Joel Ballard

Joel is a soon-to-be graduate of the journalism program at BCIT. He is interested in telling stories that reflect a wide array of voices from across the country.

8 Articles

A rare sighting of a North Pacific Right Whale off the west coast of Haida Gwaii in early June 2018. Photo from Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Rare whale sighting spurs hope and research on Canadian Pacific Ocean

The North Pacific right whale was almost fished to extinction but a few rare, recent sightings have thrilled scientists, raised hopes and spurred research off the coast of British Columbia.

State Of The Animal

By Joel Ballard in News | June 25th 2018

How a small town in Nova Scotia is taking a stand against deepwater drilling in the Atlantic

Lunenburg town council is taking a stand after recent government approval of British Petroleum’s deepwater drilling project 300 kilometres off the coast from this picturesque Nova Scotia community, a UNESCO world heritage site with an economy dependent on tourism and fish.

DEEPWATER

By Joel Ballard in News, Energy, Politics | June 20th 2018

Humpback whale wounded in suspected boat collision off B.C. coast

Humpback whale populations have grown significantly over the last 60 years since regulations were put in place internationally to protect the toothless mammals, whose pre-legislation numbers dwindled due to whaling. But with the return of the humpback comes new challenges.

By Joel Ballard in News | May 17th 2018

'How long will taxpayers be on the hook?' Brad Wall weighs in on Kinder Morgan

Saskatchewan's former premier offered rare praise for the Trudeau government Wednesday, as well as hard questions for the future of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion as British Columbia Premier John Horgan's government continues to challenge the project.

Trans Mountain

By Joel Ballard in News, Energy, Politics | May 16th 2018

Canadians want more science and transparency in environmental assessments: report

As Bill C-69 makes its way through Parliament, a group of scientists has released a report, based on data from more than 400 submissions to government, that indicates some Canadian industries and government bodies don’t feel there is a need for more scientific rigour or transparency in federal environmental assessments.

By Joel Ballard in News, Energy, Politics | May 10th 2018

Has Canada made itself vulnerable to a disaster like Deepwater Horizon?

An investigation by National Observer indicates there is reason to be worried that's exactly what Canada has done.

DEEPWATER

By Joel Ballard in Energy, Politics | May 8th 2018

Tsleil-Waututh Nation take to the seafloor to study Burrard Inlet's acidity

The Tsleil-Waututh people once used to source most of of their food from the Burrard Inlet. Today, the food they used to rely upon so heavily has all but disappeared.

DEEPWATER

By Joel Ballard in News | May 3rd 2018

Oil disaster in Wisconsin raises questions for those living and working near Kinder Morgan tank farm

Officials have lifted an evacuation order on the city of Superior, Wisconsin where, one day earlier, an explosion at an oil refinery released black clouds of noxious smoke into the air, injuring 20 people and sending the 27,000 residents of the city fleeing. The explosion has residents of Burnaby questioning how our city would handle such a disaster.

By Joel Ballard & Dylan Waisman in News, US News, Energy, Politics | April 27th 2018