Submit an Op-Ed

The Boundary Sentinel welcomes thoughtful, signed opinion pieces from people who live in, work in or have a meaningful connection to the Boundary region.

Op-eds may examine local government, health care, education, housing, business, the environment, transportation, arts and culture, community life or other issues affecting Grand Forks, Greenwood, Midway, Christina Lake and surrounding communities.

Writers do not need to be professional journalists. Firsthand experience, professional knowledge and informed community perspectives are welcome.

What we are looking for

A strong op-ed should:

  • focus on a specific issue;

  • make a clear argument or offer a distinct perspective;

  • explain why the issue matters to local readers;

  • support factual claims with reliable information;

  • disclose any relevant professional, political, organizational or financial connection;

  • avoid personal attacks and unsupported allegations.

Most op-eds should be between 600 and 1,000 words.

How to submit

Email your submission to boundarysentinel at gmail dot com with the subject line:

Op-Ed Submission

Please include:

  • your full name;

  • the community where you live;

  • your email address and phone number;

  • the proposed headline;

  • the full article pasted into the email;

  • a brief biography;

  • any relevant affiliation or conflict of interest;

  • links or documents supporting factual claims;

  • a recent photograph, if available.

Contact information is required for verification but will not be published without permission.

Anonymous or pseudonymous submissions will not normally be accepted.

Editing and publication

Submitting an op-ed does not guarantee publication.

The Boundary Sentinel may edit submissions for length, clarity, grammar, factual accuracy, legal concerns and compliance with its publishing standards. Writers may be asked to provide evidence for factual claims or revise unsupported passages.

Substantial changes will normally be discussed with the writer before publication.

The Sentinel will not knowingly publish defamatory claims, hate speech, personal harassment, copied material, misleading promotional content or allegations of criminal or unethical conduct that cannot be adequately supported.

Political and organizational submissions

Elected officials, candidates, political parties, businesses, unions, advocacy groups and community organizations may submit op-eds, but their role and affiliation must be clearly disclosed.

News releases, campaign announcements and advertisements are not considered op-eds. A submission must offer a genuine argument, analysis or informed perspective for readers.

During election periods, additional limits may be introduced to ensure that no candidate or organization dominates the section.

Right of reply

When an op-ed substantially criticizes an identifiable person, organization, business or public body, the Boundary Sentinel may contact the affected party and offer an opportunity to respond.

Any response will be reviewed under the same standards as the original submission.

Previously published work

Please disclose whether the piece has been published elsewhere or submitted simultaneously to another publication.

The Boundary Sentinel generally prefers original submissions but may consider previously published work when the writer retains the necessary rights and the subject remains relevant to local readers.

Editorial independence

Published op-eds represent the views of their authors. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the Boundary Sentinel.

The purpose of this section is to support informed public discussion across the Boundary region. Disagreement is welcome. Personal abuse, deliberate misinformation and attacks on private individuals are not.