(Bruce Coates photo of Larry Pynn with western red cedar at the Chemainus River)
Journalist Larry Pynn of sixmountains.ca receives national recognition for investigative series on unauthorized landfill on Cowichan Tribes reserve
Cowichan Valley journalist Larry Pynn has received national recognition for his investigative series on an unauthorized landfill on Cowichan Tribes reserve land.
The Canadian Association of Journalists today announced that Pynn is a finalist in the Community News category for his series published at sixmountains.ca.
Pynn was the first journalist to report, on Oct. 25, 2025, that a member of Cowichan Tribes had received a pollution prevention order related to a long-standing unauthorized landfill on Tribes’ Indian Road reserve.
The Ministry of Environment order pertains to three lots on Indian Road just above the Cowichan River near Allenby Road Bridge where dumped waste is “likely to release substances that will cause pollution.”
The unauthorized waste — construction and demolition debris, residential waste, derelict RV trailers, plastics, metals, and other “unmanaged materials” — violates the Environmental Management Act, says the order dated October 2.
Read the original article: https://www.sixmountains.ca/article/fdaaf885-11e9-432e-9041-aa3c4f965a5e
(Submitted drone image of unauthorized landfill on Indian Road)
In a statement released on Nov. 10, 2025, Tribes said in part it is “pleased to see the site finally get the attention it deserves.…” Read the full statement: https://www.sixmountains.ca/article/110b5870-c18c-42d4-939c-4a8665722ecb
sixmountains.ca continued to lead the way over the ensuing weeks, not just with reporting on this site, but two other unauthorized landfills also located on Tribes land.
During his reporting, Pynn relied on several investigative sources, including compliance and enforcement data, court files, city business licence information, provincial land-title and land-transfer searches, BC Assessment data, and provincial corporate records of directors. He also mined local social-media pages and historic newspaper files.
Pynn had a lengthy career with The Vancouver Sun, including 25 years as environment reporter, before moving to Maple Bay in 2018.
In its announcement, the Canadian Association of Journalists said: “This year’s finalists all demonstrate a commitment to excellence that goes far beyond simply reporting facts – these stories involve persistence, perseverance and a demand for accountability.
“A commitment to excellence is what separates journalism from noise. The daily commitment of Canadian journalists to persevere through intimidation, secrecy, or other personal risks to uphold the public’s right to know is not only a courageous act but a vital safeguard to our collective health, safety, and continued democratic way of life.”
Winners of the various CAJ categories will be announced June 13, 2026, at an awards gala at Carleton University's School of Journalism and Communications in Ottawa.
Judges selected the finalists from a record 561 entries.
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— Apr. 21, 2026
