2025 BNC Booklet_FINAL_with TOC links_reduced by Ontario Community Newspapers Association

BNC 2025 Results

AWARD AWARD

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Every year I’m reminded, as I look through the winners of OCNA’s Beer Newspapers Compeon, just how much talent and dedicaon exists across our industry. We are fortunate to work in a ﬁeld driven by curiosity, creavity and a deep commitment to community service, and it’s inspiring to see thatreﬂectedsoclearlyinthisyear’sentries.

We received more than 838 submissions across 56 categories, each one represenng the eﬀort of reporters, photographers, editors, designers and publishers who connually push themselves to deliver meaningful journalism. While today we celebrate the winners, we all know that the work producedineverynewsroom-dayinanddayout-isequallydeservingofrecognion.

Compeons like this not only shine a spotlight on exceponal work, they also give all of us the chance to learn from one another. Every year I come away with new ideas, fresh approaches and renewedmovaontotrysomethingdiﬀerentinmyownpapers.

Of course, none of this would be possible without three essenal groups: our judges, our sponsors andtheOCNAstaﬀ.

Our volunteer judges devote countless hours—oen in the evenings or on weekends—to carefully review stories, photos, websites, ads and full edions. Their willingness to share their me and experseiswhatmakesthiscompeonpossible,andwearedeeplygratefulfortheircommitment.

We are equally thankful for our category sponsors, whose generosity allows OCNA to highlight and reward the outstanding work being done across the province. Your connued support strengthens ourenreindustry.

Winners will be announced at the Spring Retreat, and I’d like to extend a special thank-you to our AwardsGalasponsor,OntarioPowerGeneraon,fortheirongoingsupport.

And ﬁnally, my sincere appreciaon goes to the OCNA staﬀ. Their hard work behind the scenes ensuresthiscompeonrunssmoothlyeveryyear.Inmybooks,they’rewinnerstoo.

Congratulaons to everyone who entered, and to those whose work appears in the pages of this book. I’m already looking forward to seeing the exceponal journalism you’ll bring forward for next year’sawards.

Colleen Green President

Ontario Community Newspapers Associaon

GENERAL EXCELLENCE

GENERAL EXCELLENCE CLASS

CIRC. 1,500 & UNDER

HALIBURTON COUNTY ECHO

The Haliburton County Echo says “read me” from the front page with a large, interesng photo to the clean and easy-to-read layout right through to the classiﬁeds. It has a solid opinion page with a local editorial and leers to the editor, as well as local features and a lot of photos. Publishing the photo of the enre front page of a past issue is also an interesng approach to looking at past issues. Overall, thisnewspaperisasolidpublicaon.

THE HERALD SERVING THAMESVILLE, DRESDEN AND BOTHWELL

Thamesville Herald does everything well, beginning with a strong and interesng front page that draws readers in and convinces them to keep turning the pages. They are not disappointed, as they ﬁnd a strong mix of news stories, features, opinion pieces and photographs inside the Herald. Welldesignedadsandaracvepresentaoncompletethepackage.

LISTOWEL BANNER

Listowel Banner is chock a block full of a broad and interesng range of stories, including across history, arts and sports. The photos were strong, as were the creave features and adversing. Well done!

HONOURABLE MENTION

MINDENTIMES-Thisentryisalsocleanandeasytoread,withalotof photos. The Minden Times has some neat lile features that draw in readers such as Minden Memories and the book of the week, to go withlocalfeaturesandalocaleditorial.Thispaperisagreatread.

GENERAL COMMENT

OCNA member newspapers are doing an outstanding job of providing coverage of the communies they serve, from hard-hing news to features only community journalists would have the insights and community connecons to write. The resilience and energy demonstrated in each and every paper is inspiring. No doubt readers rushtopickupthesepaperswhentheyarefreshoﬀthepresstoﬁndout what is happening in their communies. We are inspired by their dedicaontothecommuniestheyserve,andthedepthandbreadthof theircoverage.

Judges

Bronwyn Beairsto

Editor

The Coast Reporter Sechelt, BC

Frank McTighe

Editor & Publisher

The Macleod Gazee Fort Macleod, AB

Rob Vogt

Editor

Claresholm Local Press

Claresholm, AB

GENERAL EXCELLENCE CLASS 2

CIRC. 1,501 - 8,000

THE INDEPENDENT SERVING PETROLIA AND CENTRAL LAMBTON

Three cheers to The Independent Serving Petrolia and Central Lambton for producing a very readable and accessible newspaper! The presentaon is wonderful and the wring is top notch. This publicaonisastand-outinitsclass.

NEW LISKEARD TEMISKAMING SPEAKER

The New Liskeard Temiskaming Speaker is an engaging community newspaper covering a broad range of news and events that gives a strong sense of community dialogue. It has very good use of visual elements to pull readers in and has invested in creang original editorial content in a way that is refreshingandshowscapacity.Welldone.Itwasapleasuretoreadanddiscover.

EGANVILLE LEADER

There's a lot to read in this newspaper, with a solid mix of community news alongside interesng feature stories. The Leader had one of the best editorial pages in the category, and photography was anotherstrength.

Judges

GENERAL COMMENT

Well done to the newsrooms that entered this year’s compeon! You have a lot to be proud of as you serve your communies well. We had some challenges choosing a winner in this category, as compelling arguments could be made for at least half a dozen entries. Since there were no runaway winners, our favourites ended up being the publicaons that oﬀered a lile bit of everything and presented readerfriendly, eye-catching page designs. It was a bit disappoinng to see that a handful of papers contained minimal arts and entertainment coverage.

Janis Cleugh

Co-Founder & Editor Reporter & Board Treasurer Freshet News, Coquitlam, BC

Greg Sakaki

Former Managing Editor Nanaimo News Bullen Nanaimo, BC

Terese Taylor

Co-Founder, The Leaf and Streets Newspapers Wolseley, MB

CIRC. 8,001 & OVER

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT

Kudos to The Lake Report for yet another wonderful year! This is a lively publicaon that’s full of hardhing news and great elements. It is very well paginated and a great source of pride for the community.

ELMIRA-WOOLWICH OBSERVER

The Elmira-Woolwich Observer offers readers a solid mix of news reporng and features. Really like the capital "O" that differenates each secon. The photo mix is good. Like the collage of pics from one event. The sports secon has a mix of both team and acon shots, it has a business secon (something you don't oen see in a weekly) and the Living Here secon provides a good overview of communitylife.Ithasastrongbaseforbothdisplayandclassifiedadversing.

FERGUS WELLINGTON ADVERTISER

Congrats to The Fergus Wellington Adverser for a great publicaon! What fantasc op-ed pages that are full of community voices. Full of strong community news. Love the idea of the Police Dispatch. Excellentfront-pagephotosforbothedions.Thanksforcoveringallaspectsofthecommunity!

HONOURABLE MENTION

PICTON GAZETTE - The Picton Gazee is a very visually appealing paper with strong photography and colour throughout. Parcularly like the way stories are formaed to draw in the reader's aenon. The colour banners and the stylized "G” set oﬀ the diﬀerent secons nicely.

GENERAL COMMENT

These publicaons are signiﬁcant achievements that show community pride. A good community newspaper should always provide its readers with a snapshot of life in the area it serves, and these papers oﬀer that through a combinaon of strong reporng, interesng features and good photos. They are all receiving strong support from the adversing base in their respecve communies. There is a good reason to read all these papers and, because of that, adversers receive a good return on theirinvestment.Keepupthegoodworkonallfronts.

Judges

Janis Cleugh

Co-Founder & Editor Reporter & Board Treasurer Freshet News, Coquitlam, BC

Andy Walker

Rered Editor Island Farm Montague, PE

Jules Xavier

Rered Editor

Shilo Stag

CFB Shilo, MB

GENERAL EXCELLENCE CLASS 4

COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY

FANSHAWE COLLEGE - INTERROBANG

Agreatfirstimpression,readingthefalledion.Greatgraphics,excellentwring,nicelayout - a paper that any student at Fanshawe should be excited to pick up. So, the second submission was a sad surprise - the paper is closing? This final edion was great and featured lots of extra submissions from former contributors. But it le out one major bit of informaon - a recap on what had led to the closure in the first place. The first allusion comes on page 19. An online search elsewhere gave the whole story, which was covered by large media outlets and received quite a bit of aenon. A huge flawinanotherwisefabulousschoolnewspaper.Ahugelossforjournalismeverywhere.

HUMBER COLLEGE - ET CETERA

A great lile college newspaper. Biggest kudos go to photography - top drawer across the board. Capvang, acve, colourful - each one tells a mini-story. Great work there! Sports are also well covered, it seems. The wring in both submissions was great (remember that your reader may not always know your subject as well as you do, so be sure to explain even the "lile things.") Editors would do wellto adhere to CP Style,keeping layout and styleconsistent throughout papers, and make themlookevenmorepolished.Overall,Humberisluckytohavethisstudent-runpaper!

UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO - IMPRINT

Overall, an interesng magazine that students must enjoy thumbing through! ..." Layout is great, but somemes it is very black and white. Use paragraph breaks, even just indentaon at new paragraphs. Give photo credits, even if stock photos. Someone took the picture and deserves to be noted. Layout for "The Online News Act: Why student publicaons across Canada are creang secondary Instagram accounts"isbrilliant.Neithersubmissionhadaneditorialorop-edsecon.

GENERAL COMMENT

It was a pleasure to judge this category and witness burgeoning journalism at its ﬁnest. It was sobering - heartbreaking even - when the last submission read turned out to be the ﬁnal edion of a 50-year-old publicaon. Even though one is now defunct, the following are sll nuggets to carry forward: use CP Style, it makes things easier to read. Keepquotesascloseaspossibletotheoriginalbutomitspeakers'verbal habits. It’s not necessary. Stascs, when used, should be sparse, aributed and not used in a lede unless vital to hooking the reader. Ledes - don't be afraid to make them catchy to draw the reader in. Make the reader connect with the piece. Tell them why it's important. Most of all remember that journalists and journalism have never been more important than now. The passion printed on the pages of these publicaonsiswhatwillholdusallingoodsteadinthefuture.

Lisha Van Nieuwenhove

Publisher & Editor

Uxbridge Cosmos Uxbridge, ON

Lisha Van Nieuwenhove graduated many years ago from Carleton University with a high honours Bachelor of Journalism and English degree and originally wanted to be in radio. Freelance work for newspapers and magazines in both Canada and in Europe kept pulling her back to paper, and in 2013 she made her marriage to paper oﬃcial - she bought a newspaper. She is now the publisher and editor of the Uxbridge Cosmos, a hyperlocal newspaper that serves the Township of Uxbridge in Durham Region. The Cosmos recently celebrated 20 years in Uxbridge and, ﬁngers crossed, will celebrate many more! When she’s not keeping a newspaper a viable career, Lisha can be found working on her husband’s family farm, acng, volunteering in the community, cooking, reading, andgenerallyhangingout!

PREMIER

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

WINGHAM ADVANCE TIMES - RACHEL HAMMERMUELLER

Interesng ﬁrst-person review. Good interpretaon of an unusual exhibion. Well wrien with humour and tongue-in-cheek awareness. Deﬁnitely spurs conversaon about art, photography and blurring the lines between what is real and what is imagined. Plus a cool story about the discovery of thedarkroom.

BEETON, NEW TECUMSETH TIMES - BRIAN LOCKHART

Goodreview.Tightwringandhitsallthespots.Itmakesmewanttoseetheplay.

PARIS INDEPENDENT - EDWARD LANDER

Good story on a mely subject: AI, and how it can (or cannot) be used in the arts. Well wrien with goodstructure.Keptmereading.

