Katharine Lake Berz
@lakeberz.bsky.social
Journalist writing about how international issues have an impact on people's lives. Bylines include Toronto Star, The Globe, Toronto Life, The Walrus, Broadview, CBC.
Pinned
Katharine Lake Berz
@lakeberz.bsky.social
· Oct 18
He faced Russia’s brutality for years. But like Ukraine, Serhii persevered — at a price
He left his family behind at dawn. 'When your city is being bombed, and someone is suffering,' Serhii told me much later, 'there is no time to think of anything
www.thestar.com
“I didn't see any chance of surviving in the hell around me.”
How one man survived three Russian massacres — innocent, suffering, yet unwilling to surrender. With photography by the amazing Paul Conroy @reflextv. @hrw @UNOCHA @UKRcancongress www.thestar.com/news/insight...
How one man survived three Russian massacres — innocent, suffering, yet unwilling to surrender. With photography by the amazing Paul Conroy @reflextv. @hrw @UNOCHA @UKRcancongress www.thestar.com/news/insight...
This innocent Canadian is being hunted by India. Canadian Sikhs, like him, worry economic interests and geopolitical pragmatism will override their safety.
thewalrus.ca/india-accuse...
thewalrus.ca/india-accuse...
India Accused This Canadian of a Terror Attack in Ottawa. Did the Incident Even Happen? | The Walrus
Amarjot Singh says he joined a peaceful Sikh protest but found himself a marked man
thewalrus.ca
November 20, 2025 at 12:39 PM
This innocent Canadian is being hunted by India. Canadian Sikhs, like him, worry economic interests and geopolitical pragmatism will override their safety.
thewalrus.ca/india-accuse...
thewalrus.ca/india-accuse...
Ontario is tearing down its speed cameras, and the fight over safety and surveillance is only getting louder. www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Katharine Lake Berz: Everyone wants safer streets. Is speed camera surveillance the best solution or overreach?
Pamela Fuselli, president and CEO of Parachute, a national injury prevention charity, argues automated speed enforcement prevents death and injury on the roads where it happens most. Howard Sapers, ex...
www.thestar.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Ontario is tearing down its speed cameras, and the fight over safety and surveillance is only getting louder. www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
“I didn't see any chance of surviving in the hell around me.”
How one man survived three Russian massacres — innocent, suffering, yet unwilling to surrender. With photography by the amazing Paul Conroy @reflextv. @hrw @UNOCHA @UKRcancongress www.thestar.com/news/insight...
How one man survived three Russian massacres — innocent, suffering, yet unwilling to surrender. With photography by the amazing Paul Conroy @reflextv. @hrw @UNOCHA @UKRcancongress www.thestar.com/news/insight...
He faced Russia’s brutality for years. But like Ukraine, Serhii persevered — at a price
He left his family behind at dawn. 'When your city is being bombed, and someone is suffering,' Serhii told me much later, 'there is no time to think of anything
www.thestar.com
October 18, 2025 at 3:56 PM
“I didn't see any chance of surviving in the hell around me.”
How one man survived three Russian massacres — innocent, suffering, yet unwilling to surrender. With photography by the amazing Paul Conroy @reflextv. @hrw @UNOCHA @UKRcancongress www.thestar.com/news/insight...
How one man survived three Russian massacres — innocent, suffering, yet unwilling to surrender. With photography by the amazing Paul Conroy @reflextv. @hrw @UNOCHA @UKRcancongress www.thestar.com/news/insight...
Canadian health care is failing to deliver the standard of care many Canadians expect. Should Canada open the door to a parallel, private tier of health care or dedicate itself to fixing Medicare?
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
September 30, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Canadian health care is failing to deliver the standard of care many Canadians expect. Should Canada open the door to a parallel, private tier of health care or dedicate itself to fixing Medicare?
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Military burials every day in western Ukraine. Today two young volunteer soldiers from Lviv.
September 19, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Military burials every day in western Ukraine. Today two young volunteer soldiers from Lviv.
Record Russian drone attack on civilian targets @kyivindependent.com kyivindependent.com/explosions-h...
