2023 BNC Booklet

COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY

GENERAL EXCELLENCE CLASS 1

CIRCULATION 1,999 & UNDER

LISTOWEL BANNER

1

The Listowel Banner is a worthy winner in this category, starng with its front page, which is best in class. This paper's presentaon and photography deserve parcular acclaim, but the Banner is solid across the board, with an above-average mix of important community news and interesng features andquiteabitofaenontosports.

BLYTH/BRUSSELS CITIZEN

2

The Blyth/Brussels Cizen has strong, appealing layout elements with great photography and plenful community features. Thorough sports coverage and adversing features, as well as a fulsome opinion seconmovedthispapertosecondposioninacategoryfullofworthyrecipients.

HALIBURTON COUNTY ECHO

3

HONOURABLE MENTION

The Haliburton County Echo takes third place with its wealth of news, features and sport, supported by strong photography and well-designed and informave ads. The County Echo has a strong editorial voice that engages readers on important issues. The staff is clearly working hard to serve people in the communies that the newspaper serves.

Judges

NEW LISKEARD TEMISKAMING SPEAKER - The New Liskeard Temiskaming Speaker is another shining example of a small circulaon newspaper with a strong commitment to providing an engaging mix of news, features, commentary and adversing. Readers get full value from an issue of the Speaker which secures the newspaper’splaceinthecommunity.

GENERAL COMMENT

Asalways,itwasapleasuretojudgetheworkofthenewspapersinClass 1. The newspapers in this category are serving their communies well in the face of the challenging circumstances of which we are all aware. There is commitment to reporng on the community and presenng generally aracve layouts with loads of eye-catching photos, and a real sense of thoroughness to the coverage. These communies are being well-served by journalists who care about detailing hard news topics and also telling stories about the people and events that make these places what they are. This was a tough selecon to judge as the quality and care with which the papers handled their communies was commendable.

Bronwyn Beairsto Editor, The Coast Reporter, Sechelt, BC

Greg Sakaki Managing Editor, Nanaimo News Bullen, Nanaimo, BC

Frank McTighe Editor & Publisher, The Macleod Gazee, Fort Macleod, AB

EGANVILLE LEADER

The EganvilleLeader stands out with both volume and quality of content. It broadly covers allaspects of community life from hard news to lighthearted community features using generally strong photography. It features a strong editorial page, which seems to indicate the community is engaged with the presence of leers to the editor. If there is any quibble to be had with the Leader, it is that the lookandlayoutfeelabitdatedatmes.Itcouldmaybeuseabitofafaceli.Ontheadversingside,the adsarecleanandprecisewithgooduseofcolour.Thevarietyofadversersisgreattosee.

FORT FRANCES TIMES

The Fort Frances Times has a good front page, which always gets people looking. The first thing people see is the front, which seems simple enough to say, but it's vitally important and this paper did just that. Sportsandartslackedabit,buttheamountofgood,solidcommunitynewsmadeupforthat.

STRATFORD TIMES

1 2 3

The Straord Times is well laid out, clean and easy to read. There is a lot of content and a lot of great features about interesng people and events. The newspaper looks well supported with ads that are also crisp and effecve. However, this newspaper could have benefied from an editorial page with a locally wrien editorial and a place for readers to write in. It does print its “Guiding Principles” which is an innovave addion to the publicaon. Overall, this newspaper is an excellent read.

CREEMOREECHO- The Creemore Echo is also clean and easy to read. It has a locally wrien editorial and mulple leers to the editor, indicang readers have taken ownership in the paper. It also has interesng features. It could have benefied from stronger leads in its stories and in organizing its content differently. Overall, this newspaperisasolidpublicaon. HONOURABLE MENTION

GENERAL COMMENT

Community journalism in Ontario is alive and well! Although a bit disappoinng to see just six in this category, the entrants showed why community news connues to be important. The entries were all solid, making it difficult to choose the top three. Universally, they had a lot of stories and photos, some good special secons, and seemed to cover their communies well. You can get naonal news from anywhere, but people want to know what's happening with their neighbours, and they all did a good job documenng important and local goings-on. Congratulaons to everyone for not only connuing to put out a newspapereveryweek,butalsoachievingahighstandardwhiledoingit.

Judges

Managing Editor, Northern News Services Ltd., Nunavut & NWT

Melissa Ash Publisher, The Northern View, Prince Rupert, BC

Rob Vogt Editor, Claresholm Local Press, Claresholm, AB

James McCarthy

HALIBURTON, THE HIGHLANDER

1

TheHighlanderisatrueexampleofanoutstandingcommunitynewspaper!Apleasuretoread,itclearly deserved the top marks this year. It fits the definion of what a community newspaper should be prey much to the leer. It is visually appealing, with effecve use of colour, and draws the reader in. The layout and design, quality of wring and photography and the level of community news was fantasc to see. It was also the strongest newspaper for sports coverage. We really liked the "people" and "junior highlanders" categories. Congratulaons to the newsroom for producing a wonderful read with lively, well-wrienstories,freshvisuals,andexcellentdesign.

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT

2

The Lake Report is a wonderful community newspaper that serves every demographic. Local features, community news and photography pushed this entry to second place. Readers of this newspaper are fortunatetohaveaccesstosuchaninteresngandaesthecallypleasingpublicaon.Welldone!

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE LOCAL

3

GENERAL COMMENT

The Niagara-on-the-Lake Local is a superb community newspaper that’s full of great stories. Strong photography, presentaon, local features, and sports coverage can all be found in this newspaper, making the second/third place decision a tough one indeed. Three cheers to the newsroom!

Judges

The quality of journalism connues to be strong in this class and showed the heart and personality of their respecve communies. The news reporng presented was solid — demonstrang local journalism at its best, with mul-skilled journalists covering off-beat stories with unique voices and snapping fresh photos — while the op–ed, arts, school and sports secons rounded out interesng and thoughulreads.Itwasadelightto seesuch carefulaenon to local issues, along with a strong adversing base. Congratulaons to these publicaons for giving up precious white space to devote to the leers to the editor. Having differing views in a public forum makes for healthy debate. Overall, these entries offer plenty of opmism. Give yourselves a collecve pat on the back and keep up the good work. And to the reporters: Your passion for storytelling deserves applause.

Janis Cleugh Reporter & Copy Editor, Tri-City News, Coquitlam, BC

Andy Walker Rered Editor, Island Farm, Montague, PEI

Greg Vandermeulen Editor, The Carillon, Steinbach, MB

GENERAL EXCELLENCE CLASS 5, 6 & 7

CIRCULATION 12,500 & OVER

FERGUS WELLINGTON ADVERTISER

LISTOWEL INDEPENDENT PLUS 1 2 3

The Fergus Wellington Adverser includes lots of news on each front page to aract readers. Publisher Dave Adse’s editorials were powerfully wrien. The paper includes lots of leers to the editor meaningthatfolksareengagedinthecommunity.Boththeartsandsportscoveragewerestrong. Awonderfulcommunitynewspaper!

KITCHISSIPPI TIMES

The Kitchissippi Times was both fun and refreshing to read. The layout was easy and comfortable to navigate, and the adversing was well-designed. Plenty of happy community faces in the photos, too. Moresportscoveragewouldhavebeengreatbutoverall,agoodenjoyableread.

The Listowel Independent Plus offers its readers a good mixture of both local editorial and adversing content. For anyone living or vising Listowel, one can pick up the Independent Plus to get a quick idea on the pulse of the community and what is important for people in the region.

GENERAL COMMENT

Community newspapers have one thing in common - local coverage. The best of them reflect a parcular community back to itself. That’s what the top three papers in this class did effecvely. People stories, whether the focus is on arts or business or sports, make readers feel personally connected and that is what we are celebrang with this class. The category was a challenging one to judge as all newspapers offered excellent editorial and adversing content for readers. Each newspaper was able to give its readers a full spectrum of what was happening in their respecve communies and what was important to residents. They produced solid content and quality wring, which is greatly appreciated by readers who consume the journalism throughouttheyear.

Greg Colgan Editor, Rocky Mountain Outlook, Banff & Canmore, AB

Judges

Elliott Columnist, Valley Journal Adverser, Annapolis Valley, NS

Manfred Tempelmayr Rered Publishing Company President, Past BCYCNA President, Gabriola Island, BC

Wendy

GENERAL EXCELLENCE CLASS 8

COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY

HUMBER COLLEGE - ET CETERA

The “double” cover pages (usual front but also back page as a sports-themed cover) is a unique touch. Overall,thispaperhasacleanandhigh-contraststylewithseconsintheexpectedplaces.Ienjoyedthe themes in both edions. Headshots for op-ed writers is a pro move. Pullquotes break things up nicely, but all-caps is too “shouty”. Strong sports coverage and also plenty of community photos. No ads in eitheredion.

UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO - IMPRINT

Crisp and compelling photos, and an appealing design and layout to this newspaper. While some seconstendtomovearoundbetweenedions,andphotocaponsareinconsistent,thelocalfeatures were good though would have benefied from more photos. Only one ad, which appeared on the cover.

FANSHAWE COLLEGE - INTERROBANG

1 2 3

Appealing magazine style to the front page with bold graphics. Nice touch to note writers’ pronouns in theirbylines.Consistentpresentaonofseconsanduseofphotocapons,butIwaspuzzledaboutthe middle secons with full-colour graphics (unclear why they were in a different style). Themes were relevant. Placement and relevance of ads was good. Local features would have benefied from peoples’ names.

GENERAL COMMENT

There's no shortage of keen reporters and talented photographers working hard in Ontario's campus newspapers. These entries all share a drive to bring readers the latest community news happening both on campus and in the wider neighbourhood. While there are convenonal styles that newspaper readers expect, each paper showsthereisalsoroomtobecreaveanduniqueintheirdelivery.

Copy Editor and Staff Writer, The Hill Times, Oawa, ON

Reading local community newspapers is one of Chrisna Leadlay’s favourite things. Having been in newspaper publishing since 2004 when she first joined The Hill Times group in Oawa, Leadlay has held many roles, from intern at HT to associate editor of its foreign policy weekly Embassy. Since 2015, she has been co-eding the daily digital publicaon Parliament Now, contribung to the health publicaon Hill Times Research, and overseeing the annual Inside Oawa Directory (a pocket guide to Parliament). In addion, since early 2022, Leadlay has been copy eding both edions of The Hill Times, and since late 2023 has been wring for the paper’s “Heard on the Hill” column each week. From 2014 to 2023 she was managing editor of the New Edinburgh News, a volunteer-run community newspaper serving neighbourhoods justeastofdowntownOawa.

Judge

Christina Leadlay

HALIBURTON, THE HIGHLANDER

1

Amostenjoyableread!Greatphotoandalivelystory.Greatwork,Sam!Firstplaceiswelldeserved.

KITCHISSIPPI TIMES - ZENITH WOLFE

2

Beaufully presented and wrien with strong images, this arcle is an example of great community journalism! Congratulaons, Zenith! Be sure to italicize tles and watch for punctuaon (square bracketsinsidequotes).Ajobwelldone!

CREEMORE ECHO - TRINA BERLO

3

Beaufully wrien and presented, although there is no photo credit. There is a really nice "call to acon"withtheiconattheendofthepiece.CongratulaonstoTrinaforherperfectstory!

HONOURABLE MENTION

PICTON GAZETTE - CHRIS FANNING - A lovely review of a chamber music performance. This arcle was beaufully presented with a great photo of the musicians. For the reporter, please watch your punctuaon (dashes, colons, quotaon marks around songs) and, as per CP Style, avoid the use of honourary tles like Mr. Kudos to the newsroomforthiswork!

GENERAL COMMENT

This was a hard pick. However, Sam Gille's story in The Highlander about radio bingo shined. Congrats to the entrants for their submissionsandkeepupthegreatwork.Artsandculturemaers!

Janis Cleugh Reporter & Copy Editor, Tri-City News, Coquitlam, BC

Judge

Janis Cleugh is a mulmedia reporter covering city business, courts and the arts for the Tri-City News, a Glacier Media publicaonthatwentdigital-onlyinAugust2023.Sheisalsoacopy editor, a paginator and a naonally cerfied proofreader. Janis has worked at community newspapers for more than 30 years in England,Scotland,Wales,OntarioandBrishColumbia.Sheisalso a contest judge for AWNA, SWNA and QCNA, as well as for the Canadian Community Newspaper Awards (CCNA). In her spare me, Janis is the secretary of Editors BC, which in June 2024 is hosngtheEditorsCanadaconferenceinVancouver.

Best Business & Finance Story

1 2 3

AYLMER EXPRESS - JOE KONECNY

Excellent wring and sourcing! All within the limits imposed by local governments, non-disclosure edict.

BLYTH/BRUSSELS CITIZEN - SHAWN LOUGHLIN

Fine narrave style. Limited sourcing and direct quotes. Speculaon and assumpons without sourcing adistracon.The‘storytelling’wasexcellent.

FORT FRANCES TIMES - ELISA NGUYEN

A good review of a deadly problem for the remote provincial Region: an absence of licensed funeral directors.Thestorycouldusecricalgrammacaleding.Also,sourcingwaslimited.

GENERAL COMMENT

Most entries in this category captured the essence of storytelling. However, too many entries read as well-wrien promoon pieces. Missing too were sources beyond the stories - primary focus: customers, other affected businesses, employees, financial support services and affected or related government agencies. Put simply: shallow. Now for the posive (they all had something): they featured people! Instuons come and go in the business community, but change in any form affects our neighbors, the humans. Broad sourcing also engages readers! Aer all, they are the ones for whom ourstoriesaregatheredandwrien.

Rered Publisher, The Leader, Port Townsend, Washington, US

Frank Garred began his Journalism career in 1960 following two years of military service. He has reported for and edited daily and community newspapers since, unl “rerement” in 2002. That career included ownership of The Leader in Port Townsend Washington, and partner-owner of The Gazee in Sequim, Washington. He remains a member of the Naonal Newspaper Associaon; Internaonal Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors; and Washington Newspaper Publishers Associaon. Since rerement he served as Journalism associate professor at two state colleges and helped found (and manage) a state non-profit focused on maintaining accountability and transparency among state and local government enes. He lives in Port Townsend and vacaonswithfamilyonKauai,Hawaii...oen.

