One of my favorite stories ever. I interviewed the Murph-Ariens at their off-grid homestead in Ontario and channeled their life story in an as-told-to feature. Read it at Toronto Life.
Globe: Is Nickel Making These Quebecois Sick?
Concern about contaminated air causes tension in a small town at the heart of Canada’s push to be a leader in a green economy. Read the multimedia feature in the Globe & Mail.
Globe & Mail: Saving Quebec’s Chorus Frogs
Another feature for the Globe & Mail's climate desk. This time, it's about Quebec's tiny chorus frogs and the fight to save them before they're silenced. Story here.
Lonely Planet: France 14
Lonely Planet just released a guidebook I updated: France! I did the section on Lyon & the Rhône Valley. Buy it here.
Globe & Mail: Why The Magpie Is Legally A Person
Can a river have rights? I drove up to Quebec's Côte-Nord region with photographer Stephanie Foden to find out how and why the Ekuanitshit Innu pushed to make the Magpie River a legal person. The story appeared on the front page of the Globe & Mail newspaper and was released online as a multimedia feature. … Continue reading Globe & Mail: Why The Magpie Is Legally A Person
CBC: Thinking About RVing? Here’s What You Need to Know to Hit the Road
My first story for CBC Life is about RVing in Canada.
Thrillist: Retro Motels Are Having Their Moment
With road trips making a serious comeback due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, retro motels are also roaring back. Read the story over at Thrillist
Horizon Guides: Hiking in the Caucasus
I co-wrote a guidebook that helps inspire travellers to go hiking in the beautiful Caucasus region (Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan). Find it at Horizon Guides: https://horizonguides.com/guides/hiking-in-the-caucasus
Canadian Geographic: Preserving Acadian culture in Cajun country
Descendants of French-speaking Acadians in Louisiana saw their culture and language slip away in the 20th century. Now, a new generation of proud Francophones is leading a resurgence. Check out my feature in Canadian Geographic.
National Geographic Travel: Oaxaca welcomes spirits home with “bread of the dead”
While walking through 20 de Noviembre market in Oaxaca City, I felt the eerie feeling of being watched. It wasn't by somebody, but by some faces embedded in loaves of pan de muerto (bread of the dead). My quest to discover the significance of this bread within Día de Muertos led me to four towns, … Continue reading National Geographic Travel: Oaxaca welcomes spirits home with “bread of the dead”
Joel Balsam 