2022 BNC Booklet

We would like to thank all our award sponsors

Fort Frances Times

Hydro One

Metro Creative Graphics

Midwestern Newspapers

Ontario Federation of Agriculture

Ontario Journalism Educators Association

Ontario Power Generation

ORP Law

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

It’s wonderful to once again honour the great work of Ontario’s Community Newspapers — and what a lot of great work OCNA members did this year. We received over 1,200 amazing entries for the 2022 Beer Newspapers Compeon, all of which are not only a credit to the reporters, photographers, designers, editorsandpublishersbehindthem,butalsototheindustryasawhole.

Needless to say, I would not have wanted to be one of the judges who had to try and choose the best of the best.

Compeons like ours are more than just recognizing great work and securing bragging rights; they are excellent opportunies to learn from the best and the brightest of our industry. Aer every awards celebraonIcomeawaywithatleastonegreatideatotryinmypapers.

Of course, none of this would have been possible without three very important groups: the judges, the sponsorsandtheOCNAstaff.

It takes a lot of me and dedicaon for our volunteer judges to go through a category’s worth of stories, photos, websites, ads or newspapers. While the process can be quite fun, it’s oen done during evenings or weekends outside of normal working hours. Without that willingness on the part of our judges to give freely of themselves and share their wisdom about newspapers, events like the Beer Newspapers Compeon couldnotexist.Thankyou.

Wewouldalsonotbeabletoholdourannualawardswithoutthegenerosityofourcategorysponsors.Your donaons arewhatmakeitpossibleforOCNAtoproperlyrewardthebestworkourindustryhas tooffer.Your connuedsupportisgreatlyappreciatedbyallBeerNewspapersCompeonparcipants.

And even though we again are unable to celebrate together, Ontario Power Generaon, our Gold Awards Galasponsor,isconnuingwithitssupport,soahugethankyoutothemaswell.

And I would be remiss if I didn’t thank the OCNA staff for their dedicaon and hard work. Having worked in the associaon office at awards me, I know just how much is involved in making things run smoothly year aeryear.Youalldeserveanawardfromthemembership.

Congratulaons to all the winners, and I look forward to seeing all the great work that you’ll be subming thisOctoberforthe2023awards.

Gordon Cameron President and Interim Execuve Director Ontario Community Newspapers Associaon

CIRCULATION 1,999 & UNDER

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THE INDEPENDENT SERVING PETROLIA & CENTRAL LAMBTON

The Independent Serving Petrolia & Central Lambton emerged as No. 1 in this category for its extensive coverage, strong photography, clean design, and effecve adversing. The Independent sets the tone with its front page consisng of one strong photograph and interesng news stories and connues that theme throughout the paper. Readers are provided each week with a package of news and feature stories that are supported by numerous photographs. There is a lot of content in the pages of The Independent,providingpeoplewiththeinformaontheyneedabouttheircommunity.

HALIBURTON COUNTY ECHO

The Haliburton County Echo draws readers in with a strong front page filled with stories and photos and it doesn’t disappoint as its pages are filled throughout with informave and engaging stories, interesng features, and good photos. The Echo has lots of well-designed, effecve adversing to supportthenewsandfeatures.

LISTOWEL BANNER

The Listowel Banner provides extensive coverage of the community, supplemented by good photography, interesng opinion pages, a variety of features and strong, effecve adversing. The paper starts with an engaging, well-designed front page and carries that commitment throughout its pages. There is no doubt that readers ancipate the arrival of the Banner on the newsstand each week.

HONOURABLE MENTION

MINDEN TIMES - The Minden Times includes a lovely mix of hard news and community features covering a breadth of topics, and a strong opinion page with locally relevant pieces. A nice use of photos throughoutthepapertobreakupblocksoftext.

GENERAL COMMENT

Small in circulaon, but mighty in content is the theme for the newspapers in General Excellence Class 1. The entries in this class set a high standard with extensive, engaging content, great design, strong photography, and interesng, effecve adversements. Some great coverage of local governments grappling with vaccine quesons and how to return to "normal life." Newspapers are going through such a tough me but looking at these papers you would neverknowit.Greatjobbyallcontestants.

GENERAL EXCELLENCE

CIRCULATION 2,000 - 6,499 1 2 3

GENERAL COMMENT

EGANVILLE LEADER

May be a lile senmental now but we remember when most papers were the size of the Eganville Leader. While that didn't factor into the judging, it did certainly help it stand out from the rest somewhat. Liked the use of the colour headlines throughout and can't recall ever seeing it before on every page during 40-plus years in the business. The paper makes effecve use of photographs, and the adsarewelllaidoutanddesignedtodrawyouin.Thereislotsofgoodlocalcontentandcolumnsand,as a history buff, I really like the Reflecons of a Century page. It has a strong sports secon, which is rare now,evenfordailypapers.

NEW LISKEARD TEMISKAMING SPEAKER

The New Liskeard Temiskaming Speaker has a strong front page with no ads, big headlines and a dominant photo. The paper has a clean layout, is easy to read with big headlines, and has a lot of news and sports. It has local editorials, leers to the editor and strong adversing indicang a strong connecon to the community. The one area it could improve is in photography. There are a lot of photos, which is good, but many are posed of people looking straight into the camera. Overall, this is an excellentpaperthatseemstocoveritscommunitywell.

NIAGARA THIS WEEK, NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE ADVANCE

Niagara This Week, Niagara-on-the-Lake Advance is a great example of what a community newspaper can be. The photography stands above many others thanks to great composion, use of angles and sizing the photos well compared to the arcles that accompany them. The editorial and op-ed pages feature an assortment of opinions including leers to the editor, showing the community is engaged. Whiletheyhandlehardnewsextremelywell,theiraenontolocalfeaturesandtocoverageofthearts makes it a publicaon that has meaning for the community. Finally, their front page and layout is clean, with strong headlines, well composed photographs, stories with ght leads, and good use of white space. Overall, this is a well-executed community newspaper where aenon to detail, and solid journalism make for a product that is enjoyable to read.

While the number of papers in this category is relavely small, they represent a diverse offering in terms of style. The entries were all solid, making it difficult to choose the top three. They had a lot of stories and photos, some good special secons, and seemed to all cover their communies well. Overall, it was a pleasure to judge, and we congratulate everyone for not only connuing to put out a newspaper every week, but also achieving a high standard while doingit.Youareservingyourrespecvecommunieswell.

Greg Vandermeulen

Editor, The Carillon, Steinbach, MB

Rob Vogt

Editor, Claresholm Local Press, Claresholm, AB

Andy Walker Editor, Island Farm, Montague, PEI

1 16 ENTRIES 2022 | OCNA BNC Awards Results

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HALIBURTON, THE HIGHLANDER

This really is the best newspaper package in the group. An interesng front page, solid reporng, and excellent coverage of community news. The Highlander has a great sports secon and a good grasp of the local arts scene. So many people photographs – it's as if you meet the whole community in the pagesofthispaper.Thenewspaperhasasolidandvariedadverserbaseandagoodclassifiedsecon.

NIAGARA THIS WEEK, FORT ERIE POST

TheNiagaraThisWeek,FortEriePosthadagreatamountoflocalnewsfromfronttoback.Almostevery pagehadsomethingthatwasgoingoninFortErie.It’sabusypaper,buteverythingwaseasytoreadand very nice on the eyes. Solid adversing content throughout and well-designed. The op-ed pages had a nice mix of material as well. A bit of sports content in there, so a lile something for everyone. The bonus was being able to pick up from other papers in the Niagara region and sll make it relevant. Not hardtodowhenthere’sSt.Catharines,Welland,ThoroldandNiagaraFallsproperinthearea.

GENERAL COMMENT

In this day and age, Covid-19 will always get tongues wagging and that's what the front page photo for this publicaon would have done. The Glanbrook Gazee is effecve because the reader will almost invariably turn to the page and see what it's all about. It's done its job. Nice op-ed and editorial pages, with plenty of adversing content, good design of the ads, and the news content is easy to read and is local. A smaering of sports in there with arts as well.

Manfred

Rered Publishing

Company President, Past BCYCNA President, Gabriola Island, BC Judges

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CIRCULATION 12,500 - 22,499

ELMIRA-WOOLWICH OBSERVER

The Elmira-Woolwich Observer was a joy to read, with excellent design elements and plain language principles. The photos were fresh and the wring strong. Congrats to Steve Kannon for his great column! It is so rare to read a local column from a community newspaper editor these days. With lots of news, opinions, games and recipes, there is something for everyone in this edion. It is obvious this creaveandsalesteamputalotofloveeachweekintojournalism.

ORANGEVILLE CITIZEN

Strong local stories make for good reading, and the Orangeville Cizen is good reading. The Orangeville Town Page is a great adversing idea. And Orangeville 911 was so fun to peruse! Really enjoyed your artsandsportspages,andtherewereplentyofvoicesrepresentedthroughthecolumns.

GRIMSBY LINCOLN NEWS

The Grimsby Lincoln News is a solid newspaper. A strong front page and good use of photography throughout. Adversing is very strong, with a detailed classified secon and special secon adversing content. It is a good read and very worthy to be a top choice in this category.

HONOURABLE MENTION

MIDLAND/PENETANGUISHENE MIRROR - With strong reporng by Andrew Mendler, the Midland/Penetanguishene Mirror delivers on local and topical news for the cizens (the Buer Tart Fesval looks amazing!). The QR codes on the front page are convenient for the readers to get informaon quickly on their devices. There are lots of municipal and business ads, and the Canada Day secon is well done. Thepaperreflectsahealthycommunity.

GENERAL COMMENT

The top four papers really stood out from the rest in this general excellence category. Many of the other newspapers were lacking contentthatmeantitwasimpossibletogivethemavalidscore.Itwas disappoinng to see so lile sports, arts, and community stories in many of the newspapers. As well, editorial content and leers to the editor. It would appear that some of these newspapers do not engage wellwiththecommuniesthattheyserve.

