Morning Update: Telling the story of Canada, in pictures

Good morning. We are launching the second season of our cross-Canada photo series today. More on that below, along with Finnish defence strategy and a financial diplomatic reset. But first:

Today’s headlines

• Artemis II launches with dreams of an expanded presence for humans on the moon and beyond. Catch up on the mission here
• Stellantis proposed assembling Chinese electric vehicles at its idled Brampton plant, Unifor says
• In his White House address, President Donald Trump delivered contradictory messages on the Iran war

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Photojournalism

Storytelling from every corner of the country

Hi, I’m Liz Sullivan, head of photo and video at The Globe and Mail. And I’m lucky to be part of the team working on the Underexposed series, which just launched its second year. I also have more exciting news about the visual project, but before I get into that, let me first tell you a bit about the work.

What is Underexposed?

We first conceived of Underexposed mid-2024, which was a federal election year (and Canadians seemed more divided than ever). Fissures existed across all social structures, but the urban-rural gap, in particular, felt deeper and wider than ever.

So we created a visually driven series designed to help Canadians better understand each other.

Every two weeks, we present a new photo essay telling the story of one community within our vast and varied country. It’s an opportunity for us to shine a light on people and places that are unique and captivating, meaningful and underrepresented.

Why visual storytelling?

We chose to use photojournalism as our storytelling method because of its unique ability to spark empathy between subject and audience. We put out a call to photographers across the country, asking where we should turn our lens.

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The resulting series of 25 visual stories, by many of Canada’s top photojournalists, cover the country coast-to-coast-to-coast. To see them all, please visit the series landing page here.

Plus, I dare you to try the “surprise me with a random story” button! It’s one of the many excellent digital developments designed to enhance your reading experience. And given how many of our readers experience The Globe on their phones, our team took extra care to ensure that each photograph was as impactful there as it is on a desktop computer or in print.

What’s new this year?

Our mission remains the same: Through outstanding photojournalism, we seek to shine a light on underexposed Canadian communities.

But in our second year, we will focus on communities that are “on the rise:” ones that are part of an emerging generation, new to Canada, or rethinking their heritage. Together, these stories will help provide a glimpse of the future of Canada.

What else to expect in year two?

We’ll spend time with a demolition derby crew on the Prairies. We’ll explore the phenomenon of Manitoba socials. And for Heated Rivalry fans, we’ll explore a hockey league where queer inclusion is foundational to the game. Foodies and music lovers will also have stories devoted to them.

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The second season launches with a powerful photo essay by Pat Kane, who tells the story of Dene researchers using traditional hunting practices to study – and hopefully save – the dwindling Bathurst caribou herd in the Northwest Territories. Pat is of Anishinaabe (Algonquin) heritage and uniquely positioned to tell this story.

He relocated to Yellowknife more than 20 years ago, which “felt like home the first day I got there.” He’s spent that time learning its history and traditions, and connecting with communities throughout the Far North.

And he’s a leading voice around decolonizing portrayals of marginalized communities. “Most of my work, at first glance, is about the environment. But it’s really about people,” he tells us. “It’s about our connection to the natural world, and it’s about seeing the land as a provider that can heal us.”

What do I want you to take away from this?

We hope that the 26 new Underexposed stories spark conversation, joy and mutual understanding, and most importantly: connection. Join us in exploring the beautiful, rich, diverse day-to-day lives of Canadians.

And if there’s a Canadian community that you think should be featured, let us know here or send us an e-mail at audience@globeandmail.com with “Underexposed” in the subject line. (And thanks!)

You can catch up on the first year of the series here:

Jackie Dives’s Living and Dying through BC’s toxic drug crisis

Galit Rodan’s PEI Jewish Islanders forge a faith all their own

Tate Juniper’s Search to resolve the conflict between Catholicism and his Dene culture

Chris Donovan’s Working class roots of Saint John’s thriving punk scene

Roger LeMoyne’s Montreal underpass gym

The Shot

‘It gets very personal, they have skin in the game.’

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To be prepared for war, the Finnish way, shelters are just the beginning.

The Wrap

What else we’re following

At home: B.C. Premier David Eby is set to meet today with First Nations leaders in the province in his quest for approval to alter what was once heralded as a landmark reconciliation law.

Abroad: Out of dictatorship and mob violence, Bangladeshi media emerge more defiant than ever.

Travel: Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem and a group of Bay Street executives are joining Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne in Beijing as Ottawa looks to build on the diplomatic reset with China.

Tweak: The federal government is giving Ukrainians who fled the Russian invasion another year to apply for work permit extensions.

Tech: Game-changing technology may be on the horizon for children with disabling hearing loss.