Marlene Eisner

Naonal Editor

GENERAL COMMENT

It was a pleasure reading every entry in this category and kudos to all. Judging was challenging since the arts and entertainment banner encompassesabroaddeﬁnion.Congratulaonstothewinners.

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

Marlene Eisner is an award-winning journalist, writer, author, content editor and the naonal editor of RENO+DECOR magazine andNewHomeandCondoGuideVancouvernewsleer.

BEST BUSINESS & FINANCE STORY

SIMCOE ADVOCATE - JEFF TRIBE

A crisp, extensive story on Norfolk County's wineries and microbreweries. Lots of voices and detail. Thepublishedpiecedemonstratesthebreadthofworkthatwentintothefeature.

LISTOWEL BANNERDENNY SCOTT, KELSEY BENT & RACHEL HAMMERMUELLER

This is a well-rounded story on the effect of the U.S. tariffs and includes many voices. Such a story couldbenefitgreatlyfromvisualsandperhapssplingupintoshorterstories.

TILLSONBURG POST - JEFF HELSDON

A great story about a popular brand being rescued by a family. Would have loved to see some commentsfromcustomersorlongmeShawemployeesbutanicefeatureoverall.

GENERAL COMMENT

Thebestbusinessandfinancestorycategoryentriesrangedfromstories on the effects of U.S. tariffs and municipal finance concerns to profiles on individual businesses and the people that run them. Overall, the stories showed the community newspapers' dedicaon to wring about issues that maer to their regions. Many of the selecons featured a widerangeofvoicesandtherewasclearaenontodetail.

The Advocate Pictou, NS

Barb Sweet is an award-winning journalist who spent more than 30 years reporng in Newfoundland for a daily print publicaon and is now the editor of the Advocate newspaper in northeastern Nova Scoa. Among other awards, she is a recipient of several Atlanc Journalism Awards, a Naonal Newspaper Award, and was the winner of the 1991-93 Thomson Newspapers Washington,D.C.fellowship.

Barb Sweet Editor

BEST EDITORIAL

CIRC. OVER 8,000

PICTON GAZETTE - KAREN VALIHORA

Goodeditorial.Greatdevelopment,backedupwellwithfactsandquotes. Youareluckytohavethatroomtobeabletodevelopyoureditorial!

HALIBURTON, THE HIGHLANDER - LISA GERVAIS

Welldone.Goodexplanaonoftheissue,andoftheresponsibilityofthemedia.

LISTOWEL INDEPENDENT PLUS - PATRICK RAFTIS

Sigh.Iknowthisissue.Itisn'trestrictedtoyourarea,unfortunately. Wellwrien.Agoodexplanaonoftheissue.

GENERAL COMMENT

These were good solid editorials. Well done! One thing I would recommend is making your leads ght and punchy. You want it to grab the reader just like you would in any news arcle. Keep it short. A good editorial will give an opinion. It doesn't have to be one that the reader agrees with. A great editorial will make the reader think about the issue. Back your editorial up with facts and stascs not just opinion. There weresomegoodissuesbeingdiscussed.

Sheena Read has commied decades - yikes, yes decades - to communicaons.BasedinsouthernAlberta,sheisnowinvolvedin 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 EDITORIAL

CIRC. 8,000 & UNDER

AYR NEWS - IRENE SCHMIDT-ADENEY

Important topic for the community to know about. An editorial that can only be wrien by knowing the-excusethepun-history.Goodjob.Earnstopspot!

STRATFORD TIMES - CONNOR LUCZKA

Love the metaphor. So clever. This is an important issue to every local cizen and is well told. Well done.

WINGHAM ADVANCE TIMES - DENNY SCOTT

Wellwrien.Brave.

Judge

GENERAL COMMENT

The editorials that stood out took on topics that would bring them heat. It is one thing to be brave; it is another to write well while being brave. That is what was evident in many of the entries this year. Working in a newsroom and wring an editorial in a small town has always been tough but as the vise ghtens on journalism more and more, and the stakes get higher for local outlets, it is harder and harder to be brave. Kudos to those connuing to write editorials in this climate. Win or lose anaward,yourworkmaers.Thankyouforyourservice.

Jennifer Thuncher

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.

BEST EDITORIAL CARTOON

GENERAL COMMENT

OTTAWA HILL TIMES - MICHAEL DE ADDER

Michael de Adder is a real pro whose naonwide reputaon precedes him. Here, again, hebringshumourandabsurditytopolicalcommentary.

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORTRICHARD HARLEY

NicedrawingoftheLordMayorbutitneedsmorepunch.

PARIS INDEPENDENT - CHRIS WHELAN

Verycute.

Editorial cartooning is sadly in decline. With fewer newspapers in which to publish and the rise of Photoshop and AI making skill an opon, it is tough out there. I’m glad to see these newspapers, and these arsts, keepingitup.

Features Editor

The Suburban Montreal, QC

Forthepast20years,AnthonyBonapartehasbeentheFeaturesas well as 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, andtheeditorialcartoonscreatedunderhispenname,Napoleon.

Anthony Bonaparte

BEST EDITORIAL PAGE/SECTION

FERGUS WELLINGTON ADVERTISERDAVID ADSETT & KELLY WATERHOUSE

Wow!Somanyleerstotheeditor,astrongeditorial,funhumourcolumn,cartoon,quoteoftheweek andpoll...alltheelementsneededforaﬁrst-rateopinionsecon.

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT

A strong editorial by Richard Harley on a lack of openness by the local government and an interesng columnbyBrianMarshalldissecngthetown'sbudgetincreaseanchoredadiversesecon.

WINGHAM ADVANCE TIMES - KELSEY BENT, DENNY SCOTT, PAULINE KERR & NICOLE BESWITHERICK

Arangeof interesng topics arecovered in columns and the editorial.DennySco wringdirectlyto a councilmemberwascoolandcourageous.Afewleerstotheeditorwouldhavebeengoodtosee.

GENERAL COMMENT

The content in a paper’s opinion secon can vary widely, and that was deﬁnitely the case with the entries in this category. The best elements were arculate and passionately expressed editorials and columns, and readers’ leers commenng on what they had read in previous issues. Informedviewsonlocaltopicsaretheheartofacommunitynewspaper.

Gail Sjuberg

Editor

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

Gail Sjuberg has been the editor of the award-winning Gulf Islands 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.

EDUCATION WRITING

FERGUS WELLINGTON ADVERTISER - ROBIN GEORGE

This report presents an accessible and balanced overview of school district budget issues, outlining both the funding challenges districts face and government efforts to address them. The story clearly presentsmulpleperspecvestosupportreaderunderstanding.Italsoincludesahelpfulexplanaon of the different methods used to measure inflaonary impacts on revenue and expenditures. Excellentjobforafirst-placefinish.

HALIBURTON, THE HIGHLANDER - MIKE BAKER

This report examines how evidence-based teaching strategies have improved reading and wring skills among elementary school-aged children. The stascs are presented clearly, and the inclusion of a parent interview provides a closer perspecve. Quotes from the superintendent help strengthen the overall understanding of the topic. Addional context could have been provided through a descripon of one of the strategies, and a follow-up feature vising a classroom to observe these strategiesinpraccecouldalsobeinformave.

MANITOULIN EXPOSITOR - JACQUELINE ST. PIERRE

This is a fascinang story about how service providers are working to idenfy and address potenally dangerous situaons before they escalate while supporng families in challenging circumstances. The piece is well wrien and clearly outlines the strategies involved and the partners responsible for carrying them out. Including a brief example of a potenal threat and how the agencies would work togethertode-escalateitwouldhavegivenreadersanevendeeperunderstanding.

HONOURABLE MENTION

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT - PAIGE SEBURN - This report provides a thorough overview of overcrowding at a school. The reporter makes an eﬀort to contact all involved pares, including parents at both schools, the school principal, the city, and the school district. As a result, readers gain a clear understanding of the challengesandpossiblesoluons.

GENERAL COMMENT

The submissions in this category demonstrate the vital role local newspapers play in covering educaon. Each story provided a disnct perspecve on school administraon, student achievement, educaonal programs and the challenges facing educators and students today. Special recognion goes to stories that incorporated mulple sourcesandperspecves.

Rered Journalist

Tri-City News

Coquitlam, BC

Diane Strandberg is a rered journalist and editor with more than 40 years’ experience in community newspapers in Brish Columbia, including the Tri-City News, Peace Arch News and the Richmond Review. She has special interest in educaon and heritage and won several B.C. and naonal newspaper awards for feature and editorial wring. She is currently a director with the Coquitlam Heritage Society, which is responsible for operang MackinHouseMuseuminCoquitlam.

Sponsored by: Ontario Journalism Educators Associaon

Diane Strandberg

ENVIRONMENT ONTARIO

KITCHISSIPPI TIMES - AMANDA MCLEOD

Amanda McLeod of the Kitchissippi Times proved the rare excepon. Not only does she have a highly engaging wring style, but her feature on how climate change is having a negave impact on archeologicalprojectsprovidedthehistoricalcontextthatmakesreadersunderstand,andcareabout, what is being lost. She weaves interviews with sciensts and researchers together with her reporng on the weather condions that are causing the alarm bells to ring. She thoroughly deserves her ﬁrstplaceﬁnish.

HALIBURTON, THE HIGHLANDER - MIKE BAKER

The Highlander’s Mike Baker earned his second-place finish by providing essenal (and extensive) informaon about clean-up efforts and the ongoing challenges facing local governments, agencies and residents in the wake of a devastang ice storm. He presents the news in a way that flows effortlessly, keeping the readers’ aenon throughout. Even though his readers already had their own first-person accounts of how widespread the damage was, his coverage provides an overview of thecommunity'sresponsetothestorm.

MANITOULIN EXPOSITOR - JACQUELINE ST. PIERRE

Jacqueline St. Pierre of the Manitoulin Expositor did an exemplary job of outlining why First Naons leaders are speaking out against Ontario’s ﬁght against federal legislaon that codiﬁes Indigenous rights to clean drinking water - a right that most other communies already enjoy. Her third-place entry also gives voice to First Naons’ objecons to provincial legislaon that diminishes environmental safeguards. However, most of the voices are ones from outside her own community. ThestorywouldhavebeenenhancedgreatlybyinterviewinglocalFirstNaonsleadersandresidents.

Martha Perkins

GENERAL COMMENT

Overall, the quality of the submissions in this category was very disappoinng.Themajorityofentriesweresimplycoverageofmeengs that discussed environmental topics. There were few newspapers that tackled an environmental issue by researching the factors that are contribung to the problem and interviewing people who could provide insight.

Rered journalist of 30 years Ontario and BC

Judge Martha Perkins earned her Silver Quill as editor of the Haliburton County Echo and Minden Times, which were repeatedly judged the best community newspapers in their circulaon. She is also the rered editor of weekly newspapers in Vancouver.

FEATURE WRITING

CIRC. OVER 8,000

OTTAWA HILL TIMES - TESSIE SANCI

This is a fascinang read on an individual who climbed the ranks to be a federal minister aer immigrang from Hai more than two decades ago. It tells an interesng story of how she got into her federal minister role and everything along the way. The wring is crisp and clean, while the research waswelldone.

ELMIRA-WOOLWICH OBSERVER - JULIAN GAVAGHAN

This story uses a simple hook of a new postage stamp recognizing female farmers in the Second World War but turns the story into so much more. It focuses on a lesser knownpart of the Second World War - how more than 30,000 farmerees helped grow food for the war effort. From start to finish, the featurepopsoffthepageandtellstheindividualstoryofonesuchfarmeree.

FERGUS WELLINGTON ADVERTISER - JORDAN SNOBELEN

A unique and interesng look at the role of a long-me volunteer in a small southern Ontario town’s annual Highland Games. Many proﬁles can feature well known and established people - and for good reason - but this highlights the role of one average person in a regular community event. The research is above and beyond and includes archived photos to help show his lengthy spot in the Highland Gamesanditsimportanceinthecommunity.