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

Alistair Taylor Editor, Campbell River Mirror, Campbell River, BC

Judges

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HONOURABLE MENTION

CIRCULATION over 22,500

FERGUS WELLINGTON ADVERTISER

The Wellington Adverser is a classic looking newspaper – with a robust story-filled front that accentuates and draws aenon to the front page art/photo. A resounding favorite of the judges and a well-deservedwinamongstastrongcolleconofnewspaperscompengthisyear.Thefirstplacepaper initsclass.Congratulaons!

BARRIE ADVANCE

The Barrie Advance was an overall well wrien and produced newspaper, with a clear focus on providing accurate and interesng local community news for residents. The Advance had a strong mixtureofnews,sports,photography,featurearclesandafulsomeeditorialandopinionpage–allkey aspects in making a newspaper that community members want to pick up and read. The front page popped from a first glance and each page had a unique and interesng story to tell and inform people. TheAdvancestaffareclearlypassionateaboutwhattheydo,anditshowsintheproduct.

NIAGARA THIS WEEK, NIAGARA FALLS

Niagara This Week, Niagara Falls had the highest page counts in the category – kudos to the adversing department – and the news team filled these issues adeptly. Community newspapers need to be everything to everyone, and this paper meets that mandate with an appropriate balance of news stories from a range of beats, as well as local features. This paper's aracvely laid-out pages will invite readers in and the content will keep them around.

Judges

LISTOWEL INDEPENDENT PLUS - The Listowel Independent Plus keeps their front page no nonsense, bold and clean, which was an appealinglookforjudges.

GENERAL COMMENT

A great-looking batch of community newspapers this year. This was an incredibly difficult category to judge, with all submied newspapers having a strong product that reflected the ongoing news in each respecve community. Somemes simply one category lacking, which somemes falls to the luck of the draw in terms of the issue/week selected by the associaon to focus on, would determine the top papers from the boom. Almost all the front pages featured eye-catching photos and most papers were presented with strong headlines. They each had strong features from editorial and opinion pages to sports, news and the presentaon of each newspaper. The journalists for each outlet work hard and itshows in every newspaper thatwassubmiedforthe2022year.

Rob Brown Managing Editor, Dawson Creek Mirror, Dawson Creek, BC

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

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

COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY

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DURHAM COLLEGE - THE CHRONICLE

Just about every page contained valuable community news and plenty of large photos, maybe too large in some cases, but it's great to see lots of artwork. Solid presentaon and a great variety of opinion pieces. Stories were well wrien, and The Chronicle had the strongest sports coverage of the group. Unfortunately,noadversingtobefound.

FANSHAWE COLLEGE - INTERROBANG

Local content is the strength of The Interrobang. Pages and pages of good stories that impact the student populaon. Great to see some strong opinion within the pages as well. Addional photos of peopleratherthanjustbuildingsorvendingmachineswouldmakethepackageevenstronger,aswould dedicangalilemorespacetovarsitysportscoverage.Strongestadversingcontentofthegroup.

Photography is definitely the strength of the Loyalist College Pioneer. Strong images on every page. The stories on the Ukraine couple and the special needs hockey league were very compelling. Unfortunately, there were no opinion pieces or adversing in the final product.

It certainly is a tough me for journalism students, as it appeared the pandemic forced many classes online, which is a difficult way to learn our cra. Sll, the trio of entrants all showed their own strengths and, overall, there are talented reporters and photographers ready to make the jump to the industry. The highlight of all three of these student newspapers was the diversity in the stories and the voices shared with their readers.

ONTARIO COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS ASSOCIATION

Judge 2022 | OCNA BNC Awards Results

11

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HALIBURTON, THE HIGHLANDER - SAM GILLETT

A great read! Mul-sourced and well told. Congratulaons Sam! Suggesons: There is some incorrect punctuaon,andIwouldhavelikedtohaveseenanimageofthebandinitsheyday.

GLANBROOK GAZETTE – TAMARA BOTTING

Community arts reporng at its best! Congratulaons Tamara! This arcle is mul-sourced and demonstrates excellent reader outreach with the show and cket informaon. Some suggesons: WatchforCPstyleuse, aswellasgrammarandpunctuaon.

HAMILTON MOUNTAIN NEWS - MARK NEWMAN

Well told and a good use of images. Very well done Mark! This is an excellent arcle that's also very topical and educaonal.

GENERAL COMMENT

This year’s entries in the Arts & Entertainment category presented topical themes: the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic; the (slow) return of live music; and First Naons pride. The winners weaved powerful tales that told of heartbreak and loss, of history and renewal, and of the cultural heartbeat of Canada. The Top 3 winners also snapped their own photos for their arcles — a testament to their passion in local journalism and to being present to document local history. A few ps to note: The correct usage of spelling, grammar, punctuaon, and CP style is appreciated; fresh — not canned — images are preferred (and should be credited); and mul-sourced stories are a must. Congratulaons to all of the reporters who entered this category, as well as the editors who gave room in their print and online edions to share the inspiraonal stories about creave people in our communies!

Sponsored by: Midwestern Newspapers

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

Janis Cleugh lives and works on the stolen, unceded and ancestral territory of the kʷikʷəƛəm (Kwikwetlem) First Naon, in what is knowntodayasCoquitlam.Janiscoverstheartsandhumaninterest stories for the Tri-City News, where she is also a copy editor, paginator and proofreader. Previously, she worked for the Chilliwack Times (B.C.); Brighton Independent (Ontario); Wokingham Times (England); and Portsmouth News (England). Under the Naonal Council for the Training of Journalists in Britain, Janis interned at North Wales Weekly, Scotland and the Western Morning News. She also spent a year teaching English as a Foreign Language in Japan. Janis has won three reporng fellowships: two with the Jack Webster Foundaon and one with the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office. Currently, she is a co-secretary with Editors BC, a twig of Editors Canada, and is a naonally cerfied proofreader. In December 2022, she finished the Plain Language cerficate program at Simon Fraser University; she also holds SFU cerficates in eding; publishing; and business wring, public relaons, and markeng communicaon.

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ELMIRA-WOOLWICH OBSERVER - LEAH GERBER

I really enjoyed this story. It had lots of voices and shined a light on virtually all aspects of an industry thatdoesn'tgetatonofmediaaenon.Welldone!

AYLMER EXPRESS - RENEE HUESTON

I liked the variety of sources and level of details in this story. The only thing missing was a bit of context on the agribusiness industry as a whole -- what kind of numbers are we talking about here in terms of customers,sales,etc.?Nicepieceoverall.

STONEY CREEK NEWS - RICHARD LEITNER

The reporter showed good iniave here to dig behind the headlines and find out how a proposed development could affect local retailers. Nice job.

HONOURABLE MENTION

HAMILTONMOUNTAINNEWS-MARKNEWMAN - The reporter does a good job at pung a human face on how the changing retail landscapeisaffecnglongmebusinessowners.

GENERAL COMMENT

This year's entries tackled a diverse range of subjects and did a good job overall at pung a human face on vital business issues such as the impact of COVID-19 labour shortages and other challenges. Unfortunately, too many stories relied on just one or two sources and took only a superficial look at many of these topics. More research and addional context would have gone a long way to making more entries stand out.

David Sali Editor & Senior Writer, Oawa Business Journal, Oawa, ON

An editor and reporter at the Oawa Business Journal since 2014, David Sali is a 30-year veteran of the newspaper industry. Before joining OBJ, David began his journalism career as a reporter and editor at several community newspapers in Oawa’s east end. He then spent a dozen years as a copy editor at the Oawa Sun, where he worked in news, sports, entertainment, and business. When he’s not wring or talking about business, David can oen be found at a curling rink in winteroronthetenniscourtinsummer.Therestofthemethe Saskatchewan nave eats, sleeps and breathes Roughrider football.

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ANCASTER NEWS - KEVIN WERNER

Interesng editorial. It definitely requires an editorial to be able to say what you needed to say. Good jobonusingstatsandquotestobackupyourarcle.

GENERAL COMMENT

Wellsaid.Andputintermsthattheaveragereadershouldbeabletounderstand.

DUNDAS STAR NEWS - KEVIN WERNER

Yikes - that is a great editorial topic, and good editorial for a call to acon. I'd like to know if there was anyfall-outtothis.

Sheena Read

Freelance Journalist, Alberta

Every single editorial submied was worthy of an award this year. There were some absolutely great issues explained and backed upwithquotesandstascs.Itwasaveryghtcontest,andinthe end, it came down to more of an issue of passion for the issue or the ghtness of the editorial. Well done!

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

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VOICE OF PELHAM - DAVE BURKET

I read this with my mouth open. As an editor of my ownpaper in a smalltownI fully understand the guts andcareforthecommunityrequiredtowriteandpublishthis.Bravo.

PARRY SOUND NORTH STAR - PAMELA STEEL

Such an important message. It is tough to go up against school boards in our small towns. It takes courage.Welldone.

BURKS FALLS ALMAGUIN NEWS - PAMELA STEEL

Braveandimportantpiece.Kudosfortakingiton.

HONOURABLE MENTION

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT - RICHARD HARLEYBrave and powerful piece. Good on the paper for taking this one on. Clearlythiseditorialcomesoutofequallybravereporng.

GENERAL COMMENT

It was really inspiring to judge this category. Wring an opinion piece with impact week aer week is a near-impossible task. The temptaon is to do quick and easy hot takes that play to our most basic insncts. These submissions show that despite challenges in our newsrooms across Canada, folks are taking the me to reflect thoughully in their editorials. All the submissions were impressive, and it was tough to choose the top three. I picked the ones that were the bravest and most impacul, especially considering the smaller populaon/circulaon of these papers. Well done, all!

