How Pinecone Diaries Is Changing (Again)

Less often. More depth. Stories worth your time.

Hi friends,

You’ve spoken, and I’ve listened.

Whether you’re a paid subscriber, a free reader, someone who’s restacked, liked, shared, commented, or just quietly enjoyed a few stories, your support has shown me that this project matters.

Thanks to you, I’ve been able to write and publish over 180 original Canadian stories. Many were daily. Some were deep. Some were experiments. But all of them were created with love, curiosity, and a belief that Canada’s stories deserve to be told.

And told well.

Over time, I’ve heard from a few readers who loved the stories but found it hard to keep up. One even unsubscribed and said she just didn’t have the time. When I looked at the data, I saw it too—open rates have been slipping as my stories have gotten longer.

At the same time, the feedback I’ve received has shown that people do appreciate the deeper dives and more thorough coverage.

All of this told me it was time to make a shift.

To stop pushing more into your busy inboxes, and instead give you something easier to carve out time for, easier to enjoy, and easier to remember.

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What’s Changing

From this point on, I’ll be publishing just one story each week. But that story will be the kind of deep, narrative piece you’ve told me you appreciate, like:

• The Canadian Music Teacher Who Rescued 3,228 Syrian Jews

• Forgotten in Buchenwald: The Untold Holocaust Survival Story of Canada’s WWII Airmen

• The Impossible Trench: How a Tiny Town Saved Two Forgotten Horses

Not something you scroll past or forget five minutes later.

Something you feel. Something you understand.

Something you want to talk to other people about.

The kind of story that stays with you because it helps you see Canada, your fellow Canadians, and yourself, a little differently.

Each week, that story will be:

• A carefully crafted newsletter

• A podcast episode (so you can listen on the go)

• A YouTube version with visuals, voiceover, and care

I’m going to target Wednesdays as the day I publish each weekly story.

I’m giving each story my full attention. I want to research it thoroughly, write it with intention, and make sure it’s genuinely worth your time.

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What Else Is Changing

To reflect this new direction, I’ve also decided to unlock the full Pinecone Diaries archive.

From now on, all past stories will be available to everyone, anytime.

If I’m only publishing once a week, I want new and longtime readers to be able to explore everything I’ve written so far—freely and without restrictions.

That’s over a hundred Canadian stories, people, places, and moments, all open and accessible.

And lately, I’ve started receiving invitations to speak about Pinecone Diaries and the lesser-known Canadian stories I’ve been uncovering.

This new publishing rhythm will give me more time to connect with people who are curious about these stories, and to start sharing them beyond the page, reaching wider audiences.

I’ll let you know when these chats are happening in case you want to join in too.

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Why I’m Doing This

Because I don’t want to fill your inbox. I want to fill your mind—and maybe your heart too.

Because I want more Canadians to discover these stories.

And because I believe that when we understand our past, we can do a better job shaping our future.

We don’t need more clickbait, outrage, or headlines that disappear the next day.

We need stories that remind us who we are, what we’ve built, where we’ve fallen short, and what we can still become, together.

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How You Can Help

If you believe in this project and want to help me continue uncovering and sharing untold Canadian stories each week, you can support Pinecone Diaries by becoming a paid subscriber for $7 per month.

There’s no paywall now, and no bonus content hidden behind a curtain—just the opportunity to support this work and help keep it going.

To those of you who’ve already joined as paid subscribers: thank you. You’ve been here from the beginning, and I hope you’ll stick around as we step into this next chapter.

If this change doesn’t feel aligned with what you originally signed up to support, I completely understand. I’ll gladly issue a refund if you’d like one. Just reply to this email and let me know—no pressure, and no questions asked.

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A Quick Note About #canadaliveshere

If you’ve been following the daily #canadaliveshere project, it’s still going strong. I’ll continue sharing a new Canadian community every day across social platforms and include a weekly roundup in each newsletter.

This project is one of my favourite ways to explore the country—and it often leads to the deeper stories I feature each week.

If you’d rather keep up with Pinecone Diaries in smaller bites, I’m posting daily over on:

• Substack Notes

• Threads

• BlueSky

That’s where you’ll find the #CanadaLivesHere threads, behind-the-scenes bits, cool discoveries, and casual updates.

No inbox pressure—just more Canadian stories when you feel like checking in.

You’ll also find just-for-fun polls, bracket challenges, and my “Canada by the Numbers” posts on these platforms.

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Let’s Keep Talking

I still read and reply to every comment and message. That’s not changing.

So if this update excites you, worries you, inspires you, or raises questions, please reach out. I’d love to hear from you.

And if at any point you feel this project isn’t the right fit for your inbox anymore, you can always unsubscribe or change your subscription from paid to free using the unsubscribe link at the bottom of this email. I’ll always wish you well.

Thanks again for helping me build something meaningful.

I can’t wait to share what’s next.

Have a rad rest of your day!

Craig Rourke

Pinecone Diaries: Canada’s Stories & History

P.S. Here’s a link to today’s #canadaliveshere thread: Bolton, ON.