GENERAL COMMENT

Thiscategoryhadawiderangeofsubmissionsthatwereallwell-wrien, researched and obviously had an enormous amount of work done by each journalist. From high proﬁle ﬁgures to lesser known and regular people, the features draw readers in and tell unique and memorable stories. It highlights the important role feature stories have in storytellingtotheiraudiences.

FEATURE WRITING CIRC.

8,000 & UNDER

MANITOULIN EXPOSITOR - JACQUELINE ST. PIERRE

Greatstuﬀ.Besuretosourceeveryfactandasseroninapiecelikethis.

DEEP RIVER NORTH RENFREW TIMES - HAZEL ATKINS

Goodpiece.Wouldhavelovedtoseephotosofthestore'sinteriorandexterior.

ORONO WEEKLY TIMES - JULIE CASHIN-OSTER

Excellent opening. Lump-in-your-throat stuﬀ. To be perfect, the story should have included quotes fromorganizaonswhichbeneﬁtfromSeedsofHopeandafamily,ifpossible.

GENERAL COMMENT

As always, the submissions in this category oﬀered colourful glimpses of the depth and breadth of life in Ontario’s smaller communies and centres.Ilookforwardtoreadingtheentrieseveryyear.

John Kendle

Managing Editor Free Press Community Review Winnipeg, MB

John Kendle has been a writer and editor in Winnipeg for 40 years. He is currently the editor of the Free Press Community Review and vice-president of the Manitoba Community Newspapers Associaon.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

MANITOULIN EXPOSITOR - JACQUELINE ST. PIERRE

Clearandcompellingwringfrombeginningtoend.Welldone!

WALKERTON HERALD TIMES - PAULINE KERR

Relevanttothecommunity.Compellinglead-intothestoryfocusesonthepeoplebefore gengintofurtherfacts.

WILMOT-TAVISTOCK GAZETTE - GALEN SIMMONS

Compellingwringonaninteresngtopic.Capturesthereader'saenonrightfromthelead.

HONOURABLE MENTION

HALIBURTON, THE HIGHLANDER - MIKE BAKER - Clear wring with strongcommunityrelevance.

GENERAL COMMENT

Theseimpressiveentriesprovidedaglimpseintotheimportanttopicsof health and wellness in local communies. It’s interesng to see how many communies share similar concerns in this category. The writers found a way to keep these ideas fresh by localizing the content and engaginginrelevantresearch.

Jennifer McFee

Reporter/Photographer

Stonewall Teulon Tribune Stonewall, MB

Jennifer McFee has more than two decades of experience wring and eding for diﬀerent publicaons, including the Stonewall TeulonTribuneinManitoba.

HERITAGE

HALIBURTON COUNTY ECHO - THOMAS SMITH

This arcle deserves first place for its original research and great wring, making for an impacul story. It delves into the oen-overlooked Spanish Civil War, examining why Canadians volunteered, what they experienced during the conflict, and how they were received upon returning home. With excellent research, it serves as a compelling example of why reporng on this period is vital for understandingbothpastandpresentconflicts.

ELMIRA-WOOLWICH OBSERVER - JULIAN GAVAGHAN

This thoughully presented, carefully researched, and masterfully wrien story examines the heroic yet tragic deaths of three Canadian men in a single town during the Second World War. Through meculous detail, it brings to life the grueling and harrowing campaign against German forces, using themen'sindividualstoriestoilluminatethebroaderCanadianwarexperience.

KITCHISSIPPI TIMES - CHARLIE SENACK

This is a fascinang story about the uncertain fate of a historic monastery and former home following the receivership of a developer. The report does an excellent job of laying out the issue and weaving in details of the building's history to provide valuable context. It eﬀecvely underscores the broader challenge of maintaining and preserving heritage structures. Encouragingly, the story also highlights thepresenceofengagedcommunitymemberswhoaredeeplyconcernedaboutthesite'sfuture.

HONOURABLE MENTION

WINGHAM ADVANCE TIMES - CORY BILYEA - This moving story illuminates the history of cenotaph construcon in Canada. By incorporang the author's eloquence through detailed quotes, the reporter eﬀecvely highlights the signiﬁcance of this important undertaking.

GENERAL COMMENT

Overall, the submissions in the heritage category this year were outstanding. The entry that earned first place offered a revealing account of Canadian parcipaon in the Spanish Civil War. Second place went to the touching stories of three men who died during World War II skillfully placed within the broader historical context. Third place was awarded to a thorough exploraon of an important heritage building examining its past, present and future. The honourable menon raised awarenessaboutthesignificanceofcenotaphs.Congratulaonsarewell deservedbyallparcipantsfortheirexceponalcontribuons.

BEST NEWS STORY

CIRC. OVER 8,000

OTTAWA HILL TIMES - ABBAS RANA

This was a thorough, well-researched story with enough detail to give it context. In addion, the story managed to address a diﬃcult issue in a way that presented facts clearly and fairly. This is challenging intoday’sworldofhighlychargedCanadianfederalpolics.

YOUR COMMUNITY VOICE, STITTSVILLE - NEVIL HUNT

This sensive topic was handled with a lot of care. Covering the fallout from a hate-movated assault is not easy at the best of mes. The comments, especially those from the representave of the Kanata MuslimAssociaon,givethisahumanfeel.

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

The descripons and comments help this story, and the historical background shows its signiﬁcance. Thecoverageandmainphotohaveimpact,butthedetailsleaveagreaterimpact.

John Arendt

GENERAL COMMENT

The compeon was tough in this category as all nine entries were strong and well-wrien. The journalists who submied entries are people who have demonstrated their commitment to their cra and care for their communies. These entries went beyond the bare facts and provided addional background and context. In many cases potenally divisive stories were handled without judgement and with compassion and sensivity. While the judging is based on the stories, theaccompanyingphotosandillustraonshelpedtotellthosestories.

Editor Summerland Review Summerland, BC

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

BEST NEWS STORY

CIRC. 8,000 & UNDER

LISTOWEL BANNER - RACHEL HAMMERMUELLER

Huge load of sourcing and sourced detail from an instuonal perspecve. Individuals (vicm, family) would provide a broader perspecve with which readers could relate. Very good wring and reporng.

HALIBURTON COUNTY ECHO - EMILY STONEHOUSE

A good story relang the eﬀects of a naonal issue on the local economy. Excellent wring kept the local focus. Local sourcing to reﬂect the naonal issue provides readers with excellent relevant context.

THE INDEPENDENT SERVING PETROLIA AND CENTRAL LAMBTONHEATHER WRIGHT

Another good comprehensive account of a community issue aﬀecng many. Good sourcing tapped both sides of the focus topic and introduced an aside issue related to “internaonal” relaons: US tariﬀs. Good wring and reporng. The depth is impressive, but are readers able to absorb the details?Lotsofwordshere.

GENERAL COMMENT

A wide range of issues with a ranging degree of coverage. Well focused, too, especially on reader appeal and engagement. Some entries tended to rely on ‘official’ sourcing, but missed connecng to and with readers bymissingsourcesaffectedbytheofficialactsandacons.Yeteveryone of the entries here delivered essenal informaon for readers’ consideraonandevaluaon.Thestoriesinthiscategoryweredelivered toinform.Andtheydid!

Frank Garred

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 Townsendand vacaonswithfamilyonKauai,Hawaii...oen.

BEST FEATURE/NEWS SERIES

CIRC. OVER 8,000

THE AURORAN - BROCK WEIR

Fresh look at an issue that aﬀects most communies in Canada. Well-balanced with voices from each side of the issue. Story progresses well through each installment. Strong community intenon and connecon.

PICTON GAZETTE - KAREN VALIHORA

Heartbreaking story. Good, in-depth community story that explores the real impact of an issue that couldaﬀecteverythingfromenvironmenttothedemocracprocessinthecommunity.

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT - PAIGE SEBURN

Awell-researchedpiece.TheMarch27partofthestorygoesintotheissueindepth,exploringallsides oftheissue.TheJanuaryandJulyporonswereagoodintroduconandupdatetothemainstory.

HONOURABLE MENTION

UXBRIDGECOSMOS-ROGERVARLEY-Afeel-goodcommunitystory. I feltgladthat the parkeewas saved.The story had a nicelywrapped upending.

GENERAL COMMENT

These entries truly showed how commied local journalists are to their communies. They show the value of knowing and living within a community, and how being so close to the places and people we report on can allow journalists to achieve depths they otherwise would not be able to reach. I came away with some ideas to bring back to my own newsroom.

Marc Kitteringham

Regional Editor

Comox Valley Record, Campbell River Mirror & North Island Gazee Vancouver Island, BC

Judge

Marc Kieringham is the regional editor for the northern part of Vancouver Island, on the west coast of B.C. He manages the North Island Gazee, Campbell River Mirror and Comox Valley Record. Marc has been a journalist for over ten years, covering everything from environmental news to housing and homelessness to magazine-style proﬁles and features. When he isn’t wring, he is likelytobefoundintheforestwithhiswifeanddog.

BEST FEATURE/NEWS SERIES

CIRC. 8,000 & UNDER

DEEP RIVER NORTH RENFREW TIMES - HAZEL ATKINS

I enjoyed this series. It was a good idea, very refreshing, well-wrien and, I suspect, drew wide communityreadership.

THE HALDIMAND PRESS - MIKE RENZELLA & NICK FEARNS

These stories provide a good example of Strong Mayor Powers and how those extra powers can be ulized. The Haldimand Press has given us examples of how the new powers are being ulized and, to someextent,thegrowingpainsthatcomewiththem.

BARRY’S BAY, THE VALLEY GAZETTE - ROBERT FISHER

Acomprehensivelookatsomeoftheservicesavailabletothehomeless.Verythorough.TheWarming Centre and the Grind are providing valuable community needs. What's missing is how they are beneﬁcialfromtheclient'sperspecve.

Manfred Tempelmayr

GENERAL COMMENT

The field of entries in this category was strong - 14 different publicaons submied. Choosing the top three was difficult since most entries were deserving.Thewinnersstoodoutamongtherest.

Rered Publishing Company President Past BCYCNA President Gabriola Island, BC

Manfred Tempelmayr spent 37 years in the community newspaper industry. Now rered, he was president of Sound PublishingInc.inWashingtonstatefor10yearsandservedasvicepresident of Island Publishers Ltd. on Vancouver Island for eight years. He is a past president of BCYCNA and served on the board for25years.HewasalsoontheCCNAboardfortwotermsandwas vice-president of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Associaonatrerement.

BEST INVESTIGATIVE NEWS STORY

OTTAWA HILL TIMES - STUART BENSON

Thisstorywasimpressivefromstarttoﬁnish.Wellresearched,ittracksthenumberofquesonstaken by the main candidates in the lead up to the 2025 federal elecon. There are several interviews - both named and unnamed - that highlight the thoroughness, blending expert insight and those on-theground experiencing the lack of accountability as well as the pressured journalists limited to only asking speciﬁc quesons. The work done is maintaining the core mission of journalism - to tell stories that are in the public interest. Policians owe it to the electorate to be transparent, accessible and accountable,andwhenthatisn’tmet,itshouldbehighlighted.Thisstorydidjustthat.

THE HALDIMAND PRESS - MIKE RENZELLA

This story follows a lengthy code of conduct that has polical intrigue of two neighbouring municipalies, leaked conﬁdenal documents and work to discredit one provincial candidate in the 2025 Ontario elecon. This invesgave piece tells the story in great detail and is able to draw the reader in with careful reporng. It has both people involved in the story and experts commenng, as well as locals, on the impact it may have on the community. The four stories were fascinang to read andwelldeservingofrecognion.