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 ice-cream scooper in her life before journalism.

Jennifer is the winner of the inaugural 2022 Jack Webster Foundaon Shelley Fralic award for dedicaon to community journalism.

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HONOURABLE MENTION

ORANGEVILLE BANNER - TABITHA WELLS

Great quotes used and strong quality of wring. Arcle provides details on how the style of teaching face-to-face art is impacul and helpful towards students in the community. Photos are colourful and helppaintsthepictureofthestory.

MANITOULIN EXPOSITOR - WARREN SCHLOTE

Story es in a naonal historic event of the first Nave American woman traveling to space, and the impact it has on students in the community who are interested in the same field and happy to see Indigenousrepresentaon.Greatrangeofsourcesused.

BRAMPTON GUARDIAN - KRYSTLE HEWITT

Story is clear, precise, and informave. A variety of different sources were provided which helped strengthenthe'why'andtruthofthestory.

MILTON CANADIAN CHAMPION - KATHY YANCHUS - Great facts and sources used in the story. As well, relevant background informaon helpedexplaintheissueandtheimpactitishavinginthecommunity.

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT - EVAN SAUNDERSGreat lede and ending to the story. Arcle clearly shows the importanceforteachingthemeaningofreconciliaonday.

GENERAL COMMENT

The entries in the educaon wring category covered a diverse range of stories which focused on students taking iniave to support people in their communies, teachers using art and other informave acvies as a means of teaching as well as a strong focus on reconciliaon in the classroom. The entries submied in this category also provided great and colorful photos that matched well with the stories.

Sierra D’Souza Butts

Local Journalism Iniave Reporter, The World-Spectator, Moosomin, SK

Sierra D’Souza Bus works as the Local Journalism Iniave Reporter at the World-Spectator. Moving from the city to a smalltown,Sierraenjoysmeengnewpeopleand hearingtheir views on social issues. Being a 2021 journalism graduate from Carleton University, she’s happy to have a plaorm to share otherpeople’sstoriesandexcitedtolearnmoreaboutthefield.

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NEWMARKET ERA/AURORA BANNER - KIM ZARZOUR

This is a well-wrien piece about the impact of feeding stale bread to Canada geese. It had all the elements of a strong story, with several civilian and expert sources quoted, and the ability to help changepeople’sbehaviourswhenitcomestotheirrelaonshipswithwildlife.

WATERDOWN FLAMBOROUGH REVIEW - JULIA LOVETT-SQUIRES

This was a solid story about how farmers are coping with climate change. It answered quesons that manycommunitymemberswouldhaveaboutthefutureofgrowingfood.

OTTAWA COMMUNITY VOICE, KANATA SOUTH - NEVIL HUNT

I really liked the wring style in this piece, where nothing is aributed to a source unl the second half ofthestory,givingitamoreeasy-to-readcolumnfeel.

GENERAL COMMENT

So many community media stories have an environmental focus these days, and the entries in this category covered a huge range of subjects as a result. None of the stories stood out as an obvious winner as is oen the case in these compeons, but all of them served an important role in educang readers and making a posive difference in the process.

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 community newspaper compeons over theyears.

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HONOURABLE MENTION

FERGUS WELLINGTON ADVERTISER - JORDAN SNOBELEN

This incredibly detailed, well-organized and dramac story by reporter Jordan Snobelen about Dale Wideman’s 61 days as a hostage in Hai, a pawn in ongoing violence in that country, stood out among some other very fine entries. Superb journalism. I was parcularly impressed that the story did not portray Hai and its people in a one-dimensional way but recognized all the good people there who are besetbyterriblecircumstances.

NEWMARKET ERA/AURORA BANNER - JEREMY GRIMALDI

This is a very moving story. It is as much a story of hope as it is of loss. Writer Jeremy Grimaldi tells readers about five-year-old Parker Sheahan’s bale with cancer in such a way that the reader is uplied bytheyoungboy’sincredibleatude.

BRAMPTON GUARDIAN - ALEXANDRA HECK

Features can be used to make persuasive cases for changes in atudes and approaches to important issues. This one by Alexandra Heck, which highlights the struggles 33-year-old Graham Boisvenue underwent,andtheinabilitytoobtainthehelpheneededpromptly,doesjustthat.

GUELPH MERCURY TRIBUNE - GRAEME MCNAUGHTON - This unusual story gives readers a look into the small but important academic researchcommunityandshowstheimportanceofrigorousstandardsin such work. A good, detailed explanaon is offered by reporter Graeme McNaughton.

WATERLOO CHRONICLE - BILL JACKSON - Federal clawbacks of funds from poor working seniors are examined in this disturbing report by BillJackson.

GENERAL COMMENT

There were some superb entries in this category, and all of them told interesng stories. The top three and the honourable menons stood outfortheiruniquestories,aswellassomespecialaspectsofeachone of them, to make an overall presentaon that was very reader friendly. In this age of distracon and mulple media voices, including social media, that is very important. Congratulaons to all who entered.

Sponsored by: ORP Law

Frank Bucholtz

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

Frank Bucholtz is a rered community newspaper editor, and a freelance writer and blogger with more than 40 years of media experience. He worked for community newspapers in Surrey, Langley,WhiteRockand otherpartsof theB.C.LowerMainlandand FraserValleyfrom1978unlreringin2015,andconnuestowrite a column for the Surrey Now-Leader, Peace Arch News and Cloverdale Reporter in B.C. He served as editor of the Langley Times from 1999 to 2015 and the Surrey Leader from 1986 to 1993. He has judged various categories in the annual OCNA awards for the past ten years. He also serves as a judge with the Jack Webster Foundaon, which presents annual awards to B.C. journalists in all media. Frank is a past winner of journalism awards from both the CCNA and the BCYCNA.

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HONOURABLE MENTION

VOICE OF PELHAM - DON RICKERS, CAROLYN MULLIN & DAVE BURKET

This look back at a destrucve 1996 tornado is an excellent feature by Don Rickers, with great photos fromtheeventanddetailedcommentsabouttheurbanmyththatthetornadostruckadrive-injustasit was showing the movie Twister. The first-person account sidebar by Carolyn Mullin, the editor of the Pelham newspaper of the day, along with her photos, put the whole event, its destrucon and how it was covered locally into perfect context.

NEW LISKEARD TEMISKAMING SPEAKER - DIANE JOHNSTON

Thequilngcommunitylikestogiveback,andbydoingsotheyhavebroughthopeandmorepurposeto Indigenous people affected by the residenal experience. Diane Johnston’s story on Quilts For Survivorsisawell-wrienexampleofreconciliaonandhopeforthefuture.

MANOTICK MESSENGER - JEFF MORRIS

The many stories which centered around the Manock Tea Room were given a full airing in this very interesng feature. Figures such as Al Capone, J. Edgar Hoover, and Gene Krupa make this story a fascinangread.

CARLETON PLACE/ALMONTE CANADIAN GAZETTE - TARA GESNERLodi Sculthorpe’s horrific injuries aer being struck by a snowmobile on a recreaon trail have completely changed her life, as related in this moving story by Tara Gesner.

GRAVENHURST BANNER - SARAH LAW - Banner writer Sarah Law produced an excellent and emoonal story about the significant impact co-op student Chrise Leja made in her short life. She died on the day her front-page photo was published in The Banner, and the effort to find people in her life and talk to them about her was significantandpowerful.

GENERAL COMMENT

As can be expected from newsrooms of varying sizes and writers with many things on their plates, the quality of entries in this category was a lile bit uneven. This was a large category with plenty of entries. Most of the submissions were very good, and some went to great lengths to tell important community stories. The top three and honourable menons were all excellent. Congratulaons to all who entered.

Sponsored by: ORP Law

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

Frank Bucholtz is a rered community newspaper editor, and a freelance writer and blogger with more than 40 years of media experience. He worked for community newspapers in Surrey, Langley,WhiteRockand otherpartsof theB.C.LowerMainlandand FraserValleyfrom1978unlreringin2015,andconnuestowrite a column for the Surrey Now-Leader, Peace Arch News and Cloverdale Reporter in B.C. He served as editor of the Langley Times from 1999 to 2015 and the Surrey Leader from 1986 to 1993. He has judged various categories in the annual OCNA awards for the past ten years. He also serves as a judge with the Jack Webster Foundaon, which presents annual awards to B.C. journalists in all media. Frank is a past winner of journalism awards from both the CCNA and the BCYCNA.

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HONOURABLE MENTION

NEWMARKET ERA/AURORA BANNER - KIM ZARZOUR

The writer wove together a story with strong quotes, dramac events, and caught the reader's aenon. She drug me immediately into the story and no way could I stop reading unl the end. The informaon she found was placed together in an iniave or original way and points were made with melyquotes.Eventssuchasshowingthemanwaswalkingwhenheenteredthehospitalandcouldnot walk when he le moved the reader through the story. Lack of personnel and the need for a new hospital indicated relevance to the community. When you read the story, you wonder how many other paents have had similar events. Addional sources would make the story even stronger.

HALIBURTON, THE HIGHLANDER - MIKE BAKER

If you are looking for a story that will grab your interest, sr emoons, is filled with informaon and severalgood quotes,andyou keepwonderingwhatisnext, thenreadthisstory.SeveralmesIjustkept reading because the story was well wrien, showed great research, had info from various people, showed iniave and originality, and was relevant to most members of the community. We saw the woman grow from near death of Lyme disease to a new person, now hopefully on her way to a full recovery.Plus,she'squicktosayshewillbetellingotherpeoplewhattheycandotorecover.

MILTON CANADIAN CHAMPION - DAVID LEA

While this story may lack the drama found in a few stories, it is a story filled with informaon and has facts and figures presented that are not there in many stories. I have read several stories about the lack of nurses and other personnel, but this story gives data and numbers and shows how there is a shortage. Good job of researching informaon and some great quotes that stand out, such as the one about a single nurse who was so busy, she might not find a way to go to the bathroom. Well wrien, though some eding might have been done. No doubt about the iniave and originality, and the relevancetothecommunityisobvious.

