Anita Elash

Anita Elash is a multiple award-winning journalist, producer and podcaster with more than 20 years of global experience. She is currently based in Toronto, and writes about all things Canadian with a focus on climate change and the environment. Anita has lived and worked on three continents, including North America, Europe and Asia. In addition to her work for The World, she spent several years as an investigative journalist for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. She was also a reporter and editor for Radio Free Europe and a regular contributor to National Public Radio, The Globe and Mail and Christian Science Newspapers, and Voice of America. She is passionate about language, culture and the outdoors. She spends her free time speaking French, gardening, and trekking in the back country. 

Uganda Women Birders tackles limiting gender taboos by giving women the experience and resources they need to prove they can do the job.

‘Birds are everywhere!’ Women bird guides in Uganda set a global example

Birdwatching is a rapidly growing and lucrative part of the tourism sector worldwide, but women make up a very small minority of professional guides. Uganda Women Birders, a bird guide club, is revolutionizing the industry by encouraging and supporting women who want to get into the business. Anita Elash reports from the town of Entebbe, Uganda.

‘Birds are everywhere!’ Women bird guides in Uganda set a global example
The Singh family in a promotional video for the specially designed Bold Helmets.

This mom couldn’t find sports helmets to accommodate her sons’ Sikh religious requirements, so she designed her own

This mom couldn’t find sports helmets to accommodate her sons’ Sikh religious requirements, so she designed her own
A young woman takes a picture of Lisbon's Alfama neighborhood from a viewpoint above it at sunset Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015.

Portugal’s golden visa program sparked an investment boom. But locals say they’re getting priced out.

Portugal’s golden visa program sparked an investment boom. But locals say they’re getting priced out.
Grocery store owner Gilles Robin works on his fruits vegetable display in Levis Que, Canada

Apps help cut food waste and costs in Canada as prices rise

Apps help cut food waste and costs in Canada as prices rise
Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba attend their news conference in Kyiv, Ukraine

‘We have the means to support them’: Canada prepares to welcome thousands of Ukrainian refugees

‘We have the means to support them’: Canada prepares to welcome thousands of Ukrainian refugees
People line up to enter a COVID-19 vaccination clinic with a torch of the 1976 Montreal Summer Olympics painted on the staircase in Montreal, Jan. 6, 2022.

'On the brink': Canada postpones or cancels tens of thousands of medical procedures amid COVID surge

Provincial governments in Ontario and Quebec said that in order to keep beds open for COVID-19 patients, only emergency procedures should go ahead.

'On the brink': Canada postpones or cancels tens of thousands of medical procedures amid COVID surge
Coniferous trees in Yoho National Park reach toward the sky with snow-topped mountains in the background in Canada's stretch of the Rocky Mountains, straddling the border of British Columbia and Alberta

Extreme weather events lead to Christmas tree shortage in Canada

It takes at least 10 years for a Christmas tree to grow big enough to be cut down. And Canada's loss of tree crops due to recent extreme weather events has led to a shortage that could last for many holiday seasons to come.

Extreme weather events lead to Christmas tree shortage in Canada
A vehicle in Canada waits for a gate to rise while crossing into Derby Line, Vt. from Stanstead, Quebec, July 11, 2018.

Canada tries to boost immigration by fast-tracking applications

The number of immigrants coming to Canada dropped dramatically last year because of the pandemic. Now, the country is trying to boost immigration numbers by reducing the criteria to become a permanent Canadian resident.

Canada tries to boost immigration by fast-tracking applications
The Canadian flag is illuminated in the Embassy of Canada in Washington in Washington, Thursday, June 20, 2019. 

‘Canada Day is a reckoning’: Many cancel celebrations as nation mourns Indigenous unmarked graves

Canadians are being urged to use the day to reflect on the nation’s history of oppression and honor Indigenous communities. 

‘Canada Day is a reckoning’: Many cancel celebrations as nation mourns Indigenous unmarked graves
Four caskets are covered with the Canadian flag of red and white as mourners look on.

For the first time, Canada applies terrorism charges to acts of Islamophobia

Nathaniel Veltman has been charged with murder in the case of the Azfaal family. Some legal experts say that adding the terrorism charge signals a shift in how Canada prosecutes those accused of terrorist activity.

For the first time, Canada applies terrorism charges to acts of Islamophobia
Erika Peterson, pictured in her first winter in Canada, left the US for Ottawa in 2018.

Some Americans fled to Canada when Trump won. Will a Biden presidency bring them home?

Stephen Shainbart was one of the thousands of Americans who, feeling shocked by Donald Trump’s victory, went online looking for information about how to move to Canada. He says even a Biden win won't bring him home now.

Some Americans fled to Canada when Trump won. Will a Biden presidency bring them home?
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney speaks at an event in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Dec. 9, 2019.  

What the US election means for Keystone XL construction in Canada 

As part of his environmental policy, US Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has pledged to revoke permits for the US portion of the Keystone XL. That would likely bring construction north of the border to an end.

What the US election means for Keystone XL construction in Canada 
A flight attendant is serving meals in a flight-themed restaurant complete with airline seats and cabin crew to customers at Thai airways head office in Bangkok, Oct. 3, 2020. 

First-class swag, airplane meals, 'flights to nowhere': Airlines innovate amid pandemic

Airlines are doing everything from selling in-flight meals to “flights to nowhere” to keep customers amid the coronavirus.  

First-class swag, airplane meals, 'flights to nowhere': Airlines innovate amid pandemic
A man squats in rubble holding his head in a perplexed way

A new report predicts a ‘tsunami’ of mental health problems for years to come 

As many countries continue to deal with the health and economic crises caused by the pandemic, a new report by Deloitte Canada warns of a “third-order crisis” to come. 

A new report predicts a ‘tsunami’ of mental health problems for years to come 
Two people stand outside a window peering inside a facility.

Isolation may be a greater risk than COVID-19 for residents of Canada's nursing homes

Canada's nursing homes were hit especially hard by the coronavirus. To protect residents, provincial governments issued lockdown measures and shut out families. But some experts argue that confinement and isolation can do more harm than good.

Isolation may be a greater risk than COVID-19 for residents of Canada's nursing homes