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT - PAIGE SEBURN

The Niagara area is well-known for being Canada’s wine country. This story, however, takes the reader intothedarkerunderbellyoftheworldofwineanddoessoinadetailed,buteasytoreadmanner.The work has an impressive amount of research through various social media channels, court and planningdocuments,whilesllbeingeasy-to-read.

HONOURABLE MENTION

PICTON GAZETTE - KAREN VALIHORA - In a lengthy and thoroughly reported piece, this tells the story of a legal bale over Picton Harbour. Through what is obviously a painstaking amount of research, interviews and factchecking, the story tells the legal ﬁght between a local couple and the municipality over the community’s harbour.

GENERAL COMMENT

A good invesgave piece doesn't come together overnight. It takes countless hours, days, weeks and months to get a ﬁnal product. It oen means siing through several documents, meeng people for background informaon, conducng numerous interviews and connually fact-checking every aspect for accuracy. An invesgave piece can draw readers in and acvely make posive change. The work done in this category was well done by all who submied and it shows theneedforthoroughlyreportedlong-formstories.

Greg Colgan

Journalist

CBC, Banﬀ and Canmore, AB

BEST RURAL STORY

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT - JILL TROYER

Veryinteresngstory.Wellpresentedandtold.Greatjob!

ELMIRA-WOOLWICH OBSERVER - JULIAN GAVAGHAN

Beaufullypresented.

FERGUS WELLINGTON ADVERTISER - ROBIN GEORGE

Really well done piece. Such an important topic for farmers. Would have beneﬁted from more photos takenoflocalfarms.

HONOURABLE MENTION

HALIBURTON COUNTY ECHO - EMILY STONEHOUSE - This is an interesng story well told. Love the photo comparison of then and now.

GENERAL COMMENT

Every piece that was submied oﬀered an interesng and important glimpse into these rural communies. Each serves the outlet's readers well. It was hard to pick the top ones. The winning stories had a combinaon of importance to the community and eye-pleasing photos anddesign.

Jennifer Thuncher

Editor

The Squamish Chief Squamish, BC

SPORT & RECREATION STORY

EGANVILLE LEADER - BARRY CONWAY

It was an easy choice for ﬁrst-place, thanks to reporter Barry Conway's historical story on Andy Etmanski and his me with the Owen Sound Greys. Nice use of archival photos to go with Andy's relaxedcurrentportrait.

NEW LISKEARD TEMISKAMING SPEAKER - SUE NIELSEN

Runner-up honour goes to reporter Sue Nielsen's colourful feature on Summer Olympian Kristen Siermachesky.NielsenhasanadvantagethankstotheSpeakerbeingprintedusingbroadsheet,soher featureeasilydrewthisjudgeinthankstoaconphotosandlayouttocomplementthewords.

BLYTH/BRUSSELS CITIZEN - SCOTT STEPHENSON

Sco Stephenson's story on a grandfather/grandson referee combo garnered third-place honours. It was a fun read as grandfather Allan Dickson and grandson Max Staines learn from each other while workingminorhockeygamestogether.

HONOURABLE MENTION

ELMIRA-WOOLWICH OBSERVER - JULIAN GAVAGHAN - This piece proﬁles Chace McCallum, who uses analycs to help the Pisburgh Penguins choose its dra picks. A cool story on a local boy following hisNHLdream,butinadiﬀerentdirecon.

YOUR COMMUNITY VOICE, STITTSVILLE - NEVIL HUNT - This story highlights Para-Olympian Trinity Lowthian, a wheelchair fencer compeng on the world stage, and the journey that led her to Paralympicsuccess.

GENERAL COMMENT

It was a close race, no pun intended, between the top ﬁve submissions. Advice for future OCNA compeons - when it comes to sports/rec wring: use colour in your stories, let the athletes/coaches/rec users tell their story. Too many hockey stories describing each goal. Provide quotes informing me you interviewed someone post-game. Dress up your stories with some artwork and use strong imaginave ledes to draw readers to your words. Remember, draw on your words to paint thestory.

Jules Xavier

Rered Editor

Shilo Stag

CFB Shilo, MB

Aer a journalism career spanning more than four decades, judge and award-winning journalist Jules Xavier rered aer 12 years as editor of the now defunct 75-year-old Shilo Stag newspaper that served the CFB Shilo community in Manitoba as well as the Canadian Army in Western Canada. His rerement was shortlived, as he joined the Brandon Sun (MB) sports department for eight months. He has rered again, and is seled in Bowser, BC,on Vancouver Island. He started his journalism career with York University's campus newspaper Excalibur in the late '70s and was hired by now rered award-winning Brampton Guardian editor LorneDruryin1984.

BEST HEADLINE WRITING

THE HALDIMAND PRESS

Good job. The Marion Chapman headlines are very good - and it is promoted as a solid package with thearclesandphotos.

UXBRIDGE COSMOS - LISHA VAN NIEUWENHOVE

Goodheads.Itraisesthequesoninthereaders’mindsanddrawsthemintoseewhatisgoingon.

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

Niceplayonwords!Theseheadsdrawthereaderintothearcle!

GENERAL COMMENT

I think it's more important than ever to have a strong headline that will grab the reader's aenon and draw them into the arcle. We have such demands on our aenon, and let's face it, our aenon span is geng shorter and shorter, thanks to social media and our digital world. A headline that can capture the eye and the mind is crical. Use strong words. Use plays on words. Make the reader's brain go "Wait! What's that?!" And although it's not always appropriate, having fun with the headlineisgreat.

BEST POLICE/COURT STORY

MANITOULIN EXPOSITOR - JACQUELINE ST. PIERRE

Abrightandconcisestorythattellsitallandwell-wrientoboot.

FERGUS WELLINGTON ADVERTISER - ROBIN GEORGE

This story is wrien in a manner that presents some posives for both sides of the issue. It nicely showsthecourtsystemandthepoliceworkingtomakeimprovements.

THE INDEPENDENT SERVING PETROLIA AND CENTRAL LAMBTONHEATHER WRIGHT

Goodall-aroundpolicestory.Ithasplentyofdetailtokeepthereaderengaged.

GENERAL COMMENT

Fourteen strong entries with very close rankings made selecng ﬁnalists diﬃcult. Most very concise and interesng and had the pulse of either thepoliceorcourtsystems.Thewinnersallexcelled.

Rered Publishing Company President Past BCYCNA President Gabriola Island, BC

Manfred Tempelmayr

BEST POLICE/COURT SERIES

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

Averysadstory.Soverywelltold.GooduseofCPstyle.

OTTAWA HILL TIMES - SAMANTHA WRIGHT ALLEN

Wellwrien;however,thereisnotmuchstorytelling.

THE HALDIMAND PRESS - MIKE RENZELLA

Greatuseofcourtimages.PleaseuseCPstyleandensuretherearephotocreditswitheachimage.Tell moreofastory;punchuptheledeandusesubheds.

GENERAL COMMENT

Great reporng on these police/court arcles. A few notes for reporters/editors: Be sure you use CP style. Watch for typos and punctuaon. Avoid the use of the word "explained." Have photo credits for each image (in print and online). Ensure you tell a story – do not provideatranscript.

Janis Cleugh

Co-Founder & Editor

Reporter & Board Treasurer Freshet News, Coquitlam, BC

Janis Cleugh is a co-founder, editor, reporter, paginator and board treasurer for Freshet News, a non-proﬁt co-op that started in the fall of 2025 and serves 600,000 readers in New Westminster, Burnaby and the Tri-Cies, B.C. She previously worked for 28 years with the Tri-City News before Glacier Media/Lodestar Media closed it and its sister news outlets — the New Westminster Record and Burnaby NOW — in April 2025, in the middle of the federal elecon. Janis is a cerﬁed proofreader through Editors Canada and is decorated with a King Charles III Coronaon Medal forherservicetocommunityjournalism.

DIVERSITY COVERAGE

YOUR COMMUNITY VOICE, STITTSVILLE - NEVIL HUNT

Congrats to Nevil! A great story, but poorly paginated. This should have been a front-page story with a strongerphoto!

THE INDEPENDENT SERVING PETROLIA AND CENTRAL LAMBTONTARA JEFFREY

Anamazingstory,buttherearetoomanyquotes.Greatjob,Tara!

OTTAWA HILL TIMES - ELEANOR WAND

Welltold.Congratulaons!

Janis Cleugh

GENERAL COMMENT

Congrats to the reporters for their diversity coverage! Please ensure you use CP style and have proper use of punctuaon - no serial commas! Also, have your voices closer to the top of the stories to create more emoon.Forlists,recastasbulletpointsorsidebars.

Co-Founder & Editor Reporter & Board Treasurer Freshet News, Coquitlam, BC

BEST GUEST/FREELANCE COLUMN

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT - WENDY CHEROPITA

This is a compelling guest column on a top-of-mind issue for readers: the crisis in our emergency departments. The writer brings the reader into the department and through the frustrang process withher.It'sasuper-relatabletaleandthetextholdsthereader'saenonunltheend.

SIMCOE ADVOCATE - JEFF TRIBE

With top-notch wring, this capvang column shares the wonderful Rwandan experience of a local contributor. It's long enough to share the full story, from how the opportunity developed to the importantlessonslearned,painngbeaufulpicturesalongtheway.Arealgemforthepaper.

AYR NEWS - JAELLAYNA PALMER

Incredibly relevant to readers, this generous column shines a light on three local volunteers who play key roles behind important community events and programs. It's a well-organized and well-wrien sharingofthespotlightthetownshipplaceduponthewriter.

HONOURABLE MENTION Judge

STRATFORD TIMES - LOREENA MCKENNITT - This is a mely column on the threats to our sovereignty and aacks on our economy from theUnitedStates.Withafocusonthedamagingimpactsoftariﬀs,it's a reminder of the strength we have in resistance. A well-wrien and powerfulargument.

GENERAL COMMENT

Guest columns are a terrific way to increase the diversity of voices in a newspaper. Contributors oen bring specific experse or unique insights of value to readers on topics of local interest. It’s also another way for newspapers to build important relaonships in the community. This year’s Guest Columnist entries were a wonderful mix of topics, perspecves and styles. They were all quality offerings to the paper’s readers. Thanks to all who parcipated and congratulaons to the winners.

Helen Murphy Managing Editor Guysborough Journal Guysborough, NS

Helen Murphy started the Guysborough Journal newspaper in Nova Scoa together with her husband, Allan, in 1994. In the role of Managing Editor, she has been through the ups and downs of keeping a rural weekly going over the past 32 years, including during a me of signiﬁcant outmigraon in The Journal’s coverage area. In 2025, she led the expansion of the paper into a larger neighbouring community that suﬀered the loss of its longme paperin2020.

HUMOUR COLUMNIST OF THE YEAR

HALIBURTON COUNTY ECHO - STEVE GALEA

This columnist is deserving of ﬁrst place because he knows how to set up a punch line. I really enjoyed these columns about life issues that many people face but never talk about. Great sense of visualdramapushedthehumourforward.

HONOURABLE MENTION 2 1 3

FERGUS WELLINGTON ADVERTISER - KELLY WATERHOUSE

I loved the subtle, warm humour in this column. The author's style is very open-hearted, and I rootedforherthroughouttheseentries.

BLYTH/BRUSSELS CITIZEN - SCOTT STEPHENSON

The word play is wonderfully clever, and the columnist's sharp sense of the absurd shines through. Occasionally, the slow-burn style of comedy became a bit too repeve. However, the writer deservescreditfortacklingpolicaltopicsinsuchanunusualandendearingway.

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT - ROSS ROBINSONRoss knows how to tell a story, and his columns are hearelt and a joy to read. I wouldn't call them parcularly humorous; indeed, the topics are somewhat serious. Sll, these submissions are deserving ofhonourablemenonforthequalityofthewring.

