Matt Simmons

Several years ago, I all but hung up my camera to focus on words. While it's always remained part of the craft and I've published plenty of photos alongside articles, this year I'm bringing it back into my work in a more intentional way.

Latest from me, following up with community after our flaring investigation. For one resident, who was pegged as "alarmist" for raising concerns, the truth is a relief.

“I can’t take a shit in my bathroom without my Apple Watch telling me I need hearing protection,” he told me. “That’s a problem.”

Who decides what journalists can see? - World Press Freedom Canada When police arrested photojournalist Amber Bracken while she was documenting a protest in northern British Columbia, they didn’t just detain a reporter — they set the stage for a major test of press f...

It's the third week of trial in our case against the RCMP for arresting photojournalist Amber Bracken. World Press Freedom Canada says "Its implications could shape ... whether journalists can safely observe and document conflicts without fear of arrest." worldpressfreedomcanada.ca/who-decides-...

The Narwhal’s press freedom case against the RCMP, explained Stay informed about The Narwhal and Amber Bracken’s lawsuit against the RCMP as we fight for press freedom in B.C. Supreme Court

The second week of The Narwhal and Amber Bracken’s trial against the RCMP is nearing its end — with three more weeks to go. thenarwhal.ca/press-freedom/

LNG Canada’s ‘integrity issue’ in Kitimat, B.C. | The Narwhal Internal documents show LNG Canada is burning a lot more natural gas than expected — while repeatedly saying the situation is ‘normal’

Internal documents show LNG Canada is burning a lot more natural gas than expected — while repeatedly saying the situation is ‘normal.’

Get the story behind the story in our latest newsletter: thenarwhal.ca/newsletter-l...

The Narwhal’s press freedom case against the RCMP, explained Stay informed about The Narwhal and Amber Bracken’s lawsuit against the RCMP as we fight for press freedom in B.C. Supreme Court

These stories are a fraction of our reporting on the pipeline and the bigger picture of why this matters to all Canadians.

Keep up with our legal fight: thenarwhal.ca/press-freedom/
Get reporting updates by subscribing to our newsletter: thenarwhal.ca/newsletter/

Photos show Coastal GasLink sediment spills into wetlands, rivers | The Narwhal Slope failures, flooded worksites and sediment from Coastal GasLink pipeline construction could be seen entering Wet’suwet’en wetlands

Half a year after that, I hopped in a helicopter and flew above the Coastal GasLink route to take a look at environmental infractions affecting the waterways and wildlife habitat at the centre of the tensions. thenarwhal.ca/bc-coastal-g...

Mapping Coastal GasLink’s pipeline through Wet’suwet’en territory | The Narwhal TC Energy often points to its agreements with First Nations along the Coastal GasLink pipeline route. On the ground, it's more complicated

We never stopped reporting on the Coastal GasLink pipeline, including its construction and unearthing government records through freedom of information requests. Nearly a year later, we took an in-depth look at the complexities of Indigenous consent & consultation. thenarwhal.ca/coastal-gasl...

Questioning RCMP's Community-Industry Response Group head | The Narwhal We spoke with the head of RCMP's contentious C-IRG, who admitted to a ‘misunderstanding’ around justifying arrest of photojournalist Amber Bracken

As we continued reporting in the aftermath of the events, we sought out the perspectives of the pipeline builders and the RCMP. That included me sitting down for a Q&A with the commander who oversaw those 2021 arrests: thenarwhal.ca/interview-co...

In photos: RCMP's arrest of media, defenders of Wet'suwet'en territory RCMP arrests on Wet'suwet'en territory thrust Canada's support for the Coastal GasLink pipeline and incarceration of journalists into the international spotlight

Amber was detained for four days. Hours after her release, she was editing photos of the moments leading up to her arrest. We published them here, providing the public with an up-close look at how enforcement actions in remote resource extraction sites unfold.
thenarwhal.ca/rcmp-arrests...

RCMP arrest journalists, matriarchs, land defenders on Wet’suwet’en territory Photojournalist Amber Bracken was among those arrested as RCMP advance on Gidimt’en occupation of Coastal GasLink drill site

After Amber’s arrest, we pivoted to include that development in this story:
thenarwhal.ca/journalists-...

Wet’suwet’en land defenders arrested as RCMP enforces Coastal GasLink injunction RCMP advance into Gidimt’en territory after Wet’suwet’en land defenders closed road access to the Coastal GasLink pipeline project

As enforcement got underway, we documented the events: thenarwhal.ca/rcmp-arrests...

Wet’suwet’en land defenders say inaction prompted Coastal GasLink eviction Coastal GasLink pipeline work by river leads Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs to reissue eviction order in push to defend Indigenous Rights

Working with Amber while she was on the land, we wrote about why land defenders had decided to blockade a remote road: thenarwhal.ca/wetsuweten-c...

