Summary
Toronto and Halifax native Alec Bruce is a well-known Canadian journalist and author with a flair for producing award-winning stories. He has worked for the Globe and Mail, the Financial Times of Canada, Commercial News Magazine, the Moncton Times & Transcript, and Atlantic Business Magazine, and his bylines have appeared in dozens of other periodicals across North America, including: ROB Magazine, Maclean’s, Canadian Living, Atlantic Salmon Journal, Saltscapes, Reader’s Digest, and (even once) The Hollywood Reporter. He has written several books on Canadian businesses and philanthropists, and is currently at work on a new one, Some Kind of Wonderful, on the Nova Scotia co-operative movement, to be published in 2024. Bruce is the Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for the Guysborough Journal. He holds a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Nonfiction from Dalhousie University/University of King’s College in Halifax.
Positions
- Freelance writer (1990-Present)
- Local Journalism Reporter, Guysborough Journal (2020-Present)
- Nationally Syndicated Columnist, Troy Media (2018-19)
- Contributing Editor, Columnist, Atlantic Business Magazine (2007-17)
- Senior Editor, Columnist, Op-Ed Writer, Brunswick News Inc. (2005-17)
- Senior Communications Counsel, Government of Canada (1995-2005)
- Editor, Commercial News Magazine/The Downtowner (1990-95)
- Associate Editor, Financial Times of Canada (1988-90)
- Reporter/Writer, Globe and Mail (1984-88)
- Reporter/Writer/Editor, Atlantic Insight Magazine (1982-84)
Awards
- Bronze: Writer of the Year” in the 2022 International Regional Magazine Association Awards
- Merit: “General Feature” in the 2022 International Regional Magazine Association Awards
- Silver: “Commentary” in the 2014 Atlantic Journalism Awards
- Silver: “Magazine Article” in the 2014 Atlantic Journalism Awards
- Silver: “Commentary” in the 2012 Atlantic Journalism Awards
- Gold: “Regular Column” in the 2011 International TABBIES Awards
- Silver: “Profile Article” in the 2011 Atlantic Journalism Awards
- Gold: “Regular Column” in the 2010 International TABBIES Awards
- Gold: “Commentary” in the 2010 Atlantic Journalism Awards
- Gold: “Magazine Article” in the 2010 Atlantic Journalism Awards
- Merit: “Feature Article” in the 2009 International TABBIES Awards
- Silver: “Business Reporting” in the 2009 Atlantic Journalism Awards
- Silver: “Magazine Article” in the 2009 Atlantic Journalism Awards
- Gold: “Commentary” in the 2008 Atlantic Journalism Awards
- Silver: “Magazine Article” in the 2007 Atlantic Journalism Awards
- Silver: “Magazine Article” in the 2007 Atlantic Journalism Awards
- Gold: “Commentary” in the 2006 Atlantic Journalism Awards
- Finalist: 2005 Kenneth R. Wilson National Business Writing Awards
The Bruce Scribes 
Alec
As you might expect, I loved your column “Fail to the Chief…”, especially Barbara Bush’s “We’ve had enough Bushes”
Bill
RE: All the data that’s not fit to print
I think one needs to distinguish between two entirely separate issues (though I’ll get to their link momentarily). One of the issues concerns the wisdom of shifting from the mandatory long-form census to the voluntary National Household Survey. And there, I think, former Chief Statistician Munir Sheik has pretty much summarized my feelings on the matter.
The other concern revolves around the disruption at Statistics Canada resulting from the staff cutsn in response to Budget 2012. As you can see here – http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/04/12/pol-federal-job-cuts-tracker.html – StatsCan was among the hardest hit in the first wave of cuts. Other departments may well end up laying off more in the long run, but StatsCan’s knife was sharpest at the outset.
To be fair, some of those cuts were likely temporary staff, hired specifically for the data-collection and data-processing of Census 2011. But there were a lot of other cuts as well. Staff that were declared surplus in one part of the organization were sometimes placed in another part. In short, there was a LOT of shuffling around, which undoubtedly affected the smoothness and seamlessness of operations. They’re not hamstrung, but they did experience an organizational fender-bender, and I expect that was the source of the recent delay-of-release.
As for the linkage, you will note that the abandonment of the long form happened under Tony Clement as Industry Minister, and the workforce reduction is also happening under Tony Clement, as Secretary of the Treasury Board. The guy “gets around”.
I was glad to see your column back again where it belongs in this morning’s paper. I hope your column will stay here. I did not like it when they moved it to the side column.
Thanks Bob!
Enjoyed your column on public servants in Saturday’s T&T. Is it available online as I’d like to post it on FB
No problem, my friend. Just posted to my blog; now available on Facebook and Twitter
Thanks, Alec
I am a faithful reader of your column in the Times&Transcript and have always been impressed with your view and support of early childhood education. I am a volunteer board member of the Family and Early Childhood Anglophone East Inc. We are searching for new board members with a variety of backgrounds who believe in helping children in our region get a good start to their lifelong learning journey. If you are interested please contact me and I would be happy to give you more information.
[…] Bruce was the father of Alec Bruce. Alec’s website notes, “He has been a nationally syndicated columnist on business, politics and social issues. His […]