GENERAL COMMENT

I looked forward to judging the humour columnist entries and they did not disappoint. The columns varied in style and subject, yet each le me smiling warmly and feeling uplied about humanity. Though all were strong, a few shone brilliantly thanks to their clever wring, vivid imaginaon,andimpeccablecomedicming.

Rered Journalist Tri-City News Coquitlam, BC

Diane Strandberg

COLUMNIST OF THE YEAR

OTTAWA HILL TIMES - ROSE LEMAY

The columnist writes with cogency, wisdom, humour and urgency. The topics are at once universal, naonal and local. Thoughul and thought-provoking, these are exemplars of commentary at its best.

2 1

WINGHAM ADVANCE TIMES - CORY BILYEA

A consistently passionate and unapologecally clear-eyed column on some of most important social issues of the day. The writer transmutes her rage and disappointment into elegantly convincingcallstoacon.

THE INDEPENDENT SERVING PETROLIA AND CENTRAL LAMBTONHEATHER WRIGHT

This is a crisply wrien column on local (and larger) issues with a strong, ably defended point of view.Thereporter'sedgeandpassionareevidentthroughoutandadmirablyrelentless.

HONOURABLE MENTION

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT - GARTH TURNERSharply wrien, incisive, and engagingly opinionated about large businessandpolicalissuesthatalsoresonateatthelocallevel.

GENERAL COMMENT

Overall, the standard in this category was impressively high. Commentary asks writers to take real risks — to put personal convicon, experience and perspecve on public display — and that courage alone deserves recognion. Across the entries, the columnists consistently combined empathy with clear-eyed crical thinking, producing work that invited readers not only to feel more deeply, but to think more carefullyaboutthecommuniesandissuesaroundthem.

Alec Bruce Editor

Guysborough-Angonish Journal Guysborough, NS

Judge

Alec Bruce is editor of the Guysborough-Angonish Journal, a weekly newspaper covering the Municipality of the District of Guysborough, the Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s, the Town of Angonish and the Municipality of the County of Angonish, N.S. A mulple award-winning journalist and author, he is a former senior staff member of The Globe and Mail, the Financial Times (Canada) and the Moncton Times & Transcript, where he served for eight years as senior op-ed writer, filing daily. He holds a Master of Fine Arts in creave nonficon from the UniversityofKing’sCollegeandDalhousieUniversity.

REPORTER OF THE YEAR

TILLSONBURG POST - JEFF HELSDON

Perhaps the best mix of stories here. The photo of the reporter, while not part of the judging, is a chef'skiss,nonetheless.

2 1

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT - PAIGE SEBURN

Greatwrites,interesngstories.Ithinkeverypapercoulddo100softhesestories.Whereistheline whendoingstoriesonbusiness(es)notfollowingmunicipal/businesslawsandlicensing?

KITCHISSIPPI TIMES - CHARLIE SENACK

Thesearegreatstories-allaboutdevelopment.

HONOURABLE MENTION

STEPHEN SHAW AWARD Judge

BARRY’S BAY, THE VALLEY GAZETTE - ROBERT FISHER - This is easily my favourite story of the year. The ancs of this elected lunac asylum and many more is exactly the type of story and topic more should be wrien on. Now think on how many staﬀ may believe the sameastheseelectedoﬃcials.

GENERAL COMMENT

The variety of the stories were the diﬀerence maker here - all the stories werewellwrienwith5trulyvyingforthetopspot.

Rob Brown

Publisher

This Week in Dawson Creek Dawson Creek, BC

Rob Brown, 47, has wrien daily for 33 years and owns This Week in Dawson Creek. Prior to this he was the managing editor of the DawsonCreekMirror,NorthernHorizon,andPipelineNewsNorth for eight years. His 17-year journalism career earned 25-plus awards in both Alberta and Manitoba. A 2005 Alberta Centennial Cizen of the Year, 2017 Northern BC Culture Ambassador, and 2024 News Media Canada Silver Quill recipient, Brown released his ﬁrst feature ﬁlm, 'Sukunka', in 2022 and his second, the acon comedy 'Blind Dates' was released in 2025. He's wrien and produced seven plays of his own across western Canada since 2007,andhiseighthisreadytogo.

PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

PARIS INDEPENDENT - MICHELLE MALVASO

Every one of these photos is a keeper. The downtown dig is well composed and dramac; the Sam Roberts photo makes the reader feel like they are right there; the mud splash makesthisreaderwanttobe10again;andthebasketballphotowouldbebeerifwesaw thebasket-butwhyquibble.Nicejob.

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORTDAVE VAN DE LAAR

Dave Van de Laar knows how to handle a camera - that is obvious. Nice variety of photos andajobwelldone.

BARRY’S BAY, THE VALLEY GAZETTE - ROBERT FISHER

Good photos. Including two marches was a bit much. The bald eagle is always majesc, andtheratheruncommongoaliehockeybrawlisakeeper.Nicejob.

Some very nice photos taken by great bunch of dedicated, local photographers - an indispensable part of all community newspapers. Welldone.

Features Editor

The Suburban Montreal, QC

BEST FEATURE PHOTO

HALIBURTON, THE HIGHLANDER - JUSTIN BELANGER

Jusn Belanger's photo was the clear winner in this category: excellent composion and colour, and great face. A well-planned and executed shot. Kudos to the page editor for using thephotoasitshouldbeused.

PICTON GAZETTE - JASON PARKS

Nothing revoluonary about Jason Parks' shot here but I love the simplicity and the way the background light makes the maple syrup bole glow. The photo is well-played on the page as well.

1 2 3

MANITOULIN EXPOSITOR - ALICIA MCCUTCHEON

I've given Alicia McCutcheon's photo third place as much for this photo's potenal as its qualityandthethoughtthatwentintoit.Thisisagreatidea,takingadiﬀerentangle-literallyon shoong what is probably a regular event. Two things could have made this photo much, much beer: a ghter crop on the top to beer bring the focus to the two children watching andmuchbiggerplayonthepagebythepageeditor.

HONOURABLE MENTION

CORNWALL SEAWAY NEWS - JASON SETNYK - An honourable menonhereforcapturingthisﬁerysceneforadramacphoto. YOUR COMMUNITY VOICE, KANATA NORTH - NEVIL HUNT - This photo gets an honourable menon for the beauful colour and movement.

GENERAL COMMENT

This was, overall, a weak category, which is why the winning entry stood out immediately. Photographers should look at the winning entries for examples of strong composion and interesng angles, and editors shouldlookforexamplesofhow—orhownot—touseagoodphoto.

Freelance Editor and Writer

Former Editor

The Tri-City News Colquitlam, BC

Richard Dal Monte is a freelance writer, editor and journalist who worked in community newspapers in B.C. for 34 years — the last 19 years as editor of The Tri-City News — before being let go in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. He has won more than 20 provincial, naonal, internaonal and corporate journalism awards individually and as a team leader and is a recipient of a News Media Canada Silver Quill Award. He now writes and edits for clients in higher educaon and climate research and occasionally writes features for local news organizaons. He has alsotaughtintheLangarajournalismprograminVancouver.

Richard Dal Monte

MOST CREATIVE GRIP & GRIN PHOTO

KITCHISSIPPI TIMES - ELLEN BOND

Taking this photo required presence of mind, knowingto keep shoong even aer the oﬃcial photo was taken. It also takes strong editorial judgement to realize this is the photo to use. A relaxed moment, it captures the excitement of a signiﬁcant event. There are no fake smiles here!Agreatremindertoalltokeepshoong.

STRATFORD TIMES - AMANDA MODARAGAMAGE

Thephotographergetsmuchcreditforcapturingagreatmomentandposioningthemselves in a place where they could capture this photo, but whoever set this scene in moon as the oﬃcial launch of the fesval also deserves praise. This kind of moment allows photographers tocapturesomethingexcingandinthiscase,theynailedit.

1 2 3

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORTDAVE VAN DE LAAR

This photo has impact, though it doesn't seem to ﬁt the category enrely. It feels like the photographer had an opportunity to guide the subject, perhaps ask her to crouch, to snap a photo where her eyes are visible. But the photo itself sll packs a punch and the posion the photographertookaddstoitsimpactandmakesforagoodfrontpagephoto.

Judge

GENERAL COMMENT

Every community newspaper reporter or photographer knows the challenge of being sent to a ribbon cung, cheque presentaon or any posed grip 'n grin situaon. The top entries in this category demonstrated how to make the most of it, whether it was keeping the camera shoong aer the oﬃcial moment, changing up the angle to get a more impacul photo, or just capturing the perfect moment during theevent.

Editor

The Carillon Steinbach, MB

Greg Vandermeulen has reported for and edited community newspapers in Manitoba for close to 30 years. He is currently the editorofTheCarillon,aSteinbachbasedweeklybroadsheet.

Greg Vandermeulen

BEST PHOTO LAYOUT

EGANVILLE LEADER - ALEX LAMBERT

Overthreeindependentroundsofvong,thisledthevongeachme.Agreatpackageallaround.

1 2 3

ORANGEVILLE CITIZEN - PETER RICHARDSON, JOEL KRAHN & JANINE TAYLOR

Theﬁrstpageissodamnstrong,thispowerdoesn'tquitetranslatetothesecondpage.

BARRY’S BAY, THE VALLEY GAZETTEROBERT FISHER & DEREK LAYMAN

Again,thelanguageoftheﬁrstpageseemsabitdiﬀerentonpagetwo.

HALIBURTON, THE HIGHLANDER - JUSTIN BELANGER - The layout reallymakesthisandputsitinthetop3/4.

GENERAL COMMENT

Grads, Santa/parades, and "the" annual events are the easiest for a photo page/layout. Parades are going right by photographers. Make sure you move during the parade, so the photos don't have the same background. Make sure you own events and pages when it comes to paper layout, and make the pics and presentaon unique if you're lookingtowinwithannualeventsforthistypeofcategoryormakethem oneoﬀoriginalslikethisyear'swinner.

Rob Brown

Publisher

This Week in Dawson Creek Dawson Creek, BC

BEST SPORTS PHOTO

BARRY’S BAY, THE VALLEY GAZETTE - ROBERT FISHER

Greatrelavelyuncommonaconshot.

PICTON GAZETTE - JASON PARKS

ThisiswhyIneverplayedrugby.Greatshotofabrutal,andsomemesverydirtysport.

1 2 3

HALIBURTON, THE HIGHLANDER - LISA GERVAIS

Took a moment to ﬁgure out what was where but when I did the reveal was worth it. Nice photo.

Always a tough category to judge because art appreciaon can be so subjecve. There could easily be several winners in this category, but sincetherecanonlybeone,beerlucktothetopcontendersnextme.

BEST SPOT NEWS PHOTO

THE HERALD SERVING THAMESVILLE, DRESDEN AND BOTHWELL - HEATHER WRIGHT

Interesng perspecve as a shaering ﬁre winds down - the viewer can assume that lile remainsoftheBothwelldowntown.There'saﬁnalqualitytothisimage.

1 2 3

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORTJAMIE SLINGERLAND

Super shot of rascal birds ready to feed on ice wine grapes from a vineyard. Unique capture. Welldone.

THE INDEPENDENT SERVING PETROLIA AND CENTRAL LAMBTON - HEATHER WRIGHT

Colourisaenongrabbingandthebarnonﬁreiswelllit-hardtodo,hardtoevengetcloseto alargestructurefullyengulfed.Welldone.

