Former Editor Toronto Star and thestar.com
Joined September 2010
- Tweets 3,325
- Following 307
- Followers 9,517
- Likes 1,135
720 Photos and videos
Michael Cooke retweeted
Mar 19
Journo jobs alert: @TorontoStar's well-paid, unionized year-long journalist internship program for 2026-27 is open for applications. Current cohort includes eight reporters and two photogs. Deadline for applying is April 15. jobs.smartrecruiters.com/Tor…
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Michael Cooke retweeted
Feb 12
Official body of psychologists in #Ontario: people wait an average of 2 and a half years to get help, and that’s not good enough. Can anyone argue with that?? Pushing to get more people approved to help. #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness
On Dec 12, CPBAO’s Board voted to modernize psychologist registration in Ontario. These changes aim to uphold strong professional standards while helping Ontarians access care when they need it. Registrar & CEO Tony DeBono shares more in the Toronto Star: thestar.com/opinion/contribu…
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12 Aug 2025
yes ! and how about demanding the Israelis let in journalists too ...
12 Aug 2025
The humanitarian suffering in Gaza has reached unimaginable levels. Urgent action is needed to halt and reverse starvation.
Alongside international partners, Canada is calling on the government of Israel to provide authorisation for all international NGO aid shipments and to unblock essential humanitarian assistance.
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Michael Cooke retweeted
12 Aug 2025
Doctors always prioritize saving your life, organ donation is only considered after all life-saving efforts have been made. Two doctors not involved in transplant must declare death before organ donation can proceed. Let‘s spread the truth and encourage more people to register!
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Michael Cooke retweeted
15 May 2025
In celebration of #PrideMonth, JHR is hosting a live recording of the #JHRPodcast in Toronto, in partnership with Dignity Network Canada @InfoDignity, CUPE & Pink Triangle Press @ptp_media 👉lu.ma/rjn3uesd
Queer Voices and Visibility in Hostile Times
This special episode of the #JHRPodcast will examine the media’s critical role in shaping public understanding of LGBTQ rights – in Canada and globally – at a time of rising anti-LGBTQ rhetoric.
📅: Tues, June 3, 2025
⏲️: 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM (Live recording reception)
📍: Allied Music Centre Theatre (23 Shuter St, Toronto)
Featuring...
🗣️: Kevin Mwachiro (Writer, podcaster & queer activist, Kenya) @kevmwachiro
🗣️: Tara-Michelle Ziniuk (Xtra Managing Editor, Canada) @therealrealTMZ
🗣️: Lisa LaFlamme (Journalist & JHR Podcast host, Canada) @LisaLaFlamme_
Together, these voices from journalism and activism will unpack how global and local challenges intersect, where media coverage falls short and what responsible, inclusive reporting looks like today.
An audience Q&A and reception will follow the podcast recording.
Seats are limited, so please RSVP today: lu.ma/rjn3uesd
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Michael Cooke retweeted
13 May 2025
On 20 May, Canada's Journalists for Human Rights @jhrnews & MEPs @MarinaKaljurand, @Urmaspaet and @svenmikser will explore the threat of transnational repression against journalists and activists.
Register here: jhr.ca/brussels-tnr-event/
12 May 2025
SEMINAR IN BELGIUM:
Transnational repression is no longer covert. It is happening in plain sight.
Hear first-hand testimony from journalists and activists in exile, who have survived persecution by the Putin and Lukashenka authoritarian regimes at the upcoming high-level seminar ‘On the Front Lines Against Authoritarianism: Journalists, Activists & The Threat of Transnational Repression’.
🗓 Date: May 20, 2025
🕐 Time: 13:00 – 15:00 CET
📍 Venue: European Parliament, Brussels Room ASP5G1
🎤 Co-hosted by @jhrnews & MEPs Marina Kaljurand, Urmas Paet (@RenewEurope) and Sven Mikser (@svenmikser)
Speakers:
- Hanna Liubakova (@HannaLiubakova), exiled Belarusian journalist sentenced in absentia to 9 years in prison
- Natalia Arno, Free Russia Foundation, poisoned in 2023 in Prague.
- Vytis Jurkonis, Freedom House Vilnius, responsible for creating a democracy refuge in Lithuania for vulnerable activists and journalists
This seminar will expose the tactics used by authoritarian regimes to chill dissent in exile and propose concrete policy responses for EU lawmakers
RSVP HERE BY MAY 13, 14.00 : forms.gle/kp4Zh4xbCoR2K3si8
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Michael Cooke retweeted
6 May 2025
A truly special moment at @Freespeechcentr's #WPFD conference last night: JHR President Rachel Pulfer was honoured with a certificate in recognition of JHR's work to resettle more than 2,400 endangered Afghan journalists between 2021-2024. She received the certificate from the JHR-Meta Journalism Fellows, newly arrived Afghan journalists whom JHR then helped place in Canadian newsrooms through a year-long, paid fellowship.