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

A 10-year-old girl did this? Let's read the story and find what she did and why. The story is well wrien, and informaon included shows solid research. The writer interviewed several people. He used iniave and originality in finding informaon and people and then used quotes. The topic involved and the people parcipang show relevancetothecommunity.

GENERAL COMMENT

Thanks for the opportunity to judge this contest. There was a variety of stories, and I enjoyed the chance to read them - some on rereads, as I chose the winners. Aside from the interesng stories, I encountered some excellent reporng and wring. Many stories grabbed my aenon and involved me so much that at one point my wife returned home and I didn’t hear her come in! That is how interesng the stories were. Among the key items in a story are the lead, the reporng that finds the answers to quesons the readers will be asking, sufficient quotes and a number of sources, and individuals and examples that can illustrate the story. The winning stories have these covered. Great work everyone!

Harry Hix

Rered Publisher & Editor, Sllwater, Oklahoma

Harry is a graduate of Oklahoma State University, with a master’s degree from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. He worked as a newspaper reporter and photographer and owned a weekly newspaper for 16 years. He has received many editorial awards in both daily and weekly composions, and his newspaper won awards each year. As a master’s student, he was managing editor of the campus daily that won the Sigma Delta Chi naonal award for news reporng. He is a member of the Oklahoma and Tennessee Press Associaon, Sigma Delta Chi, the Naonal Newspaper Associaon, and the Internaonal Society of Weekly Newspapers Editors. At Oklahoma University he was first chair of the Engleman/Livermore Chair of Community Journalism and received the Teacher of the Year award. In Tennessee he received the President’s Award for work in educaon and professionalism in the newspaper industry.

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CARLETON PLACE/ALMONTE CANADIAN GAZETTE - ASHLEY KULP

Excellent and interesng story. Heart-warming. Combines human interest with history. Well done! Very deservingwinner!

MANOTICK MESSENGER - JEFF MORRIS

Couldnotpullmyselfawayfromthisstory.Aterrificread.Welldone!

WINGHAM ADVANCE TIMES - CORY BILYEA

Fabulousresearchinthisstory.

GENERAL COMMENT

An outstanding lot of entries. Exhausng job to judge. Ten judges might choose 10 different winners. Ontario can be proud of its writers. Communies are well-served. Overall wring was outstanding. No poor entries. I was impressed with the wide range of stories tackled. Each was interesng. A joy to judge!

Chris Clegg Editor, South Peace News, High Prairie, AB

Chris Clegg has held the posion of editor at the High Prairie SouthPeaceNewssinceDecember1988.SouthPeaceNewshas won over 90 AWNA and CCNA awards since his arrival in virtually every judging category. Clegg has also served on the High Prairie and District Museum and Historical Society for about10yearsandhasakeeninterestinhistory.

Sponsored by: Fort Frances Times

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FERGUS WELLINGTON ADVERTISER - JORDAN SNOBELEN

This story gave an important voice to a group that was oen misunderstood or not treated fairly by some media outlets and sought to understand their concerns. I thought the writer did great on the ground reporng and took so many excellent photos. The story had excellent colour throughout the piece. It would've been stronger if it had a voice(s) crical of the convoy and details about how the unvaccinated were filling up hospital beds and why the government(s) put in the vaccine mandates. Remember CP style with me if your publicaon follows that.

ORANGEVILLE CITIZEN - SAM ODROWSKI

This story on the devastang fire went above and beyond the tradional news piece on a local fire. It included strong photos, relevant historical context and most importantly several voices from people directly impacted. It illustrated just how devastang the blaze was to the community through strong wring and quotes and went further by including informaon on how people could help. This kind of storytellingisexactlywhatasmallcommunityneedswhentragedystrikes.

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HONOURABLE MENTION

OTTAWA COMMUNITY VOICE, KANATA SOUTH NEVIL HUNT & BLAIR EDWARDS

There was a lot of good colour in this piece and some strong voices. The wring had nice transions but could have been ghtened up in a few spots. There were a few quotes that I thought were redundant and didn't need to be included. I think Tyler should have provided his full name and wouldn't have included him if he didn't want to give it. The photos taken by the author helped tell the story. Overall, I thoughttherewasgreatrepornghere,whichcertainlystoodoutamongthisyear'sentries.

GRIMSBY LINCOLN NEWS - LUKE EDWARDS - This is an excellent story that illustrates how the residents are innocent vicms of a bureaucrac nightmare. There were a few wring errors in the piece.Thestorycameveryclosetowinninganaward.

GENERAL COMMENT

There were many great submissions this year in the Best News Story category.Ulmately,thestoriesthatstoodouttomeasajudgewere arcles that included first-hand on-the-ground reporng with colourful wring. It was difficult choosing the final three winners because for each one, there was another great story that was right behindit.Ihadtogolinebylineandnitpickthefinedetailstochoose the three winners. Your communies are beer served with your dedicaon to local journalism. Great job everyone!

Sponsored by: Hydro One

Ausn Grabish is an RTDNA award-winning reporter whose work has been credited with triggering change. He spent over six and a half years working for the CBC in Winnipeg where he was responsible for covering daily breaking and enterprise news for CBC’s TV, radio and digital plaorms. His work ran across the country on The Naonal and on CBC News Network. He won mulple awards for his reporng before he le the public broadcaster in December of 2022 to pursue his dream of working in California. Grabish started his career at the Selkirk Record, a Manitoba weekly. He landed his first bylinein the paper just a few weeks before graduang high school.

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MANITOULIN EXPOSITOR - GINA SIMON

A winning news story, thanks to her embedment with family to find out about their thoughts on the Pope's televised apology to residenal school vicms in Canada. Gina Gasongi Simon sat with her parents, residenal school survivors, as they listened to the papal apology. Compelling read from this poignant story.

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

Richard Harley earned runner-up honours for his story on Teresa Wong, who fled the Communist regimecrackdowninHongKongtofindfreedomandsafetyinCanada.Acompellingreadaswell.

HALIBURTON, THE HIGHLANDER - SAM GILLETT

A tragic story of a dog owner finding his dog and puppy killed by shotgun blasts heard by the owner while out for a walk with them in a forest copped third-place. Sam Gillet wrote this heart-wrenching newsstorywiththeOPPlookingforthecaninemurderer.

GENERAL COMMENT

I expected more from the best news story category, but a few stories stood above the rest because of the work being done by the top-three reporters, plus the stories they delivered to their readers. Congratulaons to the winners!

Sponsored by: Hydro One

It has been 38 years since editor Lorne Drury (now rered) offered him his first reporter job at the Brampton Guardian, and he is sll going like the Energizer Bunny. Currently in Manitoba looking aer the award-winning army newspaper Shilo Stag, which published its first edion in July 1947, he's kept busy in a two-person newsroom which focuses on army life, including infantry 2PPCLI and arllery 1RCHA soldiers. Xavier has been with the Stag for nine years and is finally set to rere in July as the 76-year-old Stag’s longest serving editor. He relocated from Vancouver Island following newspaper and radio jobs in Ontario, B.C., and Alberta. Being embedded among soldiers who are honing their fighng skills for deployment to Ukraine or Latvia is a lot more fun than covering school board or city council meengs.

Jules Xavier Editor, Shilo Stag, CFB Shilo, MB

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LISTOWEL INDEPENDENT PLUS - DAN MCKEE

The author's approach to this story sets it apart from most arcles about road safety when it comes to farm machinery. The reader gains a valuable new perspecve by seeing the world from the cab of a combine, and the praccal informaon in the arcle will hopefully prevent collisions. The author's conversaonal wring style is informave without being 'preachy' and the design also makes effecve use of photos in a limited amount of space.

FERGUS WELLINGTON ADVERTISER - JORDAN SNOBELEN

An excellent, well-researched arcle that highlights a very important issue affecng producers. One interesng point that stood out was the fact that it's cheaper for Ontario farmers to use imported ferlizer from Russia than to use ferlizer from western Canada. I'm sure that bit of informaon will smulate people to queson current government policies. That's what a good newspaper story should do: present the facts and generate crical thinking on the part of the readership.

GRIMSBY

Theauthorpacksalotofinformaonintoashortarclethateffecvelylaysoutthenatureandscopeof a serious problem facing the bee industry in Ontario. The fact that there is no easy, or agreed-upon soluon,isevidentfromthequotesprovided.

GENERAL COMMENT

I found the stories in this category to be very well wrien. Because there is a wide variaon in subject maer, ranging from agricultural producon and markeng to human-interest and local history, the stories covered a lot of ground and made for very interesng reading. Top marks were given to those arcles that provided good solid informaon, were wrien in a straighorward style, and were mostrelevanttothecommunitythenewspapersserve.

Sponsored by: Ontario Federaon of Agriculture

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

LINCOLN NEWS - CHRIS PICKLES

Terry Pugh

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

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EGANVILLE LEADER - GERALD TRACEY & DEBBI CHRISTINCK

This story touched on the difficult situaon of bees and their decimaon. Photos were great and the story very relevant. Great job!

GLANBROOK GAZETTE - TARA LINDEMANN

This was a well-researched and a well laid out story. Very well done!

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

Uniqueandinteresng.ThebestphotosandlayoutI'veseenintheenrecompeon.

GENERAL COMMENT

This is the second me I have been approached to judge a newspaper compeon and I must say it was one I truly enjoyed. I have been in this industry for 22 years and rarely am I shocked by anything. The entries in this year's compeon shocked me. Shocked me with the depth of wring by so many incredible reporters. I was extremely impressed with the caliber of the submied arcles and the incredible layout of certain submissions only enhanced the read. The technical work is there, but it’s the aenon to detail and layout that surprised me. It’s as if the writers understand the power they wield with the public to make a difference to tell a story. Well done everyone. I have no doubt our industryisingreathandswhenIseesuchqualitywork.