Judge

Frank Garred

Best Editorial, circ. over

1 2 3

FERGUS WELLINGTON ADVERTISER - PATRICK RAFTIS

Well wrien editorial. Good explanaon of what the issue is, so that any reader can get up to speed and understand the issue if, by chance, they missed this before. Good editorial development. You backed it upwithfacts,stascsandquotes.

PICTON GAZETTE - KAREN VALIHORA

Thiseditorialspeakstoevery singlejournalistwhoreadsit,butwillthegeneralpublicunderstand?It'sa queson I've been asking myself for the last several years. It automacally gives you a knot in your stomach, just thinking about it. It is a well-developed editorial: you built it well with stascs and numberstosupportyourargument.

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT - KEVIN MACLEAN

Interesngissue,andit'svery interesngthatyou'relengthereadershipknowwhatyou'redoingand the quesons you're asking. It speaks to public transparency, seng yourself as a public watchdog, and israthergoodpromoon.

Sheena Read

Freelance Journalist, Alberta

GENERAL COMMENT

In a good editorial, make sure your lead is the premise of your editorial.Never presume the audience knows the issue you're talking about. Explain it briefly and build on it. Explain what the acronyms stand for. Use stascs or statements/quotes to back up your argument. For print edions, make sure you take the hyphenaons out of your arcles when doing paginaon. Too many hyphens break concentraon and are distracng and somemes they don't make sense. Grab the reader bygeng them involved in the issue or have a calltoacon.Showthemhowitimpactsthemastheindividual.

Sheena Read has commied decades - yikes, yes decades - to communicaons. Based in southern Alberta, she is now involved in contract messaging and promoons, with a focus and commitment on community building. She ponders the changes in communicaons and media and what the future holds with the twists and turns of social media. Read is a strong supporter of journalism.

MANITOULIN EXPOSITOR - MICHAEL ERSKINE

1

This editorial is everything a community newspaper's editorial should be: it is brave, it is well wrien (very well wrien), and it takes a stand that not all readers will agree with. It also gives a voice to the voiceless;ourjob,aerall.

BANCROFT THIS WEEK - NATE SMELLE

A beauful editorial that makes the reader think and appreciate what we have. I noted too, that the editorialhadrealworldimpactintheformofmoresupportforthenewmuseum.Welldone!

MINDEN TIMES - EMILY STONEHOUSE

2 3

Brave of both the writer and the publisher to put this out there. This editorial called it like its writer saw it.Itisincrediblyhardtotakeastandinarelavelysmallpublicaon.Therearepressurestobevague,to see both sides, to not alienate any readers or adversers. Well done for doing what we are supposed to do-rufflefeathers.

HONOURABLE MENTION

MANOTICK MESSENGER - JEFF MORRIS - A strong editorial. It took a stance, supported that stance, and backed it up with examples. It is noteasytorowagainstthede,butitisourjob.Welldoneforwring thisandcallingitlikeyousawit.

GENERAL COMMENT

Wow! Every entry had something to admire, truly. These communies are so well served by the voices in these editorials. When I say I struggled to pick winners, I mean I really struggled, especially with choosing the second and third place spots. So many topics maered to their communies. So many were strongly stated. It came down to the wring style and quality. The winners tugged at the heartstrings and/or made the reader sit up and take noce. Well done all. To those who didn't win, please enter again. It was very close!

Editor,

The Squamish Chief, Squamish, BC

Jennifer Thuncher is the editor and a roving reporter at The Squamish Chief. She can be found chasing down the paper's other journalists, local policians, or wildlife, depending on the day. She is a Simon Fraser University and Langara journalism grad. She had careers as an English instructor, administrave assistant, and icecream scooper in her life before journalism. Jennifer is the winner of the inaugural 2022 Jack Webster Foundaon Shelley Fralic awardfordedicaontocommunityjournalism.

Jennifer Thuncher

Best Editorial CARTOON

NEW LISKEARD TEMISKAMING SPEAKER - DAVE DICKERSON

Boldanddramacillustraon.Certainlygetsyouraenon.Bravo.

LANARK ERA - STEVE MYERS

The idea that one might consider moving from the burbs into the city to get some quiet is both sad and funnyallatonce.

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT - ALPEREN ALBAYRAK

Colourfulillustraonthatjumpsfromthepage.Andthetopicisohsomely.

1 2 3

Judge

GENERAL COMMENT

It's always fun to see the different drawing styles, skill levels, and types of humour. All are different, which is a good thing, but it also makes it tough for one person to select what they consider to be the bestofagoodlot.Well,Ididmybest.Congratulaonstoall.

Anthony Bonaparte

Features Editor, The Suburban, Montreal, QC

For the past 18 years, Anthony Bonaparte has been the Features and the Arts & Life editor at The Suburban, Quebec’s largest English weekly newspaper. During his almost 25 years in the industry, Anthony has won numerous Quebec Community Newspaper Associaon awards (QCNA) as well as North American (SNA/LMA) and Canadian (CCNA) awards for his wring, eding, and the editorialcartoonscreatedunderhispenname,Napoleon.

Best Editorial PAGE/SECTION

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT RICHARD HARLEY & BRIAN MARSHALL

1

With cogent, well-edited commentary on LOCAL topics from staff and leer writers, and an aracve layoutthatusedphotostoillustratesomeofthepieces,thispaperisthewinner.

FERGUS WELLINGTON ADVERTISER

DAVID ADSETT & KELLY WATERHOUSE

2

Lots to read in this secon, including a solid editorial. It was great to see so many leers to the editor, but more care could have been taken in laying them out. This was also the only paper with a cartoon, pollquesonandquoteoftheweek(allthree).

HALIBURTON, THE HIGHLANDER

3

Only one topic was represented in this secon, but it was an important one - the closure of a hospital emergencydepartment-anditwasthoroughlyexploredinseveralleersandopinionpieces.Theclean layoutmakeseverythingeasytoread.

Sjuberg

Editor,

GENERAL COMMENT

The opinion secon of a newspaper should reflect the heart of the community and what is important to its residents. It’s not a good sign when papers have no leers to the editor, or almost none with local or impacul content, and that was the case with a number of entries. Several papers carried a strong or interesng editorial or column which may or may not have had a local focus, but too oen there wasn’t much else to give readers food for thought about issues of importanceintheircommunity.

Gulf Islands Driwood & Aqua-Gulf Islands Living Magazine, Salt Spring Island, BC

GailSjuberghasbeentheeditoroftheaward-winningGulfIslands Driwood newspaper in B.C. since 2003 and in the community newspaper business for more than 30 years. She is also the editor of the Driwood’s Aqua - Gulf Islands Living magazine and other company publicaons. She has been a judge for numerous communitynewspapercompeonsovertheyears.

Gail

Education Writing

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT - EVAN LOREE

Nicelydone!Ienjoyedreadingthisback-to-schoolarclebecauseitreallylookedintotheemoonsand preparaon behind the annual event. The wring was great - an excellent combinaon of informaon, quoteswitharibuonthatmadethestoryeasyandfuntoread.Photosweregreat,too!

EGANVILLE LEADER

ORONO WEEKLY TIMES - FRANCES MALLON 1 2 3

This is text-book reporng of an important local issue where the pares involved are given the opportunity to explain their posion on a controversial topic. Very straighorward reporng that doesn't appear to sensaonalize the issue. However, more background might have made the story moreinteresng,suchaswhetherthisisarecentphenomenonandwhyandwhereitisoccurring.

This is a well-wrien arcle about an interesng topic: unschooling - where students choose when, where and what to learn. Many examples and quotes are used to showhowit works. Challenging topics such as how the teens deal with the social aspect of learning are addressed. I would have liked more informaon about what the two students have to do to qualify for post-secondary educaon. Maybe a follow up when they are about to graduate/age-out would be interesng. As well, there could be more detailaboutthedaytodaychallengestheyface,ifany,suchasprocrasnaon,distracon,orboredom. Sll, a good job - simple, easy-to-follow arcle with only tweaks needed to take the story from excellent tooutstanding.

HONOURABLE MENTION

BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT - JEFF MORRIS - A very thorough analysis of the fall-out of a decision to keep Ontario police out of schools. Many sources are cited but the wring was a lile unclear, making it challenging to understand the nuances of the issue. I also wonderedwhyCox,whospearheadedthedecisiontokeeppoliceout of schools, was now challenging the maer. Perhaps an interview to clarifyherstance?Allinall,adeeplookatanimportantissue.

GENERAL COMMENT

In a year marked by mulple newspaper closures and a declining interest in covering educaon, it’s a joy to read so many thoughul arcles. Contributed stories in this category showed keen interest in local educaon, skillful wring for the most part and covered a wide range of topics. Kudos to everyone who contributed. Keep up the goodwork!

Diane Strandberg

Rered Journalist, Tri-City News, Coquitlam, BC

I am a rered journalist who spent more than 40 years reporng and eding community newspapers. Most recently, I was a mulmedia reporter for the Tri-City News in Coquitlam, B.C., reporng for both print and online publicaons. I wrote about educaon, civic government, social services, business and environmental issues for the communies of Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody, winning naonal, provincial and regional awards for feature wring, editorial wring and communityiniaves.

ENVIRONMENT ONTARIO

1 2 3

HALIBURTON, THE HIGHLANDER LISA GERVAIS & TANIA MOHER

Greatpiece.Itwasapleasuretoread.

FERGUS WELLINGTON ADVERTISER ROBIN GEORGE

Awellwrienandwellresearchedpiece.

BANCROFT THIS WEEK NATE SMELLE

Very well wrien piece. It was a pleasure to read, despite the serious subject. My only cricism is that it deservesabeerheadlinethan"LocalSmoke”

Kevin Weedmark

Editor and Publisher, The World-Spectator, Moosomin, SK

GENERAL COMMENT

The quality of submissions varied greatly. A handful of winners rose to the top very quickly. At the other end of the scale were a few entries that contained spelling and grammacal errors, or nonsensical or cut off sentences. I won’t blame the writers for thateverywritershouldhavethemeandresourcestodoagoodjoband, in every newsroom, there should be an experienced set of eyes looking over every piece before it is published. Overall, the quality of wring for the majority of entries was high, and for the winning entries, was exceponally high. Congratulaons to the winners. I want to extend my gratude to all entrants. The media landscape has never been more complicated, but your voices maer, and your wordshavepower.Keepinvesgangandkeepwring!

Kevin Weedmark is editor of the community newspaper WorldSpectator, the agricultural publicaon Ag News, and the regional publicaon Plain and Valley. He started work as a reporter at the World-Spectator in 1988, aer graduang from the University of Regina. He was appointed editor in 1990 and purchased the company in 2002. He won the Canadian Internaonal Development Agency's Award for Excellence in Wring on Internaonal Co-operaon twice, and twice won the Media HumanRightsAwardpresentedbytheLeagueforHumanRightsof B'nai B'rith Canada. One of the awards was presented for "Freedom of Speech vs. Freedom from Hatred," which examined the relaonship between the right to free speech and laws against hate speech in Canada. The other for an invesgaon into the historyoftheKuKluxKlaninSaskatchewan.

FEATURE WRITING, circ. OVER

FERGUS WELLINGTON ADVERTISER - JORDAN SNOBELEN

A well-researched and important lesson in Canadian history and how we must cherish and remember thosewhocamebeforeus. Congratulaons.

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT - EVAN LOREE

Good, strong, informave, and well-balanced story. This could have easily placed first. It was that close. Welldone.

THE AURORAN - BROCK WEIR

1 2 3

Nice, tender, and touching story. Made me smile that he was able to leave a thank you and goodbye notetothecommunityheloved.Welldone.

Judge

GENERAL COMMENT

Every one of these good, local stories kept me reading with interest, butsomewereslightlybeerthanothers.Infact,thefirstandsecond place entries could easily have been interchanged so both writers shouldbeveryproud.Congratulaonstoyouall.

Sponsored by: ORP Law

Anthony Bonaparte

Features Editor, The Suburban, Montreal, QC

For the past 18 years, Anthony Bonaparte has been the Features and the Arts & Life editor at The Suburban, Quebec’s largest English weekly newspaper. During his almost 25 years in the industry, Anthony has won numerous Quebec Community Newspaper Associaon awards (QCNA) as well as North American (SNA/LMA) and Canadian (CCNA) awards for his wring, eding, and the editorialcartoonscreatedunderhispenname,Napoleon.

1 2 3

MANITOULIN EXPOSITOR - WARREN SCHLOTE

I have judged newspaper compeons for over 30 years and never given a perfect score. No story is "perfect”, but this is a close as it gets. Congratulaons! A supreme effort! An interesng subject drippinginhistory.Ithaseverything!Anyslightflawiseasilyforgoen.

MANOTICK MESSENGER - JEFF MORRIS

It is hard to imagine there was a beer entry than this one. In many other judges’ eyes, it would probablyplacefirst.Anearperfectentry!Congratulaons!Anenjoyableread!

BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT - JEFF MORRIS

I knew a situaon in my hometown very similar to this one. It srred emoons in me. Yes, it even made me cry. That means it was done very well. I am sure I was not the only reader to shed a tear. Outstanding wringandpresentaon.Congratulaons!

Editor, South Peace News, High Prairie, AB

GENERAL COMMENT

As usual the entries in this category are outstanding. Well done everyone! It is ironic that the first place winner and second place winner resulted in a feeling of euphoria for me. The third place winner made me cry. I have never given a perfect score in my 30+ years of judging unl the Manitoulin Expositor's entry. Whileno story is perfect, this is as close as it gets. Second and third were very, very close. I was impressed by the variety of topics. Remember readers love reading about people. Overall presentaon was very good. And I always stress to NEVER be afraid to start feature stories on the front page. Highlight your best work! Don't "bury" it inside. Take a bow everyone!Itwasapleasuretoreadsomayterrificstories.

