42 Canadian Publications that Work with Freelance Writers

Here’s our latest research — a list of Canadian publications about diverse topics, ranging from news to art, that work with freelance writers.

We’ve researched payment rates, pitch guidelines, and more, to help you connect with the right editor.

If you want to browse even more opportunities, be sure to check out our database of over 1,500 publishers that pay writers. It’s easily searchable, and includes thousands of listings just like the ones below.

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1. The Maple is a 100% reader-funded publication featuring Canadian news and perspectives that challenge the status quo. They have two sections: news and opinion. They accept pitches for both these sections. According to their pitch guide, news stories (usually 1,500 words) pay $275 CAD, shorter opinion pieces (700-1,200 words) pay $130 CAD, and more in-depth analysis articles (1,500-2,000 words) pay $325 CAD. When a piece is assigned and rejected without any request for revision, they pay 50% of the agreed upon fee. 

2. The Sask Dispatch is a Saskatchewan-focused news publication by Briarpatch Magazine. They publish “articles about Saskatchewan on a range of topics, including provincial and municipal elections, grassroots activism, Indigenous rights, arts and culture, economic justice, ecology, gender equity, harm reduction, and more.” They welcome pitches from anyone with a story to tell. According to their pitch guide, rates are $100 for profiles, short essays, and reviews (less than 1,000 words); $200 for feature stories (1,000-1,500 words) and photo essays; and $300 for research-based articles and investigative reportage (1,500-2,000 words).

3. IndigiNews is an Indigenous news platform covering Indigenous communities in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley and Vancouver Island. They focus on relationship building, uplifting storytelling, and holding colonial institutions accountable. They welcome news, stories, features, investigations, and photo essays. According to their pitch guide, they pay $250 to $750 per story (500 to 2,000 words). 

4. The Flatlander provides detailed information about important issues impacting Manitoba and Saskatchewan. They welcome pitches for stories (of up to 2,000 words) and proposals for short videos as well as photo essays. The topics that they are interested in covering include “the arts, culture, politics, the environment, health, technology, agriculture, education, history, and all things important to people living in Saskatchewan and Manitoba.” They are also interested in “articles about local travel destinations, landmarks, food, and people.” According to their contributor guidelines, they pay 50 cents a word. 

5. The Independent produces award-winning journalism for those who care about Newfoundland and Labrador. They are looking for “reporting that captures the real stakes of real life in Newfoundland and Labrador, warts and all, with a focus on solutions—not just problems.” They are particularly interested in pieces about what’s going on in areas outside of St. John’s. They welcome emerging writers. According to their contributor guidelines, they pay $100 for reported pieces (1,500 words or less); $0.10 per word for longform (up to 3,000 words); and $50 for art/illustration. 

6. Yellowhead Institute is “a First Nation-led research centre based in the Faculty of Arts at Ryerson University in Toronto, Ontario.” They publish Yellowhead Briefs (800 to 1,000 words), Yellowhead Special Reports (4000-8000 words), and Yellowhead Features. They “encourage submissions from Two-Spirit, trans and youth communities on Indigenous policy.” According to their submission guidelines, they pay $400 for accepted Briefs and $1500 – $2000 for Special Reports.

7. The Dance Current is a Canadian dance magazine. They publish 4 times a year. They invite writers and dance artists either from Canada or living in Canada to pitch them. They accept pitches for reviews, Q & A’S, personal essays, body columns, tips columns, poetry, feature profiles, feature stories, and photo essays, both for print and online. According to their contributor guidelines, they pay $125 to $400 per piece. 

8. The Narwhal is a non-profit magazine that publishes stories about Canada’s natural world. They welcome pitches for stories of up to 2,000 words. They especially welcome pitches from BIPOC writers. Their reporting is “primarily focused on the extractive industries — mining, forestry, fishing and oil and gas extraction — and large-scale conservation.” According to their pitch guide, their freelancing rate is generally $1 per word, but may vary. 

9. The Media Co-op is “a coast-to-coast network of local media co-operatives dedicated to providing grassroots, democratic coverage of their communities and of Canada.” They are “interested in everything from rent strikes & community responses, to what’s happening at man camps, to landback, & more.” Articles are either 750 or 1500 words. According to their pitch guide, they pay $100 for accepted stories. 

10. ETFO Voice is the magazine of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario. According to their website: “our goal is to facilitate a conversation among our members and beyond that considers relevant issues such as educators’ daily work, interests, innovation in teaching practice, policy, resources, perspectives on education and collaboration with community partners.” Writers can submit to the following sections of their magazine: ideas (1,200 to 2,000 words), interviews/profiles (800 to 1,000 words), documentary, and reviews (about 350 words). According to their pitch guide, they pay an honorarium of 30 cents per word.