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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.

Email
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Recent Work by Cindy E.

'Very positive' test of school-bus seatbelts, but no decision a year later

'Very positive' test of school-bus seatbelts, but no decision a year later

Pilot projects in B.C. — including Nanaimo-Ladysmith School District — and Ontario concluded in June 2023 but the final report is still being compiled
Business steps up to equip Langford Lake with life-rings

Business steps up to equip Langford Lake with life-rings

Ryan Oakley, owner of True North Group estate liquidation services, says he has purchased five dock-edge life-rings and he’s just waiting for a green light from the city to install them.
CRD to consider pilot program to put safety equipment at swimming beaches

CRD to consider pilot program to put safety equipment at swimming beaches

B.C. had a record number of drownings in 2023, with the highest number on Vancouver Island.
LifeLabs to move testing to Surrey, union warns of longer wait for results

LifeLabs to move testing to Surrey, union warns of longer wait for results

Technicians were advised this week that Life Labs is laying off workers from the Victoria Reference Laboratory and moving most of its microbiology testing to Surrey
Truck driver a hero for evading head-on collision with SUV: RCMP officer

Truck driver a hero for evading head-on collision with SUV: RCMP officer

Had it been a head-on crash between the SUV and truck, the SUV driver likely wouldn’t have survived, says Nanaimo RCMP officer Darwin Tetreault
Calls increase for lifesaving equipment at Langford Lake after teen's death

Calls increase for lifesaving equipment at Langford Lake after teen's death

An online fundraiser has been set up for Keron McKay’s family
Music teacher looking for new home after fire destroys top-floor suite

Music teacher looking for new home after fire destroys top-floor suite

Jamie Kozak, who lost a cat and pet rats in the blaze, was at band practice in Esquimalt when the fire broke out
Narrow escape from murder plot inspired ex-police chief’s interest in meditation

Narrow escape from murder plot inspired ex-police chief’s interest in meditation

Les Sylven, who served as Central Saanich chief, earned his PhD from UVic based on a study of meditation that began soon after he was targeted in a murder-suicide plot as a first-year cop
Two new physicians recruited for Port Hardy, but ER remains closed overnight

Two new physicians recruited for Port Hardy, but ER remains closed overnight

The two were posted to the town as part of a program where physicians agree to serve in rural and remote communities during their first few years of practice in B.C.
Province says employee email inboxes accessed during cyberattacks

Province says employee email inboxes accessed during cyberattacks

Shannon Salter, deputy minister to the premier and head of the public service, revealed the information in an email update to employees on Monday
More work by Cindy E. >