Michael Byers | The Walrus

An illustration, with the silhouette of a face flanked by men holding guns (one in a suit, one in army uniform). At the bottom, there are police and police cars moving towards a man sitting at a table.

May 2021 / The Walrus True Crime

The Rise and Fall of a Double Agent

April 20, 2021April 20, 2021 - by Michael Byers

Cameron Ortis was an RCMP officer privy to the inner workings of Canada’s national security—and in a prime position to exploit them

Three athletes crouch in a starting position for a race while three suited officials observe behind them.

December 2019 / Sports

How the World Anti-Doping Agency Betrays Honest Athletes

November 13, 2019March 27, 2020 - by Michael Byers

When the highest authority on cheating is compromised, what happens to athletes who play by the rules?

Feature / June 2017 / The Walrus True Crime

The Rise and Fall of Toronto’s Classiest Con Man

May 29, 2017November 25, 2020 - by Michael Byers

James Regan swindled his way through the city’s monied classes. The problem was, he seemed to believe his own lies

Feature / July/August 2016

Stuck

July 20, 2016April 1, 2020 - by Michael Byers

Traffic is ruining our lives—but we can be saved

Feature / September 2015

Uber vs Taxi

September 24, 2015April 8, 2020 - by Michael Byers

Ride-sharing apps like Uber are revolutionizing the way we travel and cabs are struggling to keep up

June 2015 / Memoir

When Polio Walked the Earth

May 27, 2015April 11, 2020 - by Michael Byers

Notes on a forgotten disease

Feature / October 2014

When Killer Whales Got a Rebrand

October 6, 2014April 13, 2020 - by Michael Byers

Fifty years ago, killer whales became known as orcas—and launched the modern conservation movement

January/February 2014 / Television

Fool’s Gold

January 7, 2014April 14, 2020 - by Michael Byers

Panning Discovery Channel’s Klondike

March 2012 / Society

Brand Me

March 12, 2012March 10, 2021 - by Michael Byers

Gen Y personal branders are clogging Internet browsers with self-portraits, product endorsements, and the minutiae of their days. A Gen-Xer asks if we have any right to hate them

Books / March 2011

The Life Raft

March 12, 2011April 14, 2020 - by Michael Byers

Canada Reads is an essential way for publishers to sell books—but at what cost to literature?