About
NorthFacts is a one-person project. I’m James MacDonald, a reference librarian in Ottawa, Ontario, and I’ve been answering questions professionally for nine years. During that time, I’ve seen how hard it can be to find straightforward, reliable answers online. Most results are cluttered with ads, opinion, or half-truths. NorthFacts is my attempt to cut through that noise.
I started this site in 2020, during the early months of the pandemic. People were desperate for clear, factual information, and I had the time and the skills to help. What began as a small collection of fact cards has grown to more than 900 entries across seven sections, covering People, Sports, Entertainment, History, Nature, Places, and Culture. Each entry is a concise answer card: a quick answer, key dates, and context. No opinion pieces, no breaking news, no long-form journalism—just the facts.
Why no ads?
NorthFacts is ad-free, and it will stay that way. I believe that reliable information should be free and accessible to everyone, without being tracked or bombarded with promotions. Ads would compromise that mission. They would also create a conflict of interest: if I depended on ad revenue, I might be tempted to write for clicks rather than for accuracy. I’m not willing to do that.
How is it funded?
It isn’t. Running NorthFacts costs me money. I pay for the domain, hosting, and software out of my own savings. There is a small Patreon, but it covers only a fraction of the expenses. I keep the site running because I believe in its purpose. I’m not a corporation, and there is no newsroom behind this—just me, a laptop, and a library card.
My background
I’ve spent nearly a decade at the Ottawa Public Library, fielding questions on everything from hockey statistics to obscure film trivia. That experience taught me how to find accurate information quickly and how to present it clearly. I’m a stickler for accuracy, and I hate when facts are buried under fluff. That’s why every entry on NorthFacts is written to be direct and useful.
I also have a personal interest in many of the topics I cover. For example, I’ve written about Love Island Season 8 and Courtney Love because they came up in reference questions. I’ve also delved into Game of Thrones Season 1 Episode 1 and Dragon Ball Z—topics that might seem trivial but are actually part of our shared cultural landscape.
How I work
Each fact card is researched using primary sources and reputable databases. I cross-check dates, names, and events. When I make a mistake, I correct it promptly. You can read more about my method and my sources. If you spot an error, please let me know via the corrections page.
I also have a clear scope: I cover topics that are factual and verifiable, and I avoid speculation. If a topic is too subjective or too current, I’ll note that on the page or decline to cover it.
Contact
If you have a question, a suggestion, or a correction, you can reach me directly at james@northernfocus.org. For general inquiries, use info@northernfocus.org. I read every message, though I can’t always reply immediately.
Thank you for visiting NorthFacts. I hope you find it useful.