Toronto Star reporters Jayme Poisson and David Bruser were honoured at a ceremony in Toronto on Wednesday evening for their investigative work into the mercury poisoning in the Grassy Narrows and Whitedog First Nations communities in Ontario — and the decades of government inaction that followed.

In front of a crowd of their peers, Poisson and Bruser received the prize from the Sidney Hillman Foundation and described their journey through writing roughly 30 stories on the mercury poisoning. They recalled travelling to Grassy Narrows to dig up dirt literally to test for mercury.

Thursday morning saw the announcement of the finalists nominated for awards from the Canadian Association of Journalists. Two Star investigations were on the list. “Separated by a hair” looks at how results from the now-discredited Motherisk drug-testing lab at SickKids hospital were used by authorities to remove children from their families. “Undercover in temp nation” goes behind the scenes to investigate conditions in factories that primarily employ workers from temporary employment agencies. Photojournalist Steve Russell is also nominated for his 2017 portfolio of work in the Star.

A collaboration between the Star, The National Observer and Global News called “The Price of Oil” was recognized with an honourable mention for its exposure of the environmental cost of Canada’s oil and gas industry.

Said Bruser of the Hillman prize for the series on the mercury poisoning: “The event was inspiring, to be in a room with so many talented journalists, our fellow honorees as well as the many editors and designers who helped us with our stories over two years.

“What was also special for us is that a couple people from Grassy Narrows First Nation happened to be in Toronto and were able to come join us at the party.”

The Star reporters’ series of stories details how a pulp and paper mill dumped 10 tonnes of mercury into the English River, a vital resource for residents in both First Nations communities, during the 1960s and 1970s, and how the government failed to take action despite years of reports from community elders and even a tip from a former worker at the mill.

Poisson and Bruser’s tireless investigation prompted Ontario’s government to announce finally $85 million in funding to clean up the river, as well as a $5-million care home for residents who have been poisoned by mercury exposure.

A statement from the Sidney Hillman Foundation said Poisson and Bruser’s work “demonstrates the importance of sustained, persistent and substantive investigative journalism, in an era that makes such investments difficult to commit to, but which are more crucial to creating a just society than ever.”

The Canadian Hillman Prize is awarded to journalists “who seek out stories that change lives, whose work identifies important social and economic issues in Canada and helps bring about change for the better,” according to the Sidney Hillman Foundation’s website.