Chris Clegg has held the posion of editor at the High Prairie South PeaceNewssinceDecember1988.SouthPeaceNewshaswonover 100 AWNA and CCNA awards since his arrival in virtually every judging category. Clegg has also served on the High Prairie and District Museum and Historical Society for about 10 years and has a keeninterestinhistory.

Chris Clegg

HEALTH & WELLNESS

THE HALDIMAND PRESS - MIKE RENZELLA

Cute story enhanced by compelling storytelling and clear wring. Great iniave to follow Tanner the wellnessdogtovariousstopsduringhisworkday.Thephotosaddtotheoverallappeal.

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT - JULIA SACCO

Thisclearlywrienstoryprovidesmulplelocalperspecvesonthetopicofhomecare.

HALIBURTON, THE HIGHLANDER - LISA GERVAIS

Good storytelling in this arcle about a local aquac therapy business.

1 2 3

GENERAL COMMENT

Great range of submissions on important health and wellness topics. Manyentries showcased ahigh levelof iniaveand originality.Hats off tothewritersforcreangconneconstotheirlocalcommunies.

Reporter/Photographer, Stonewall Teulon Tribune, Stonewall, MB

Jennifer McFee has two decades of experience wring and eding for different publicaons, including the Stonewall Teulon Tribune inManitoba.

Jennifer McFee

HERITAGE

1 2 3

LISTOWEL BANNER - WENDY VAN LEEUWEN

Wendy van Leeuwen provides a master class in historical research in her first-place story in the Listowel Banner’s Remembrance Day edion. In an old photo that was found in the high school library, seven uniformedmenareposed infrontof aSecond WorldWar-eraLancasterbomber.Themanwho donated the photo had died and none of the men were from the area. So, what was the importance of the photo? Through diligent research, van Leeuwen learns about the crew, the plane and the local fundraising campaign that brought the community together to buy a Lancaster bomber for the war effort. Seamlessly, and with a flowing style, she weaves all the pieces of informaon together unl she revealsthatthepilotinthephotographwasthesamepilotthatflewtheListowel-fundedbomber’sonly mission.Bravo!

EGANVILLE LEADER - DEBBI CHRISTINCK

In her Eganville Leader feature about the demolion of a derelict building on Killaloe’s main street, Debbi Chrisnck wisely focuses on what the building had to tell us about days when it was part of a bustlingdowntownscene.Sherevealsinsightsintoanenreeraofthetown’shistory,inessenceadding colour to a panaed view of what life was like. Historical photos contribute to her earning a secondplacefinish.

BLYTH/BRUSSELS CITIZEN - KAREN WEBSTER

Third place is awarded to Karen Webster’s fascinang exploraon of how, in the days before refrigeraon, ice was harvested from local lakes and kept cold for months. A columnist with the Blyth/Brussels Cizen, her detailed research is shared in an entertaining and informave manner — andshemanagestofindalocalresidentwhoharvestsiceinthesamemanner!

HONOURABLE MENTION

MINDENTIMES–EMILYSTONEHOUSE-Honourablemenongoesto Emily Stonehouse of the Minden Times. In her profile, “70 Years of Minden Memories,” she writes, “But the real keepers of the truth, thetales,thestories,arethelocals.Theholdersofthememories,and aglimpseintothepast.”Howtrue!

GENERAL COMMENT

The Heritage category offers writers a wonderful opportunity to research and flush out stories that provide insight and context, looking back in me to help inform the present. Aer all, the past is truly in the past, seng the writer free from the pressure to manage thelatestdetails.

Rered journalist of 30 years, Ontario and BC

Martha Perkins is a rered community newspaper editor who remains commied to preserving the value and vital importance oflocaljournalism.

Martha Perkins

BEST NEWS STORY, CIRC. OVER 10,000

1 2 3

FERGUS WELLINGTON ADVERTISER - PATRICK RAFTIS

A riveng, superbly wrien account of an incident that had a happy ending because of a teenager’s heroic acons. All the informaon is presented in a way that gives the context, interspersed with wellchosenquotes.Thephotosareanintegralpartofthestory.

ORANGEVILLE CITIZEN - JAMES MATTHEWS

This is an amazing story with the kind of ending we all love to read about. The reporter handles it well, seng the stage and then turning it over to the hero, leng the quotes flow uninterrupted as he tells hisstory.Itcapturesthedramaperfectly.

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT - RICHARD HARLEY

The writer sums up the story in the first few paragraphs, and then provides the reader with an informave and entertaining narrave that includes well-chosen quotes and invaluable background on both the councillor and the developer. Pung the statement from the town in the sidebar was a good decision.Thisisthekindoflocalgovernmentstorythatanewspapercandobest.Excellentwork.

Terry Pugh

Reporter/Photographer, Clark’s Crossing Gazee, Warman, SK

GENERAL COMMENT

While there were only five entries in this category, the quality of the stories was very strong. The top three, in parcular, were great examples of the kind of journalism that community newspapers do best. The top two highlighted heroism by people in the right place at the right me and the third tackled a story of local government that divesbelowthesurfacetogetthestraightfacts.

Sponsored by: Hydro One

Terry Pugh is an award-winning reporter-photographer with the Clark's Crossing Gazee. He has wrien for several community newspapersinSaskatchewansince1976.

BEST NEWS STORY, CIRC. UNDER 9,999

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE LOCAL

LISTOWEL BANNER - DAN MCNEE 1

Three cheers for Mike! This is a very powerful story that's wrien with a lot of community voices! My suggesons on the wring: Keep to shorter, more common words (e.g., happened instead of occurred); Congratsonafabulousbreakingnewsstory!

THE INDEPENDENT SERVING PETROLIA AND CENTRAL LAMBTON HEATHER WRIGHT

Greatjob,Heather!Finereporngandphotosabout ascary naturaleventforthecommunity;however, I would have liked to have read more comments from affected home and business owners instead of fromlocalpolicians.

2 3

A good story about an alarming situaon for this family and others. The lede is strong; however, I would havelikedtohaveseenaphotoofKellyandherdaughter(oratleastheadshots).Ialsowouldhaveliked tohaveseenanFOIsidebarlisngallofthe13complaints.

HONOURABLE MENTION

EGANVILLE LEADER - TERRY FLEURIE - A well-wrien piece about a veteranparamedicfighngforhispension.

GENERAL COMMENT

Congratulaons to the reporters who covered these important stories for our communies! Please ensure you follow CP Style, use proper grammar and punctuaon and talk directly to your sources. Don't quote other media, don't scrape social media comments and don't type statements from authority figures word for word. Challengeyoursourcesandshowyourworktoyourreaders;theywill begrateful for your persistence! Localjournalismcounts because we aredocumennglocalhistory.

Reporter & Copy Editor, Tri-City News, Coquitlam, BC

Janis Cleugh is a mulmedia reporter covering city business, courts and the arts for the Tri-City News, a Glacier Media publicaonthatwentdigital-onlyinAugust2023.Sheisalsoacopy editor, a paginator and a naonally cerfied proofreader. Janis has worked at community newspapers for more than 30 years in England,Scotland,Wales,OntarioandBrishColumbia.Sheisalso a contest judge for AWNA, SWNA and QCNA, as well as for the Canadian Community Newspaper Awards (CCNA). In her spare me, Janis is the secretary of Editors BC, which in June 2024 is hosngtheEditorsCanadaconferenceinVancouver.

Sponsored by: Hydro One

Janis Cleugh

BEST FEATURE/NEWS SERIES, CIRC.

1 2 3

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT - SOMER SLOBODIAN

This series addressed a crucial issue in Niagara-on-the-Lake and across Canada - the inability of so many people to find housing. The series looked at the problem from the perspecve of many people and let thecommunityknowthatmuchmoreneedstobedone.

ORANGEVILLE CITIZEN - SAM ODROWSKI

Jamie Ferris was a much-loved community member who was all about helping others. When he died in a traffic crash, the community came together to remember him, help his family and organize and take part in a series of events to help others. This series shows the crucial role played by local journalism in connecngdisparatemembersofthecommunityandbringingthemtogether.

PICTON GAZETTE - KAREN VALIHORA

In news stories and opinion pieces, the Picton Gazee gave its readers a lot of informaon about Picton Terminals and a proposal to greatly expand its waterfront acvies. All sides of the controversy were presented.

GENERAL COMMENT

There were five entries in this category. The subjects covered varied widely. All approached their varied subjects in interesng ways and these stories almost certainly captured a lot of reader interest. Well doneeveryone!

Frank Bucholtz Columnist, Black Press Media and Rered Editor, Langley Times, BC

Frank Bucholtz is a rered community newspaper editor, and a freelance writer and blogger with more than 40 years of media experience. He worked for community newspapers in Surrey, Langley,WhiteRockandotherpartsoftheB.C.LowerMainlandand Fraser Valley from 1978 unl rering in 2015, and connues to write a column for the Surrey Now-Leader, Peace Arch News and Cloverdale Reporter in B.C. He has judged various categories in the OCNA awards for the past ten years. He also serves as judge with the Jack Webster Foundaon, which presents awards to B.C. journalists in all media. Frank is a past winner of journalism awards fromtheCCNAandtheBCYCNA.

Sponsored by: Hydro One

Best FEATURE/NEWS SERIES, CIRC.

1 2 3

FORT FRANCES TIMES - ALLAN BRADBURY

This series is wonderfully-wrien. Upcoming concerts in an area far from big cies would be events to lookforwardto,andthisserieswhetstheappete.

BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT - JEFF MORRIS

The polical posturing which kept an Oawa police officer from aending her child’s career day in uniform is shameful. Thankfully, the Barrhaven Independent ensured that readers were kept fully informed.

UXBRIDGE COSMOS - CONRAD BOYCE

This was a very novel way to bring home to readers just what a municipal government does. The series wasentertainingandinteresng.

GENERAL COMMENT

There were many issues covered in this category by the 14 newspapers who submied entries. Most are of great importance to community members. There were many good entries and as a judge and former reporter and editor, I appreciate all the hard work that wentintothesestories.

Frank Bucholtz

Columnist, Black Press Media and Rered Editor, Langley Times, BC

Frank Bucholtz is a rered community newspaper editor, and a freelance writer and blogger with more than 40 years of media experience. He worked for community newspapers in Surrey, Langley,WhiteRockandotherpartsoftheB.C.LowerMainlandand Fraser Valley from 1978 unl rering in 2015, and connues to write a column for the Surrey Now-Leader, Peace Arch News and Cloverdale Reporter in B.C. He has judged various categories in the OCNA awards for the past ten years. He also serves as judge with the Jack Webster Foundaon, which presents awards to B.C. journalists in all media. Frank is a past winner of journalism awards fromtheCCNAandtheBCYCNA.

Sponsored by: Hydro One

BEST INVESTIGATIVE NEWS STORY

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT - SOMER SLOBODIAN

This is a great feature that looks at the community's lack of affordable housing by using a real person to illustrate the issue. I could tell a lot of work went into the series. I thought the housing advocate elevated the story by poinng to the local rules that prevent the development of anything but singlefamily homes. I liked the stascs and wide range of voices and soluons-oriented feel the series had. It was easy to read from start to finish and very compelling. This is exactly the kind of reporng a small communityneeds.Excellentwork!

AYR NEWS - IRENE SCHMIDT-ADENEY

Overall, I thought the reporter did a great job trying to get accountability from officials in charge of the embarrassingmistakethatcausednamestogomissingfromballots.Ilikedhowthejournaliststayedon top of this story and wrote developments along the way. On the surface, one may disregard the importance of a trustee elecon but these leaders are responsible for spending millions of taxpayer dollars and should be scrunized just like a regular member of council. To take the story further, I would have filed freedom of informaon requests with the City of Cambridge to see what staffers were saying about this behind the scenes. There's probably a paper trail of emails somewhere that give insight on whathappened.

THE HALDIMAND PRESS - MIKE RENZELLA

1 2 3

HONOURABLE MENTION

The reporter does a good job of geng both sides of the story. I like the colour throughout the piece. Exposing the province's loophole that lets people have wild animals like lions unregulated made the story even more compelling. I personally wouldn't have granted anonymity to the zoo employee, especially since they took a photo. Try to push back when people tell you they don't want their name published.Ifyou'reOKhavingyourpicturetaken,youcangiveyourname.

BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT - JEFF MORRIS - This is a well-wrien feature looking back at the crash between the train and bus that rocked the community. I like the lede a lot and the photos are great. The reporter did an excellent job illustrang the impact of the crash not only on the community but also on the bus driver's wife. To make the story stronger, I would've goen a fresh interview from someone who is impacted by the crash sll today. I would've put that up high in thestoryinsteadofrelyingonquotesfromthearchives.

I was impressed by the commitment to local journalism from the entries this year. Every story submied was important to the community. The entries that stood out to me were ones that had depthandwentbeyondsurfacelevelreporng.

Austin Grabish

Invesgave Reporter, ABC 10 News, San Diego, California

Ausn Grabish is an invesgave reporter at ABC 10 News in San Diego. He started his career in weekly newspapers in Manitoba as a reporter and photographer over a decade ago. Before moving to California, he worked for over six years at CBC in Winnipeg. His stories aired on The Naonal, CBC News Network and on local CBC TV staons across Canada. His invesgave reporng has exposed wrongdoing, goen people fired, made internaonal headlines andwonnumerousawards.

BEST RURAL STORY

THE HALDIMAND PRESS - MIKE RENZELLA

1

Mike Renzella’s profile of a young local farmer who’s also a TikTok sensaon cks off all the boxes for compelling storytelling, propelling the Haldimand Press to top spot. Although Renzella has a light and engaging wring style, he’s able to touch on some fairly big issues, especially since he’s found someone willing to be open and honest about those issues. The accompanying photos are the best in this category, also reflecng the importance of an appealing presentaon in this day and age. It’s a story thatwilldrawyoungreaderstothenewspaper,whichisafeatinitself.

