Colleagues and friends recall Nadine not just as a fearless reporter but as a deeply empathetic advocate for justice. She sought stories that could make a difference, channeling her work into improving the lives of those often overlooked by society.

“She could have written puff pieces or pushed out safe reportage, and she still would’ve been good at it,” said longtime friend and fellow journalist Samira Clark. “But she chose a harder path because she believed in standing up for what was right. If there was someone whose story needed to be told—someone the world ignored—Nadine made sure they were heard.”

Her work often took her across borders. From reporting on the refugee crisis in Syria to documenting survivors of famine in East Africa, Watters saw journalistic integrity as a global responsibility. Yet, she never lost sight of the issues within her hometown, focusing much of her recent reporting on Canada’s growing organized crime problem.

That passion brought her to the doors of the Toronto courthouse last week, where the trial of mob boss Aiden Cline was just beginning. Sources from The Outside confirm she was preparing an investigative feature on the Cline family’s alleged reign of terror over the city.

“Nadine wanted to expose the human toll of organized crime,” said Ellis. “She wasn’t just interested in how much money the cartel moved or which politician they might be bribing. She wanted to tell the stories of the victims—families torn apart, communities left broken.”

Ellis pauses, then adds, “She told me, ‘Even if it scares me, even if it scares them—I owe it to the truth.’ That was just who Nadine was.”