BURST
Lori Culbert, a longtime Postmedia journalist, has been named a 2024 Michener Award finalist for her relentless reporting on the circumstances around the overdose death of a University of Victoria student.
Sidney McIntyre-Starko, 18, collapsed in a UVic dorm in January 2024 and did not receive life-saving medical care after her overdose was mistaken for a seizure by the 911 call-taker and the first aid attendants at the scene.
The teen’s death — and some of the systemic failures surrounding that night — were detailed in a piece written by Culbert and published in May 2024 . Just hours after the story was published, the province called for an inquest into the student’s death.
Following the announcement of the inquest, Culbert continued to report on the circumstances surrounding how the emergency was handled and what measures could have prevented the fatal outcome , as well as the family’s push for answers.
As a result, changes were introduced to provide 1,600 new nasal naloxone kits in dorms , bars and other high-traffic buildings around the province. Campus first responders and 911 responders received updated training on handling overdoses. High school students across the province now also receive CPR training.
In announcing Culbert as one of six finalists, the Michener Awards Foundation praised her for writing “a story with such passion, power and grace that it made us stare into the human cost of an overdose epidemic that we tried to ignore. She showed us that it wasn’t only poor people dying of overdoses alone in dark alleys. It could happen to anyone.”
Postmedia Editor-in-chief Harold Munro applauded Culbert’s work and the impact it has had since in prompting changes.
“Lori Culbert’s investigation into the tragic death of Sidney McIntyre-Starko revealed systemic failures in how post-secondary institutions respond to the toxic drug crisis. Premier David Eby ordered an inquest into the death just four hours after Lori’s first story was published, and many safety improvements on campuses have followed,” said Munro.
“A Michener nomination is the highest honour in Canadian journalism, an acknowledgment of work that provokes positive change in the community.
“Lori’s relentless pursuit of answers on behalf of all of us epitomizes what the Micheners are all about.”
The inquest into McIntyre-Starko’s death began on Monday, April 28 and continues this week.
You can follow Culbert’s coverage of the inquest here:
• Day 1: UVic student’s mother takes stand on Day 1 of her coroner’s inquest
• Day 2: UVic student contradicts campus security evidence at coroner’s inquest
• Day 3: UVic security officer defends actions on day of student overdose death
• Day 4: We ‘did the best we could’: Second UVic security guard testifies about evening student died
• Day 6: Paramedic suspected fatal UVic call was more serious than 911 report
The winner of the 2024 Michener Award will be announced in Ottawa on June 5, 2025.