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT - SOMER SLOBODIAN

2

Somer Slobodian’s story about efforts to head off a parcularly dangerous invasive species earned The Lake Report its second-place win. There is a lot of science to be presented but she conveys it in a way that makes people realize why they too should care about this issue. She brings together lots of potenallydryinformaonandweavesittogetherseamlessly.

BLYTH/BRUSSELS CITIZEN - SHAWN LOUGHLIN

3

Shawn Laughlin transformed a council presentaon into a feature-style exploraon of the potenally devastang impact of provincial legislaon on rural communies such as the ones served by the Blyth/Brussels Cizen. By following up the council meeng with a more in-depth interview, he’s able to convey why farming associaons were ringing the alarm bells — and earn the paper its third-place finish.

Rered journalist of 30 years, Ontario and BC

GENERAL COMMENT

No one knows rural issues beer than the community newspapers that cover them, week in, week out. Writers who take the me to delve into ongoing issues are offering a much-needed perspecve thatthedemandsofnewsreporngoencan’tprovide.

Martha Perkins is a rered community newspaper editor who remains commied to preserving the value and vital importance of localjournalism.

Martha Perkins

SPORT & RECREATION STORY

LISTOWEL BANNER - DAN MCNEE

WINGHAM ADVANCE TIMES - MIKE WILSON 1 2 3

My favourite of them all. When you get a group of kids who are thinking like that at a young age, you know they've had some good upbringing. Hockey does a great job looking aer its own and this proves it. Writer Dan McNee did a fantasc job laying it out from start to finish - even including the Internaonal Silver Sck win as an added bonus - and this deserves the plaudits. As the headline states, aremarkablegroupofboysindeed.

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT - SOMER SLOBODIAN

Love these stories about a sport which doesn't get a lot of posive aenon among the general public. A lot of people just think it's about punching and violence, which is as far from the truth as you can get. Nicelead,agoodmiddle,andastrongending.Welldone.

Verynicerecapprofileofalocalathletewho'sgoneanddonewellforherself.SomethingIlikeisthatthe athleteisbeinggiventhechancetospeakasopposedtothewriterdoingitontheirbehalf.

GENERAL COMMENT

Plenty of entries this year and as a former full-me sports editor, that's heart-warming. People love reading stories about sports no maer what they tell you. Even the person who will tell you they never watch sports on TV wants to know who's winning, who's doing good, who's made the cut, or who's going to the big event from their community etc. Our former publisher always told us sports sells newspapersandhe'sright.Welldonetoyouall.

Managing Editor, Northern News Services Ltd., Nunavut and NWT

James is the managing editor for NNSL Media based in Yellowknife and has been in the role since August 2022. Before that, he served as the sports editor - and sll does, albeit in a somewhat reduced role - from July 2007 unl being asked to move into his current posion.

James McCarthy

BEST HEADLINE WRITING

THE INDEPENDENT SERVING PETROLIA AND CENTRAL LAMBTON HEATHER WRIGHT

Coming soon to a farm field near you: Cricket poop - This is a good head, very catchy, and draws you into thearcle.Unusualarcle! CausingaCow-mooninPetrolia- Anothergoodhead.Humourandacon edinone.

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT KEVIN MACLEAN & RICHARD HARLEY

Nicelydone.Thesearecrisp,sharpheadlines.

FERGUS WELLINGTON ADVERTISER JOANNE SHUTTLEWORTH

1 2 3

Niceplaysonwords.Theheadlinesfitwellwiththearcles.

GENERAL COMMENT

Goodheadlinesshouldbeshort,crisp,andpunchy.Theyneedtograb the reader in a split second, because it's so easy just to flip by that arcle. You need to get their aenon and draw it to the arcle quickly.Ifyoucanplayonwords,that'sfabulous!

Freelance Journalist, Alberta

Sheena Read has commied decades - yikes, yes decades - to communicaons. Based in southern Alberta, she is now involved in contract messaging and promoons, with a focus and commitment on community building. She ponders the changes in communicaons and media and what the future holds with the twists and turns of social media. Read is a strong supporter of journalism.

BEST POLICE/COURT STORY

FERGUS WELLINGTON ADVERTISER - JORDAN SNOBELEN

In an absolutely heart wrenching and horrendous story, Jordan Snobelen tells the impact and pain felt by a vicm in an historical sexual assault-related crime in the community. The story is not only wellresearched and well-reported, but it gives voice to a vicm in a humane and understanding way that allowsreaderstobeerunderstandasensivetopic.

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT - JULIA SACCO

An uncommon and unfortunate situaon is wrien about in a sensive and informave way by The Lake Report, but sll touches on what is seen as in the community as important and necessary changes. They cover this topic by highlighng the importance the vicm had in the community and pung a humanfaceontragedy.

FORT FRANCES TIMES - ALLAN BRADBURY

1 2 3

Half the bale can oen be showing up, but in breaking down an important court case for the community Allan Bradbury is able to tell readers about the important and dire story. Bradbury's reporngisstronginsummarizingatopicasconciseasitistold.

Greg Colgan Editor,

Rocky Mountain Outlook, Canmore, AB

GENERAL COMMENT

A good police and court story can ence and intrigue readers with informaon that's ongoing in their community. In this case, the category had numerous opons to choose from with all stories havinginteresngandimportantstoriestotell.

Greg is the editor of the Rocky Mountain Outlook in the area of Banff and Canmore, Alberta. He has been a journalist for 15 years, working in Ontario and Alberta, and has had his work recognized at bothaprovincialandnaonallevel.

Judge

BEST POLICE/COURT SERIES

1 2 3

THE INDEPENDENT SERVING PETROLIA AND CENTRAL LAMBTON HEATHER WRIGHT

A unique story p led to a high-quality on-the-ground invesgaon that had a rigorous amount of work done byHeather Wright to inform readers of what would've been an otherwise unlooked at topic in the community. In a follow up, Wright looks at the bigger picture and the impact it can have on a smaller community.

FERGUS WELLINGTON ADVERTISER - JORDAN SNOBELEN

What starts out as a breaking news story, is fleshed out by Jordan Snobelen with strong reporng and wring that tells the story of the vicms and connues to follow the case as it goes to court. This ability to tell a story from start to finish is an essenal quality for reporters, but interviewing the vicms gives thestoriesagreateredgeinbeingabletoinformthecommunity.

EGANVILLE LEADER

A tragic crime in a small community tells the story of the vicm and the impact one person can have on other people's lives. The stories were able to pull readers into what the community was going through andshowthehumanityinanappallingtopic.

Editor, Rocky Mountain Outlook, Canmore, AB

GENERAL COMMENT

The category had a strong compeon of well-researched and reported stories, highlighng the importance of telling accurate and interesng court and police stories in local communies. In an era where many court and police stories are oen overlooked, it's enriching to knowthere connue to be resources and me dedicated tocoveringcrucialcommunitystories.

Greg is the editor of the Rocky Mountain Outlook in the area of Banff and Canmore, Alberta. He has been a journalist for 15 years, working in Ontario and Alberta, and has had his work recognized at bothaprovincialandnaonallevel.

Greg Colgan

DIVERSITY COVERAGE

HONOURABLE

1 2 3

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT

EVAN LOREE, KEVIN MACLEAN & SOMER SLOBODIAN

Top-notch news reporng and photography! A very nice touch by the editor/publisher to colour the tleofthenewspaper.Bravo!

KITCHISSIPPI TIMES GABRIELLE HUSTON, CHARLIE SENACK & BRADLEY TURCOTTE

AgreatseriesfromtheKitchissippinewsroom!Foronlinearcles,andespeciallyforthean-SOGIstory, pleaseincludemoredigitalassetslikeavideo,hyperlinksandcallstoacon.

LISTOWEL

BANNER MELISSA DUNPHY & DAN MCNEE

Congratulaons to Dan and Melissa for their excellent reporng! Watch for punctuaon (dashes, quotaon marks and square brackets inside quotes) and use proper grammar (modifiers ending in -ly arenothyphenated).Thereportersalsotookstrongimagestoaccompanytheirpieces.Bravo!

Judge

MENTION

Deep River North Renfrew Times - Terry Myers - In-depth reporng and great photos! Be sure to follow CP Style for words and numbers anduseproperpunctuaon.

GENERAL COMMENT

It was great to read such diverse coverage about diversity in our communies! Congratulaons to the newsrooms that delved into thisimportanttopiclastyear.

Janis Cleugh

Reporter & Copy Editor, Tri-City News, Coquitlam, BC

Janis Cleugh is a mulmedia reporter covering city business, courts and the arts for the Tri-City News, a Glacier Media publicaonthatwentdigital-onlyinAugust2023.Sheisalsoacopy editor, a paginator and a naonally cerfied proofreader. Janis has worked at community newspapers for more than 30 years in England,Scotland,Wales,OntarioandBrishColumbia.Sheisalso a contest judge for AWNA, SWNA and QCNA, as well as for the Canadian Community Newspaper Awards (CCNA). In her spare me, Janis is the secretary of Editors BC, which in June 2024 is hosngtheEditorsCanadaconferenceinVancouver.

BEST GUEST/FREELANCE COLUMN

LISTOWEL BANNER - HANIFE AJJO

From this strong pool of entries, this submission stood out. The story of my life, by Hanife Ajjo, recounted the writer’s experiences coming to Canada as a refugee from Syria. The wring was strong, thedescriponswerevivid,andtheemoonalpullwaspowerful.Thisisanimpressiveaccomplishment for any writer, but Ajjo is a 13-year-old elementary school student, which makes the column even more impressive.

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT - FRANK HAYES

In second place, Frank Hayes examined issues relang to cyclists and motorists on the roads for The Lake Report. His column, Drivers and cyclists deserve mutual respect, took an analycal approach to a topic where responses oen become emoonally charged. The calm, even-handed tone may help to createanatmosphereofrespeculdialogue.

DEEP RIVER NORTH RENFREW TIMES - JENNA WALSH

1 2 3

In her column, Baling toxic advice on social media, columnist Jenna Walsh addressed the spread of misinformaon about nutrion. However, the column is relevant for all readers, since social media and online informaon is playing a growing role in how readers get informaon. This column took a careful approachinaddressinganissue,butWalsh’sfrustraonalsoshowsthrough,addinganemoonaldraw.

John Arendt

Editor, Summerland Review, Summerland, BC

GENERAL COMMENT

This year, the guest columnist submissions were consistently strong. Each was relevant, engaging, entertaining, informave, and worthy of a reader’s me and aenon. There is one important note for editors when publishing guest columns. Please make sure to add a tag line at the end of the column, telling something about the columnist’s background and qualificaons in the field or experiences with the topic. Without this informaon, a reader has no way of knowing whether a column was wrien by an expert in the field or someonewithanuninformedopinion.

John Arendt is the editor of the Summerland Review in Brish Columbia. He has been working as a journalist for more than 30 years.

HUMOUR COLUMNIST OF THE YEAR

1

2

FERGUS WELLINGTON ADVERTISER - KELLY WATERHOUSE

Smartlywrien,relevant,relatableandfunnytoboot,KellyWaterhousetakestopbilling.

3

ORONO WEEKLY TIMES - TED OSTER

Enjoyablereading.Skillfulstorytellingrichwithobservaonalhumourontopicsrelatabletoa widedemographic.

DEEP RIVER NORTH RENFREW TIMES - VANCE GUTZMAN

ThereisalotofsubtleskillandhumourinvolvedinthewayVanceGuzmangoesoffonvarious tangentsashewendshiswaythroughasingulartopictoillustratehispoint.Bravo.

Judge

Marlene Eisner

Naonal Editor, RENO+DECOR magazine and Editor, New Home + Condo Guide Vancouver, Toronto, ON

GENERAL COMMENT

Thiswasanenjoyablecategorytojudge- aerall,whodoesn'tliketo laugh? Although some missed the mark on humour, they were all goodreads,sobravotoallofthecolumnists.

Marlene Eisner is a Toronto writer and the editor of RENO+DÉCOR magazine, which publishes in the GTA, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver, and Vancouver-based New Home and Condo Guide magazine. Prior to moving to Toronto in 2014, she wasareporter,associateeditorandeditor-in-chiefattheSuburban Newspaper (1994-2007), and editor-in-chief at the NDG Free Press (2011-2014). She has won nine awards for her wring, including two gold awards from the Parenng Publicaons of America Editorial Design Awards for Best News Feature (2002) and Best Column Review (2008), and first place in the Quebec Community Newspaper Associaon (QCNA) Awards for her column The Glass Ceiling(2006).

COLUMNIST OF THE YEAR

HONOURABLE MENTION

LISTOWEL BANNER - STEWART SKINNER

Skinner tackles very important issues with impressive background research knowledgeably andengagingly.

THE INDEPENDENT SERVING PETROLIA AND CENTRAL LAMBTONHEATHER WRIGHT - Wright takes an interesng route to poignant conclusions.Veryengaging. 1 2 3

HALIBURTON COUNTY ECHO - STEVE GALEA

Galeaisjustoutrightentertaining.ApologiestoJenn.

EGANVILLE LEADER - JOHANNA ZOMERS

IfoundZomers'columnstobestyliscallyuniqueinaverypersonalandengagingway. Shehasawayofsayingalotwithoutwringalot.

MINDEN TIMES - JIM POLING SR. - Poling takes strong stands and does itinanorganizedandwell-wrienmanner.Acolumnist'scolumnist.

GENERAL COMMENT

Overall, I was impressed by the wring quality across the category, so it came down much more to imaginaon and engagement (which is how I see the somewhat nebulous criteria of "reader appeal.") Ulmately, I was torn between thought-provoking and entertaining and came down on the side of those columnists who were able to be both. Some of the entries challenged my concept of what constutes a column, but in good faith, I stuck to the category descripon "locally wrien, non-syndicated and appears regularly." I was disappointed by how unnecessarily long some of them were. While I am all-too familiar with the pressure of filling space in an age of shrinking budgets and personnel, both writers and editors should consider the old adage that somemeslessismore.