Sponsored by: Ontario Federaon of Agriculture

Lisa Sygutek Publisher, The Pass Herald, Crowsnest Pass, AB

Lisa graduated from the University of Lethbridge with a Bachelor of Arts in English and then received a second degree with a Bachelor of Management in Human Resources. She started working at the family-owned Pass Herald in 1999 and is now the owner/ publisher. She is a municipal councilor and Vice President of the Alberta Weekly Newspaper Associaon. The Pass Herald is the second oldest business in the Crowsnest Pass and is celebrangits93rdyear.

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MARKHAM ECONOMIST & SUN HEIDI RIEDNER, AMANDA PERSICO & KIM ZARZOUR

This was the clear winner. Excellent mix of arcles related to food insecurity. Good research; well wrien. First-person accounts added to the emoon of the arcles. Excellent use of interviews with not only those impacted by food insecurity but also those public administrators/professionals who have a hand in making change.

GENERAL COMMENT

Consistent layout on all four arcles ed everything together nicely. Enjoyed the intro in each arcle explaining the series - only flaw was not italicizing the intro in the last arcle. Excellent concept of having an accessibility acvist personally "check out" various places. The writer also brought the accessibilityconcernstoapublicofficialforcommentattheendofeveryarcle-niceclosure.

BURLINGTON POST MELANIE HENNESSEY, BAMBANG SADEWO & MANSOOR TANWEER

Appreciated the structure to this series. The intro of the first of three arcles indicated that this was a three-part series - and also teased the next arcle. Well wrien using first-person accounts of immigrants' stories upon arrival in Halton. One downfall was referencing a report from 2016 - a lot changesinsixyears-andwithnoreferencetowhatchangesmayhaveoccurredsincethen.

There was a wide diversity of topics with strong wring throughout. Itwouldhavebeennicetoseebeeruseofphotostoillustratemany of the arcles. Also, when possible, leng the reader know they are readingaseriesonaspecifictopic(morearclesinthefuture)would behelpful.

Sponsored by: Hydro One

Pierre Pelleer is the publisher of the Delta Opmist in Delta, B.C. He has been a newspaper publisher since the late 90s. Prior to beingapublisher,Pierrewasafreelancemagazinewriter,working for such magazines as The Financial Post Magazine, Canadian Business, Harrowsmith Country Life, and CP Airlines (yes, remember them?). Pierre holds a Bachelor of Arts degree (EconomicsandHistory)fromtheUniversityofAlberta.

HAMILTON MOUNTAIN NEWS MARK NEWMAN

Pierre Pelletier Publisher, Delta Opmist, Delta, BC

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HONOURABLE MENTION

KEMPTVILLE, NORTH GRENVILLE TIMES - DAVID SHANAHAN

As a judge from a rural first naons community, I appreciated the uniqueness and indigenous-based aspect of this feature. I felt the historical aspect with modern elements affecng today's society were noteworthy and relevant, not just to this community, but to the naon as a whole. Good job!

VOICE OF PELHAM - DON RICKERS, DAVE BURKET & HELEN TRAN

Wellwrien.Itflowednicelywithgoodsidebars.Acommunityintereststory ofnewsworthyrelevance. Goodjob!

HALIBURTON COUNTY ECHO - STEPHEN PETRICK

Not just community relevance but naonal. Story is relevant in rural communies across the country. Goodsolidcoverage.Wringflowedeasilyforthereader.

KEMPTVILLE ADVANCE - JENNIFER WESTENDORP - Kept me reading. Nice wring style. Very relevant to the community on an important issue. An idea for a follow up ... Are the banks seeing a decline in in-person usage because they are pushing customers to usedigitalandonlineservices-thereforecreangtheirownneedto cutin-personserviceandclosebranchesin"costcungmeasures?”

GENERAL COMMENT

I loved judging this category because it shows the issues that are at the heart of community journalism and hold importance to the newspaper’s readers. The journalists have the opportunity to delve a lile deeper, feel a lile more emoon and become true story tellers with their wrien words. The quality efforts of the writers illustrate their iniave to scope out the news and stories they are passionateabout.

Sponsored by: Hydro One

K-J Millar Editor, The

BC

Northern View, Prince Rupert,

K-J Millar is a mul-media journalist whose specialty is feature wring and covering housing issues. She loves meeng people to capture their stories in ink and images. A tle award winner in photography she got her start in the media (pre-internet, when Tline was sll a thing) in New Zealand working as a radio broadcaster, news editor, and photographer. Her career has gone full circle around the globe aer working in law, housing and communicaons. She is currently editor of The Northern View in the North Coast of B.C. and is a five-me BC community newspaper award winner as well as new journalist of the year with feature wring and photography awards. She works in tandem with her 16-year-old standard poodle Kae Frou Frou and eight-month-oldcatSawyerwhoeditsoverhershoulder.

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NEWMARKET ERA/AURORA BANNER - KIM ZARZOUR

KimZarzour’spiecetakesanin-depthlookathousingissuesfacingvulnerablepeopleintheregion.Alot of work obviously went into this piece. Interviews included a caregiver, a neighbor of the problemac residence at the heart of the piece, the owner of another residence who had once led the Ontario Homes for Special Needs Associaon, and the naonal director of a client advocacy organizaon. Also, an aempt to get the problemac residence owner’s side of the story. The focus on Ray Jackson's story and his housing experience brings this home for readers. Reading the story of Mr. Jackson, who overcamemanyhurdlesinhislifeand strugglestolivewithdignityinaNewmarketResidence,no doubt shed a light on the issue for many readers.

FORT FRANCES TIMES - MERNA EMARA

This is a solid invesgave piece. Somemes those start with a leaked document, as in this case. The newspaper received a copy of a legal opinion provided to the town council regarding renewal of a forestry license that did not include an Independent Forest Audit, which had been completed in 2017 but was not posted to the province’s website unl 2021. Because of the missing audit, a firm was found to be in compliance with its forestry license based on an outdated audit. The newspaper uncovered informaon thatshould havebeenobvioustothelawyersand townadministraon -thatamorerecent forest audit than 2012 should have been available. The work of the newspaper in bringing this to light is importantforthecommunity.

VOICE OF PELHAM - JOHN CHICK & DAVE BURKET

A well wrien and thorough invesgave piece. Excellent job. This piece focuses on a hidden town council meeng. The Ontario Ombudsman found that the council had contravened the municipal act in their acons. Through Access to Informaon filings, The Voice obtained emails that showed how one councilor had pushed for the meeng to be held in camera despite reservaons expressed by the town clerk. One of the most important roles of local media outlets is to report on local councils and ensure thatwhatshouldbedoneinthepubliceye,isdoneinthepubliceye,foralltosee.GreatJobbytheVoice ofPelham.

Kevin Weedmark

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

GENERAL COMMENT

The quality ranged in this category. From the winners, with solid invesgave reports, to several solid news stories that couldn't be considered invesgave journalism, to one piece that it's hard to believe was actually published in a newspaper. There is room for invesgave journalism. There is a need for invesgave journalism. Good invesgave journalism shines a light in the darkness, solves problems, moves governments to acon and serves society. It's good to see some newspapers making a serious effort to serve their communies with quality invesgave journalism.

Kevin Weedmark is editor of the World-Spectator, the Ag News, and the Plain and Valley. He started as a reporter in 1988, aer graduang with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Regina. He became editor in 1990 and purchased the company in 2002. He won the Canadian Internaonal Development Agency Award for ExcellenceinWringonInternaonalCo-operaontwice,andtwice won the Media Human Rights Award presented by the League for Human Rights of B'nai B'rith Canada. Once for "Freedom of Speech vs. Freedom from Hatred," examining the relaonship between the right to free speech and laws against hate speech in Canada. The other for an invesgaon into the history of the Ku Klux Klan in Saskatchewan.

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HALIBURTON, THE HIGHLANDER - SAM GILLETT

Always nice to have a reporter put themselves in the elements for a story, and Sam Gillet does just that forastoryonthe8HoursofHurn'eventwhichsawcyclistsinvolvedingravelracingforeighthours.

WATERLOO CHRONICLE - BILL JACKSON

Runner-upBillJacksonhadacoolidea–lookingatthedeclineoftheoutdoorarena,whicharegoingthe wayoftheGreatAukandStegosaurus.

THE INDEPENDENT SERVING PETROLIA AND CENTRAL LAMBTON BARRY WRIGHT & HEATHER WRIGHT

Racisminsports...greattoseesportsreportersreporngonit,notignoringit.ThirdplacewenttoBarry &HeatherWrightfortheirlookatafamilydealingwithracistcommentsinminorsports.

GENERAL COMMENT

Always an easy choice for the winner when a reporter immerses themselves in the story to bring it to their readers. The top three stories were good reads among those submied in the Best Rec/Sports story secon. Good work everyone.

It has been 38 years since editor Lorne Drury (now rered) offered him his first reporter job at the Brampton Guardian, and he is sll going like the Energizer Bunny. Currently in Manitoba looking aer the award-winning army newspaper Shilo Stag, which published its first edion in July 1947, he's kept busy in a two-person newsroom which focuses on army life, including infantry 2PPCLI and arllery 1RCHA soldiers. Xavier has been with the Stag for nine years and is finally set to rere in July as the 76-year-old Stag’s longest serving editor. He relocated from Vancouver Island following newspaper and radio jobs in Ontario, B.C., and Alberta. Being embedded among soldiers who are honing their fighng skills for deployment to Ukraine or Latvia is a lot more fun than covering school board or city council meengs.

