The IJB is a real-world investigative unit that conducts collaborative research projects with academics and journalists while training student researchers and reporters in investigative techniques. Over the past six years, the IJB has generated breakthrough work that has changed public policy, triggered new legislation, expanded public transparency and held powerful institutions to account, all while training the next generation of investigative journalists.
Get our latest (2023/2024) impact report
The IJB celebrates six years of impactful journalism
Recent highlights
Awards
Since 2021, the IJB has been recognized with over two dozen prestigious journalism awards and accolades.
Canadian Journalism Foundation Gala 2025, Left to right: Charlie Buckley, Declan Keogh, Wendy-Ann Clarke, Robert Cribb, Blair Bigham, Masih Khalatbari 
Canadian Journalism Foundation Gala 2025, Left to right: Wendy-Ann Clarke, Masih Khalatbari, Charlie Buckey 
Canadian Journalism Foundation Gala 2025, Declan Keogh (left) and Blair Bigham (right) 
IJB Founder and Director Robert Cribb speaks at the National Newspaper Awards ceremony 2025 
IJB Founder and Director Robert Cribb speaks at the 2025 Canadian Association of Journalists award ceremony in Calgary, AB 
IJB Founder and Director Robert Cribb at the 2025 Canadian Association of Journalists award ceremony in Calgary, AB
Awards for Groundbreaking Healthcare Reporting and Investigations
Mindset Award for Reporting on Workplace Mental Health Finalist (2026)
Mindset Award for Reporting on Workplace Mental Health (2025)
Mindset Award for Reporting on the Mental Health of Young People (2021)
Registered Nurses Association of Ontario Media Award for reporting on opioid drugs sold on Ontario streets (2022)
Bronze Association of Health Care Journalists Award for Excellence (2026)
Canadian Journalism Foundation’s Jackman Award for Excellence in Journalism Honours for reporting on Youth Mental Health (2021)
The IJB’s 2023 ‘Patient Files’ investigation was a finalist in the Canadian Journalism Foundation Awards, the Canadian Association of Journalists Awards and the Digital Publishing Awards
National Newspaper Award (NNA) in the Business Reporting category the boundary-pushing examination of the shadowy world of clinical trials (2025)
The IJB, in collaboration with the Star, won the Investigative Reporting category at the NNAs for its groundbreaking reporting on the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program (2025)
Bad Practice was shortlisted as a finalist for Nonprofit News Awards
Silver CAJ Award for Online Media Category for an investigation tracking the invisible threat of lead in drinking water in Ontario schools and daycares
Awards for Reporting on Human Rights Issues
JHR / CAJ Award for Human Rights Reporting finalist (2026)
Gold JHR / CAJ Award for Human Rights Reporting (2025)
Data Journalism Awards
Winner of The Data-Driven Reporting Project from the Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications and the Google News Initiative (2022)
Canadian Association of Journalists Data Journalism Award for ‘Suspended’ series (2024)
Podcast and Documentary Awards
New York Festivals Radio Awards finalist in the Health/Medical podcast category (2025)
New York Festivals Radio Awards finalist in the Social Justice category (2026)
Peabody Award finalist for Left to Their Own Devices podcast (2026)
Canadian Hillman Prize for the Arachnid podcast (2026)
Signal Award for The Ultimate Choice podcast (2024)
Digital Publishing Awards finalist for Investigative Reporting and best True Crime podcast categories (2026)
Registered Nurses Association of Ontario Media Award for The Ultimate Choice podcast (2025)
Bodies for Rent, a documentary that takes us inside the hidden world of clinical trials, was nominated for a Golden Sheaf Award in the Social/Political Documentary category at the 2025 Yorkton Film Festival
Awards Recognizing IJB Reporters and Patrons
IJB founding donor Gerry Gotfrit received an Arbor Award from the University of Toronto in recognition of his impactful support for the IJB. It was celebrated at a gala event at the University of Toronto hosted by Dalla Lana dean Steini Brown to celebrate the IJB and its accomplishments at the Star.
IJB Unifor 2024 summer intern Jenna Olsen won the World Press Freedom Canada Student Achievement Award (2026)
IJB reporter Emma Jarratt nominated for the Landsberg Award (2026)
Accomplishments
The IJB announces collaboration with Postmedia
The IJB’s partnership with Postmedia, launched in May 2025, has enabled the newsroom’s work to appear in the country’s largest distribution network with more than 40 newspapers across Canada.
Investigative Projects
‘Puppies secretly tested and killed at Ontario hospital for human heart research’ sparks systematic change.
Our investigation into “inhumane” publicly funded research on puppies inside St. Joseph’s Hospital has led the hospital to immediately cease research studies involving dogs.
We have made a significant mark in the podcasting world through our groundbreaking series, Arachnid: Hunting the Web’s Darkest Secrets, produced in partnership with TVO Today, PizGloria Productions, and The Toronto Star.
Arachnid: Hunting the Web’s Darkest Secrets is a six-part series that brings listeners into the internet’s seedy underbelly through the powerful voices of survivors, police, motivated child advocates and technology luminaries trying to stop the spread of illegal imagery across the world’s biggest social media platforms and protect kids.
IJB director Rob Cribb hosts the podcast series. IJB reporter Wendy-Ann Clarke was lead researcher.
We also partnered with TVO for the series The Ultimate Choice, produced in partnership with TVO Today and the Toronto Star.
Based on our in-depth reporting on medically assisted death (MAID), this powerful docuseries follows the intimate journey of Michael and his wife, Ann, as they navigate Michael’s decision to pursue MAID due to an incurable illness. Hosted by IJB founder and director Rob Cribb, the podcast not only tells Michael’s story but also challenges Cribb to confront his own family history as he grapples with the emotional and ethical complexities of MAID.
The IJB captured the hearts and minds of its audience with the release of award-nominated documentary Bodies for Rent, directed by Habiba Nosheen.
The IJB in collaboration with the Toronto Star published an in-depth investigation that takes a look inside Canada’s “exploitative” clinical trial industry. Participants reveal they are incentivized to lie, even about medications side effects.
The documentary follows the experiences of two professional clinical trial subjects who make their living volunteering to consume experimental drugs in exchange for money. Economic challenges have pushed them into this line of work, where they’ve faced significant medical risks.
Insights
In April 2025, the IJB launched Insights, an ongoing series of guest opinion pieces that build on our investigative journalism.
Education
Since its inception, the IJB has welcomed over 70 learners, offering block, term, and year-long practicums, internships and fellowships. Participants often travel from across Canada or participate in a fully virtual experience. Front line workers, such as physicians, public health professionals, nurses, and firefighters, along with working journalists and journalism students, have come to the IJB to learn how journalism skills offer a unique and impactful way to effect change.
The IJB continues to publish high-quality investigative journalism that is influencing policy, inspiring debate and informing the public.