Thom Barker

Regional Editor, Black Press Media, Smithers Interior News, Terrace Standard, Kimat Northern Sennel, Prince Rupert Northern View, Haida Gwaii Observer, Northwest, BC

Aer graduang with a B.Sc. from Carleton University and taking a detour through the high-tech business, Thom started his journalism career as a fact-checker for a magazine in Oawa in 2002. He quickly progressed to wring freelance features for various publicaons, butwhenhelandedhisfirstnewspaperjobwithTheInteriorNewsin 2005, he knew he had found his calling. He is the winner of numerous journalism awards, perhaps most notable the 2008 CCNA Best Feature Story award for his coverage of the in-custody death of Ian Bush and subsequent coroner's inquest. He has previously been a finalist in both the columnist and editorial wring categories in the BCYCNA Ma Murray Awards. Thom believes strongly in the value of communitynews,parcularlyinthedigitalera.

REPORTER OF THE YEAR STEPHEN SHAW AWARD

THE HALDIMAND PRESS - MIKE RENZELLA

An excellent cross-secon of reporng. Mike Renzella tells stories when he writes news or features, especially the three topics he covered and submied for judging: PSTD Afghan War veteran;lookingatthehistory andsavingitfromanunlicensedcemetery onprivateland;and concernsunveiledfromadogrescuelocaonwithquesonablepracces.

Senior Sports Reporter, Brandon Sun, Brandon, MB 1 2 3

GENERAL COMMENT

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE LOCAL - MIKE BALSOM

An array of topics covered by reporter Mike Balsom, demonstrang his veteran savvy as a storytelling journalist. From a story on dry stonewall to hatred in the community, followed up by heated council meeng regarding developers wanng to turn historic site into a subdivision,allwellwrienforthepaper'sreaders.

KITCHISSIPPI TIMES - CHARLIE SENACK

A nice cross-secon of reporng from Charlie Senack, doing some in-depth research to tell the story, not just report it. Though I would have preferred to read it on an actual newspaper, notonline,asIdidwithalltheotherentries.

The top-four reporters quickly rose to the top among the eight parcipants (where are the rest of the newspapers taking part, showcasing their talent?). But Mike Renzella was perfect with a 45 thanks to his diversity of stories submied. All submied excellent reads!

Sponsored by: Ontario Power Generaon

It has been 40 years since rered Brampton Guardian editor Lorne Drury offered him his first reporter job, and he is sll going like the Energizer Bunny. Currently in Manitoba, aer a short rerement from looking aer the award-winning army newspaper Shilo Stag, he's now a senior sports reporter for the daily Brandon Sun. Xavier was with Shilo Stag for 12 years, the longest serving editor of the defunct newspaper, now an online product. He relocated from Vancouver Island following newspaper and radio jobs in Ontario, B.C., and Alberta. Being embedded among soldiers who are honing their fighng skills for deployment to Ukraine or Latvia was a lot more fun than covering school board or city council meengs. But now he's having fun covering sports again, something he did in past journalismrolesinTimmins,OntarioandWetaskiwin,Alberta.

Jules Xavier

PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

HONOURABLE MENTION 1 2 3

WALKERTONHERALDTIMES- MIKEWILSON- The fire image is really compelling. I wish the exposure could have been taken down a ny bit to retain a bit more of the highlights in the sky but overall great. You also captured a simple but interesng moment with the man on the bridge and your sports photo captured a great moment as well. The Pride flag photo may have benefied from straightening the vercal lines of the flag and building and I would have liked to have seen the hockey shot's horizon evened out and cropped in a touch for impact, but a really funny moment/expression on the goalie helps it standout.Nicework!.

GENERAL COMMENT

I’ve always been a huge believer in the importance of photojournalismandtheabilityforvisualstorytellingtochangelivesand judging by the work on display in the OCNA submissions it’s clear this important and relevant work is in great hands. I was proud to see the excellent community photojournalists doing what they do best in aworldthatneedsitmorethanever.

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT DAVE VAN DE LAAR

There are some really nice shots here. Your sports shot is compact and has a really great expression. It could have used a ghter crop up top but overall, very strong. The birds are a really nice isolaon of the subject using aperture and focal distance and your firetruck through the flooded road shows a really nice sense of composion and capturing a moment. The parkway shot is a nice choice of angle and cropping.Astrongporolio,congratulaons.

WINGHAM ADVANCE TIMES - CORY BILYEA

You've captured some really nice moments. Your tug of war shot features some really strong expressions, but I wonder if it would have worked beer as a horizontal shot that could have benefied from oming the sign in the boom right of the shot. Your photo of the lile kid with the boat is really strong and demonstrates a keen eye for communitynews.Reallynicework.

KITCHISSIPPI TIMES - ELLEN BOND

The child in the big pink jacket is a really great emoonal photo with great colours. The worker cung down the tree is a good moment, but slightly so on what looks like the subject, and could have used a straightening of the horizon, which could also have been addressed on the photo of the skier. However, the backlight on the tree is really outstanding.Overall,animpressiveslateofimages.

Arnold Lim

Execuve Producer, Black Press Video Networks, Victoria, BC

Arnold Lim is the recipient of numerous BCYCNA, Jack Webster and CCNA photojournalism, videojournalism and filmmaking awards and has been photography manager for four Olympic Games. He is currently Execuve Producer for the Black Press Video Networks wherehehasworkedfor15years.

BEST FEATURE PHOTO, CIRC. OVER 10,000

CORNWALL

SEAWAY NEWS

JASON SETNYK

1

This photo has decent perspecve – and an interesnglookforthereader.

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE,

THE LAKE REPORT FRANK HAYES

This photo deserved beer than a page 7 placement and a beer crop would have taken this to the top. Easily best quality photo ofthegroup.

KITCHISSIPPI TIMES ELLEN BOND

3

This could use a ghter crop on the subject. A quarter of frame is empty behind her on the right.

HONOURABLE MENTION

FERGUS WELLINGTON ADVERTISER - ROBIN GEORGE - There are two pics on front - both undercut each other - and one is a nominee. Not enough for the standalone though? Larger and single shot of pic onpage2wouldlikelyrateithigher.

GENERAL COMMENT

Really a two horse race here. If you don't have names of the people in thephotos-goingtobetoughtotakeafirstplace.

Rob Brown

Publisher,

This Week in Dawson Creek, Dawson Creek, BC

Judge

RobBrown,45,haswriendailyfor31yearsandownsThisWeekin Dawson Creek, replacing 80 years of regional print history aer the closure of the Alaska Highway News and Dawson Creek Mirror. He was the managing editor of the Dawson Creek Mirror, Northern Horizon, and Pipeline News North for eight years. His 17-year journalism career earned 25-plus awards, including nods for news story and photography of the year in Alberta and Manitoba. A 2005 Alberta Centennial Cizen of the Year, 2017 Culture Ambassador for Northern BC, and the upcoming 2024 Silver Quill awardee, Brown released his first feature film, "Sukunka," in 2022. In 2023, he produced the 10-episode talk/variety show "Peace Region Xposure" on OpkTV. This year, he is preparing to direct his second wrienfeaturefilm,thethriller"BlindDates.”

BEST FEATURE PHOTO, CIRC. UNDER

MINDEN TIMES

ADAM FRISK

Greatstuff.Perhapsacroptolose the BBQ and right area, and perhaps the cutline on the le of the image to draw the reader.Goodshothere.

WINGHAM ADVANCE TIMES

DAN MCNEE

Solidworkandsolidplacement. Localforfocal(points).

LISTOWEL BANNER

DAN MCNEE

Goodsolidworkhere.Where willitland.

HONOURABLE MENTION 3

THE INDEPENDENT SERVING PETROLIA AND CENTRAL LAMBTONHEATHERWRIGHT- Niceworkhere.

GENERAL COMMENT

Tight stuff at the top - with four points between 1st and honourable menon.

Rob Brown

Publisher,

This Week in Dawson Creek, Dawson Creek, BC

RobBrown,45,haswriendailyfor31yearsandownsThisWeekin Dawson Creek, replacing 80 years of regional print history aer the closure of the Alaska Highway News and Dawson Creek Mirror. He was the managing editor of the Dawson Creek Mirror, Northern Horizon, and Pipeline News North for eight years. His 17-year journalism career earned 25-plus awards, including nods for news story and photography of the year in Alberta and Manitoba. A 2005 Alberta Centennial Cizen of the Year, 2017 Culture Ambassador for Northern BC, and the upcoming 2024 Silver Quill awardee, Brown released his first feature film, "Sukunka," in 2022. In 2023, he produced the 10-episode talk/variety show "Peace Region Xposure" on OpkTV. This year, he is preparing to direct his second wrienfeaturefilm,thethriller"BlindDates.”

BEST PHOTO LAYOUT

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT

1

RICHARD HARLEY, EVAN LOREE & SOMER SLOBODIAN

This layout was by far the best of all the entries, so congrats to photographer Richard Harley.Strongleadimage,lotsofgreatshotsof faces and apparently torrenal rains captured well. My only construcve cricism is to add a lile more variety -- i.e., detail shots, different anglesandsizes--tothepackage.

THE HERALD SERVING THAMESVILLE, DRESDEN & BOTHWELL HEATHER WRIGHT

Too many photo pages from car shows end up beingastringofshotsofjustthefrontsofcars. Not the problem here. Heather Wright has lots of variety -- different sizes, detail shots, cars and people. One piece of construcve cricism: ensure the spacing between photos isconsistent.

KITCHISSIPPI

TIMES ELLEN BOND, CÉLINE PAQUETTE & CHARLIE SENACK

3

Lovely layout of Ellen Bond's photos, and whileIdon'tgenerallyfavourphotosinsetinto one another, I thought this was tastefully done on this page. I'd like to have seen a more variety of photos, fewer shots of people looking at the camera. Also -- and I know this isn't necessarily under the control of the page editor -- the two small ads on the boom right of the spread should have been moved on to another page to provide a nice, clean, modularspaceforthispackage.

HONOURABLE MENTION

CORNWALL SEAWAY NEWS - A lot to like on this page in terms of variety of pix by Colleen Paree. However, too many were the same size, meaning I wasn't sure what to look at first. Lose the submied photo and the two cutouts and play with the sizes of the others to make this a strong page. Also -- and I say this as a writer and editor - I would'vehadmorespaceforphotosandMUCHlessfortext.

GENERAL COMMENT

I'll preface this by saying I know that every entrant is struggling with insufficient resources, me being the biggest, so I appreciate your efforts to sll do photojournalism. That said, this was not the strongest set of entries I've judged in this category. Common issues include poor photography, lack of variety of photos and unimaginave layouts. A number of entries seemed like a stack of photos thrown on the page without thought given to conveying a story or any visual informaon. Several had creave layouts that looked more like ads than editorial. Whenever you're doing a layout, youneedtotellthereaderwhattheyshouldbelookingat(bysizeand prominence of photos) and what it's about. Just giving them a bunch ofpixisn'tenough.

Freelance Editor and Writer, Former Editor, The Tri-City News, Colquitlam, BC

Richard Dal Monte is a freelance writer and editor who worked in community newspapers in B.C. for 34 years — the last 19 years as editor of The Tri-City News — before his terminaon during the early days of the pandemic. He has won more than 20 corporate, provincial, naonal and internaonal journalism awards individually and as a team leader and is the recipient of a News Media Canada Silver Quill Award. He now writes and edits for a variety of news organizaons, universies, non-profit and corporateclients.

Richard Dal Monte

BEST SPORTS PHOTO

1

Solidworkhere.Easilyrosetothetop.

DEEP RIVER NORTH RENFREW TIMES VANCE GUTZMAN

3 NEW LISKEARD TEMISKAMING SPEAKER SUE NIELSEN

2

Greatphotoandsubject.Whynotonthe frontpage?

PICTON GAZETTE JASON PARKS

Agreatmomentinmecaught. Nicestuff.

HONOURABLE MENTION

FORTFRANCESTIMES-DANIELADAM-Greatphoto-getitoutofthe collageandonthefrontpage.

GENERAL COMMENT

Some good stuff here. Best sports photo is tough to award if it wasn't even the best to make the front of the sports secon or front of the paper. If it is in a collage? If it wasn't worth the real estate in the paper tostandalone-howcoulditbebestsportspicoftheyear,youknow?

Rob Brown

Publisher, This Week in Dawson Creek, Dawson Creek, BC

RobBrown,45,haswriendailyfor31yearsandownsThisWeekin Dawson Creek, replacing 80 years of regional print history aer the closure of the Alaska Highway News and Dawson Creek Mirror. He was the managing editor of the Dawson Creek Mirror, Northern Horizon, and Pipeline News North for eight years. His 17-year journalism career earned 25-plus awards, including nods for news story and photography of the year in Alberta and Manitoba. A 2005 Alberta Centennial Cizen of the Year, 2017 Culture Ambassador for Northern BC, and the upcoming 2024 Silver Quill awardee, Brown released his first feature film, "Sukunka," in 2022. In 2023, he produced the 10-episode talk/variety show "Peace Region Xposure" on OpkTV. This year, he is preparing to direct his second wrienfeaturefilm,thethriller"BlindDates.”

bEST SPOT NEWS PHOTO

AYLMER EXPRESS ROB PERRY

2

1 3 NEW LISKEARD TEMISKAMING SPEAKER SUE NIELSEN

Sue Nielsen's photo has incredible visual impact. A huge fireball, two firefighters facing the flames. Probably not the biggest story given the number of people directly affected butaheckofadramacshot.

RobPerry'sphotohasa cinemacquality,even thoughit'sapreystandardpicoffirefighters' backs in the foreground, a fire in the background.Sll,greatjobcapturingallthisat night.

THE INDEPENDENT SERVING PETROLIA AND CENTRAL LAMBTON HEATHER WRIGHT

Heather Wright's photo tells a story of the aermath of a storm. It would've been stronger a) without the type on top of it and b) cropped ghter on the sides, so the focus was directed to the people in the pic more effecvely.

GENERAL COMMENT

First to the entrants who aren't in the top 3: Some of you entered photosthataren'tspotnews,butphotosfromeventsthatcouldhave been planned for - not bad photos, but not spot news. Some other ps: get closer, make sure you have people in the photos, and crop moreghtly.