Judge

Jules Xavier Editor, Shilo Stag, CFB Shilo, MB

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LISTOWEL BANNER

You can tell the writer of the headlines had fun with it; it shows in the creavity and use of alliteraons. And they were fun to read. All of them were aenon-grabbers and reflected the content of the story, although with the first headline, it took a bit longer to get the connecon. Great job.

BARRIE ADVANCE

CHRIS SIMON, JANIS RAMSAY & RICK VANDERLINDE

Great word usage and creavity. The first headline, however, is too long. What the cluck? would have beenstand-out,withtherestasasub-head,insteadofthequoteusedasthesub-head.

BURKS FALLS ALMAGUIN NEWS

SARAH COOKE

All of the headlines had creave word usage and were intriguing enough to catch a reader's aenon, makingthemwanttoreadthearcles.Goodjob.

GENERAL COMMENT

Good headline wring is truly a skill - some say an art - that is not always easy to come by. The headline writer, who oen is not the author of the story, must blend a variety of factors into a small space to create a compelling and accurate headline. What I was looking for was creavity to aract the reader's eye, a level of impact to get the reader to look farther than the headline, and of course, the ability to quickly capture the essence of the story in a few words and yet remain accurate and relevant to the content of the story. I was very impressedwiththequalityoftheentries,withmanyskillfullycraed creave and even humourous headlines. Choosing the best was not easy.Bravo.

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

Marlene Eisner is the editor of RENO+DECOR magazine and New Home and Condo Guide, naonal magazines with local edions published in the GTA, Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver. Before movingtoTorontoin2014,MarlenelivedinMontrealandworked asareporter,associateeditor,andeditor-in-chiefattheSuburban Newspaper (1994-2007), and freelance writer and editor-in-chief at the NDG Free Press (2011-2014). She has won nine community newspaperawardsinthebestcolumncategory.

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WILMOT - TAVISTOCK GAZETTEVERONICA REINER, MELISSA MILLS, LEE GRIFFI & NIGEL GORDIJK

The Wilmot-Tavistock Gazee told the stories of several people who had been forced to cope with the restricons.Thesestoriesareextremelypersonalandbecauseofthis,theywerememorable.COVID-19 coverage is not just about the news, mandates and restricons, but about how this pandemic affects people.You'vedoneanadmirablejobofshowingthistoyourreaders.

NIAGARA THIS WEEK, NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE ADVANCE

The Niagara-on-the-Lake Advance also had powerful stories, including one about a woman who was not able to return from Vietnam for nine months. The story about farmers and their efforts to support each other helped to show the psychological effects of the ongoing pandemic. The wring is solid here, butmoreimportantly,thestoriesarecompelling.Thisgoesbeyondthelatestrestriconsandmandates tothewaytheongoingpandemicisaffecngpeopleinthecommunity.

MANITOULIN EXPOSITOR - MIKE ERSKINE

The Manitoulin Expositor told how one woman with serious health problems was affected by the presence of unvaccinated health workers. Over the past couple of years, a lot of discussion around COVID-19 has been on rights and freedoms. This is a refreshing change as it shows that there are some whoareatriskbecauseofthequestforthesefreedoms.

GENERAL COMMENT

Aer three years of COVID-19 coverage, this ongoing pandemic can bewearying.Theentriesinthiscategoryshowjournalistsworkingto keep the stories up-to-date and relevant for their readers. In some cases, the coverage involves the latest restricons and pandemic challenges. Such coverage is important, and readers need to know the restricons in place. However, the most compelling stories involvethepeopleaffected.

John Arendt 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.

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HONOURABLE MENTION

WINGHAM ADVANCE TIMES - CORY BILYEA

Indigenous horse and indigenous people are presented in a well-wrien story with good background, descripon,narraveandresponsesforandfromtheyouthfulvisitors.Goodphotos.Theconsciousofa community kindles the conscious of a naon as the story here reflects, inspired by the plight of indigenous Canadian children forced into schools where many died, or were ejected into poverty. Well wrien, limited sourcing, but locally focused. Then, an exceponal story about an Italian author who focused on those of the First Naon saving the Canadian naon. The story focuses on an event that was to feature the author, but who died prior to the scheduled date. The aendees reflected on the inspiraon the author and his book provided. Well wrien; well reported. The final story recounts the First Naon frustraon over response to missing women reports. Excellent wring/reporng, focused on the community event of the day.

WATERLOO CHRONICLE - BILL JACKSON

These stories, collecvely, provide a keen focus of integrang immigrants within a community. Agency responses, individual responses, and individual experiences provide meaningful details for readers' consumpon and an understanding of what integraon means to their lives. Good wring and good sourcingremainessenalingredientsforreadercomprehension.TheChronicledidagoodjobhere.

PERTH COURIERLAURIE WEIR, ASHLEY KULP & DESMOND DEVOY

Truly a fine group of stories focusing on inclusiveness and the effect of sharing the history, the meaning, and the lives of those most affected by Canada's "exclusion" policies of the past. Each of these stories sharespersonalexperiences,andthepiecedescribingtheunificaonofpoliceandFirstPersoncultures isexceponal.Goodwring/reporng;excellentvisuals;reasonablygoodsourcing...butsllabsentof communitybalance.

VOICE OF PELHAM - DAVE BURKET & BRIAN GREEN - Maybe a small, but significant discovery of an overgrown cemetery where the community's Black residents buried their dead hides a diversity issue. The two stories here bring them out for readers to digest and understand. No Blacks now live here, but the Black heritage has placed the village on an internaonal map. With excellent wring and reporng,thecommunity'shiddendiversityisexposed.

GENERAL COMMENT

Taken collecvely, these entries certainly covered diverse issues within the respecve communies. Yet most entries isolated that coverage to the specific focus subject and generally did not engage the community served by the news medium. That engagement could have involved sources affected by the stories beyond the focus source. The same applies to subjects covered. Black folk featured in stories rarely had reflecve reacon from the general community, whatever the ethnic, gender, culture or race that was factored. Yet the wring/reporng, more specifically applying to each story, was mostly professional: good sourcing, clear language, generally objecve, and a good focus. This was, indeed, a huge subject to evaluate. Every story was a winner so longasreadersdigestedthecontent.

Frank Garred

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

Frank Garred began his Journalism (always a proper noun) career in 1960. 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. Meanwhile, he remains a member of the NNA (president 1993-4 & board member); ISWNE (president & board member); & WNPA (president 1974, interim manager). Since rerement he served as Journalism associate professor at two state colleges and helped found & manage a state non-profit focused on maintaining accountability and transparency among state and local government enes. He livesinPortTownsendandvacaonswithfamilyonKauai,Hawaii... oen.

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HONOURABLE MENTION

MUSKOKAREGION.COM - KRISTYN ANTHONY

Kristyn Anthony of the Muskoka Region's paper takes a long look at the kind of story we rarely get any perspecve on. Six years aer an Inuk man hangs himself in prison an inquest takes place. Such a long wait and a sad, sad story about a man who might have been helped. Powerful, so this series was accorded first place. Change appears to be happening inside the prison system. Stay on the watch Kristyn.

VOICE OF PELHAM - DON RICKERS & DAVE BURKET

This series covered the trial and convicon of a man deemed responsible for the gruesome murder of a local resident. Senseless loss conveyed with some power. Don Rickers also takes the me to examine theimpactuponthecommunity.Thecaseisclosed,andonemuchlovedmanremainsgonetoosoon.

BURKS FALLS ALMAGUIN NEWS - SARAH COOKE

Sarah Cooke reports on the death of a woman shot by not one, but two Almaguin OPP. The 'why' never comesoutinthereportthismotherwaitedsoverylongtoreceive.Whyisthequesoneveryreaderhas toask.

ORANGEVILLECITIZEN–PAULABROWN-Thisstorymusthavebeen such a tough one to cover, but that is what's required of community news.

SMITHSFALLSRECORDNEWS–LAURIEWEIR- This story certainly is not concluded. Such long, long waits for jusce to convene when four girls are looking for closure. Weir acknowledged the mental healthchallengesinherentinbeingareporter-thankstoherforthat honesty. Bravo for taking it on and finding resources for all reporters thatsufferfromPTSD.

GENERAL COMMENT

These are not easy stories to write, much less read. So much senseless death and injury in our communies to oen becomes added to long waits for jusce. A great group of entries. Keep up the goodwork.

Wendy Elliott

Columnist, Valley Journal Adverser, Annapolis Valley, NS

An OCNA judge for several years, Wendy Ellio was a reporter and editor in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scoa for 40 years. She won regional and naonal newspaper awards and is currently a columnist with the Valley Journal Adverser.

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HAMILTON MOUNTAIN NEWS - SHANE PENNELLS

This is an example of column-wring 101. The author picks a topic of great interest to the community, idenfies a problem, explains the problem in a clear concise manner, offers a soluon and sums up. The wring is crisp and clean, includes some humour, and there are no wasted words. Bravo.

WILMOT - TAVISTOCK GAZETTE - CHIP BENDER

Great advice for our mes. The author of this piece gives us a recipe for coping in an engaging and concisewaywithrelevanceforallpeople.

HALDIMAND COUNTY, THE SACHEM - SUZANNE HURLEY

Suzanne draws the reader in immediately with plain old-fashioned good wring, then masterfully pulls ontheheartstringstoinvestthereader.Intheend,shedrawsalifelessonthatallofuscantaketoheart. Greatcolumn.

HONOURABLE MENTION

MANITOULIN EXPOSITOR - HEATHER MARSHALL - Well-wrien, topical and engaging. I wanted to score this higher, but I could not get away from the fact it read more like a regular community arcle thanacolumn.

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE,THELAKEREPORT-MADDYGORDON- As topical as subject maer gets and overall, a solid effort. Could not put it into the winner’s circle because it could have been ghter and a bit beer organized, but felt I had to acknowledge it as it was wrienbya15-year-old.

