The Shoreline Journal is built on the work of writers who know Ontario waterways firsthand. Our contributors live in waterfront communities, paddle the rivers, attend the planning meetings, and understand the issues that matter to people who live and play near the water. Here is who they are.

Maren Falk

Environment Editor

Maren holds a degree in environmental science from the University of Guelph and has spent eight years documenting shoreline ecosystems across the Great Lakes. She lives in Collingwood, Ontario, where she can watch Georgian Bay from her desk and track the seasonal changes that inform her reporting.

Maren covers water quality, invasive species, shoreline erosion, wetland conservation, and the regulatory landscape that governs what happens along Ontario shorelines. Her work combines scientific research with on-the-ground reporting, and she has a particular interest in the intersection of environmental policy and community impact. Before joining The Shoreline Journal, she contributed to environmental publications and participated in citizen science monitoring programs along the Lake Huron coast.

Dale Burrows

Recreation and Outdoors Writer

Dale is a paddler, angler, and waterfront trail advocate based in the Kawartha Lakes region. He has written about outdoor recreation in Ontario for over a decade, and his work reflects a deep knowledge of the waterways, access points, and seasonal rhythms that define getting outside in this province.

Dale covers paddling routes, fishing guides, waterfront trails, birding spots, and the public access issues that affect everyone who wants to enjoy the water. He paddles a well-worn canoe, fishes from shore more often than from a boat, and believes that public access to waterways is something worth protecting. His writing is practical, opinionated, and grounded in hundreds of hours spent on the water across Ontario.

Sarah Oland

Waterfront Living Columnist

Sarah is a licensed real estate broker and freelance writer who covers waterfront property, insurance, and the realities of living near the water. She is based in Prince Edward County, where the intersection of rural waterfront life and a booming tourism economy provides a constant stream of material for her reporting.

Sarah covers everything from buying and selling waterfront property to dock permits, septic systems, and the neighbour disputes that water seems to amplify. She brings a practical perspective shaped by years of helping buyers navigate the financial and regulatory complexities of waterfront ownership. Her writing is known for cutting through the myths that surround waterfront real estate and giving readers the information they actually need to make good decisions.

James Whitfield

Planning and Development Reporter

James covers land use, zoning, and waterfront development across Ontario. Before joining The Shoreline Journal, he reported for community newspapers in Simcoe County, where he developed his skills covering municipal politics, planning tribunals, and the small-town dynamics that shape development decisions.

James reports on marina expansions, condo developments, infrastructure challenges, and the provincial policies that set the framework for local waterfront planning. He attends council meetings, reads environmental assessments, and talks to the residents, developers, and politicians involved in the decisions that reshape Ontario waterfronts. He is based in Barrie and covers development stories across the province.

• Contact Us
• About the Journal