’s 2023 tech sector examination revealed how Canadian firms maintained diversity initiatives despite U.S. rollbacks. Through salary transparency data and HR director interviews, he demonstrated correlation between DEI commitment and R&D productivity in Toronto’s AI sector. The article sparked parliamentary committee discussions about incentivizing inclusive hiring practices.
• Business Ethics in the Digital Age (Penguin Random House) Though not periodical journalism, this 2021 book chapter excerpted by multiple business schools analyzes cryptocurrency regulation through stakeholder theory. Olive’s unique contribution pairs blockchain technical analysis with ethnographic studies of mining community impacts in Alberta.

Strategic Pitching Guidance

1. Contextualize Financial Trends in Human Terms

Olive’s coverage of the 2022 interest rate hikes stood out for profiling mortgage holders alongside central bankers. Successful pitches should mirror this approach - e.g., "How Toronto fintechs are redesigning UI/UX to reduce elder financial stress during inflation."

2. Highlight Canadian Tech Exceptionalism

His DEI analysis demonstrates interest in what distinguishes Canada’s tech ecosystem. Pitch comparative studies like: "Vancouver vs. Seattle: Retention rates for women engineers in cloud computing sectors."

3. Global Economic Pressures, Local Impacts

The tariff article’s success stemmed from mapping macro trends to specific industries. Develop pitches with similar scope: "EU carbon border taxes: Implications for Manitoba’s nickel mining communities."

4. Historical Precedents in Current Crises

Olive frequently references 1990s recession strategies when analyzing modern crises. Pitch retrospective analyses like: "Revisiting 2008 auto bailout conditions in light of EV transition challenges."

5. Cross-Sector Policy Impacts

His work on agricultural export tariffs showed policy’s ripple effects. Strong pitches might examine: "How healthcare worker wage increases affect commercial real estate in mid-sized Ontario cities."

Awards and Industry Recognition

"Olive’s synthesis of economic complexity and narrative urgency sets the standard for business journalism." - National Business Book Awards Committee

• 2023 Sandford Fleming Medal: Awarded for lifetime achievement in technical communication, recognizing his ability to explain quantitative monetary policy to general audiences
• National Newspaper Award Finalist (2019): Honored for investigative series on offshore tax havens’ impact on Canadian pension funds
• Rotman School of Management Visiting Fellow: Appointed 2020-2022 to lecture on media’s role in financial literacy