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Working Draft Magazine

Working Draft Magazine

By Working Draft Magazine

Explore a diverse host of stories told by the eclectic voices of Working Draft Magazine. This year’s long-form pieces centre on something that grows with us all: nature. Each episode dives into a meticulously crafted story from a Canadian perspective.

This is the 2023 Working Draft Magazine.
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Mom...I Got My Period

Working Draft Magazine Mar 16, 2023

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16:05
Washed Away

Washed Away

Manitoba Hydro has been Winnipeg's main source of energy since the 1920s.

They advertise their energy as clean and green — but are we being greenwashed?

Apr 11, 202322:12
The Inevitable Fate of a Mining Town

The Inevitable Fate of a Mining Town

An inside look at a mining town: successes, resilience, and the inevitable loss for the people of Flin Flon.


Apr 10, 202320:31
Microdosing as Medicine

Microdosing as Medicine

Three Manitobans say microdosing "magic mushrooms" has helped them with their mood, motivation, and mindset, but psilocybin is still an illegal substance. What does the scientific community say?

Apr 04, 202320:38
Swapping Over Shopping

Swapping Over Shopping

The demand for cheap clothing has fueled a culture of overconsumption. It’s time to swap fast fashion for a sustainable future.

Apr 04, 202314:48
Between Cultures

Between Cultures

When you've got a foot in three worlds, it's hard to know where you belong.

Apr 04, 202320:28
Take the Plunge

Take the Plunge

Learn how to harness the power of cold therapy.


Apr 04, 202312:57
Ticked Off

Ticked Off

Blacklegged tick populations are on the rise in Manitoba. Can anything be done beyond self-directed prevention, or is Manitoba setting itself up for a repeat of the spread of zebra mussels? By Stephen Bennett

Apr 03, 202319:14
The Healthy Immigrant Effect

The Healthy Immigrant Effect

Immigrants leave their home countries in hopes of a better quality of life for themselves and their families, but at what cost to their health? By Elisha Corsiga.

Mar 31, 202319:51
How to "Touch Grass" in the Digital Age

How to "Touch Grass" in the Digital Age

Social media has been crucial in amplifying grassroots voices in the digital age. But in a world of infinite content and minimal regulation, can we tell the difference between 'real grass' and astroturf?

Mar 31, 202319:22
Diving In

Diving In

Water — the Earth's blanket — connects us all. As a little girl, I looked at the ocean with pure wonder, but as I've learned about inequalities and seen destruction in our waterways, my relationship to water has gotten more complicated. - Shauna Turnley

Mar 30, 202324:14
Finding Família

Finding Família

My ancestors hail from Holland, Scotland, and Ukraine, but I’ve never felt connected to any of them. I found myself in my stepfamily.

By Miranda McGregor

Mar 30, 202320:31
A Greener Way to Die

A Greener Way to Die

We may not know what happens after we die, but should know the environmental impact of our end-of-life decisions. — Madison Reynolds

Mar 29, 202315:51
Below Zero

Below Zero

A newbie's account of winter foraging in Manitoba.

Mar 28, 202319:58
Menace of Microplastics

Menace of Microplastics

Microplastics are harmful to marine life, ecosystems, and human health — and they are turning up everywhere. How should we respond?

Mar 28, 202316:16
Naturalization Frustration

Naturalization Frustration

Cultural connection takes effort and engagement, so what does an immigrant family do when stuck between tainted traditions, a disconnected diaspora, and the promises and pitfalls of a new, naturalized life? - Sergiy Volotovskyy

Mar 28, 202323:57
Change is Brewing

Change is Brewing

Is your pint green? Learn how craft breweries are reducing their environmental impact and what you can do to help.

Mar 28, 202318:27
Home Movies

Home Movies

To overcome grief in the present, I made a movie of the past.

Mar 27, 202322:47
Almost Home

Almost Home

After soldiers break down the gates to your childhood home and take your parents away, how do you find home again? 

Mar 27, 202324:59
To Catch Life Unaware

To Catch Life Unaware

A story of seeing and being seen.


By Kieran Redmond

Mar 27, 202318:04
The Engineering Gap

The Engineering Gap

In a male-dominated industry that's barely able to retain women, what experiences have other gender and sexual minorities had? Four queer people share their stories from working in an all-boys club — the engineering profession.

Mar 24, 202318:25
Fighting to be Heard

Fighting to be Heard

What do you do when your kid needs access to medical care, but it isn’t covered in Manitoba? You become a healthcare advocate. 

Mar 24, 202321:16
Canada is in the Heart

Canada is in the Heart

When his culture clashes with his surroundings, one first-generation immigrant wonders what it means to be Filipino.

Mar 24, 202318:46
Beyond Remission

Beyond Remission

For many cancer survivors, evidence-based complementary therapies are an informal part of their treatment plan. How can our health care system support the use of these therapies to help them live well beyond remission?

Mar 24, 202316:15
One Day

One Day

We all know a narcissist. They lie, cheat, manipulate, alienate, and game the system. But, is it possible for them to change?

Mar 22, 202320:30
Too Much Water

Too Much Water

Water is what draws people to Whiteshell Provincial Park each summer — but what happens when there's too much of it? Flooding in spring 2022 led to tough decisions for cottagers and residents who are thinking about the future in a changing climate.

Mar 22, 202314:07
A Home in the Forest

A Home in the Forest

We know that spending time outdoors is crucial for our mental and physical well-being. Forest bathing is a way to step into the trees and feel the magic — all year round.

