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Cindy E. Harnett

Cindy E. Harnett

Cindy Harnett is a Times Colonist reporter focused on health.

Cindy is originally from Toronto, where she attended York University and Ryerson University before taking her first newspaper job in northern Ontario, where she learned about forestry, wildlife, block heaters, and snowstorms in May. She has worked as a reporter in Quesnel and a managing editor at Black Press, and has contributed to publications including Maclean’s magazine.

In 2008, Cindy and her Times Colonist colleagues picked up a Jack Webster Best News Reporting of the Year award for coverage of the 2007 Lee family murder-suicide, which highlighted gross inadequacies in domestic violence and child protection services and police co-ordination.

Over the years, Cindy has gravitated to issues of justice, including the 1997 swarming and murder of teenager Reena Virk, the 2012 botched firing of eight B.C. Health Ministry researchers during which one committed suicide, the 2018 toxic drug poisoning death of Elliot Eurchuk, and the 2019 William Head jailbreak that saw two prisoners charged with murder.

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Recent Work by Cindy E.

Alert Bay librarian turns 100, entering a new chapter with no plans to quit

Alert Bay librarian turns 100, entering a new chapter with no plans to quit

Thirty-five years after her official retirement, centenarian Joyce Wilby remains chief librarian in Alert Bay, but no longer collects a paycheque.
B.C. launches ad campaign in western U.S. to attract health-care workers

B.C. launches ad campaign in western U.S. to attract health-care workers

The province’s six-week ad campaign, which targets Washington, Oregon and California, includes video, audio, digital, social media, print and ads in public places, such as digital billboards
‘Close call': Pharmacy hands Comox mom opioid instead of ADHD drugs for child, 9

‘Close call': Pharmacy hands Comox mom opioid instead of ADHD drugs for child, 9

Sarah Paquin, mother of three young children, said the medication mixup could have been catastrophic for her son
B.C.'s gender pay gap drops slightly but still too high: finance minister

B.C.'s gender pay gap drops slightly but still too high: finance minister

Women earned on average 85 cents for every dollar men earned in 2024, a recently released report says — the fourth-highest gender pay gap in Canada
Lake Cowichan still has no replacements for town's only two GPs

Lake Cowichan still has no replacements for town's only two GPs

One doctor has already retired, while another is set to leave at the end of June
B.C. ombudsperson set to retire early next year after decade in the job

B.C. ombudsperson set to retire early next year after decade in the job

Jay Chalke, a lawyer who was appointed to the position in April 2015, says he believes leadership transitions bring new energy and ideas.
Portrayal of Pandora prompts response from politicians

Portrayal of Pandora prompts response from politicians

The Globe and Mail feature painted the 900-block of Pandora as lined with semi-unconscious people and shuttered businesses, and so marked by chaos that condo owners can’t sell their way out.
Symbolism of King opening Parliament 'really important,' says Victoria monarchist

Symbolism of King opening Parliament 'really important,' says Victoria monarchist

King Charles III is set to read the speech from the throne on Tuesday, only the third time a Canadian and British monarch has read the throne speech
'Not the outcome anyone hoped for': First Nation calls for justice after missing man's remains found on reserve

'Not the outcome anyone hoped for': First Nation calls for justice after missing man's remains found on reserve

The Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit is investigating after the remains were located in a leased home on Middle Road in a mobile home park on Songhees Reserve lands
Drug-death decline 'an encouraging trend'; drop mirrors trend across North America

Drug-death decline 'an encouraging trend'; drop mirrors trend across North America

The province has seen a 25 per cent decrease in the rate of drug-poisoning deaths in 2025 compared with the prior year, and a 36 per cent decrease from the peak in October 2023
More work by Cindy E. >