VOICE OF PELHAM - VICTORIA BALFOUR & DAVE BURKET - Really enjoyedreadingthispiecebutcouldnotplaceitintopthreebecause ofsheerlengthandformat.

GENERAL COMMENT

Overall, there were quite a few strong entries. Unfortunately, I felt someofthestrongeronesdidn’tquitefitthecategory.

Thom Barker

Regional Editor, Northwest BC, Black Press Media, BC

Aer graduang with a geology degree from Carleton University andtakingadetourthroughthehigh-techbusiness,Thomstarted hisjournalismcareerasafact-checkerforamagazineinOawain 2002. He quickly progressed to wring freelance features for various publicaons, but when he landed his first newspaper job with The Interior News in 2005, he knew he had found his calling. Since then, his career has been one of progressive advancement to the posion of Regional Editor (Bureau Chief) for Black Press in Northwest B.C. He is the winner of numerous journalism awards, perhaps most notably the 2008 CCNA Best Feature Story award for his coverage of the in-custody death of Ian Bush and subsequent coroner's inquest. Thom believes strongly in the value of community news, parcularly in the digital era, and is happy to lend his experience and experse to judging awards compeonsoutsidehishomeprovinceofB.C.

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WALKERTON HERALD TIMES - MIKE WILSON

Very entertaining reads, something I'm sure many readers can relate to. And you'reright,theFlyersareaterribleteam:)

FORT FRANCES TIMES - JACK ELLIOTT

All three were entertaining reads. I'm sure your readers enjoy your work on a weeklybasis.

LISTOWEL BANNER - DAN MCNEE

Great tales that should engage readers well as many have "been there, done that."Greatwork.

Judge

Brian Gilroy

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

GENERAL COMMENT

All parcipants had excellent column topics and subjects, oen making me laugh out loud. I was not only encouraged by such great columns but they also made me think of ideas for my own weekly column.Inspiringandgreatreadsfromall.

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

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MANOTICK MESSENGER - JEFF MORRIS

Well-wrien columns that flow extremely well. And the topics are compelling.

MINDEN TIMES - JIM POLING

Well wrien, crisp and ght, with a really interesng e-in with Bambi, which in itselfwasinformave.

PERTH COURIER - LAURIE WEIR

Nice wring style - crisp and clean. I really like the COVID-19 column and how the informaon was delivered in a conversaonal way with her doctor via a compellingcolumn.

GENERAL COMMENT

I love judging the columnist category of the OCNA because it is a category that offers such a diverse selecon of topics and viewpoints. From urban and rural lenses, writers touched on issues that varied from heartbreak to history to humour. The quality of wring was, generally, good, but it was also evident some columnists had much more experience than others. And, in these daysoffewerandfewerresources,Iwascognizantofthefactwriters do not have as many editors poring over their copyas they once had. That said, one recommendaon I would offer is for writers to spend a few more minutes on their columns to ensure they align with CP Style and to determine if there aren’t a few more lile darlings that could be killed to ghten up the message. Some columns were far toolongandcouldhaveusedagrammacalscalpelappliedhereand there. All in all, the entries were a pleasure to read, with the bonus thatIlearnedalotaboutOntariofrommychairinB.C.

Chris

Foulds Editor, Kamloops This Week, Kamloops, BC

Christopher Foulds is editor of Kamloops This Week, a newspaper and website published in Kamloops, B.C., a city of 98,000 in the province’s Interior. Foulds has been editor since 2005 and spent 13 years before that as assistant editor and reporter at the Abbotsford News. Foulds won the Columnist of the Year Award in the 2021 BCYCNA Ma Murray Awards, was a finalist in the same category in 2020 and was a finalist in the 2021 Webster Awards forcolumnistoftheyear.

STEPHEN SHAW AWARD

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RICHMOND HILL/THORNHILL LIBERAL JEREMY GRIMALDI

Solid piece about three York residents with concerns aer being bilked out of monies. A great example of journalism that doesn’t rely on court convicons or press releases from the police. Good job in breaking down the “he said, she said” natureofthelackofsnowremovalstory.Astrongnewsstoryaboutaterriblesubject and topic - the loss of Parker Sheahan. Wring is strong, community-related, and impacul.Tightleads,clearstories.Greatwork.

HALIBURTON, THE HIGHLANDER LISA GERVAIS

A wide variety of stories showing a strong knowledge of the different topics and styles of story. Good to see photos. They complete the package in many cases. Goodquesonsfortheconvoypeopleaswell.

NEWMARKET ERA/AURORA BANNER KIM ZARZOUR

Lynn Steel’s story is a strong news-based story around the pandemic. Also a good seriesabout housing inthearea,and realconcernsfrommanypointsofviewand perspecve.Greatiniavedealingwithaprovincialbody.

Judge

Rob Brown

Managing Editor, Dawson Creek Mirror, Dawson Creek, BC

GENERAL COMMENT

These are all great writers. There are only five points between first and ninth.Alltoplevelstuff!

Rob Brown is a full-me seven year managing editor who creates and produces each edion of the Dawson Creek Mirror, Northern Horizon,andPipelineNewsNorth-anddawsoncreekmirror.ca.Prior to this Brown enjoyed a 17-year career as a news journalist and photographer across western Canada – picking up 25 or so awards for journalism, photography, layout/design and more. This includes news story of the year nods in both Alberta and Manitoba, a pair of photography of the year awards, and back-to-back special edion awards for his work. He appears with his daughter and Dawson Creek Mirror photographer Blake in the 2020 Huey Lewis and the News music video ‘I am There for You’. He has 300 million printed bylines to his name - is a 2005 Alberta Centennial Cizen of the Year award winner, 2017 Culture Ambassador for Northern BC, and is 2019’sonlyBronzeQuillawardwinnerinBrishColumbiafor20plus years in journalism. He has wrien/directed/produced a full-length moon picture - Sukunka - before the eyes of film fesval judges around the world right now, and he has a talk/variety show filming now and debung on OpkTV in summer 2023.

NEWMARKET ERA/ AURORA BANNER STEVE

SOMERVILLE

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A powerful, disturbing photo by Steve Somerville that captures both the caring and despair in the moment, and aptly illustrates an element of the story. I understand the restricons of using photos online but would have loved to see the photo in a larger format - perhaps that happened in the print version.

GEORGETOWN/ ACTON INDEPENDENT & FREE PRESS GRAHAM PAINE

I love the ght composion of Graham Paine's photo-themassoffaces.Butmostofall,Ilove the colour and the way it makes this photo looklikeapainng.

OTTAWA COMMUNITY VOICE, KANATA NORTH NEVIL

HUNT

AsweetimagebyNevilHuntthatgoesghton the faces of the two children and captures a momentofeyecontactbetweenboyandrat.

GENERAL COMMENT

The top three photos really stood out among entries, each doing something a lile different and providing striking images. A note: A couple of photos entered in this category were horizontals that would have been beer cropped to vercals but were in the former format due to restricons of many websites. This diminished the impact of those photos.

Richard Dal Monte

Freelance Editor & Writer: former Editor, The Tri-City News, Coquitlam, BC

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

BEST FEATURE PHOTO,

VANKLEEK HILL REVIEW REID MASSON

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There's a story in this photo by Reid Masson. The subject at his table, the busy background, the materials of his trade - they all say something about this man and his business. And even though photos that aren't simple, that have depth and breadth oen don't work onnewsprint,thisonedoes.

PERTH COURIER DESMOND DEVOY

Desmond Devoy captured a special moment. Thisentry couldhavebeenstrongerifthelight poron in the top le corner wasn't so blown out and if it were a lile sharper. I would have also liked to see this photo played bigger and, as I say every year when judging this category, please, please, please lose the Impacng Your Community graphic slapped on top of the photo - it takes away from the power of the pic.

AYLMER EXPRESS ROB PERRY

Placed and played right, Rob Perry's photo might havewonthiscategory.It's simple and strong but several factorsinthelayoutchoicesworkagainstit:its unfortunate placement buried at the boom of the page; the cutline needlessly dropped on top of the photo; and the general hodgepodgeofafrontpage.

GENERAL COMMENT

Outside of the top three entries in this category, there was a great deal of run-of-the-mill photography. I appreciate the demands on journalists at smaller papers – shoot, write, edit, etc. - but I would challenge them to challenge themselves to think of creave ways to tell their stories visually and to simplify their photography for maximumimpact.

Richard Dal Monte

Freelance Editor & Writer: former Editor, The Tri-City News, Coquitlam, BC

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

BEST PHOTO LAYOUT

LISTOWEL BANNER

JANINE MARTIN, DAN MCNEE & MIKE WILSON

Good variety of photos; appropriate and colourful backdrop; thoughul layout. Great job.

GENERAL COMMENT

WALKERTON

HERALD TIMES

PAULINE KERR & JANINE MARTIN

Interesng framing of each photo along with the flowing layout and subtle backdrop make forapleasantsecondplace.

AYR NEWS

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IRENE SCHMIDT-ADENEY, JIMMY BALKWILL, BOB HOWES & HELEN HALL

Good memories of a great day in Ayr. A few more candid photos as opposed to posed wouldhavebeennice.Greatjob.

Judge

Anthony Bonaparte

Features Editor, The Suburban, Montreal, QC

This category offered a good variety of well-done entries to choose from. Some were more elaborately presented than others, but all includedgreatphotosandcompellingstoriestotell.Whatseparated the top er from the rest was not the quanty of pictures used, but the effort made to produce an eye-grabbing page. To the winners, andtoallparcipants:Congratulaons!

For the past 17 years, Anthony Bonaparte has been the associate editor as well as the features editor at The Suburban, Quebec’s largest English weekly newspaper. During his almost 25 years in the industry, Anthony has won numerous provincial (QCNA) awards, as well as a North American (SNA/LMA) and Canadian (CCNA) awards for his wring, eding, and the editorial cartoons createdunderhispenname,Napoleon.

