Ryan Thorpe is an investigative journalist specializing in government accountability and far-right extremism, currently serving as an investigative reporter for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. With roots in daily crime reporting at the Winnipeg Free Press, Thorpe has evolved into a specialist in long-form investigations requiring undercover work or complex data analysis.
“Journalism isn’t a career, but a calling – it’s about being a persistent check on power.”
Thorpe’s work has influenced national security protocols and prison healthcare reforms, earning recognition from the Canadian Association of Journalists and National Newspaper Awards. His digital-first approach combines traditional investigative techniques with data journalism tools, making him particularly receptive to stories with multimedia potential.
Ryan Thorpe has carved a niche as a watchdog journalist specializing in high-stakes investigative reporting. Beginning his career at the Hamilton Spectator, he honed his skills in crime and policy reporting before joining the Winnipeg Free Press in 2017. His transition to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation in 2023 marked a shift toward advocacy-focused accountability journalism, blending traditional muckraking with fiscal policy analysis.
Thorpe’s groundbreaking 2019 investigation into The Base’s Canadian operations demonstrated exceptional risk-taking and methodological rigor. By creating a credible alt-right persona, he gained access to secret recruitment meetings, exposing active military member Patrik Mathews’ neo-Nazi ties. The FBI later arrested Mathews for plotting a Virginia gun rally attack. This 18-month investigation combined digital forensics with physical surveillance, resulting in international security protocol changes and earning Thorpe a National Newspaper Award nomination.
This 2021 six-part series analyzed 20 years of coroner’s reports from Manitoba’s Stony Mountain Institution. Thorpe revealed how bureaucratic inertia contributed to a 300% increase in preventable inmate deaths despite judicial warnings. His FOIA-driven methodology exposed systemic healthcare failures, prompting Corrections Canada to implement new prisoner wellness checks and staff training programs.
Demonstrating his policy analysis range at CTF, Thorpe dissected Alberta’s controversial tax reforms through interviews with 40+ economists. He balanced voter savings projections ($2,800/year for median households) with debt sustainability concerns, exemplifying his ability to translate complex fiscal issues into public-interest narratives.
Thorpe prioritizes stories exposing misuse of public funds or institutional negligence. His CTF work on municipal contract irregularities (2024) and police overtime abuse (2023) show particular interest in quantifiable waste metrics. Successful pitches should include authenticated documents and whistleblower contacts.
Building on his Base investigation, Thorpe continues monitoring hate group financing and recruitment tactics. His 2024 piece on encrypted cryptocurrency donations to white nationalist groups illustrates appetite for tech-angle extremism stories.
With 14 corrections-related bylines since 2020, Thorpe seeks underreported angles like mental health training gaps for guards or rehabilitation program efficacy. Avoid surface-level crime statistics without policy context.
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