Freelance Editor and Writer, Former Editor, The Tri-City News, Colquitlam, BC

Richard Dal Monte is a freelance writer and editor who worked in community newspapers in B.C. for 34 years — the last 19 years as editor of The Tri-City News — before his terminaon during the early days of the pandemic. He has won more than 20 corporate, provincial, naonal and internaonal journalism awards individually and as a team leader and is the recipient of a News Media Canada Silver Quill Award. He now writes and edits for a variety of news organizaons, universies, non-profit and corporateclients.

Sponsored by: Midwestern Newspapers

Richard Dal Monte

BEST NEWS PHOTO

LISTOWEL BANNER DAN MCNEE

1

Thisisanexcellentcaptureof Chris Kurz, not posed, but of him carrying a truck re above his head during a half-mile fundraiser. It captured the emoonal expressionofthesubject.

EGANVILLE LEADER MIKE YEAS

Thisphotographerwasinthe right place at the right me while covering a farmer's market, snapping the second-place image of heavy winds tossing canopies and vendors' goods around the parking lot. It played big on the front page, though it should have had a capon/cutline. And box that front page photo. I thought the image went with thestorybelow.

GENERAL COMMENT

It was no easy task choosing top-three best news photo from the 15 entries.Photographers/reportersneedtoworktheeventfroma360degree perspecve, use their lens and tell a story from what they focus on in their digital cameras. Plus, fill the frame when you are covering a scheduled or unscheduled event where you have an opportunity for advanced planning and creave control. Don't just point an iPhone camera at the event, thinking you have a news photo for the editor to use with a story or stand-alone. The winners did just that.

NIAGARA-ON-THELAKE LOCAL

3

Whilethisphotoisabitblurry and is lost on a page of heavy colour ads, it's sll a good news photo, showing the potenal danger at a crime scene with police brandishing an AR15 SWAT weapon. However, this photograph might have scored higher if not for the technically poor quality. The key is to make use of your zoom/telephoto lens and fill the frame. But at least the reporter noced it andsnappedthephoto.

Senior Sports Reporter, Brandon Sun, Brandon, MB

It has been 40 years since rered Brampton Guardian editor Lorne Drury offered him his first reporter job, and he is sll going like the Energizer Bunny. Currently in Manitoba, aer a short rerement from looking aer the award-winning army newspaper Shilo Stag, he's now a senior sports reporter for the daily Brandon Sun. Xavier was with Shilo Stag for 12 years, the longest serving editor of the defunct newspaper, now an online product. He relocated from Vancouver Island following newspaper and radio jobs in Ontario, B.C., and Alberta. Being embedded among soldiers who are honing their fighng skills for deployment to Ukraine or Latvia was a lot more fun than covering school board or city council meengs. But now he's having fun covering sports again, something he did in past journalismrolesinTimmins,OntarioandWetaskiwin,Alberta.

Jules Xavier

MOST CREATIVE GRIP & GRIN PHOTO

3 NIAGARA-ON-THELAKE, THE LAKE REPORT

1

DAVE VAN DE LAAR

This photo captures the excitement, and it feels like I am actually there with them! Nice job.

CORNWALL SEAWAY NEWS

KRYSTINE THERRIAULT

2

This posed shot I think works well. Nice, bright, catchy colours that relate with the subjectofcommunityfun.

KITCHISSIPPI TIMES ZENITH WOLFE

Reallynice,cleanandfriendly photo. Just not sure what the subject was without reading the tle and arcle. Thanks forincludingthelinktothearcle!:)

Hillo

Andrea Hillo, Publisher and Graphic Design, Haliburton, ON

GENERAL COMMENT

Every picture tells a story and the community newspapers in Ontario connue to represent their local communies so well! All photos did just that. The top three photos stood out because of the emoon they brought out with a single shot - the photos brought the moment tolife.Greatjobbyeveryone!

Andrea’s design passion and creave thinking have afforded her the privilege of working with some of Canada’s leading forces of art and culture, including arst Michael Dumas, author Roy MacGregor, arst/musician Mendelson Joe, and legendary naturalist/arst Robert Bateman. She is an award winning freelance graphic arst and independent book publisher who has owned her own community newspaper and is a past OCNA award winner, judge and member. Andrea has worked in the newspaper/publishingindustryforover30years.

Andrea

COMMUNITY SERVICE

1 2 3

DEEP RIVER NORTH RENFREW TIMES MUNICIPAL ELECTION

This is what community journalism is. Giving each candidate a chance to tell the readers why they're running, followed by hosng their own town hall-type meengs. You wouldn't normally see a community media outlet take this on, but when it comes to elecons, people need to hear who their choicesare.

AYLMER EXPRESS 3 PORT TOUR

Nicecommunitystoryaboutwhatseemstobeanimportantevent.Lookstobewell-publicizedifthere's more than 300 riders taking part. It's always good to see local publicaons take on sponsorship of big eventsbecauseit'sgoodadversing.

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT OFF TO THE RACES - SPECIAL EDITION: ELECTION 2022

A nice special secon for municipal elecon me, which is always in need of a kick in the pants when it comes to turnout. It's complete and well done, which hopefully readers took to heart come elecon me.

GENERAL COMMENT

Some nice stories, but the elecon coverage is always a big deal for me. The Deep River North Renfrew Times organizing town hall-type meengs for candidates was impressive because that's what people want to hear. They want to know how the candidates will deal with theissues.Thatimpressedmethemost.

Managing Editor, Northern News Services Ltd., Nunavut and NWT

James is the managing editor for NNSL Media based in Yellowknife and has been in the role since August 2022. Before that, he served as the sports editor - and sll does, albeit in a somewhat reduced role - from July 2007 unl being asked to move into his current posion.

James McCarthy

BEST FRONT PAGE, CIRC. OVER 10,000

1 2 3

CORNWALL SEAWAY NEWS

Greatstuffhere.Photosellsthiswithrobustadpresentaon.Greatstuff.

LISTOWEL INDEPENDENT PLUS

Goodmixofbusinessonthefront.

FERGUS WELLINGTON ADVERTISER

Beercroponthephoto-asecondphotosubjectbelowfold.Lotsofwordshere.Newsystuffcertainly.

HONOURABLE MENTION

PICTON GAZETTE - Simple and straighorward. Basic mix. Recreaon permits-hotnewsweek.

GENERAL COMMENT

Reallyaghtraceforthird.Amazingwhentherightphotolocksin.

Rob Brown

Publisher,

This Week in Dawson Creek, Dawson Creek, BC

RobBrown,45,haswriendailyfor31yearsandownsThisWeekin Dawson Creek, replacing 80 years of regional print history aer the closure of the Alaska Highway News and Dawson Creek Mirror. He was the managing editor of the Dawson Creek Mirror, Northern Horizon, and Pipeline News North for eight years. His 17-year journalism career earned 25-plus awards, including nods for news story and photography of the year in Alberta and Manitoba. A 2005 Alberta Centennial Cizen of the Year, 2017 Culture Ambassador for Northern BC, and the upcoming 2024 Silver Quill awardee, Brown released his first feature film, "Sukunka," in 2022. In 2023, he produced the 10-episode talk/variety show "Peace Region Xposure" on OpkTV. This year, he is preparing to direct his second wrienfeaturefilm,thethriller"BlindDates.”

HONOURABLE

MENTION

AYLMER EXPRESS

Greatfrontpage.Jammednewsedion.

FORT FRANCES TIMES

Busyandstrong.

NEW LISKEARD TEMISKAMING SPEAKER

Bignewsweek.

LISTOWELBANNER-Verynicenewspackagehere.

GENERAL COMMENT

Firstandsecondwereclose,buta7wayeforthirdhadtobebroken.

Publisher,

This Week in Dawson Creek, Dawson Creek, BC

RobBrown,45,haswriendailyfor31yearsandownsThisWeekin Dawson Creek, replacing 80 years of regional print history aer the closure of the Alaska Highway News and Dawson Creek Mirror. He was the managing editor of the Dawson Creek Mirror, Northern Horizon, and Pipeline News North for eight years. His 17-year journalism career earned 25-plus awards, including nods for news story and photography of the year in Alberta and Manitoba. A 2005 Alberta Centennial Cizen of the Year, 2017 Culture Ambassador for Northern BC, and the upcoming 2024 Silver Quill awardee, Brown released his first feature film, "Sukunka," in 2022. In 2023, he produced the 10-episode talk/variety show "Peace Region Xposure" on OpkTV. This year, he is preparing to direct his second wrienfeaturefilm,thethriller"BlindDates.”

Rob Brown

BEST VERTICAL PRODUCT

1 2 3

CORNWALL SEAWAY NEWS

CORNWALL LIVING

One hundred and sixteen pages of top quality work by the team at the Cornwall Seaway News. Beaufully designed with a contemporary approach, the editorial package is informave with professional photos and portraiture rounding out this magazine's overall success. From its terrificcover through to the many diverse ads, this magazine is a standout and would compete with the best out therefrommuchlargermarkets.Reallywelldone.Congratulaons.

FORT FRANCES TIMES

TOUR DE FORT 30TH ANNIVERSARY

The Fort Frances Times has a winner in the Tour de Fort publicaon which features the history of a special concert series spanning 30 years. Many of the performers were up and comers back in their Fort concert days and are now well known on the Canadian and internaonal music scenes. This secon showshowforwardthinkingthecommunityisinsupporngtheartsbutalsohowthepaperidenfieda newrevenuestreamandcraedinteresngarstprofiles.Greatidea,uniqueinconcept.

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT NOTL: A GUIDE FOR DISTINGUISHED EXPLORERS: SUMMER 2023

A very prey special secon with a disncve tle, the Guide for Disnguished Explorers has a real charm to it and not just because the Niagara area offers great subject maer. This special edion invites the reader in starng with the nicely wrien introducon by the editor and a page dedicated to featuring the writers who contributed to the content. Nothing pedestrian here. It's lovely, comprehensive and stylish and with lots of ads and a page count most publishers can only dream of. Welldone.

Rered Group Publisher, Black Press Media, Greater Victoria, BC

GENERAL COMMENT

The OCNA members which entered this category should all be commended for reflecng their hometowns - the special events, celebraons, and lifestyles. Congratulaons to the staff for their hard work and dedicaon, from the adversing sales representaves to the creave and editorial teams. Not to menon the circulaon departments (or individuals) who take the final step in the process and distribute these special edions. It’s a challenging me for all media and these OCNA papers prove just how resilient community papers can be…and ulmately how very important community papersaretolocalmarkets.

Penny Sakamoto’s media career has spanned over 40 years in Canada and the United States. She graduated from journalism school in Winnipeg, was a reporter in Montreal and founded an award winning community newspaper in Revelstoke BC. She went on to execuve posions, including Director of Special Projects at the Honolulu Star-Bullen in Hawaii and has consulted for major media companies throughout the US and Canada. In 2022, she was honoured with the BCYCNA Lifeme Achievement Award for disnguished service to the newspaper industry. Now rered, Penny is chasing her grandchildren rather than those daily deadlines.

Penny Sakamoto

BEST SPORTS SECTION

1

EGANVILLE LEADER

A great secon. It is nice to see high school coverage but would like to see more sports feature wring. Goodaconcaptures,andnotheavyonteamphotos.

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE LOCAL

Also a great secon, but there's more to sports than hockey. Where's the high school sports coverage, which goes September to June? It's nice to see sports features, but acon photos are vital to a sports secon.Goodtoseeithere.

ST. MARYS INDEPENDENT

Nice to see an actual sports secon, but provide the readers with more features, versus game acon stories.Nicetoseeaconshotsbutavoidteamphotos.Parentscantakethoseandframeathomeinthe trophycase.Aconvsinacon!

GENERAL COMMENT

What happened to a sports secon ... best sports pages more appropriate. Why? Community newspapers in Ontario have relegated sports coverage as an aerthought based on these edions. Where are the other community newspapers which should be involved here? And what happened to high school coverage from September to June? A major part of the sports community, not just hockey! Nice use of colour for the hockey acon shots on some pages but use more acon instead of team photos or official puck dropping. Acon versus inacon. Any sports stats? Blend in some sports features, profile your coaches and athletes. Not just describe how eachgoalisscored.Closewiththetop-three.The winningpapers had asportssecon,notafewsportspagesburiedattheback.

Senior Sports Reporter, Brandon Sun, Brandon, MB

It has been 40 years since rered Brampton Guardian editor Lorne Drury offered him his first reporter job, and he is sll going like the Energizer Bunny. Currently in Manitoba, aer a short rerement from looking aer the award-winning army newspaper Shilo Stag, he's now a senior sports reporter for the daily Brandon Sun. Xavier was with Shilo Stag for 12 years, the longest serving editor of the defunct newspaper, now an online product. He relocated from Vancouver Island following newspaper and radio jobs in Ontario, B.C., and Alberta. Being embedded among soldiers who are honing their fighng skills for deployment to Ukraine or Latvia was a lot more fun than covering school board or city council meengs. But now he's having fun covering sports again, something he did in past journalismrolesinTimmins,OntarioandWetaskiwin,Alberta.

Jules Xavier

SPECIAL SECTION

1 2 3

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT OFF TO THE RACES - SPECIAL EDITION: ELECTION 2022

Wow,that'sthemostpowerful,readerfriendlyeleconseconI'veseen.Evenbeerthanmine(hehe). A very interesng blend of editorial and paid adversing, packaged well to help voters. Good strong editorial, and neat that all adversing has to follow same formang. Plus, you had a lot of buy in with mostcandidatesparcipang.Cleanlayoutmakesitevenmoreappealing.Tremendousjob.

