Veteran Vancouver Sun columnist Vaughn Palmer has been honored with the Michener-Baxter Award, a prestigious recognition for exceptional service in public-interest journalism. The award, announced on Tuesday, also celebrates Postmedia editorial cartoonist Bruce MacKinnon of The Chronicle Herald.
Recognition for Distinguished Careers
Margo Goodhand, president of the Michener Awards Foundation, praised both recipients in a statement: “Bruce MacKinnon and Vaughn Palmer have each shaped public understanding in profound ways through careers defined by integrity, curiosity, and an unwavering commitment to accountability. Their work demonstrates the many forms public service journalism can take — from incisive political reporting to editorial cartooning that goes straight to the heart of a story. Both have made extraordinary contributions to Canadian public discourse.”
Vaughn Palmer's Impactful Career
Palmer, The Vancouver Sun’s political columnist, has covered the British Columbia legislature for more than 40 years. Based in Victoria, his hard-hitting columns and reporting have exposed billion-dollar cost overruns associated with the construction of the Coquihalla Highway, revealed wasteful spending related to the Site C dam, and highlighted failures surrounding B.C.’s fast ferries program. According to the foundation, “His reporting and political columns remain essential reading for anyone seeking to understand public life and governance in British Columbia.”
The Prestigious Michener-Baxter Award
The Michener-Baxter Award has been presented only 14 times to 13 individuals and one organization since its establishment in 1983. It is not awarded annually and is bestowed at the discretion of the foundation’s board of directors. Previous winners include Robert Fife in 2025 and Chantal Hebert and Terry Mosher in 2024. The award was also given posthumously to Michelle Lang, the Calgary Herald reporter killed on assignment in Afghanistan in 2010.
The award ceremony will take place at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on June 18, during the Michener Awards ceremony.
