The Geoffrey Stevens Awards for Reporting Excellence

The Geoffrey Stevens Awards for Excellence in Reporting promotes high-quality journalism that contributes to an effective, working democracy. They reward in-depth reporting on a subject, issue, or community to tell stories that can change Canadians’ lives.

The Geoffrey Stevens Awards for Reporting Excellence
The Geoffrey Stevens Awards for Reporting Excellence
62.86% Raised
$62,860.20 donated of $100,000.00 goal
62 Donors

As news organizations undergo a seemingly endless series of changes and challenges, impactful, fact-based reporting continues to be the essential backbone of journalism across the country.  Despite these challenges, Geoffrey believed that journalism needs continuing support as the best days of journalism still lie ahead.

To that end, the Stevens family and a group of Geoffrey’s friends have established the Geoffrey Stevens Awards for Reporting Excellence.

The Geoffrey Stevens Awards will encourage journalists to pursue in-depth reporting on a subject, issue or community of their choice in telling stories that can change the lives of Canadians. 

The inaugural Geoffrey Stevens Award will be at the 2025 National Newspaper Awards. Subsequently, two separate awards will be presented annually—at the NNA gala and at the annual Canadian Association of Journalists conference.

The awards celebrate Geoffrey Stevens’ more than six decades of political reporting and commentary, known for quality, fact-based journalism that played an essential role in Canada’s democracy.

That began when he was initially hired by the Globe and Mail in 1962. Originally reporting from Toronto city hall, he was assigned to the Globe’s Ottawa bureau in 1965. In 1973 he was named the Globe’s national political columnist, a role he continued until 1981. Returning to Toronto, he spent two years as the Globe’s Sports Editor and National Editor before being named its Managing Editor in 1983, during which time he was responsible for appointing the Globe’s first female foreign correspondent.
After leaving the Globe in 1989, he served as managing editor of Macleans magazine from 1996 until 2001. Until his death in 2023 at the age of 83,  he had been writing a weekly political column for The Record in Waterloo, the Spectator in Hamilton and other Torstar publications.
He also taught political science at Wilfrid Laurier University, which recognized his “lifelong contribution to political reporting and public discourse across Canada” with an Honorary Doctor of Letters degree.
Geoffrey Stevens is the author of six books about Canadian politics, the most recent being Flora – A Woman in a Man’s World – an autobiography written with Flora MacDonald and published in 2021.

 

Please lend your support in recognizing this outstanding journalist!

The Geoffrey Stevens Awards for Reporting Excellence

28 thoughts on “The Geoffrey Stevens Awards for Reporting Excellence

  • 13 December 2024 at 4:48 pm
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    This is a wonderful idea. Geoff Stevens was a role model for so many of us over the years. May his memory and contributions to journalism live on through this endeavour.

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  • 13 December 2024 at 9:15 pm
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    I have known Geoff during and since University and kept in touch until the end

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  • 15 December 2024 at 11:11 am
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    I am donating to honour Geoff’s contribution to Canadian journalism and to support journalists who dig deep to deliver informed reporting so essential for a well-functioning democracy.

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  • 16 December 2024 at 1:20 pm
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    Thank Carol van Ryn

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  • 16 December 2024 at 4:34 pm
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    Donating in memory of Geoff and of my wife, Stevie, who loved and admired Geoff.

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  • 16 December 2024 at 4:43 pm
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    We are so proud of our father and grandfather and happy to support future journalists in his name.

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  • 18 December 2024 at 8:18 am
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    A fitting tribute to a great Canadian Journalist

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  • 19 December 2024 at 3:09 pm
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    I am giving, not only as a friend and admirer of Geoff, but in memory of my wife, Stevie, who loved and cherished him.

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  • 19 December 2024 at 5:49 pm
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    Geoff was an inspiration as a journalist. As an editor, he was supportive, determined and gave his reporters lots of time to nail a story. Canadian journalism lost a great one when he died. I hope this award helps produce another Geoff.

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  • 19 December 2024 at 8:50 pm
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    Brilliant man, that Geoff.

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  • 19 December 2024 at 9:47 pm
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    It is great to honour Geoff this way.

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  • 20 December 2024 at 3:44 pm
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    For a very respected journalist

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  • 20 December 2024 at 5:11 pm
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    This donation is from Tom Kierans and Mary Janigan who idolized Geoff.

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  • 20 December 2024 at 5:50 pm
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    a truly great journalist

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  • 21 December 2024 at 10:27 am
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    Truthful and courageous reporting is needed more than ever in these times. Geoffrey Stevens was an exemplary journalist in that regard, and his memory must be honoured.

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  • 21 December 2024 at 2:45 pm
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    So proud of my uncle’s accomplishments as a journalist.

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  • 21 December 2024 at 11:55 pm
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    Geoff had the ability and skill to make Canadian politics clear to the ordinaryJoe and Jane Canuck.

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  • 23 December 2024 at 8:11 am
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    A brilliant journalist, a great man and a terrific brother-in-law. Will always remember the sparkle in his eyes when he told a humourous story or joke. I miss our chats about politics, the U.S. and the Blue Jays.

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  • 27 December 2024 at 4:47 pm
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    Happy to support a terrific cause.

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  • 28 December 2024 at 6:18 pm
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    Geoff set a high standard of meaningful journalism and encouraged me to follow it.
    I am ever grateful.

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  • 30 December 2024 at 12:32 pm
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    Geoff became a close friend after we forged a wonderful professional relationship. I will miss him greatly; his intelligence and wry humour.

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  • 30 December 2024 at 7:37 pm
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    An outstanding journalist

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  • 30 December 2024 at 8:07 pm
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    I was a young journalist, still in my 20s, when I joined the Globe as a consumer reporter in 1975. Later, I worked with Geoff when he was managing editor and learned a lot. Glad I can help keep his memory alive with a donation to these awards.

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  • 31 December 2024 at 10:28 am
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    Such an eloquent and fitting tribute to your dad, Jamie. He was so proud of you.

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  • 31 December 2024 at 4:21 pm
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    Journalists striving for excellence in their field – is a necessary partner in democracy – for politicians trying to do the same.
    David Christopherson, fmr MP & MPP.

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  • 3 January 2025 at 5:00 pm
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    My Dad was the most influential person in my life. His quick wit, insatiable curiosity, and passion journalism were qualities I greatly admired. He taught me that realizing your purpose is possible by following your instincts and pursuing life without compromise.

    Dad also had great respect and appreciation for his friends and peers. I was fortunate to see firsthand the joy and enthusiasm your calls, emails and political discourse provided for him over the years.

    I would like to thank all the wonderful people who have dedicated their time and effort to create this award, as well as everyone’s generous donations. I am deeply touched that you have all gone out of your way to honour my Dad’s legacy in support of the next generation of Canadian journalists. Dad was very lucky to have such caring and considerate friends, family and peers.

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  • 4 January 2025 at 1:28 pm
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    Here’s to a terrific writer, mentor and human being who taught so much to so many.

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  • 5 January 2025 at 9:57 am
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    A mentor, a friend, a fine example of excellence. I was lucky to know him .

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