Institute for Investigative Journalism

Most Canadians trust that the water from their taps is safe. But the “Tainted Water” project, coordinated by Concordia University’s Institute for Investigative Journalism, revealed elevated levels of lead and other contaminants in our drinking water. The IIJ project — a ground-breaking consortium of newsrooms and universities — involved more than 120 journalists in six news organizations; students and faculty from nine post-secondary institutions; and more than 700 FOI requests. Tainted Water had swift impact, with Canada-wide commitments to replace lead pipes and test water more rigorously. More importantly, it represents a new way forward; a new way to produce great public-service journalism.