EGANVILLE LEADER - GERALD TRACEY - Smashed vehicles in deadly crash - an image well-spaced across the top of the issue. While thankfully the occupants have been removed, the chaos is well documented. HONOURABLE MENTION

Judge

BLYTH/BRUSSELSCITIZEN-SHAWNLOUGHLIN-Watertowercoming down and moving elsewhere - great that this newsworthy photo was snappedwhiletheprocesswasunderway.Niceming.

GENERAL COMMENT

SomemesSpotNewsissimplyluck-beingattherightplaceattheright me. But we should remember that one of the hardest tasks for any reporter is covering ﬁres, vehicle crashes and tragedy. You never know what you might be confronted with because the potenal challenges in thosesituaonsaremany.Thosewhoheadouttocaptureimagesofloss deserve recognion. I honour each and every one of the photographers inthiscategorywhodidnothesitatetopickupacameraandgo.

BEST NEWS PHOTO

UXBRIDGE COSMOS - JOHN CAVERS

Agreatshotcapturingexactlythepointofthisholiday-passingonknowledgeandhistory.

1 2 3

AYLMER EXPRESS - ROB PERRY

Anothergreatcaptureofacon.

YOUR COMMUNITY VOICE, STITTSVILLE - NEVIL HUNT

Greataconcapturedhere.

BLYTH/BRUSSELS CITIZEN - SHAWN LOUGHLIN - Audience in the backgroundisgreat,audiencebehindthesubjectcoupleistoughand undercutstheforegroundsubject.

GENERAL COMMENT

Another great mix. Through four rounds of judging and robust discussion,theveteranandyouthkeptrisingtothetop.Thesledandkeg are essenally the same photo in subject, but the mechanics are diﬀerent. Keep in mind pictures say 1000 words - so if readers must read the cutline to understand what is going on vs. they are searching for the cutline to learn more, it reﬂects in the scoring as well. If the submissions are not on front pages of the newspaper the argument can be made the photo is not even the best news photo of the week, let alone a nominee forbestnewsphotooftheyear.

Publisher This Week in Dawson Creek Dawson Creek, BC

Rob Brown

BEST FRONT PAGE

OTTAWA HILL TIMES

This Hill Times front page has huge impact: A strong, simple main image; a clean, modern design, includingtypographythatguidesthereader;andsolidwring.Itstandsheadandshouldersabovethe competorsinthiscategory.

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT

I like this front quite a lot, including the variety of stories on the page. The design is clean and logical, and the use of white space around the featured central story looks great and sets the story apart. A stronger,maybeevenlarger,photowouldhavemadethispagemoreimpacul.

ELMIRA-WOOLWICH OBSERVER

Thisisasolidfrontwithastrong,ifpreystandard,policalrallyphoto.Thismaybeapickything,butI don't understand theuseof thevercalrulebetweenthephoto and thestory whenthetwo elements clearlygotogether.Also,theimpactofthepagecouldhavebeenhelpedbyaslightlylargerheadline.

HONOURABLE MENTION

KITCHISSIPPI TIMES - Simple but strong front page thanks to the colourfulphoto,althoughwithlileeditorialcontent.

GENERAL COMMENT

The three top front pages in this category were the clear leaders. But most entries lacked impact. Common issues with those outside the top three are weak-posed photos; too-small headlines with lile variaon between them to guide readers; and overly busy layouts. Editors/page designers: start with the best image you have, use it as big as makes senseandworkfromthere.

Richard Dal Monte

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

COMMUNITY SERVICE

EGANVILLE LEADER - HIKE FOR HOSPICE

The Eganville Leader’s embrace of an annual fundraising walk for hospice put it in ﬁrst place. Owner Gerald Tracey, whose devoon to his community is baked into all aspects of his life, is the board chair of Hospice Renfrew. The Leader not only promoted the hospice walk, but its team raised the most money, almost doubling that of the runners up. Over the years, the newspaper itself has raised $125,000,astaggeringamount.Thankyou,Gerald,foreverything you’vedoneforEganvilleandrelish inyourwell-earnedrerement!

AYLMER EXPRESS - OLD TOWN HALL PUBLIC FORUM

If ever you need an example of how bureaucracy can muddle an issue, just look at the Aylmer Express’s series of stories about the expansion/relocaon of the local library. The Express earns second place by bravely tackling “one of the town’s most prolonged and divisive policy debates” with a series of background stories in advance of its public forum that gave residents a voice. While the Express is to be congratulated for its commitment to “just the facts, ma’am”, a simpliﬁed version of how the debate got mired in conﬂicng municipal objecves would have provided a welcome translaonofallthepolicy-speak.

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORTNOTL WOMEN VOW 'ELBOWS UP’

The Lake Report's beauful package of stories honouring Internaonal Women's Day brings together many ways that women are making Niagara-on-the-Lake a vibrant place to live. Reporters Julia Sacco and Paige Seburn worked hard to make the stories come to life and the layout was crisp and inving. Theicingonthecakewasagroupphotoof75womenthatTheLakeReportorganizeseveryyear.

GENERAL COMMENT

Sadly, there were only three entries in this category, reflecng the enormous stresses newspapers and their staff are under in these challenging mes. As much as we are dismayed when the media displays a bias, there can also be immense benefits when a newspaper uses its voice to amplify a project that everyone agrees is for the good of thecommunity

Rered journalist of 30 years Ontario and BC

Martha Perkins

BEST FEATURE/UNIT PAGES

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORTNOTL REMEMBERS THOSE WHO FOUGHT

Editorial,adversingandpaginaonaregreatandeasytoread.WelldoneNOTL!

NORTH

WELLINGTON COMMUNITY NEWSFIRE PREVENTION WEEK

Great ads, banner, wring and paginaon! Colouring page is a nice addion! Consider using bigger subheds.

FERGUS WELLINGTON ADVERTISERESTATE AND FUNERAL PLANNING

Anicepackagewithadversingsupportandgoodwring.Consideralessgenericbanner.

GENERAL COMMENT

There were a lot of meaningful special secons for this year’s compeon and some great teamwork shown between the editorial and adversing departments. For entrants - please be sure you ﬂip through the Top 3 winners’ submissions, as they have a lot of good ideas for future publicaons. Moving forward - be sure the copy is punchy and notrote,addmorecolourandhaveaclearbanner.

Co-Founder & Editor Reporter & Board Treasurer Freshet News, Coquitlam, BC

Janis Cleugh

BEST VERTICAL PRODUCT

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORTNOTL A GUIDE FOR DISTINGUISHED EXPLORERS - SUMMER 2025

Thisisjustbeauful!Greatarcles,layout,photos,fonts,lovethehelicoptermaptoo!Thearclesare well wrien and thoughul. The advertorials are colourful and full of relevant informaon, both helpful to locals and tourists alike. It works. I love the photos of local business people included, makes it feel like home! I like that they also include the awards they have earned, giving the product extra pride and value to readers. Each page is a vibrant and beauful work of art, stunning. I really enjoyed readingthe”InteresngFacts”secon.Eventhepageswitheventslisngsiswellthoughtout!Iwould lovetohaveahardcopyofthispublicaon!

CORNWALL SEAWAY NEWS - CORNWALL LIVING 2025

Great publicaon! Nice clean front cover and inside spreads. The 100% Canadian Content on the cover is neat and the white space framing arcles and photos keeps the focus on the arcle and images.Reallygreatphotosofcommunitymembers.Wellwrienarcles.Looksreallyprofessional.

ORANGEVILLE CITIZEN - OUR ROUTES MAGAZINE - FALL 2025

Lovelyand spacious design reallypops.I like the chosen fonts, although the body text could be slightly bigger or a ny bit bolder. I would suggest using three columns on the body copy for easier reading. Nice work with the adversements. Your adversers must be happy! Some gorgeous two page spreads.IreallylovedreadingtheGrandpalsProgramarcleandthelayoutofthearcleisgreat.Ialso like that you grouped some real estate ads under a banner named make the move. It keeps the pages dyandorganized.Reallygreatpublicaon,excellentwork.

HONOURABLE MENTION

LISTOWEL BANNER - COUNTRY LIFE - SPRING 2025 - I really like the editorial content in the guide. Well wrien and interesng for anyone, especially the community it represents. Line spacing should be increased to make paragraphs easier to read. Nice work with the adversements that also relate well with the theme of this parcular publicaonandofthecommunity.

GENERAL COMMENT

A very diﬃcult category to judge. All were informave in their own way and did a lovely job showcasing their communies to local and tourists alike.

Andrea Hillo

Publisher and Graphic Design Haliburton, ON

Judge

Andrea is an award-winning freelance graphic arst and independent book publisher. For over 35 years, Andrea has worked in many roles in the graphic design/newspaper/publishing industry, at one point owning a newspaper in the Haliburton area. She is a past OCNA award winner, member and judge, and now designs and publishes ﬁne art books, working with some of Canada’s leading forces in art including Robert Bateman, Glen Loates, author Roy MacGregor and the late, great arst/musician MendelsonJoe.

BEST SPORTS SECTION

SIMCOE ADVOCATE

First-place was an easy choice. The Simcoe Advocate provided space for editorial, excellent seasonal coverage, awesome acon photos, and an array of community sports, from high school football to senior men's hockey or rodeo. Well-wrien storieswith excellent quotes culledbyeditor Chris Abbo duringhisinterviewprocess.

NEW LISKEARD TEMISKAMING SPEAKER

The broadsheet New Liskeard Temiskaming Speaker has a nice showcase of local sports from diﬀerent seasons, plus plenty of local sports columnists and bowling, curling, euchre, and darts stascs with plenty of names. Perhaps provide some acon photos to go with this space. When shoong indoor sports, avoid ﬂash (red eye for basketball players, plus distracng). Nice use of quotes and team/leaguelogostobreakupgreycopy.

HALIBURTON, THE HIGHLANDER

The Highlander might have scored higher if a few changes were made like avoiding team or medal presentaons, when you can focus on acon photos from a provincial track meet. Plus, add colour to your story and use quotes, especially when junior Addyson Parish garners silver in the triple jump, not leng her first jump DQ throw her off from rebounding to finish second overall on provincial stage. I wanted more from the story. During hockey season, try not to forget about high school and club team sports.Niceideawithminorhockeystarsoftheweek,Iimagineapopularspotonsportspages.

Jules Xavier

Rered Editor

Shilo Stag

GENERAL COMMENT

Let’s not bury an important part of your community. There was a drasc difference from the top three to the rest of the 12 submissions. Try to have reporter-driven content versus submissions wrien by a team author. Use acve acon photos versus filling the few pages with team photographs. And there’s plenty of seasonal sports to cover, and sports features to write, from the athlete’s perspecve to the thoughts of a football or hockey coach during post-game interviews. Like using acve photography, remember to use acve headlines to draw readers in. And ask if you can at least have a front page to promote your sports secon, minus adversing. Too many photos/stories squished into space surroundedbyadversing,thuslostasoneflipsthroughthepages.

CFB Shilo, MB

SPECIAL SECTION

SHELBURNE FREE PRESSCELEBRATING 150 YEARS OF THE SHELBURNE FREE PRESS

Interesng special secon with good local ad support, chronicling the history of 150 years of local reporng, and illustrang the special symbioc relaonship between newspapers, readers and adversers.Funtoseeold-menewspapers,photosandads.Excellentandvariededitorialofinterest for all readers, especially the history of newspaper, what was happening in Canada in 1875 and the 1904reporngofameteoritefalling.

WOODSTOCK INGERSOLL ECHO - FARM EDITION 2025

This special secon cks oﬀ all the boxes. Excellent editorial supported by real photos (not stock photos) that is varied yet focused on the farming community, which will ensure it is seen and read. Twenty-ﬁveadsina20-pagesecon,includingsomefullpages,isstrongadsupport.

EGANVILLE LEADER - IRISH EDITION

Impressive number of ads to support the secon. True to its tle as the Irish Edion. Editorial is interesnganddiverse.Cleanlayout.

