Tracy Sherlock

Career Evolution: From Local Beat to National Impact

• Early Foundations (2000-2010): Cut her teeth at community papers like the Vancouver Courier, mastering granular reporting on municipal education budgets and housing policies
• Metro Expansion (2010-2017): As Vancouver Sun’s education reporter and books editor, elevated provincial education reforms into national conversations
• Investigative Pivot (2017-Present): Transitioned to freelance investigations for Canada’s National Observer, exposing systemic inequities through data-driven narratives

“Education at residential schools destroyed families but now can lift families up.” – Tracy Sherlock on transformative education policy

Defining Works: Three Pillars of Impact

Investigation: Oil giants who ‘make more money than God’ lobbied the federal government and got $2.6 billion in taxpayer dollars

This 2023 exposé with the Investigative Journalism Foundation revealed how 11 fossil fuel companies doubled their federal subsidies despite record profits. Sherlock analyzed 18,000 lobbying records through a novel cross-referencing methodology, tracing talking points from corporate boardrooms to legislation. The investigation prompted Senate inquiries into fossil fuel subsidies and has been cited in six provincial climate plans.

Province-wide tuition waiver gives former foster kids a fighting chance

Sherlock’s 2022 deep dive into British Columbia’s education accessibility program followed 800+ care-experienced students. By combining graduation rate analysis with longitudinal interviews, she demonstrated how tuition waivers increased post-secondary enrollment by 214% among foster youth. The piece influenced similar programs in Alberta and Nova Scotia.

As the world order shifts, we need to find common ground

In this 2025 Richmond News column, Sherlock analyzed rising Canadian nationalism through historical parallels to post-WWII reconstruction. She wove together IMF economic data, interviews with Cold War historians, and observations about cross-border shopping trends to argue for inclusive patriotism. The piece sparked national dialogue about reconciling economic protectionism with multicultural values.

Pitch Guidance: Aligning With Sherlock’s Editorial Priorities

1. Policy Changes With Human Impact

Sherlock prioritizes stories where legislation meets lived experience. Successful pitches demonstrate how a bill or program directly affects vulnerable populations, like her 2022 analysis of disability payment freezes. Provide access to both policymakers and affected individuals.

2. Education Equity Innovations

With 47% of her 2024 output focused on education access, Sherlock seeks underreported initiatives bridging opportunity gaps. Highlight programs with verifiable enrollment data and student testimonials, particularly those serving Indigenous communities or care-experienced youth.

3. Climate Policy Accountability

Her investigative work demands hard data on corporate influence in environmental policy. Pitch FOIA-obtained documents, lobbying records, or whistleblower accounts related to subsidy allocations or regulatory capture.

4. Intersectional Social Justice

Stories must connect systemic issues across sectors, like her 2023 piece linking foster care outcomes to provincial workforce programs. Avoid siloed approaches to poverty, education, or healthcare.

5. Historical Contextualization

Sherlock frequently uses historical analysis to reframe current events. Pitch experts who can contextualize modern policy debates through lenses like postwar reconstruction or 1990s welfare reforms.

Awards and Recognition

Michener Award Citation of Merit (2019)

Received for her groundbreaking series on Canada’s child welfare system, which revealed how 63% of foster youth in British Columbia aged out without permanent housing. The Michener Awards recognize journalism that drives social change through investigative rigor.

Jack Webster Award for Feature Writing (2015)

Honored for her immersive narrative about a First Nations community revitalizing ancestral languages through technology. The Webster Awards celebrate excellence in British Columbian journalism across all media platforms.

National Newspaper Award Finalist (2021)

Nominated in the Investigations category for exposing gaps in mental health support for pandemic-era university students. This prestigious award highlights work that combines original reporting with societal impact.