Ottawa Citizen journalist Natasha Baldin has been honoured by the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO), winning the association's award for best news story to appear in a daily newspaper in Ontario in 2025.
Baldin's story, published in the Citizen on Dec. 9, described the plight of Sa'id Altawalbeh, a 47-year-old Jordanian nurse who moved to Ottawa five years ago with hopes of building a better life for himself, his wife and their three children.
Story Details
Baldin's story portrayed Altawalbeh surrounded by red tape and a slow bureaucracy, at his wit's end as his family's hope for permanent residency in Canada dimmed. With Canada facing a national nursing shortage, his predicament was especially poignant because, if forced to leave when his work permit expired on Dec. 20, his wife—also a nurse at CHEO—and their eldest daughter, who worked in cardiovascular technology, would have had to leave as well.
"I saw the frustration and a little bit of hopelessness from him and his family as they did everything they could to keep their life in Canada and everything they had worked so hard to build in Ottawa," Baldin recalled. "It touched me right away, and I knew it was a really important story to tell."
Impact of the Story
Following publication, Altawalbeh's work permit was extended, allowing him to stay in Canada and continue nursing while seeking permanent residency. "We'll never know for sure," Baldin said, "but even if I played a really small part in helping Sa'id and his family, it was pretty cool to be part of it. It was so important to get their story out there and bring some attention to what they were going through."
Nicole Feriancek, editor-in-chief of the Citizen, said the story demonstrated the power of local journalism. "I'm incredibly happy to see Natasha's excellent reporting recognized. I am proud of the reporters at the Citizen who work hard to tell stories that matter. Seeing our work make an impact is the ultimate reward."
Baldin is one of seven journalists honoured by the RNAO this year. "This year's winners exemplify the very best in reporting on topics that matter deeply to the public and the nursing profession," RNAO President Sue LeBeau said in a statement. "Their work sheds light on critical issues such as a nurse's fight to obtain permanent residency in Canada, health-system challenges including heavy workloads and staff burnout, and the need for better supports for the autism community. We are proud to honour their contributions."