Naonal Editor

GENERAL COMMENT

I was so impressed with the range of creave energy in all the submissions in this category. Aracng adversers to print products is no easy sell and so these addional streams of revenue are vital to keeping print and online newspapers alive, and local journalists and editors working. I enjoyed reading each and every one, all of which were ﬁlled with stories of interest for your readers, and for me. Congratulaonstoeveryone.

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

Marlene Eisner is an award-winning journalist, writer, author, content editor and the naonal editor of RENO+DECOR magazine andNewHomeandCondoGuideVancouvernewsleer.

Marlene Eisner

BEST CREATIVE AD

KINCARDINE INDEPENDENT - BECKY GREBENJAK

3 1

Love this ad!!! Clean and creave. Looks nice on the page with all the editorial photographs surrounding it. I just cannot ﬁnd a reason to not give it a perfect score! Great work!!! Long live print anddesign!

KITCHISSIPPI TIMES - CÉLINE HACHÉ-PAQUETTE

Greatadvertorialad.Greatbalanceofwhiteandcolour.Creavelayout.Beauful!

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

Beauful.Greatimpact.Veryslick!Welldone.

HONOURABLE MENTION

SIMCOE ADVOCATE - MICHELLE FOSTER - Beauful contrast of colours. Nicely designed. The background image and the text on the adbalancereallywell.Goodjob!

ST. MARY'S INDEPENDENT - ERIN PARSONS - A really great ad. Impaculandnowonderingwhatthesubjectis!Greatjob.

STRATFORD TIMES - SARAH CAIRNS - Fun ad! Draws aenon and popsoﬀpage.Greatjob!

GENERAL COMMENT

It was a pleasure to view each entry for Best Creave Ad. They were all interesng, eye-catching and creave. Hats oﬀ to all the creave departments!Thisyear'swinnershineswithkeepingitsimple,cleanand superimpacul.LongLivePrint!

Andrea Hillo

Publisher and Graphic Design Haliburton, ON

Judge

BEST USE OF COLOUR

KITCHISSIPPI TIMES - CÉLINE HACHÉ-PAQUETTE

Nicead!Greatcolourandcreavelayout!

NORTH WELLINGTON COMMUNITY NEWS - EMILY HUGHES

Thisadisjustsocool.Ilovethevisualandthecreaveuseoffonts.Greatwork!

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

Beauful!Greatuseofcolour!!!

HONOURABLE MENTION

FERGUS WELLINGTON ADVERTISER - EMILY HUGHES - Great use of colourmakesthisadﬂyoﬀthepage!Greatjob!

TILLSONBURGPOST-STACIEEDEN-Niceworkwiththecolour.Bright andveryChristmasy!Goodjob!

GENERAL COMMENT

An interesng category with a wide variety of styles and designs, all showcasing their adversers really well. The dedicaon of the creave staﬀ is always apparent. Great work by each entry. Great balance of colourinimagesandfontsforthisyear'stopthree.

Andrea Hillo

Publisher and Graphic Design Haliburton, ON

Judge

IN HOUSE PROMOTION

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORTRICHARD HARLEY

LANE 1 2 3

OH come on! How frigging cute is this promoon? You involved the community and you used your medium...PRINT...to a great use. I'm sure parents and relaves were scooping up these papersaskeepsakes.

AYLMER

EXPRESS -

LARISSA

Thispromoonreallytakesyournewscommitmentseriously.Welldone.

KITCHISSIPPI TIMES - TANYA CONNOLLY-HOLMES

Great visual. Very pleasing layout. Copy well wrien...you are talking to your target adversers.Welldone.

Professor

GENERAL COMMENT

In House promoon is your chance to shine. Show what your paper can produce.Talktoyourreadersandenceyouradversers.

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.

Wayne Aubert

LOCAL RETAIL LAYOUT

GENERAL COMMENT

WILMOT-TAVISTOCK GAZETTEERIN PARSONS

Greatad!Easytoread,creave,eye-catching!

FERGUS WELLINGTON ADVERTISER - ALICIA ROZA

Greatad!!Sonice.Oneerror-1970s,noapostrophe.

PICTON GAZETTE - NATALIE PIPER

Nicead!Itdoesbringoutthewarmthoftheseasonwithclearinformaon.

Judge

Amanda Zimmer

Publisher Claresholm Local Press Claresholm, AB

Overall, the entries were very good. I had to go back to adjust scoring to breakmulpleesforthetopthree.Alladslookprofessionallydoneand haveeasilyconveyedmessages,bringingagoodROIfortheadversers.

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 to 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 with each other through their paper. She believes the newspaper is the hub of their community and loves to seepeoplereadingandsharingit.

ORIGINAL AD IDEA

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

An energec and excing photo invites the reader to stop and read the story and encourages you to comedownandcheckitoutinperson.Thisadiseyecandy.

KITCHISSIPPI TIMES

Lots of informaon that is well organized, making the event look like a good me and an inving enjoyableplacetolive.

NORTH WELLINGTON COMMUNITY NEWS - ALICIA ROZA

Fun, bright & sharp! This ad uses Halloween colours with intenon that keeps it clear and legible, whilemakingitfuntolookatandplantoparcipatein.

Sarah Holmes

GENERAL COMMENT

Congratulaons to all for presenng your best work and connuing to workhardforyourcommunies.Beingthetrustedapproachablesource of accurate local news and adversing is a noble and valuable calling. Thoseservedbyyoureﬀortsarericherforit.

Publisher Gabriola Sounder Gabriola, BC

Sarah Holmes is a 4th generaon newspaper publisher at the Gabriola Sounder in Brish Columbia. She is a director on the BCYCNA and CNMA news media boards, as well as treasurer of the GabriolaElementarySchoolParentsAdvisoryCouncil.

BEST COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER WEBSITE

Anengagingwebsite!Pleaseconsiderabeerhierarchyonthelandingpage,withbiggersubheds.

A great community news website. Suggest more could be added for adversing and engagement. Congratstotheteam!

Suggesngbeerimagesanduseofwhitespace.Overall,agooddesign!

GENERAL COMMENT

Congratulaons to the newsrooms that entered this category. It was great to see a good mix of editorial and adversing on the websites. Moving forward, please ensure you write diﬀerently for the web than printed edions; the online reader scans in an F-shape paern and needs the copy to be “chunked” for beer accessibility. Also, elements likehowlongittakestoreadastoryoranauto-readerareveryhandyfor your communies, especially if you have a lot of seniors. And be sure to include the e-Newspaper if you can. Finally, make sure your images ﬁt thelandingpagespace,nodecapitaonsplease!

Co-Founder & Editor

Reporter & Board Treasurer Freshet News, Coquitlam, BC

Janis Cleugh

COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY

UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO - SARAH AN

Wow. This is so well done. Great wring, ﬂow, and research. I can't pick out one part of the story that wasn'tdonewell.

HUMBER COLLEGE - ANAYAS FERNANDA MEDEIROS

Excellentstory!Greatlookattheindustry.Reallyenjoyedreadingit.

CENTENNIAL COLLEGE - ABBY RUSSCHEN

Averyinteresngstory.Greattopic.Well-wrienandrelevant.

HONOURABLE MENTION

ALGONQUIN COLLEGE - CLAIRE DONNAN - Excellent wring style and ﬂow. While the subject maer doesn't interest me, I enjoyed it becauseitwassowelldone!Keepitup!

CENTENNIAL COLLEGE - LOGAN BROWN, ETHAN GABOR, BENNETT GRIFFITH, FARAZ HASHMI, TOMAS MORGAN, MICHAEL COYLE, ANTHONY LANCIONE & ANTHONY SANTIA - Great read. I appreciate the various content points highlighng the team's posive contribuonstothecommunity.Excellentwork!

DURHAM COLLEGE - IZZA ADIL - Excellent arcle. It has tremendous relevance,waswell-wrienandverywellresearched.

GENERAL COMMENT

I wasn’t sure what to expect from the submissions in this category, but I was incredibly impressed with the quality of wring. Overall, the wring styles were excellent and the wide range of topics made reading 16 stories very enjoyable. With talent like this I am very opmisc about thefutureofjournalisminOntario.Greatjob!

Editor, Woodstock Ingersoll Echo Reporter, Wilmot-Tavistock Gazee Woodstock, ON

Judge

Lee Griﬃ is a seasoned journalist and communicaons professional. His career began in radio at CJCS in Straord where he became news director and called Junior B hockey games for 13 years. He transioned into communicaons, primarily within the healthcare sector, where he spent 14 years as manager of corporate communicaons for a long-term care and rerement home chain. For the last three years, Lee has been a reporter for the Wilmot-Tavistock Gazee and has added the role of editor/reporter for the Woodstock Ingersoll Echo. He also does freelanceworkforCanada’slargestradiocompany,Vista.

Lee Grif

STUDENT NEWS WRITING

DURHAM COLLEGE - MEGAN FOSTER

All around excellent arcle and wring on ground-breaking technology in Ontario. The pros are covered well with credible sources. Typically, both pros and cons should be covered, but a link is provided in which both sides are covered and more. The arcle points to the validity, viability and safetyofon-gridnuclearsmallmodularreactors.

DURHAM COLLEGE - SUNMEET KOUR

Well researched and wrien arcle with informaon, stascs and statements from the vicm and others. An unbiased, solid arcle leaving the reader with no unanswered quesons and wanng to standbehindthevicm,helpingtoeradicateIslamophobia.

HUMBER COLLEGE - HARNOOR KAUR

Good arcle on the mental health of students and staﬀ. Both sides of the topic were covered well. Arcle brings to light the breakdown of the system and the frustrang polics in the background. The arcle certainly gives the reader food for thought and the need for something to be done about the situaon.

HONOURABLE MENTION

CENTENNIAL COLLEGE - ANDREW ROCK - Good mely arcle with informave background history. Clearly wrien with pernent, reliable sources. The need for peace and compassion must be publicized,asthisarcledoes.

GENERAL COMMENT

It is inspiring to see young people sll wanng to pursue journalism. It is a tough career path today. With so much disinformaon and misinformaon out there it is imperave that red and true fact sourcing is done before news gets put before the public. Keep up the goodworkandpursuethetruth.

Roseann Trudeau

Adversing & Circulaon Manager

Tweed News

Tweed, ON

Judge

Roseann Trudeau has worked at The Tweed News for 43 years, an independently owned and operated community newspaper that has been in business since 1887. She is currently the circulaon andadversingmanager,althoughshehasherhandsinmanyjobs atthepaper.

Sponsored by: Ontario Journalism Educators

STUDENT

ALGONQUIN COLLEGE - LARA SIMARD

Capvangfromstarttoﬁnish.Ajourneythattheauthorisexploring,tacklingherownprejudicesand acvelymovingforward.WellwrienandkeptmethinkingaboutitlongaerIhadﬁnishedreading.

HUMBER COLLEGE - ASHER KLAVER

Very well wrien and thought provoking. Leaves the reader quesoning their own beliefs, myself included.

FANSHAWE COLLEGE - CALEIGH REID & JACK SUTTON

A very strong piece on the value of journalism. Well wrien and capvang. Remember to italicize tles!

Managing Editor

GENERAL COMMENT

It was a pleasure to read the submissions for college/university editorials. I found myself hopeful for the future of journalism when hearingthevoicesofsomanypromisingwriters.AremindertofollowCP styleandstriveforconsistencyingrammarandabbreviaonsbutforthe most part, the future is bright! Thank you to all who took the me to sharetheirwordswiththeworld.

Haliburton County Echo County Life & Minden Times Haliburton, ON

Emily is the managing editor for the Haliburton County Echo, the Minden Times, and County Life. She believes that the heart of journalism lies in the stories shared from small towns and is commied to sharing those with her readers. Emily has been working in the industry since she was a teenager and is eager to hearthevoicesofwritersfromalldemographics.

