Hyundai Auto Canada is proud to recognize Stephanie Wallcraft as the winner of the 2026 Environmental Journalism Award, presented as part of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada’s (AJAC) annual Journalism Awards. Nadine Filion was named runner-up.
This marks Hyundai Canada’s sixth consecutive year sponsoring the Environmental Journalism Award, continuing its support for automotive journalism that helps Canadians better understand sustainability, transportation and the environmental considerations shaping vehicle ownership.
This year’s recipients were determined by an independent three-member jury through an anonymous review process. The panel was composed of Pam Baker, director of corporate division at MCI Group Canada; Félix Dagenais, media director at Innocean Worldwide Canada; and Paul-André House, account director at Tequila Communications et Marketing.
Turning vehicle data into useful information for Canadians
Stephanie Wallcraft received the award for her article, “Why NRCan’s Fuel Consumption Guide remains a critical tool for Canadian car buyers,” published by Driving.ca.
In this article, Wallcraft examines Natural Resources Canada’s Fuel Consumption Guide and its continued relevance as a resource for Canadians making vehicle-purchasing decisions.
The story takes information that can be complex and technical and puts it into a practical consumer context, helping readers better understand how fuel efficiency relates to vehicle ownership costs, environmental impact and purchase considerations.
Jurors selected the article for its ability to make complex information accessible and relevant, providing Canadians with practical context to help them make more informed vehicle-purchasing decisions.
A practical look at reducing waste through responsible vehicle ownership
Nadine Filion earned runner-up honours for “Are all those old oil cans in your garage still any good?”, also published by Driving.ca. In this article, Filion explores a familiar question for many vehicle owners: what should you do with old containers of motor oil sitting in the garage?
Her article approaches the question through the lens of everyday vehicle maintenance while connecting it to broader considerations around consumption, waste reduction and resource conservation. Through expert sourcing and accessible technical information, the piece helps readers determine whether older motor oil may still be suitable for use rather than unnecessarily discarding usable product.
Jurors recognized the article for its strong service-journalism approach, combining expert sourcing and technical accuracy with accessible storytelling while demonstrating how everyday decisions can help reduce unnecessary waste.
About the Award
Hyundai Canada’s Environmental Journalism Award recognizes automotive reporting that brings clarity and practical insight to topics related to sustainability, electrification and the environment. Hyundai Canada has sponsored the award for six consecutive years.
“The transition toward more sustainable mobility is creating new questions for Canadian consumers, and quality journalism plays an important role in helping people navigate that change,” said Fabio Cappella, director of Product and Corporate Strategy at Hyundai Canada. “Stephanie and Nadine demonstrate that environmental journalism can be both informative and highly practical. Their work gives Canadians credible information they can use to make more informed decisions, whether they’re choosing their next vehicle or simply thinking differently about how they maintain the one they already own. Hyundai Canada is proud to recognize their contributions.”
Hyundai is committed to advancing a more sustainable future through electrification and renewable energy as it works toward its goal of carbon neutrality by 2045.
