Projects
A selection of my writing, including impact reports, feature magazine stories, research articles, donor and alumni spotlights, columns and blog posts.
As many of my projects are confidential, this portfolio does not include some of my best work, such as philanthropic proposals, cases for support, speaking notes and messages written on behalf of leaders.
Reports and publications

TAHSN Impact Report 2023: Together We Are Asking The Big Questions
A glimpse of the Toronto Academic Health Science Network’s progress and impact.

Branksome Hall's 2023-2024 Strategy Report: Unlocking Potential
A compelling snapshot of Branksome Hall's progress on key strategic priorities, featuring proof points and punchy headlines and overviews.

Rotman Investors' Report 2019
Magazine-style donor report, highlighting key areas of impact through journalistic storytelling and bold graphic design.

What If Basic Science Could Answer Medicine's Biggest Questions?
Temerty Faculty of Medicine 2016 publication featuring compelling snapshots of promising areas of research from across the faculty.
Alumni and donor stories

A Crusade Against Cancer (Toronto Met University Magazine 2015)

Listening to the Dead (UofTMed magazine 2017)

'The ripple effect is continually expanding': U of T’s Prakash Fellowship for global surgery (UofT 2018)

Siblings honour brother: scholarships in occupational-science and therapy (UofT 2018)
University research articles

'Chronic pain really challenges the medical model of health care': U of T experts talk about the opioid crisis (UofT 2019)

Huntington's disease: University of Toronto researcher is first to share lab notes in real time (UofT 2016)

U of T psychiatrists launch initiative to spot signs of psychosis early in adolescence (UofT 2017)

Research sheds new light on mysterious fungus (UofT 2015)
Award-winning features and projects

The End of Sad
Toronto Life 2010 feature about a Toronto woman who underwent deep brain stimulation as an experimental treatment for severe depression. Received an honourable mention at the National Magazine Awards.

Feature Story about an Undocumented Family
This Toronto Life 2009 article told the story of a family living underground in Toronto. It garnered honourable mentions in two categories at the National Magazine Awards, and was reprinted in by Tightrope Books in "The Best Canadian Essays 2010".

The New Elite
This cover story in Toronto Life (2012) featured several highly educated immigrants who had made Toronto their home. The story received an honourable mention at the National Magazine Awards.

Too Much of a Good Thing?
This 2015 article exploring the dark side of vitamins was part of the 2015 UofTMed magazine issues that won the prestigious Robert Sibley Magazine of the Year by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). (It was the first time a Canadian alumni magazine was recognized in the 73-year history of the award.)

Rotman Giving Day Campaign
As part of the Rotman School of Management's Advancement Team, I led the communications of a new annual giving day campaign in 2021. This initiative won a "Best of CASE District II Award" from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education.

Award-Winning Review of Journalism Article
This Review of Journalism article featured a group of journalists who started their own free daily after being locked out of the Journal de Quebec. It won first place for investigation and analysis at the 2009 Association for Education in Journalism & Mass Communication (AEJMC) student magazine awards, and was included in the Review's 30th anniversary anthology (2013).
Magazine feature stories

Professor Butany and the Mystery of the Malfunctioning Heart Valve
Story for the Temerty Faculty of Medicine UofTMed magazine's 2016 Mystery Issue.

Dazed and Confused
Feature article on conflicting views about cannabis in the medical community, for UofTMed's 2018 Cannabis Issue.

Living in Limbo
United Church Observer (now Broadview magazine) 2010 article about an 18-year-old caught in immigration limbo and fighting to study at university.

Picture Perfect
Feature story for Toronto Met University Magazine (under previous name) about the university becoming the new home to the famous Black Star Collection of historical images.

Think Again
Reader's Digest 2012 article describing how Barbara Arrowsmith-Young retrained her own brain and became an early champion of neuroplasticity.

A Dog's Best Friend
Toronto Life 2011 feature examining the the controversial crack-down on the Toronto Humane Society and the arrest of the president and senior managers.

Toil and Trouble
United Church Observer (now Broadview magazine) 2010 article examining challenges and abuse faced by temporary foreign workers in Canada.

Your Money or Your Life
This Magazine 2009 feature article about a Scarborough medical clinic serving people without health care coverage. Chosen as one of The Globe and Mail's "Best Magazine Reads on the Rack."
Health and parenting articles

Feel It in Your Bones (Reader's Digest 2013)

Revealing Skin (Reader's Digest 2014)

Born to be Wild (Reader's Digest 2012)

Proof it (Today's Parent 2012)
Columns and blogs

Metro News Column
In 2010 and 2011, I wrote a weekly column in Toronto's Metro news, called "Urban Compass." Here are samples of the column.

Yahoo Blog
In 2012, I wrote daily "news you can use" lifestyle posts for the Yahoo news "Shine On" blog. Here are a few samples.
"Carolyn is always a pleasure to work with—smart, open and ensures a clear understanding of the project and its deliverables, which she sees through to excellent execution."
Sara Franca
Director, Alumni & Donor Engagement,
Faculty of Arts & Science
University of Toronto