Why tensions on Wet’suwet’en territory are escalating over Coastal GasLink Wet’suwet’en land defenders occupying TC Energy’s Coastal GasLink pipeline work site as RCMP presence ramps up

Shortly before Amber’s arrest, I went out to where tensions were escalating: thenarwhal.ca/wetsuweten-c...

We believe Amber’s arrest was a violation of her constitutionally protected rights — and yours. The Narwhal sued the RCMP to take a stand for press freedom and as our trial continues, we’re sharing some of the reporting we did back then, helping you see why it matters so much.

As a staff reporter with @thenarwhal.ca, I was working with Amber at the time and the stories we published before, during and after her detention remain among the few that got at the complexity and depth of the conflict and helped readers get to know the people involved.

In November 2021, photojournalist Amber Bracken was arrested while documenting tensions over the Coastal GasLink pipeline being built on Wet’suwet’en territory, where I live. More than 1,000 km from Vancouver, this place isn’t easy to get to — and the pipeline was even harder to access. 🧵

an "integrity issue" that will take 3 years to fix has resulted in LNG Canada burning 15 times as much gas as expected and has had a "noticeable impact on the community" — but no penalties yet from the energy regulator. killer investigation by @laurenwatsonjourno.bsky.social & @writermjs.bsky.social

Equipment issue led to excessive LNG Canada flaring, docs reveal | The Narwhal LNG Canada delayed reporting ‘integrity issue’ to regulators and never fully informed the public, while locals raised concerns about noise, smoke and emissions

LNG Canada has known there was an issue with its flaring equipment for over a year. While locals raised concerns about noise, smoke and emissions, until now, they didn’t have answers. The Narwhal reviewed more than 2,000 pages of documents for this story: thenarwhal.ca/lng-canada-f... #bcpoli

Equipment issue led to excessive LNG Canada flaring, docs reveal | The Narwhal LNG Canada delayed reporting ‘integrity issue’ to regulators and never fully informed the public, while locals raised concerns about noise, smoke and emissions

LNG Canada has known about an issue with its flare stack for more than a year. The BC Energy Regulator learned as early as April 2025. Until now, the public has been kept in the dark. New from me and @laurenwatsonjourno.bsky.social thenarwhal.ca/lng-canada-f...

In 2019, BC MLAs unanimously passed the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act

It was hailed as a watershed moment for reconciliation

Now, the government is vowing to change the law to block the courts from enforcing it and the official opposition is calling for DRIPA's repeal #bcpoli

B.C. premier’s plans to change Indigenous Rights law, explained | The Narwhal B.C. Premier David Eby’s plans to change Indigenous Rights law following the Gitxaala ruling has some concerned about the province’s future

B.C.’s UNDRIP law was passed unanimously as a path to reconciliation. But now that a provincial court has ruled the government’s obligations under the act are legally enforceable, Premier David Eby is vowing to amend it, raising alarm bells among some First Nations. thenarwhal.ca/undrip-eby-s...

My take on the federal government's plans for the region I've gratefully called home for the past 20 years.

The prime minister promises he’ll solve climate change … right after he gets a new pipeline built. @balkissoon.bsky.social asks: haven’t we heard that one before?

Become a member | The Narwhal Join the readers who power The Narwhal’s ad-free, non-profit journalism about Canada’s natural world.

I spend way more time digging through mountains of documents & swimming through rivers of misinformation than I’m actually out in the mountains and on the rivers — but I do that too, because it’s important.

People make all of it possible and for that I am forever grateful.

If you can, join us!

Trains regularly hit and kill wildlife across Canada. How big of a problem is it? @ainsliecruickshank.bsky.social explains what the data does — and doesn’t — tell us. #wildlife

Carney’s Alberta pipeline deal weakens climate policies | The Narwhal Prime Minister Mark Carney’s ‘grand bargain’ isn’t just about an Alberta pipeline —it also proposes rolling back a host of climate policies

Prime Minister Mark Carney and Premier Danielle Smith have signed an agreement to advance Alberta’s pipeline dreams — and weaken some pollution laws. Here’s what you need to know:
thenarwhal.ca/carney-alber...

In case you were wondering what all this LNG the premier and prime minister are talking about actually looks like, we’ve got you covered.

LNG Canada lights up the night sky in Kitimat, B.C. | The Narwhal As Canada’s Prime Minister signals support for LNG exports, Kitimat residents learn to live with flaring

As the federal government signals support for LNG exports, residents of Kitimat, B.C., live alongside Canada’s first major liquefaction facility — and its flaring activities. Latest by @writermjs.bsky.social and photographer Marty Clemens thenarwhal.ca/kitimat-lng-... #bcpoli

Ksi Lisims LNG Makes Federal List of ‘Nation-Building’ Projects | The Tyee The prime minister sidestepped questions about US ownership and First Nations opposition at a northern BC presser.

In Terrace yesterday, Prime Minister Mark Carney sidestepped questions about US ownership and First Nations opposition to the Ksi Lisims LNG export terminal, which has been added to a list of projects the feds plan to expedite.

My latest for @thetyee.ca.
thetyee.ca/News/2025/11...