Emily Stonehouse

STUDENT

HUMBER COLLEGE - ANAYAS FERNANDA MEDEIROS

A lovely crisp shot of an early morning workout at Woodbine - you can see the hairs on the horses’ tails! Good work. The other photos detract from the main photo. Maybe run the photo along the boom of the page, cropped below the text, with the other photos on the rightinsteadofoverlayingthemonthemainphoto.

1 2 3

HUMBER COLLEGE – LUIS MIGUEL S. DE CASTRO

Good shot of Pascal geng a selﬁe - with kids in the background! However, the photo is over exposed.

ALGONQUIN COLLEGE – AUTUMN BEESTON

Evenwithouttheball,youcanfeeltheaconinthephoto.Nicejob!

GENERAL COMMENT

Congratulaons to our winners on their fine photos. Student photographers, start looking at the world from different angles; looking up at a flag from a low angle for example. Cropping is important, whetheryouwantalong,sweepingphototoshowperspecveoraght shot up close, get rid of anything that distracts from that. And editors/instructors, look at your websites - it strikes me that many of these photos are cropped poorly because there is a photo placement boxtheymustfit.

Publisher, The Independent of Petrolia & Central Lambton and The Herald serving Thamesville, Dresden and Bothwell Petrolia, ON

Heather Wright is the publisher of The Independent of Petrolia and Central Lambton and The Herald serving Thamesville, Dresden and Bothwell. She's a graduate of Fanshawe College's Broadcast Journalism course and has won numerous awards for photography, reporng and design both provincially and naonally.

Heather Wright

BEST COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY NEWSPAPER WEBSITE

CENTENNIAL COLLEGE - TORONTOOBSERVER.CA

Site has a good foundaon. The design works, is clean, and priorizes top stories. It also works in mulple browsers/devices and presents well. Content is good. I like the mix of diﬀerent subjects, thingstoappealtoavarietyofreaders.Navigaonisclearandeﬀecve.Greatwork!

HUMBER COLLEGE - HUMBERETC.CA

Solid and clean design. Viewed well in many browsers and devices.Good identy for the paper. I knew what I was looking at and where. Liked that opinion was not buried in the site. Polls and newsleer Call-to-aconwereclearandwhilenotnumberone,oﬀeredengagementwithreaders.

ALGONQUIN COLLEGE - ALGONQUINTIMES.COM

Visuallyitlooksmorelikeamagazinesitethananewssite.Whatisabovethefold,orinthiscaseabove the boom of the screen when it ﬁrst loads? Most of the news I had to scroll down to view. Content is great. And it presented consistently across mulple browsers/devices. The design doesn't match the purpose. If the site is providing important news as the ﬁrst thing it says, you need more of the news at thetopofthepage.

Judge

GENERAL COMMENT

For me online news sites have to grab the viewer, be clear with what the site is, be clear with what the intent of the site is and be accessible to as many viewers as possible. I saw a lot of good things with the sites. There areafewthat,ifabitmoreaenonhadbeenpaidtogengthedesign right,wouldhavemadejudgingthiscategorymuchmorediﬃcult.

Reporter Morrisburg Leader Morrisburg, ON

Phillip Blancher has worked as a journalist and photographer in print, online, and radio for over 25 years and is based in Morrisburg, ON. He is presently the local journalism iniave reporter for the Morrisburg Leader – one of Ontario’s last remaining independent weekly newspapers, which has been in publicaon since 1862. Bylines have been published in the Toronto Star and many Postmedia newspapers including the CornwallStandard-Freeholder,BrockvilleRecorderandTimes,the OawaCizen,andtheOawaSun.

Phillip Blancher

2026 OCNA HALL

FRANK MACINTYRE

Publisher & Editor, The Dundalk Herald Awarded Posthumously

Frank Macintyre grew up immersed in community journalism. His father, J.R. Macintyre, had owned The Dundalk Herald since 1903, and the newspaper office shaped Frank’s childhood. He absorbed the cra early and developed a lifelong affecon for reporng, prinng and small-town news. In 1933, he became publisher of the Herald. Young, but confident, he brought energy and a strong sense of duty to Dundalk. Eding was his greatest passion — he wrote editorials, reported stories, took photos, operated linotype machines and pitched in on job prinng. His handson style earned him a reputaon as an “all-around livewire weekly publisher.” Frank’s influence extended beyond his town. He served as president of the Ontario Quebec Division of the Canadian Weekly Newspapers Associaon in 1940–41, a term that included the first Naonal Newspaper Week. Dundalk embraced the celebraon under his leadership. He later spent four years on the naonal board and once heard Winston Churchill address Parliament in Oawa. Under Frank, the Herald thrived. Circulaon doubled to 2,361 in a village of 900. He contributed regularly to the Canadian Press and as Dundalk correspondent for The Owen Sound Sun Times. Known for carrying a small notebook everywhere, he chronicled meengs, events and everyday encounters, building deep trust with readers, including soldiers serving overseas who wrote to him personally. Frank was also acve civically, serving on council, helping found the Dundalk Historical Society and supporng local tradions. Aer selling the Herald in 1967, he connued as editor, mentoring staff and maintaining a wide network of rural correspondents. Named Dundalk’s Man of the Year in 1972, he remained devotedtojournalismunlhisdeathin1983,subminghisfinalcopythatsameweek.

MAIA MASTER

Publisher, The Toronto Russian Express

Maia Master was born in Bender, then part of the USSR, where she grew up with a strong sense of independence and responsibility. Though she inially trained as a nurse at her family’s request, she soon realized her ambions lay elsewhere. Aer marrying young and raising three children, she developed a deep interest in communicaon and community service. Immigrang to Canada in the early 1990s, she faced the challenges of learning a new language, adapng to a new culture and rebuilding her professional identy. Early work in cosmetology and retail helped her master English and establish roots in Toronto’s mulcultural landscape, but her entrepreneurial drive soon led her toward media. In 1996, Maia founded The Russian Express, which quickly became the leading voice of Toronto’s Russianspeaking community. Under her leadership, the newspaper has provided trusted coverage of Canadian and internaonal news, immigraon, culture, educaon, business and community affairs. Her editorial approach, grounded in integrity and inclusiveness, has amplified under-represented voices and fostered civic engagement. Her impact extends beyond journalism. In 2003, she launched Russian Toronto Master Pages, an annual directory featuring more than 5,000 verified businesses and services, a vital resource for newcomers. From 2004 to 2008, she and The Russian Express organized the Russian Business Gala, celebrang entrepreneurial excellence and strengthening professional networks across Ontario. Community organizaons across Canada praise Maia for building a publicaon that serves as a lifeline for newcomers and a bridge between generaons. Her decades-long dedicaon to ethnic media, community building and public serviceexemplifies thevalues of theOCNA Hallof Fameand demonstrates how oneindividual’s vision canuplianenrecommunity.

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 abouttheindustrythroughoutchallenges,opportunies,andchanges.Theyareleaderswhohavehelpedcommunity newspapersadaptandgrow.

OF FAME INDUCTEES

WILLIAM JAMES (BILL) PRATT

Editor, The Tillsonburg News Awarded Posthumously

BillPra’sjournalismcareerbeganin1950atTheTillsonburgNews,wherehisWesternUniversitytrainingquickly elevated the paper’s editorial standards. Within two years he became local editor, seng the tone for a career defined by leadership, discipline and deep community commitment. In the late 1960s, Bill and partner J.C.R. (Chuck) McKnight purchased The Tillsonburg News, and launched Oxford County’s first web press, forming Oer Publishing Ltd. Their company grew to seven weeklies, and The News expanded into a robust tri-weekly broadsheet known for comprehensive local coverage. Bill championed accountability journalism, insisng on thorough reporng while celebrang the everyday stories of Tillsonburg. Under his guidance, thousands of features created a lasng social history of the region. He also embraced technological innovaon, adopng cold type composion and invesng in modern producon equipment. Bill’s editorials were influenal yet fair, and he fiercely defended his reporters from polical pressure. His industry leadership included serving as OCNA president in 1983 and CCNA president in 1990–91, earning widespread respect and mulple honours. Oer Publishing was sold in 1988 and ended up under corporate ownership. Bill was thrilled by the 2024 launch of the Tillsonburg Post and aended its first edion release and contributed photos to the publicaon. Beyond journalism, Bill devoted over 60 years to the Canadian Cancer Society, served on hospital and fair boards and was acve in the Tillsonburg Curling Club. He mentored generaons of journalists, many creding him with shaping their careers. When Bill died in March 2025, flags flew at half-staff. Remembered as a gentleman of integrity,hislegacyenduresintheinstuonshestrengthenedandthecommunityheloved.

GERALD TRACEY

Publisher, The Eganville Leader

Gerald Tracey’s journalism career began straight out of Grade 12, when he joined his family’s newspaper, The Eganville Leader, then an eight-page weekly printed using linotypes. Over the next five decades, he became the driving force behind its growth, working alongside his brother Ron for 34 years before becoming sole owner in 2007. Under his leadership, the paper expanded to 22 pages per week, more than doubled its circulaon and became one of the first in Renfrew County to publish full-colour photography, earning a reputaon as one of Ontario’s finest community newspapers. A three-me OCNA board member, Gerald received the Mary Knowles Award for Community Service and the Gold Quill for 50 years in the industry. His peers consistently praised his unwavering commitment to community journalism. Gerald’s impact on the Oawa Valley is equally significant. In 2002, he led the creaon of the 945-pageRefleconsofaCenturyhistorybooktomarkTheLeader’s100thanniversary.Morethan9,000copiesweresold,generang over $150,000 for community projects. This was one of many major fundraising efforts he championed, including $800,000 for Eganville’s Centennial Park (renamed Gerald Tracey Park in 2025), $500,000 to implement the county’s 911 system, $3 million for FairfieldsSeniorLiving,andsubstanalsupportforhospicecare.Morerecently,hehelpedraiseover$125,000forUkrainianrefugees. Known for his quiet determinaon, Gerald was oen on the front lines of breaking news, earning deep trust from readers and colleagues alike. As the Leader faced closure, and community support surged, a last-minute agreement ensured the paper’s connuaon under new ownership. Aer more than 53 years, Gerald’s legacy remains one of integrity, service, and unwavering dedicaontohiscommunity.

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

GENERAL EXCELLENCE JUDGE SCORESHEETS

NEWSPAPER

CLASS 1 (CIRC. 1,500 & UNDER)

Haliburton County Echo

The Herald serving Thamesville, Dresden and Bothwell Listowel Banner

Minden Times

Kincardine Independent

Beeton, New Tecumseth Times

Deep River North Renfrew Times

Wingham Advance Times

Orono Weekly Times

Walkerton Herald Times

Barry's Bay, The Valley Gazee

Mildmay Town & Country Crier

NEWSPAPER

The Independent Serving Petrolia and Central Lambton New Liskeard Temiskaming Speaker

Eganville Leader

Simcoe Advocate

Blyth/Brussels Cizen

Tillsonburg Post

The Haldimand Press

Straord Times

Shelburne Free Press

Aylmer Express

Wilmot-Tavistock Gazee

St. Mary's Independent

CLASS 3 (CIRC. 8,001 & OVER)

Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report

Elmira-Woolwich Observer

Fergus Wellington Adverser Haliburton, The Highlander

Picton Gazee

Orangeville Cizen

King Weekly Sennel

Oawa Hill Times

Listowel Independent Plus

The Auroran

Caledon Cizen

Uxbridge Cosmos

NEWSPAPER

Metro Creative Graphics

Midwestern Newspapers Ontario Journalism Educators Association Ontario Power Generation