FORT FRANCES TIMES HEALTH & WELLNESS

Strong, well-thought out selecon of stories. Liked the subject icons and the mix of pictures and graphics. Like the divide of stories (le and right), although somemes crammed in a lile ght - with notenoughspaceinbetween.Wonderingwhyblackandwhiteonsomepages.Oddinthisdayandagedidn't believe there was much to be saved financially, but I could be way off. In layout, most of the arcles were jusfied, but there were only a handful that ran flush le and those were much cleaner and easier to read. Some strong layout, especially with thought around use of graphics, but not as good whenitcametopictures.Nicelydone.Expectyouhadgoodreaderreacontothis.

THE HALDIMAND PRESS FARMS: HARVEST 2023

Some very interesng stories, ie. subjects such as manure, drones, and 4-H. Good adversing support and ads are designed well. Like the Harvest Hannah contest, as well as the games/acvies and recipes. Somepictureslackedpeople,butoverall,anicesolidsecon.

GENERAL COMMENT

Some impressive secons this year. Some repeats. Liked the selecon. Many of them were given some serious thought when it came to providing the readers with interesng and relevant stories. Kudostoall,especiallythewinnersthisyear.

Group Editor, Langley Advance Times, Aldergrove Star & Maple Ridge-Pi Meadows News, Langley, BC

Roxanne Hooper has been in the newspaper industry since age 15, starng her career right in Langley – at the then Langley Advance. While she has also worked for newspapers in Abbotsford, Mission, Maple Ridge-Pi Meadows, and Kamloops, she has a strong passion for sharing stories about the people in her hometown of Langley.Needlesstosay,shewasexcitedtoreturntothelocalteam in2006asareporter.Shehassincetakenovertheleadershiprolein the newsroom as editor. And since then, taken on editor dues for two other papers. She’s said she wakes up every day excited about what new challenges will befall this evolving industry and moreoverwhatexcingstoriessheandtheteamwillfindandshare withintheircommunity.

Roxanne Hooper

BEST FEATURE/UNIT PAGES

1

LISTOWEL INDEPENDENT PLUS HURON COUNTY PLOWING MATCH

Nice feature! Great use of background images to e all the pages together. Love the diverse layout, and interesngstory!Thestorygaveabitofhistoryandexplainedwhattoexpectattheevent.Nicework!

2

FERGUS WELLINGTON ADVERTISER EQUINE

Love the scrapbook feel with the added rivets on the photos. Good stories, appealing to lots of interest areas.Niceadstosupportaswell.

3

NORTH WELLINGTON COMMUNITY NEWS FAMILY DAY

Love the header at the top of the pages. Great story with history and current info. Very nice ads to supportthefeature.

GENERAL COMMENT

This year's entries were all really well done. You can see the pride and passion the newspaper staff have for their communies and the subjects.

Publisher, Claresholm Local Press, Claresholm, AB

AmandaZimmeristhepublisheroftheClaresholmLocalPressand has been in the community newspaper business for 25 years as a graphic designer. She gained her first experience working in a print shop as her aer school job in high school. She completed her Prinng Management Technologies diploma at SAIT, taking her praccum at the Local Press. She truly believes volunteers make a community and has given back with various organizaons throughout the years. She is also on the AWNA board of directors. Amanda loves living in a small community and being a part of the connecon people have to each other through their paper. She believes the newspaper is the hub of their community and loves to seepeoplereadingandsharingit.

Amanda Zimmer

BEST CREATIVE AD

1 2 3

EGANVILLE LEADER - JUDY HANKE

Greatuseofcolourinthismedium.Goodvisual.Lotsofcopy...butit'slaidoutforeasyread. Goodjob.

DEEP RIVER NORTH RENFREW TIMES - JANE BARKLEY

Strong visual. Can't miss this ad when turning the page. The palm leaves? Not sure how they connect, but they add some nice colour...just might not have picked palm leaves unless you are adding other tropicalpicnicimageryelsewhereinthelayout.

NORTH WELLINGTON COMMUNITY NEWS - ALICIA ROZA

Great fesve theme for the ad that matches the event. Was drawn in to read all the details...even in the images.

HONOURABLE MENTION

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT - RICHARD HARLEY - I'm notsurethatthisqualifiesasanad...it'sabirthannouncement.Nicely donethough!

GENERAL COMMENT

It's a tough market for community newspapers right now...so many have ceased print. It's a tough economy for your adversers as well. Connue to work hard so that their ad dollars really get their monies worth!

Wayne Aubert

Professor, Adversing and Markeng Communicaons Management Program, Mohawk College, ON

Wayne Aubert is a Professor at Mohawk College in Hamilton, teaching in Adversing and Common Business. Prior to his work at Mohawk, he produced MANY MANY newspaper ads for the Ontario Government, KFC, and Jaguar, just to name a few. He missesreceivinghisMountainNewseachweek.

IN HOUSE PROMOTION

CORNWALL SEAWAY NEWS

Really love the use of the colours and white space. Very clean, aracve ad that delivers a great messagetoreaders.

THE HALDIMAND PRESS

This is a very cool idea. I’m sure that most readers wouldn't have a clue how a newspaper gets put together.Lovethis!

FERGUS WELLINGTON ADVERTISER - ALICIA ROZA

Excellent message and especially love the layout. A mely response to a mely subject so congrats to thedesignerandideapersononthisone.

Brian Gilroy

General Manager, Swan Valley Star & Times, Swan River, MB

GENERAL COMMENT

I loved seeing the different ways of reminding readers as to the importance of their local newspaper, as well as some of the services offered. In a me like we are in, the more toong of our own horns, the beer. We've spent way too many years helping other businesses thrive and survive - it's me we helped ourselves as well. Excellent workbyall.

I am a second-generaon newspaper publisher who, along with my siblings, currently own and operate 5 community newspapers in Manitoba. Growing up in the industry, and delivering papers from a young age,put inkin myveins.I havebeenworkingfullme in the industry for over 30 years now and, despite the challenges that come frequently these days, sll love it as much as ever. I live in Swan River, MB and wear many hats - publisher, general manager, adversing coordinator, columnist, and feature writer for the Swan Valley Star & Times. I’m an idea guy and love to grow and evolve what we do here and have every reason to believe there will connue to be a place for community newspapers for generaonstocome.

LOCAL RETAIL LAYOUT

1 2 3

FERGUS WELLINGTON ADVERTISER - STEVE GILHOLM

Beauful layout and design. Including the history makes the ad interesng, informave and catches the aenonofthereader.GreatJob!

CORNWALL SEAWAY NEWS

I really like the concept of this full page ad for the local retail category. It introduces the reader to local businessesandthepeoplewhooperatethem.Simpleyeteffecve.Goodwork!

MANITOULIN EXPOSITOR

This ad is effecve as a local retail ad as it shows all the different products available under one roof. Lightbackgroundcoloursworkwellwiththeredbanners.Nicejob.

HONOURABLE MENTION

NORTH WELLINGTON COMMUNITY NEWS - ALICIA ROZA - The colours in this ad are really great. It’s a beauful and informave ad. Greatjobbythedesigner!

GENERAL COMMENT

It's so great to see the design work the community newspapers connually create. All the submissions were top notch. The top three stood out from the others with their dedicaon to their local communies. They showcased the adverser’s message by including images and ideas that are specific to their area. Personalizing the retail ad to fit their community and the values of the adversers helpedthemwininthiscategory.

Andrea Hillo

Andrea Hillo, Publisher and Graphic Design, Haliburton, ON

Judge

Andrea’s design passion and creave thinking have afforded her the privilege of working with some of Canada’s leading forces of art and culture, including arst Michael Dumas, author Roy MacGregor, arst/musician Mendelson Joe, and legendary naturalist/arst Robert Bateman. She is an award winning freelance graphic arst and independent book publisher who has owned her own community newspaper and is a past OCNA award winner, judge and member. Andrea has worked in the newspaper/publishingindustryforover30years.

ORIGINAL AD IDEA

1

PORT PERRY, THE STANDARD - COLLEEN GREEN

I found this ad to be truly unique for a Mother's Day ad, an original and humourous way to adverse a funconal item such as eyeglasses. You can't help being drawn to this fun-loving duo who don't take themselves too seriously - the message is as clear as the look on their faces and eyewear they are holding.

FORT FRANCES TIMES - AUSTIN BROWN, LEANNE DONALDSON & LINCOLN DUNN

LISTOWEL BANNER - JANINE MARTIN 2 3 Judge

Top points for the creators of this ad for having a sense of humour and knowing the value of word play. The retro recliners brought me 'way back' too, including the reference to plasc furniture covers. Very creaveandoriginal,includingtheold-fashionedlayout.

Manypapersfeatureadspromonglocalshopping,butIfoundthefocusandlayoutofthisadtobevery original. The use of red and green Christmas colours is a great seasonal e-in to catch the eye, as is the 12 days of Christmas theme. Finally, the shops are not random; instead, each one meets a specific need (to enjoy delicious food, to discover hidden gems, etc.) which further adds to its appeal and impact. Goodjob.

Naonal Editor,

GENERAL COMMENT

Ads are a vital part of a newspaper, as they bring in important revenue. Catching the readers' eye with creave ads helps the adverser grow their clientele, and the consumer find what they are looking for. This was a close contest, with many interesng and creave ads offering an original way to sell everyday products and services.

RENO+DECOR magazine and Editor, New Home + Condo Guide Vancouver, Toronto, ON

Marlene Eisner is a Toronto writer and the editor of RENO+DÉCOR magazine, which publishes in the GTA, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver, and Vancouver-based New Home and Condo Guide magazine. Prior to moving to Toronto in 2014, she was a reporter, associate editor and editor-in-chief at the Suburban Newspaper (1994-2007), and editor-in-chief at the NDG Free Press (2011-2014). She has won nine awards for her wring, including two gold awards from the Parenng Publicaons of America Editorial Design Awards for Best News Feature (2002) and Best Column Review (2008), and first place in the Quebec Community Newspaper Associaon (QCNA) Awards for her columnTheGlassCeiling(2006).

Marlene Eisner

BEST USE OF COLOUR

KINCARDINE INDEPENDENT - BECKY GREBENJAK

Nicebrightcolours,instantrecognionofthesubjectandniceopportunityforgroupingadversersand sponsors.Greatjob!

1 2 3

FERGUS WELLINGTON ADVERTISER - STEVE GILHOLM

Big, bold and beauful! Great use of colour, clean fonts and clear message. Nice photo and graphics showoffthesubjectofadnicely.Goodjob!

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT - RICHARD HARLEY

So great. I really love this ad. It’s clean and no nonsense. Inially my favourite, I felt there could have beenabitmoreuseofcolourforthisparcularcategory.Beaufulad.

HONOURABLE MENTION

NORTH WELLINGTON COMMUNITY NEWS - ALICIA ROZA - Fresh, brightcoloursmakethisadpop.Nicejob!

GENERAL COMMENT

The use of colour is always tricky and the top three nailed it. The coloursneedtobethoughulforreproducononnewsprintaswellas the type of business/event being adversed. Overall, all submissions were well done creave and would certainly grab the aenon of readers. Good work by all community newspapers! All designers should be proud of the work they achieve on ght deadlines and quick turnover.

Andrea Hillo

Andrea Hillo, Publisher and Graphic Design, Haliburton, ON

Andrea’s design passion and creave thinking have afforded her the privilege of working with some of Canada’s leading forces of art and culture, including arst Michael Dumas, author Roy MacGregor, arst/musician Mendelson Joe, and legendary naturalist/arst Robert Bateman. She is an award winning freelance graphic arst and independent book publisher who has owned her own community newspaper and is a past OCNA award winner, judge and member. Andrea has worked in the newspaper/publishingindustryforover30years. Judge

BEST ONLINE EXPERIENCE

1

HALIBURTON, THE HIGHLANDER COUNTY ELECTION - PODCAST: WHAT ARE WE DOING?

While the combined category proved a challenge to judge, this package was the most comprehensive and absolutely provided the best online experience. The print grid augmented by podcasts are an incredible way to reach new audiences. The issues and candidates are clearly laid out in the print productwithsidebarssendingthereadertoaseriesofpodcastsonhottaxpayertopics.

2

HALIBURTON, THE HIGHLANDER DORSET: FOREST FIREFIGHTING MINI DOCUMENTARY

The video alone would benefit from some voice/text over to explain the when and where of what's happening. However, alongside the story, it's an important and informave package. Great job providingreaders the only glimpse(as noted in the descripon)of the challenges firefighters faced. The varietyofshotsshowstheeffortthevideographertooktotellthestory.

3

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT NOTL INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

Nice different approach on this one. You can see the effort to get something a lile different. A trimmer version,orwithsomevoiceoverormoretextwouldhavehelpedasastandalonevideo.

Senior Journalist, Oak Bay News, Oak Bay, BC

GENERAL COMMENT

The combining of categories compounded by a lack of descripons in the space provided made this a challenging category to judge. It was, however, fantasc to see people thinking outside the box for items that occur every year (celebrang women) or every few years (elecons)andtakingbreakingnewstothenextlevel.

Aer finishing journalism school in 2002, Chrisne van Reeuwyk returned home to Vancouver Island to embark on a career. She has since worked in newsrooms from Victoria to Port Hardy and back again. A mul award winner on the provincial and naonal level, ChrisnehasworkedaseditorofBlackPresspapersacrossGreater VictoriaandnowservesthecommunityofOakBay.

Christine van Reeuwyk

BEST COMMUNITY WEBSITE/

FERGUS WELLINGTON ADVERTISER

WELLINGTONADVERTISER.COM

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT NIAGARANOW.COM 1 2 3

Twelve different channels at the top of the home page and nineteen regions to select which is well displayed and easy to navigate. Liked the interacvity of this site where one can submit LETTER, SPORTS, FAMILY AD, CLASSIFED AD, EVENT, AUCTION & more importantly submit NEWS + ADS. The mobiledevicereadingexperiencewouldbebeerwithshorterheadlinesandlessstorycopydisplayed.

CORNWALL SEAWAY NEWS

CORNWALLSEAWAYNEWS.COM

Liked the frequency of posng to keep the site current to readers. Room to improve visual layout of the websiteincludingpictureusedforthestory.

Nicely displayed the digital edion of the newspaper. Would like to see shorter and bold (visually) headlinesandlessstorycopydisplayedtoimproveonlineexperience.

