Editor’s Picks: Our favourite long reads of 2016
What a year. From stories of defying death in order to start a new life in Canada, to the most unexpected presidential campaign of all time, to the remarkable behind-the-scenes process of raising pandas in Canada, here’s a look back at the year that was. Click your way through our favourite longreads of 2016.
Saving Family no. 417
The journey of one Syrian mother, her three children—and the complete strangers who made it their mission to bring them to Canada.
The other residential school runaways
Two boys escaping a residential school followed tragically in the footsteps of Chanie Wenjack. Their story was forgotten. Until now.
It takes a village
Sure, they’re incredibly cute. But unseen by photo-happy visitors was the intricate, exhausting effort required to get the pandas Jia Panpan and Jia Yueyue to the Toronto Zoo. Inside the zoo’s heroic, expensive—often downright bizarre—effort to raise twin panda babies.
Why I’m voting for Donald Trump
Maclean’s asked ordinary Americans to explain why they planned on voting for Donald Trump on Nov. 8.
The great escape from the Fort Mac fire
From the first puffs of smoke to the harrowing evacuation, this is the story of how the Fort McMurray fire happened, the heroic battle to fight back the flames and what it all means for the devastated city.
What Jian Ghomeshi did
How a trial that was supposed to flip the script on sexual violence only made things worse.
The collapse of parenting: Why it’s time for parents to grow up
If anyone can be called the boss in modern, anti-hierarchical parenthood, it’s the children. This was the most-read story in the history of Macleans.ca.
Canada’s stories
A massive multimedia project to celebrate the lives of Canadians who have witnessed history—and those making it now. Incredible stories of triumph, tragedy and unwavering patriotism.
The sinking of Leviathan II
The Leviathan II whale-watching ship capsized in October, killing six. For the first time, the survivors and rescuers recounted how the tragedy unfolded.
Disaster in B Major
French-fry heiress Eleanor McCain, culture czar Jeff Melanson, and a deep dive into the divorce that exposed scandal at the top of the Canadian arts world.
La Loche: A small town’s grief. A nation’s shame.
A troubled teen in La Loche, Sask. shot and killed teen brothers, two educators, and injured seven others before being arrested. Here’s how it happened and what it says about Canada’s shocking neglect of First Nations in the North.
How Kellie Leitch touched off a culture war
Are you Canadian enough? What Kellie Leitch’s plan to screen immigrants says about the country—and the leadership hopeful who suggested it.
The rise of Donald Trump
The 10 moments that came to define the most ridiculous, unexpected and divisive political campaign in U.S. history.
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