Currently the managing editor of The Main, he’s a veteran storyteller with a focus on food and drink in Montreal: Having called the city home since 2006, he was the inaugural editor who launched Time Out Montreal and has written for publications including Time Magazine, the Montreal Gazette, and NUVO Magazine. He’s been a contributor and guest editor on Eater Montreal (plus a short stint in Dallas), and was the food editor for Cult MTL from March 2015 to January 2019.
He’s written about Montreal’s next generation of diner owner-operators as well as its first urban winery, a self-sustaining network of rooftop greenhouses and gardens, whether or not size determines the quality of a restaurant, and the future of liquor in Copenhagen’s meatpacking district. He’s also written about eating pumpkin spice-flavoured Kraft Dinner and praying for death.
Beyond food and drink, he has written about circus acts in a neo-Gothic church, dating during a pandemic, the rise of cowboy culture in Quebec, how Montreal is becoming a giant open-air gallery through its murals, and climbing skyscrapers for the gram. He’s also written at length about design and architecture, and was the national creative writer for Lemay, where he wrote on everything from the invisibility of conservation architecture, reusing and recycling industrial land, and the second lives of churches to a sweeping Canadian design manifesto.
He loves recommending spots to eat and drink—maybe you’ve read one of his many “best of” lists and city round-ups—and has appeared on CBC to both give recommendations and talk about giving recommendations among other appearances.
He’s mentored young writers and acted as a panelist on writing for a living, has been on the jury for the Digital Publishing Awards since 2024, and has taught at the Concordia Continuing Education.
Fun facts: He co-owned and operated Montreal’s oldest English language bookstore, the Argo Bookshop, from November 2011 to June 2015. He is also licensed to teach in Quebec, and holds a CELTA certificate from Cambridge University.
Testimonials
JP is an outstanding journalist: a fantastic food writer and critic, an energetic and diligent digital editor and a delightfully easy colleague. He established Time Out’s bilingual city site in Montreal and established the brand in Canada as well as contributing hugely to the curation of Time Out’s local food market. He has great contacts, a great attitude and – in his time with Time Out – turned his hand to all manner of things from branded content and commercial briefs to social media and website growth, and building a Rolodex of contacts for our edit and business. I would recommend him highly.“
Caroline McGinn, Global Editor in Chief at Time Out
“I worked with JP for a glorious few months at the Montreal Gazette and was sad to see him go. JP is an assigning editor’s dream: He shows up with a handful of ideas but is open to putting them aside when something more pressing comes along. The Montreal arts, culture and food scenes are where he shines. He has sources within the industry but I also watched him develop new relationships as he reached out to various communities during his time at the Gazette. He’s easy to work with, tolerates terrible puns thrown his way, and makes solid coffee recommendations — that’s priceless.“
Hayley Juhl, Executive Producer at Montreal Gazette
“I have had the pleasure of working with JP through my agency, Rose PR, for a handful of years now. JP is a consummate professional. He is full of great ideas for content, his writing is immaculate and, he never misses a deadline. He is always available to discuss strategies and provide input, even if it’s not part of his scope of work. I have seen him go above and beyond his mandates many times to ensure exceptional results.“
Ashley Rosenberger, Founder at Rose PR
“JP is a dedicated team player, a committed editor and a strong writer, and at Time Out Montreal he significantly grew an editorial brand from scratch in the city while also working closely with the start-up operation of Time Out Market Montreal.“
Dave Calhoun, Chief Content Officer, North America and UK at Time Out
“I (oversaw) J.P.’s work as both a guest editor and contributor for Eater Montreal. J.P. was quick to turn around breaking news, and excellent at meeting deadlines. He always volunteered to take on extra assignments as needed, and brought expertise and wit to his Montreal restaurant coverage.“
Missy Frederick, Cities Director at Eater
“I had the pleasure of working with JP Karwacki during his time as a Digital Media Associate Copywriter at AMUSE. JP quickly distinguished himself with his ability to craft compelling copy that was not only creatively engaging but also strategically aligned with campaign goals.
One of JP’s standout qualities is his commitment to depth- no matter the subject, he dives in fully, mastering the topic before putting pen to paper. This made his work feel both authoritative and approachable, a rare balance in digital storytelling.“
Jeehye Jung, Chief Brand Officer at Amuse Agency
“JP is a remarkable writer and an excellent team player. In an ever-changing environment he was quick to adapt and pivot to meet new goals.“
Sasha Manoli, Marketing and Events Manager at Time Out Montreal
“JP is a total pleasure to work with, and has been a real asset to the team at Time Out. His reporting on the cultural scene of Montreal is always informative and insightful, and his food and drink recommendations are impeccable, coming from a wealth of knowledge and experience.
I was fortunate enough to manage JP directly for a while at Time Out and work with him closely as part of the wider editorial team in North America, and I always appreciated the thoughtfulness and diligence he brought to each project. He was also a vocal cheerleader of other people’s work – which, coupled with the humour and openness he brought to each meeting, made him a hugely popular and valued member of the team.“
Alex Plim, Global Director of Digital Content at Time Out