Record Russian drone, missile attack kills at least 4, injures 44 across Ukraine, hits government building for first time
Ukraine's Air Force said Russia launched 810 Shahed-type drones and 13 cruise and ballistic missiles during the attack.
kyivindependent.com
September 7, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Record Russian drone attack on civilian targets @kyivindependent.com kyivindependent.com/explosions-h...
Ontario still needs to talk about the Greenbelt. We want to protect the environment and also need more homes. Thanks David Crombie and Matthew Cory for starting this conversation. www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Katharine Lake Berz: Ontarians want to protect the environment and also need more homes. Can we afford to keep the Greenbelt off limits for development?
The provincial government is poised to begin a mandatory 10-year review of the Greenbelt. David Crombie, former mayor of Toronto, federal cabinet minister and urban reform advocate who led the
www.thestar.com
September 5, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Ontario still needs to talk about the Greenbelt. We want to protect the environment and also need more homes. Thanks David Crombie and Matthew Cory for starting this conversation. www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Eight thousand Canadians are dying from toxic drugs every year. We need more addiction services. www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Katharine Lake Berz: Alberta has instituted a forced treatment policy for drug addiction. Should Ontario follow suit?
Michelle Green youngest daughter is struggling with addiction. Green is campaigning for Ontario to adopt legislation to allow adults and youths to be forced into addiction treatment. Dr. Leslie Buckle...
www.thestar.com
August 21, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Eight thousand Canadians are dying from toxic drugs every year. We need more addiction services. www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Home ownership is out of reach for most Canadians. What should we do to solve this?
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
August 8, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Home ownership is out of reach for most Canadians. What should we do to solve this?
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
A growing number of Canadians are contemplating what once seemed unthinkable — abandoning North American free-trade agreements and joining the European Union. www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Katharine Lake Berz: Should Canada apply to become the 28th member state of the European Union?
By joining the EU, Canada would send a strong message that we are challenging Putin and Trump and that we want to be united with countries that believe in liberal
www.thestar.com
July 9, 2025 at 4:23 PM
A growing number of Canadians are contemplating what once seemed unthinkable — abandoning North American free-trade agreements and joining the European Union. www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Reposted by Katharine Lake Berz
“Impossible Choice” by Katharine Lake Berz (@lakeberz.bsky.social) has won First Place for the A.C. Forrest Memorial Award at this year’s Canadian Christian Communicators Association Awards.
Revisit the story:
Revisit the story:
Stuck in a Syrian refugee camp, this mother could send her children to Canada. But she may never see them again. | Broadview Magazine
Samia's Canadian children are in danger of dying or becoming victims of violence, but she faces an impossible choice
broadview.org
May 29, 2025 at 8:48 PM
“Impossible Choice” by Katharine Lake Berz (@lakeberz.bsky.social) has won First Place for the A.C. Forrest Memorial Award at this year’s Canadian Christian Communicators Association Awards.
Revisit the story:
Revisit the story:
Grateful my article @broadviewmedia.bsky.social was recognized for a CCCA award. But Samia is still stranded in a Syrian prison with her Canadian children and losing hope. @irccnews.bsky.social broadview.org/stuck-in-a-s...
Stuck in a Syrian refugee camp, this mother could send her children to Canada. But she may never see them again. | Broadview Magazine
Samia's Canadian children are in danger of dying or becoming victims of violence, but she faces an impossible choice
broadview.org
May 24, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Grateful my article @broadviewmedia.bsky.social was recognized for a CCCA award. But Samia is still stranded in a Syrian prison with her Canadian children and losing hope. @irccnews.bsky.social broadview.org/stuck-in-a-s...
I am proud of Canada standing up to Trump, but could isolation become counterproductive? @TorontoStar #Canada #CUSMA www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Katharine Lake Berz: Don’t boycott the states — do this instead
Distancing ourselves from Americans over the long term could inadvertently strengthen Trump's influence. Protesting with absence blocks the free exchange of ideas that liberal democracies need.
www.thestar.com
May 16, 2025 at 7:35 PM
I am proud of Canada standing up to Trump, but could isolation become counterproductive? @TorontoStar #Canada #CUSMA www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Thank you Associated Church Press for recognizing my work with Alanna Mitchell @broadviewmedia.bsky.social broadview.org/stuck-in-a-s...
