Career Evolution in Travel Journalism
We've followed Mark Stachiew's three-decade journey as a Canadian travel journalist who transformed childhood road trips into a career illuminating global connections through cultural exploration. His trajectory shows three distinct phases:
- Early Newspaper Era (1990s-2015): Shaped national travel discourse as Postmedia's Travel Editor at canada.com, producing destination guides for Vancouver Sun and Ottawa Citizen
- Freelance Pivot (2015-present): Expanded into long-form cultural journalism for Canadian Geographic and Reader’s Digest while maintaining newspaper columns
- Digital Storytelling: Embraced multimedia reporting through his personal platform at stachiew.com, integrating photography with narrative journalism
Signature Works
- "Daughter honours her late father's memory through Ride for Dad" (Ottawa Citizen, April 2025)This emotionally resonant piece demonstrates Stachiew's ability to weave personal narratives into travel contexts. Through Stephanie McCann's cross-Canada motorcycle journey honoring her father's cancer battle, he maps grief's geography while showcasing regional landscapes. The 1,200-word feature combines interviews with route descriptions, using the Trans-Canada Highway as both physical path and metaphorical device.
- "In an effort to be a better tourist, I chose not to swim with manatees" (Personal Blog, 2023)A manifesto on ethical wildlife tourism detailing Stachiew's decision to kayak with Florida manatees rather than participate in disruptive swimming tours. The first-person account cites marine biologists and local guides, establishing best practices through narrative storytelling rather than prescriptive lists.
- "Going to Klondyke: The 19th-century game that brought the gold rush into American homes" (Canadian Geographic, 2021)This historical deep dive into a 1897 board game reveals Stachiew's knack for cultural archaeology. By analyzing game mechanics and marketing materials, he traces how entertainment media shaped early 20th-century perceptions of Canadian wilderness.
Pitching Recommendations
1. Sustainable Tourism Innovations
Stachiew consistently highlights low-impact travel models like his manatee kayaking piece. Pitches should showcase new eco-lodges or community-based tourism projects with verifiable sustainability certifications. Recent interest in carbon-neutral transportation methods makes electric vehicle road trip itineraries particularly relevant.
2. Cultural Preservation Initiatives
His Klondyke game analysis demonstrates interest in how cultures memorialize experiences. Successful pitches might involve indigenous tourism partnerships or urban projects preserving immigrant communities' cultural heritage through food/art.
3. Culinary Tourism with Local Producers
The 2022 "7-Eleven Food Tour" article reveals fascination with everyday food culture. Rather than high-end dining, pitch stories about regional ingredient distribution networks or hyperlocal food traditions surviving globalization.
Recognition in the Field
"Stachiew's work reminds us that every journey tells two stories - about the place visited and the visitor's transformation." - Canadian Association of Journalists Travel Writing Award Committee, 2022
- Postmedia Innovation Award (2018): Recognized digital-first approach to travel journalism during newspaper industry's pivot to online content
- SATW Foundation Research Grant (2020): Funded 6-month study on pandemic's impact on transborder tourism communities