Mar 22, 202319:25
Making My Peace With Babel

Making My Peace With Babel

Nonverbal Learning Disorder has shaped my identity and mental health. My journey to understanding myself begins with a doll house.

Mar 21, 202322:40
Finding a Place to Cultivate Peace

Finding a Place to Cultivate Peace

Moving to a hobby farm during the pandemic helped a young woman quiet the anxiety she'd been struggling with since childhood. 

Mar 17, 202317:35
Generation Save the World

Generation Save the World

When Gen Z is suffocated by fashion trends and social-media extremes, how are they supposed to change the world?

Mar 17, 202318:40
A Weathered Road to Settlement

A Weathered Road to Settlement

Thousands of newcomers seek refuge in “Friendly Manitoba” every year, but they don’t expect the extremity of Manitoba winters and the transportation issues that comes along with it. 

Mar 16, 202322:28
The Weight of Womanhood

The Weight of Womanhood

At different stages of my life, my self-worth hung on my ability to satisfy society's expectations of women, but when I began to interrogate these traditional gender roles — and notice how I'd internalized them — I started to break free. 

Mar 16, 202317:35
What Do We Do About Vaping?

What Do We Do About Vaping?

Vaping has spread through our youth like a plague. In its wake, a teenager is left to figure out how to deal with addiction, the government struggles to create sensible regulations, and a booming industry sacrifices morality for money. — Natan Ruman

Mar 16, 202318:03
Mom...I Got My Period

Mom...I Got My Period

Girls are getting their periods earlier than a century ago, so conversations about menstruation need to happen earlier. But who is responsible for this, and is it happening? 

Mar 16, 202316:05
Say It Out Laos

Say It Out Laos

When a tragic death in the family occurs, a young second-generation Laotian woman is forced to confront her cultural identity and reconcile with her past.

Mar 16, 202317:34
Letter to a Field

Letter to a Field

Summers spent at our extended family's "camp" in the prairies marked the beats of growing up, like the time my cousin and I outran the rain, but when the violence at home in Winnipeg followed us out to the bush, I had something else to run from.

Mar 10, 202318:57
The Balancing Act

The Balancing Act

A high school student only knows one speed — full throttle. Then a blow to the head brings his life to a sudden halt. Months of prescribed rest teach him when to push and when to slow down.

Mar 10, 202318:53
Who You Is

Who You Is

My mom is Black, my dad is White. She’s from The Bahamas, he’s from Steinbach. I should have grown up between cultures. Yet, there was a hole where one half of my identity should have been. Some say you need to look back to move forward. I looked back to find what was lost. By Stacha Penner

Mar 10, 202322:03
The Nature of Superheroes

The Nature of Superheroes

An exploration of the strange relationship between superheroes, the environment, climate change, and the real power of comic books. 


By Connor Boyd

Mar 10, 202321:58
Broken Headphones

Broken Headphones

Learning to listen to your own heartbeat.


By David Chenier

Mar 08, 202317:21
Not Just a Kill

Not Just a Kill

Are all hunters ruthless killers? Explore how and why you should hunt with expert advice from Anishinaabe Elder Paul Guimond and hunting guide Roben Ogden.

Mar 07, 202316:12
Camp like a Girl

Camp like a Girl

What does it mean to camp like a girl? It means getting outside in spite of sexism and traditional gender norms. Two Manitoban organizations are getting women into the wilderness and celebrating how being outside helps women tap into their innate power — and have fun while doing it.

Mar 07, 202319:49
When the Snow Stops Falling

When the Snow Stops Falling

As Manitoba's climate warms at twice the global rate, what will happen to our favourite winter activities? Skiing and snowboarding are most at risk — as are the people who depend on them. 

By Joel Larson

Apr 11, 202219:17
Starving for Affection

Starving for Affection

Content warning: This piece contains eating disorders, self-harm, pedophilia, child grooming and child endangerment.

Disclaimer: The author has changed some names in this piece. Specific weights have been censored, as they are an unnecessary trigger.

A young girl logs onto Tumblr, and is greeted by the dark world of pedophilia, child-grooming, and eating disorder fetishization.

Apr 08, 202224:10
Solace in a Stranglehold

Solace in a Stranglehold

A love letter to jiu-jitsu.

By Tyler Searle


Content warning: this piece contains references to violence, suicide, child abuse, death, and mental illness.

Apr 07, 202226:06
Pandemic Pets

Pandemic Pets

Both pet adoption and surrender rates increased during the pandemic. How are people who work with animals coping?

By Joël Lizotte

Apr 07, 202215:38
A Place to Belong: Tumblr's Queer Community

A Place to Belong: Tumblr's Queer Community

Despite its rocky reputation, Tumblr is home to a thriving queer community. What sets Tumblr apart from other social media platforms and why do some people have such a hard time giving it up?

By Arin Streeter

Apr 04, 202219:09
Silence in the Studio

Silence in the Studio

How did recording studios in Winnipeg survive the COVID-19 pandemic? 

By Kevin Rodriguez

Apr 04, 202214:56
2SLGBTQ+ Affirming Churches in Winnipeg

2SLGBTQ+ Affirming Churches in Winnipeg

When your identity and your religion collide, how do you find a place to call home?

Apr 02, 202215:56
Sioux Valley Dakota Nation's Knight in Golden Armour

Sioux Valley Dakota Nation's Knight in Golden Armour

By: Bryce Hunt

The story of NHL defenceman Zach Whitecloud told by those who helped him along the way.

Apr 01, 202217:29
Falling out of Faith

Falling out of Faith

By Taylor Toews

Apr 01, 202216:06