Chow Publisher, Richmond News, Richmond, BC

GENERAL COMMENT

When it comes to judging the best community website, emphasis was based on navigang through the mobile device because on average between 70%-75% of your web traffic will be coming from mobile device instead of desktop. It was a delighted experience to review this year's entries where they all offered a lot within and beyond the scoring criteria. Congratulaons to all the contestants and thanks for yourhardwork!

Alvin Chow is the Publisher of the Richmond News and Vice President, Naonal Adversing Sales at Glacier Media Group. He started his newspaper career at the Edmonton Journal in 1993 and over the last 30 years with various sales roles for Southam, Canwest and Postmedia. In 2016 he joined Glacier Media as VP, Naonal Sales, Western Canada and then in 2018 also assumed the Publisher role for the Richmond News. He is a member of the Markeng Commiee for News Media Canada and Vice Chair of theBoardforNABSWest.

Alvin

BEST COMMUNITY WEBSITE/ WEBPORTAL, CIRC. UNDER 9,999

1

FORT FRANCES TIMES FFTIMES.COM

This site is easy to navigate. They could slow down the speed of main arcles switching, and the logo couldbelargeronthehomepage.Anicebalanceofadsandarcles.Nice,cleandesign.Goodjob!

2

THE HALDIMAND PRESS HALDIMANDPRESS.COM

I like the list of different towns covered by paper sub categories on the homepage. The OPP briefs are a greataddionandIlikethedigitaldaypassideaalot.

3

I like the look of this home page. I really like the simplicity, giving it that small town, community feel. I like the fact that you can see "this week's" front page. It’s tempng me to buy a subscripon! :) I wish therewasafewads. AYR NEWS AYRNEWS.CA

Andrea Hillo

Andrea Hillo, Publisher and Graphic Design, Haliburton, ON

GENERAL COMMENT

It was interesng comparing the different websites. What a great job they've all done! The websites offer a beer look at the communies they represent, and some have added extra informaon like history, archives, weather, police briefs and adversements that are importanttothecommunity.Althoughmanyaresimilar,theyallhave their own personalized look and funcons. The top three stood out for being a bit different than the others. They were informave, easy to navigate and le me wanng more! Congratulaons to all submissions!

Andrea’s design passion and creave thinking have afforded her the privilege of working with some of Canada’s leading forces of art and culture, including arst Michael Dumas, author Roy MacGregor, arst/musician Mendelson Joe, and legendary naturalist/arst Robert Bateman. She is an award winning freelance graphic arst and independent book publisher who has owned her own community newspaper and is a past OCNA award winner, judge and member. Andrea has worked in the newspaper/publishingindustryforover30years.

STUDENT FEATURE WRITING

HUMBER COLLEGE - EMMA POSCA

1

A fantasc job highlighng an important and heartbreaking issue, brought to life through compelling characters, with just the right amount of policy insight and analysis worked in. Good job working with interview subjects to get the human element while also providing important public policy context abouttheissue.Goodacvedescriponregardingtheintervieweeholdingbacktears.Astrongarcle.

ALGONQUIN COLLEGE - ARTY SARKISIAN

2

Fantasc story about a compelling character. The detail about the different speeds for mixing drinks or prepping orders at the pharmacy is such a nice detail and really brings us into the story. Lots of nice quotesandcontextfromthepeoplewhoknowyourmaincharacter.

DURHAM COLLEGE - NAVRAJ SANDHAR

3

Great insight into an important issue to the community and strong development of mulple perspecves on it. Your interview sources are well selected, and each bring an addional and valuable perspecve. The fact about Oshawa being known as a Manchester in Canada is interesng and insighul. There's room to get the main conflict involving Metrolinx into the arcle a bit higher up to starttofocusthepiecearoundthat,andthenbringinsomeoftheaddionalcontext.

HONOURABLE MENTION

ALGONQUIN COLLEGE - KERRY SLACK - A compelling character and well told story. The main area for improvement would be a lile more context about injury tape balls. Are these something a lot of athletes create? Or is this something unique? That would give us some more context and not leave us wondering about that. Either way, it’s a compelling item in the story. And you have nice quotes and insights frompeoplewhoknowyourmaincharacterwell.

GENERAL COMMENT

Most of these demonstrated a strong sense of the communies they cover and portrayed interesng characters. Some also offered well developed themes, such as ‘coming home,’ or insights into local history. In some arcles, there is an opportunity to improve wring style when working with quotes to set them up in the most effecve way. In other arcles, more depth and context about the topic or physical descripon of places in the arcles would add to the reader’s experience. Some arcles, depending on topic, could have benefied fromspeakingtosomeaddionalexpertsforpolicyinsights.

Deputy Digital Editor, The Hill Times, Oawa, ON

Ian Campbell is a reporter and the deputy digital editor for The Hill Times, covering party polics, finance, health policy, federalprovincial relaons, and the impact of new digital technologies on democracy. He holds a master’s degree in journalism from Carleton University and has previously worked as an online reporter with CBC Newfoundland & Labrador. Campbell has also worked as a theatre producer and educator. His adaptaons of Richard III and Henry V for young audiences are published by PlayingwithPlays.

Ian Campbell

STUDENT NEWS WRITING

CENTENNIAL COLLEGE - MARIA PALACIOS

HONOURABLE

An insighul invesgaon into the story of a refugee and the struggles they faced to find peace in Canada. With so many refugees aempng to escape wars, injusce, and land rendered in-inhabitable bytheclimatecrisis,Palacios’arcleshedslightonaworseningglobalcrisis.

UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO - NADIA KHAN

A very powerful and well-wrien account of the students’ reacon to the standings at Hagey Hall. Thoughtprovokingintermsofhowitrevealsthepainandsufferingcausedbyhateandhatecrimes.

CENTENNIAL COLLEGE - SIN WAN CHIM

1 2 3

An excellent and thought-provoking arcle that looks deeper into the record number of candidates runninginthe2023mayoralraceinToronto.Verywell-researchedandwrien.

MENTION

LOYALIST COLLEGE - VICTORIA CAMINHA - A very interesng and well-wrien arcle about one of the many challenges Ontarians face in terms of access to basic health care. Considering the provincial government is responsible for health care, the arcle would have been more informave if efforts were made to include MPP Todd Smith and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones’ perspecves on what their governmentisorisn’tdoingtoimproveaccesstohealthcare.

UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO - ABHIRAJ LAMBA - A very well-wrien and insighul invesgaon into the hate-movated stabbings at Hagey Hall. The layout was a bit confusing to read, especially on a cell phone,howeveroverall,itwasanexcellentarcle.

GENERAL COMMENT

With so many talented student journalists in this category it was both a pleasure and a challenge to judge. While each of the arcles submied were excellent, there were a handful that stood out for a variety of reasons. One thing that each of the winning entries had in common was the exceponal amount of research that went into them. Congratulaons to the winners, and thank you to all of the writersforsharingtheirwork.

Managing Editor, Bancro This Week & Bancro Times, Bancro, ON

Nate Smelle first served as the editor of Bancro This Week from 2012-2015. He was also the editor of The Voice of Pelham from 2016-2017 before returning to Bancro, where he is currently serving as the editor of Bancro This Week and The Bancro Times. Throughout his career he has also worked as a freelance journalist with publicaons such as: Now Magazine, The New Tanner,CountyLifeandHaliburtonCountyEcho.

Nate Smelle

STUDENT PHOTOGRAPHY

ALGONQUIN COLLEGE ALEX LAMBERT

1

ALGONQUIN COLLEGE ARTY SARKISIAN

Thisphotoisdelighul.The unexpectedintensityonthe clown's face, and the raised fist adds to the humour. The shallow depth of field and offcentre composion makes it even more compelling and draws the reader in. Who couldresistwanngtoknowmore?

GENERAL COMMENT

The future of print media is in good hands with this display of student talent. The category of student photography proved challenging to judge due to the high caliber of skill. The top entries stood out because the photographers immersed themselves in the acon and drew the reader in. Overall, the photographs demonstrate their creators' dedicaon to capturing something arul and impacul, somemes capturing what feels like that singular moment that tells thewholestory.Welldone.Keepupthegoodwork.

2

Thisisagreatphotoandagreat storybyArtySarkisian.The photo serves its purpose beaufully in that it creates curiosity in the viewer and makes them want to keep reading. The joyful expression on the bartender's face complements the headline and bundles it into asasfyingpackage.

LOYALIST COLLEGE HEATHER WALDRON

3

Thisphotoperfectlycaptures thesheerelaonofvictory. The photographer was able to capture the expression of the enre team, even with the focal point being the face of one player. The blurred image of the coaches cheering in the backgroundisanaddedbonus.

Editor,

The Creemore Echo, Creemore, ON

Judge

TrinaBerloholdsaBAAinphotographyfromTorontoMetropolitan University and has been working as a community reporter/photographer since geng her first paid newspaper job at The Ontarion, the independent student newspaper at University of Guelph in 1999. In her current role, she is editor of TheCreemoreEcho.

Trina Berlo

BEST COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY

HONOURABLE MENTION 1 2 3

ALGONQUIN COLLEGE - ALGONQUINTIMES.COM

Great use of colour throughout website. Good choice of typography, very user friendly site. Pages are welllaidoutwithseconsandveryeasytonavigate.Fantascmobilesite.Showsuponmulpledevices verywell.Wellwrienstories,verycollegecommunitydriven,diverse,andinteresng.

CENTENNIAL COLLEGE - TORONTOOBSERVER.CA

Very clean and well seconed out. Colour scheme is fing for the style. Stories are easy to find and a greatread.Goodfontchoices.Veryresponsivewebsiteworkswellonmobile,tabletanddesktop.Great navigaon. Keep it up. Social media, aka Twier could use an update. It's all we've got now in the news world,souseit.

Looks very clean and precise. It is a lile busy, with a lot of featured secons. Love the 'What's happening now?' It really draws you into some featured stories. Very responsive site. Plenty of writers, the content is thorough and well wrien. Navigaon is good. Colour scheme is nice. Fantasc that you sllhaveyoursocialmedia,keepitgoing.Idoalsolikethatthereisastudentlogin.

HUMBERCOLLEGE-HUMBERNEWS.CA-Greatmobilesite.Thesiteis a lile slow to load, with a bunch of widgets. Great seconing is very easy to navigate. Love the use of videos and podcast! Keep up the good work. Easy to read typography. Fantasc editorial content, very intriguing and informave stories. Honourable Menon because of theHumbernewsvideos.

GENERAL COMMENT

Colleges and Universies are our future journalists. I was honoured to review their newspaper websites. I found a lot of them to be very visually appealing and very user friendly. If you’re curious what our futurewriters,editorsandpublishersareuptohavealookatthewide varietyofsitesthattheseschoolnewspapershavecreated.

Kennedy Publisher, The Highlander, Haliburton, ON

Heather Kennedy started her newspaper career right aer graduang from the Graphic Design program at Georgian College in 2010. She worked producon for many years and is now the Publisher of The Highlander Newspaper, an award-winning newspaperintheHaliburtonHighlands.

Heather

The OCNA Hall of Fame recognizes and celebrates individuals who have made exemplary contribuons to Ontario’s community newspapers. Inductees are respected community news professionals who have remained passionate about the industry throughout challenges, opportunies, and changes. They are leaders who have helpedcommunitynewspapersadaptandgrow.

To view all our Hall of Fame inductees, please visit OCNA’s Hall of Fame page.

JACK EVANS

Rered Journalist, Belleville Intelligencer, The Trentonian and The Picton County Weekly News

Jack Evans has been a journalisc stalwart for over 65 years and is currently the dean of news in the Bay of Quintearea.JackwasbienbythejournalismbugduringhismeasaboychoristerinBellevillewhere,usinga borrowedtypewriter,hewouldpeckoutsubmissionsonthechorus’sacviesfortheIntelligencer.Aertrying bankingand radio journalism,Jackmadehiswaybackinto print,includingstopsinLindsayand Straord before returning closer to home as the Picton bureau chief for the Kingston Whig-Standard. Missing the camaraderie of the newsroom, Jack accepted the job of assistant editor of the Picton Gazee and became an involved member of the community as a Kinsmen, church chorister and fundraiser. Aer another sojourn into daily newspapering in Oshawa and Sudbury, Evans returned to Picton, this me as the Gazee’s editor. He later served as news editor of the Trentonian, before finishing his career back where it began in Belleville wring for the Intelligencer. Although he rered in 1999, Jack’s columns connue to appear in the area’s Postmedia publicaons. Throughout his career, Jack served as example of how to do journalism right, treang every story with the same high level of care and respect. “I cherish all my years as a journalist, the places, the stories and especially the colourful cast of people I have met,” Jack said. “I believe that when you do a story, it is not really your story, but that of the person youarewringabout.”

BOB HALL

Former Owner & Publisher, The Haldimand Press Awarded Posthumously

Bob Hall was born with ink in his veins and followed his father and grandfather into the newspaper industry. His parents purchased the Haldimand Advocate in 1931 with Bob coming along in 1937. By 16, he was maintaining the paper’s linotype machine and, aer his father’s death in 1965, took over as editor and publisher. In 1975 he amalgamated the Advocate with the Hagersville Press to form the Haldimand Press, which he owned and led unl he rered in 2014. He died in 2018 at age 82. A life-long resident of Cayuga, Bob truly loved Haldimand. He never wanted any accolades believing it was all part of the newspaper’s funcon in the community. However, he was quite honoured to receive the Golden Quill Award for his 50 plus years in the community newspaper business. He was a keen member of several community groups and had a special place in his heart for the local Special Olympics Program and St. John the Divine Anglican Church in Cayuga. Bob saw the good in all people, even refusing to print the names of the accused in police reports. Each week, he penned a column “Bits by Bob” where he mused about life in Haldimand, and ended with “This Week’s Lile Gem,” an oenmischievouslilejoke.Bobdidn’tcaremuchforfancytles,oenreferringtohimselfas“theoldestpaperboyaround.”