In her remarks, Rachel emphasized that resettlement was just the beginning of the next chapter of these brave journalists' lives. JHR is proud to have supported them in continuing their vital reporting in Canada and will continue to shine a light on the harrowing realities their colleagues still face under Taliban rule.
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Michael Cooke retweeted
3 May 2025
On #WorldPressFreedomDay, JHR President Rachel Pulfer calls on Canada to step up and protect journalists around the world 👉 thestar.com/opinion/contribu…
In the Toronto Star, she lays it out: “Without journalists reporting [...] facts, people lack access to critical information about what’s happening in their communities and the wider world. Corrupt leaders in turn dodge scrutiny and accountability. If Canada wants to lead the fight for global peace and stability, our job starts with shoring up the integrity of the information ecosystem, both at home and abroad.”
#WPFD #WPFD2025 #WorldPressFreedomDay2025
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Michael Cooke retweeted
10 Apr 2025
#129 women killed in just 3 months, just for .
being women in Kenya. How many more must be killed until #femicide is declared a crime in #KenyanLaws?
Parliament: the-star.co.ke/news/2025-03-…
@jhrnews @CAN_Femicide @ywli_info
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Michael Cooke retweeted
25 Mar 2025
These children I met have no idea who Donald Trump is but his Order to shut down USAID could cost them their lives: katiecouric.com/news/opinion… #kcm @jhrnews
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Michael Cooke retweeted
6 Feb 2025
The View from Canada: Become the 51st State or Else! katiecouric.com/news/opinion… #kcm
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Michael Cooke retweeted
29 Jan 2025
Here are facts around online harm targeting political candidates in just one provincial election. The brilliant team at @TheSamaraCentre examined over 300K tweets. Their disturbing findings are a call to action for all of us to report this abuse when you see it. Give it a read:
29 Jan 2025
🚨 New SAMbot report by @TheSamaraCentre reveals the online abuse, inauthentic behaviour, and fake engagement that played a role in the May ‘23 Alberta election.🗳️💻 Read about these threats to our democracy here: buff.ly/4jP0Pcj
#CdnPoli
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11 Dec 2024
right on the button with Journalists for Human Rights #jhr thestar.com/opinion/contribu…
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Michael Cooke retweeted
4 Dec 2024
Today, we are hosting the launch of the #ResilienceNetwork with @jhrnews @EquitasIntl and Resilient Societies. Thank you to our Chair in Global Engagement Nurjehan Mawani for bringing the event to Massey.
You can watch it live or later on YouTube. youtube.com/live/8xjC8NeGGPg
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Michael Cooke retweeted
27 Nov 2024
PEI's $8 million NHL deal was created in secret. The tourism industry was never consulted. Senior managers were left out of the loop. Now the dept is lobbying operators to write letters of support for this massive waste. #peipoli #nhl #waste peicanada.com/eastern_graphi…
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Michael Cooke retweeted
25 Nov 2024
To mark the first day of #16daysofactivism against #GBV, @jhrnews in Toronto is hosting a critical discussion on combatting the growing issue of violence against women journalists around the world. We are grateful to @LisaLaFlamme_, @KiranNazish and @HannaLiubakova for sharing their expertise with us this morning. The panel will be recorded and later streamed on the #JHRPodcast. Stay tuned for the special episode.
#noexcuse #16days #endgbv #IntlDayfortheEliminationofViolenceAgainstWomen
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Michael Cooke retweeted
12 Nov 2024
Thank you @LiciaCorbella for this wonderful shoutout & thank you @FahimRasa for mentioning JHR in this powerful retelling of your incredible life journey.
Read Fahim’s #RemembranceDay reflection for the @NationalPost here: nationalpost.com/opinion/fah…
12 Nov 2024
This column by @fahimrasa wouldn’t have been possible w/o @Rachel_Pulfer & the org. she runs, @jhrnews, Journalists for Human Rights. They saved many lives like Fahim’s. So grateful! nationalpost.com/opinion/fah…
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Michael Cooke retweeted
12 Nov 2024
This column by @fahimrasa wouldn’t have been possible w/o @Rachel_Pulfer & the org. she runs, @jhrnews, Journalists for Human Rights. They saved many lives like Fahim’s. So grateful! nationalpost.com/opinion/fah…
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