Paula Simons: A Voice for Policy and People
We’ve followed Paula Simons’ evolution from investigative journalist to influential policymaker, observing how her reporting rigor informs her Senate work. Her career spans groundbreaking exposes, cultural commentary, and legislative advocacy, all rooted in Alberta’s social fabric.
Career Trajectory: From Newsrooms to the Red Chamber
- 1989–2018: 23-year tenure at the Edmonton Journal, earning 2 National Newspaper Awards for child welfare investigations
- 2018–present: Independent Senator focusing on agricultural reform and civil liberties
- 2021–2024: Deputy chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, spearheading the “Critical Ground” soil health report
Defining Works
- “All the dirt on why soil matters so much” (Edmonton Journal, 2024) This 2,500-word analysis synthesizes six months of Senate committee hearings into Canada’s topsoil crisis. Simons traces how industrial farming and climate change degrade the 6.7% of arable land sustaining 38 million Canadians. Her call for a national soil database—supported by microbial ecology research—showcases her ability to translate scientific testimony into policy frameworks.
- The article’s impact extended beyond environmental circles when Alberta’s agriculture minister cited it during debates over the Sustainable Farming Act amendments. Its lasting contribution lies in framing soil health as national security, a paradigm shift for agricultural reporting.
- “Masking Fear” (Alberta Views, 2025) In this personal essay, Simons reflects on pandemic-era trauma through the lens of her N95 mask at a farmers’ market. Blending memoir with public health analysis, she challenges readers to confront ongoing COVID risks while advocating for disability rights. The piece sparked national dialogue when shared by Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer.
- Methodologically, it demonstrates Simons’ signature approach: using lived experience to humanize data-driven stories. Her comparison of mask skepticism to climate denialism reveals her knack for connecting disparate policy issues.
- “The bittersweet legacy of Humiliation Day” (Edmonton Journal, 2023) Marking the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Exclusion Act, this historical investigation exposes how anti-Asian policies shaped Western Canada’s development. Simons unearthed archival records showing how Alberta’s 1920s eugenics movement influenced federal immigration quotas.
- The article’s revelation of unpublished census data led to renewed calls for reparations, exemplifying Simons’ ability to make historical research actionable. Its inclusion in high school curricula underscores her educational impact.
Pitching Insights
1. Lead with Localized Data
Simons prioritizes Alberta-specific angles in national policy debates. A successful 2024 pitch on permafrost thaw paired Yukon field research with Edmonton-based climate models. Highlight how your story connects to Senate Committee priorities like Bill S-12 on carbon sequestration.
2. Bridge Agriculture and Social Justice
Her “Critical Ground” report links soil health to Indigenous land stewardship. Proposals should mirror this intersectionality, like a recent successful pitch connecting urban farming to refugee resettlement programs.
3. Offer Historical Context
Simons’ 2023 Exclusion Act coverage used century-old editorials to critique modern xenophobia. Provide archivists’ contacts or digitized records to support temporal analysis in pitches.
4. Center Underrepresented Voices
Her mask advocacy article amplified immunocompromised Albertans. Successful sources include patients, caregivers, and frontline health workers—avoid relying solely on institutional spokespeople.
5. Propose Multimedia Collaborations
As host of the Alberta Unbound podcast, Simons seeks audio/visual partners. A 2024 soil microbiome series paired Journal articles with TikTok explainers from @AgriScienceCanada.
Awards and Recognition
- National Newspaper Award for Investigations (2014, 2016): Honored for exposing Alberta’s child welfare failures, these awards cemented her reputation for holding power accountable. The judging panel noted her “relentless sourcing of whistleblower testimony.”
- UNESCO Canada World Press Freedom Prize (2017): Awarded for risking political backlash to report on Indigenous foster care deaths, this recognized her ethical reporting in polarized environments.
- Senate Speaker’s Award for Public Engagement (2023): Celebrating her “Critical Ground” outreach, including 23 town halls with farmers. This rare bipartisan honor reflects her policy bridge-building.
