Our best journalism of 2024: Homelessness solutions, pioneering photographer

When my editors asked me to travel to Houston, Texas, to see what Winnipeg could learn from their homelessness and housing strategy, I was initially skeptical.

What could we possibly learn from one of America’s most populous cities, which at least climate-wise seems to be Winnipeg’s polar opposite?

But the more I read about Houston’s housing success story, and about the take-aways Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham had after he made the same trek, the more I was intrigued.

As I learned on my reporting trip, the policies and practices Houston is employing boil down to some pretty basic things, such as having one central body manage the mandate and getting all stakeholders on board.

Months after our reporting, the province led a 26-person delegation to Houston. It’s yet to be seen how Manitoba might implement the “Houston model,” but it’s clear Texas has some novel ideas worth exploring.

-Katrina Clarke

Nearly a year after it was published, this story continues to bring good surprises.

When we set out to write about this iconic figure of Manitoba’s Black history, I pored over his stunning photos, read a copy of his handwritten autobiography and called up residents of the small town where he made his home.

Many of those people shared touching memories of Billy Beal from their childhoods, describing him as an impressive Renaissance man who truly loved his neighbours.

Months on, I’ve received messages from museums hoping to feature Beal’s photos in their galleries, and from Manitobans elated to see a piece of Swan River — and the Black community’s legacy — captured in our pages.

It remains one of my favourite bits of Manitoba history, which I’m happy to share with anyone willing to listen!

-Julia-Simone Rutgers