Stuck in a Syrian refugee camp, this mother could send her children to Canada. But she may never see them again. | Broadview Magazine
Samia's Canadian children are in danger of dying or becoming victims of violence, but she faces an impossible choice
broadview.org
May 8, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Thank you Associated Church Press for recognizing my work with Alanna Mitchell @broadviewmedia.bsky.social broadview.org/stuck-in-a-s...
Florida’s @LGBTQ community is in turmoil, a preview of what Trump promises to spread across America www.thestar.com/news/insight...
Florida Pride events are beleaguered — and the people they’re for say they feel the same. Here’s why
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — “Respect, kindness, compassion,” blasted the music as the “King of the Drag Queens” Kitty Meow took the stage at Florida's oldest Pride festival this past winter.
www.thestar.com
May 2, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Florida’s @LGBTQ community is in turmoil, a preview of what Trump promises to spread across America www.thestar.com/news/insight...
Long lines to vote this morning in Toronto and Liberals are smiling! @cafreeland @MarkJCarney @SophiaBerz @liberalca.bsky.social
April 28, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Long lines to vote this morning in Toronto and Liberals are smiling! @cafreeland @MarkJCarney @SophiaBerz @liberalca.bsky.social
Angry young men are a scary global phenomenon. But Canada's young men have avoided the conservative manosphere drift. www.canadianaffairs.news/2025/04/24/o...
Op-Ed: Young Canadian men are not leaning right, as media claim
Headlines continue to warn about youth radicalization, but the real story is how young Canadian men seem to be bucking these global trends
www.canadianaffairs.news
April 25, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Angry young men are a scary global phenomenon. But Canada's young men have avoided the conservative manosphere drift. www.canadianaffairs.news/2025/04/24/o...
A climate of fear is very real in Miami and shows what Trump's authoritarianism could do to America: push minority groups even further toward's society's margins, endangering their safety and their very existence. www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Katharine Lake Berz: At an anti-Trump protest in Miami, I saw what happens when democracy loses its grip
Each day brings fresh evidence of the U.S. president's tightening grip on free expression in America.
www.thestar.com
April 8, 2025 at 12:11 PM
A climate of fear is very real in Miami and shows what Trump's authoritarianism could do to America: push minority groups even further toward's society's margins, endangering their safety and their very existence. www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Mark Carney is another man who will beat a capable woman #LiberalLeadership @chrystia-freeland.bsky.social
a=https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/if-he-wins-mark-carney-will-make-a-great-prime-minister-theres-just-one-advantage/article_23026bdc-f871-11ef-8b97-73ef6d73c8c9.html
a=https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/if-he-wins-mark-carney-will-make-a-great-prime-minister-theres-just-one-advantage/article_23026bdc-f871-11ef-8b97-73ef6d73c8c9.html
Katharine Lake Berz: If he wins, Mark Carney will make a great Prime Minister. There’s just one advantage I wish he didn’t have
Mark Carney has what it takes, but Canada faces a crucial gender reckoning.
www.thestar.com
March 8, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Mark Carney is another man who will beat a capable woman #LiberalLeadership @chrystia-freeland.bsky.social
a=https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/if-he-wins-mark-carney-will-make-a-great-prime-minister-theres-just-one-advantage/article_23026bdc-f871-11ef-8b97-73ef6d73c8c9.html
a=https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/if-he-wins-mark-carney-will-make-a-great-prime-minister-theres-just-one-advantage/article_23026bdc-f871-11ef-8b97-73ef6d73c8c9.html
This woman show how Ukrainians can survive impossible obstacles www.thestar.com/news/insight...
She could have fled to Canada. She stayed in Ukraine to help others, even after three years of war and her own fight for life
This young mother once struggled to survive. Now she’s a lifeline for Ukraine’s most vulnerable.
www.thestar.com
February 23, 2025 at 2:31 PM
This woman show how Ukrainians can survive impossible obstacles www.thestar.com/news/insight...