FORT FRANCES TIMES

DALLAS PHILLIPS

BEST SPORTS PHOTO

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The disappointment on the one player’s face in the forefront while the others celebrate speaks to both the jubilaon of victory and agonyofdefeat.Greatshot.

THE INDEPENDENT SERVING PETROLIA AND CENTRAL LAMBTON HEATHER WRIGHT

Tough to find a sport that can capture photos like rodeo. Sit back, camera pointed and let theaconbegin.Greatshot.

HONOURABLE MENTION

GENERAL COMMENT

Thisisalwaysoneofmyfavouritecategoriestojudge.Youcanalways count on good sports related photos, but then comes the great photos, capturing the facial expressions of some of the athletes and even fans on occasion. Great work by all photographers. Congratulaonstoeveryone!

AYR NEWS IRENE SCHMIDT-ADENEY

This is a fantasc shot. Great ming and great photo.

Brian Gilroy

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

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

WINGHAM ADVANCE TIMES - KELSEY BENT - Great acon shot with greatfacialexpressionsmakeforagreatphoto.

BRACEBRIDGE

BEST SPOT NEWS PHOTO

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MARY BETH HARTILL

Great, dramac and bold postapocalypcphoto. Would make a great poster - for people into this sortofthing.Congratulaons.

Judge

GENERAL COMMENT

There were many great photos to choose from in this lot and quite a few of them could have easily been in the top three. Somemes it was just a maer of distance, cropping, minor image rotaon, or all oftheabove.Therewillbeanextme.Congratulaons!

Sponsored by: Midwestern Newspapers

Anthony Bonaparte

Features Editor, The Suburban, Montreal, QC

For the past 17 years, Anthony Bonaparte has been the associate editor as well as the features editor at The Suburban, Quebec’s largest English weekly newspaper. During his almost 25 years in the industry, Anthony has won numerous provincial (QCNA) awards, as well as a North American (SNA/LMA) and Canadian (CCNA) awards for his wring, eding, and the editorial cartoons createdunderhispenname,Napoleon.

EXAMINER

Timely shot of a dramac rescue in a relavely remote area. Over andabove.

MILTON CANADIAN CHAMPION GRAHAM PAINE

Greatming.Greatangle.Greatphoto.

CARLETON PLACE/ ALMONTE CANADIAN GAZETTE TARA GESNER

BRACEBRIDGE EXAMINER

MARY BETH HARTILL

Mary Beth Harll tells a story with her photo of a protester showing off a handwrien poster. Excellent use of DOF and filled the frame. Greatjob.

GENERAL COMMENT

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GEORGETOWN/ ACTON INDEPENDENT & FREE PRESS

GRAHAM PAINE

Grahame Paine garnered runner-up honours for his coverage on Remembrance Daylooking into the event from what's normally seen at a cenotaph ceremony. Nice composion.

GLANBROOK GAZETTE TAMARA BOTTING

Third-place honours go to Tamara Bo ng for her truck/speeding story, grabbing the perfect artwork.

Disappointed with many of the entries in this category for Best News Photo. Lots of lazy photography. Work your news scene, like covering a fire. Look at the scene from 360 degrees. Use DOF. Fill your frame. Include second responders involved in the event. Tell a story with your news photography. Avoid grip 'n grins. Did I say fill the frame?! The winners did just that. Congratulations.

It has been 38 years since editor Lorne Drury (now rered) offered him his first reporter job at the Brampton Guardian, and he is sll going like the Energizer Bunny. Currently in Manitoba looking aer the award-winning army newspaper Shilo Stag, which published its first edion in July 1947, he's kept busy in a two-person newsroom which focuses on army life, including infantry 2PPCLI and arllery 1RCHA soldiers. Xavier has been with the Stag for nine years and is finally set to rere in July as the 76-year-old Stag’s longest serving editor. He relocated from Vancouver Island following newspaper and radio jobs in Ontario, B.C., and Alberta. Being embedded among soldiers who are honing their fighng skills for deployment to Ukraine or Latvia is a lot more fun than covering school board or city council meengs.

Jules Xavier Editor, Shilo Stag, CFB Shilo, MB

PERTH COURIER

DESMOND DEVOY

Greatphoto!Itshowsthe classic grip'n'grin with the presentaon, but does it with acon, and in a great unique way. It makes people smile and that is alsoakeyfeatureofagrip'n'grin!

GENERAL COMMENT

RECORD NEWS DESMOND DEVOY 1 2

SMITHS FALLS

Niceturnonagrip'n'grin.You havetheclassicpresentaon combined with a unique way of transferring from one party to another. The nice ght photomakesforagoodchoice.

PORT PERRY, THE STANDARD

JAMES J. GREEN

This is a great shot - it tells the story of the event and who took part. A great response to the event, as shown by all the kids taking part and all the boxesoffood.

Sheena Read

Freelance Journalist, Alberta

The classic grip & grin is the presentaon of the cheque by a donor to a recipient. Tradionally it involved the cheque with the handshake, but we can always give that a unique spin. The key behind it is to tell the story, and to convey that sense of community and community acon. This is a great opportunity to have some fun. Be creave. Be abnormal. Find the strange angle. Throw in some acon in what would ordinarily be a structured and sll photo.

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

BURLINGTON POST GRAHAM PAINE

Graham Paine is a master photographer whose photos tell a story in creave ways. Even seemingly ordinary events are presented in interesng ways. His feature photo is very powerful and has it all. Colour, composion, depth of field and expressions. An image that tells the story of campers having fun at their end of the week party. The diagonal of the “Orange Crosswalk” in his news photo adds to a subtle feeling of movement as the drum group moves past. Orange shirts add to the story. The community photo had interesng composion with the red sleigh and Santa forming a diagonal with the more monotone colours in the other half of the picture. The dual waving hands add an interesng element to the photo. The line of bikes leading to a single, dejectedriderisastrongspotnewsphotoonitsown.Whenpairedwith the headline “Car going wrong way on busy Oakville street hits and injures2cyclists”,itmakesitaveryeffecveandnewsworthyphoto.

The Niagara-on-the-Lake community is very fortunate to have Dave Van de Laar share his passion for the region and his love for photography. Whether events, sports, or wildlife, his photos are well composed and give readers a glimpse of what the area has to offer. A very strong community photo with accompanying story shows the determinaon of the child parcipang in the event. Low angle and good ming to capture the expression and angle of arms and legs add to the impact. A dramac feature photo of a Canada goose on take-off captured the decisive moment with the posion of the wings adding to the symmetry of the photo, while the water splashes add to movement and breaks up the monotone background. A beaufully composed news photo with subject placement following the rule of thirds and having the swimmer’s torso break up the horizon line. The “Year in the Life” box accompanying the photo provides a nice triangle effect, helping to anchor the photo and give context. A great sport acon capturing the decisive moment as the Thunderhawks player goeshorizontaltoscoreagoalduringalacrossegame.

Judge

Wayne Shiels Photographer, Clark’s Crossing Gazee, Warman, SK

GENERAL COMMENT

Photographs are the eyes of the community. It takes thought, skill and an understanding of your subject to convey your message. Both entries showed amazing talent that is a real benefit to readers of the publicaons they are featured in.

Wayne Shiels is a photographer for Clark’s Crossing Gazee in Warman, Saskatchewan. Originally a nature and wildlife photographer who was the outdoor photography columnist for the now defunct Western Canada Outdoors and was published regularly in numerous books, magazines, and calendars. In the past he served as a guest judge and provided criques for the Saskatoon Camera Club. More recently he has been a judge for the Showcase of the Arts photographycompeonheldyearlyattheSaskatoonEx.In2010he joinedtheCCGazeeteamwherehisloveforphotographyandequal loveforcommunityhaveprovidedtheperfectcreaveoutlet.

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT

DAVE VAN DE LAAR

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DUNDAS STAR NEWS MIKE VUKOVICH

Vukovich has an eye catching drawing style. Clean and colourful, his classic cartoon flair delivers the message with clarity and ease, as he putssharpfocusonlocalissues.

ELMIRA-WOOLWICH OBSERVER SCOTT ARNOLD

Arnold delivers some good concepts in a clean style, somewhat reminiscent of a graphic novel look. His virtual reality concept makes a strong statement on food insecurity. Strong entry, though the lack of a supporng leer le me somewhat in the dark regarding some of the issues.

PORT PERRY, THE STANDARD WALT RADDA

Radda shows good drawing ability and with that, clarity of message. The Darth Vader/mask concept is very funny. This also gives it good impact.

GENERAL COMMENT

Therequiredemphasisonlocalissueswasstronginallentriesthis year, as was the arsc level. For judging, it was easier to determine the impact of the cartoon in those submissions that included a supporng leer describing the issue to which each cartoon was speaking. This generally helpsclarify its relevance for those of us outside the parcular community. It should also be noted that while colour is not always an opon for cartoonists in their hardcopy papers, (and was not a consideraon in judging), an effort to use colour will always make the cartoon more eye catching to the reader if there is an online version of the publicaon.

Judge

Bruce MacKinnon

Editorial Cartoonist, The Chronicle Herald, Halifax, NS

For more than 35 years, Bruce MacKinnon has been the editorial cartoonist for the Halifax Chronicle Herald. Over his career he has won numerous regional, naonal, and internaonal awards. His work has been published and exhibited across the globe, featured on a Canadian naonal postage stamp, and is part of the permanent collecons of the Naonal Archives of Canada, the U.S. Library of Congress and the Art Gallery of Nova Scoa among other galleries and instuons. He is a member of the Order of Nova Scoa and the OrderofCanada.

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UXBRIDGE COSMOS - SPECIAL EARLY EDITION

This enre edion brought tears to my eyes. When there were no other means of communicaon available, the team of the Uxbridge Cosmos went above and beyond to bring crucial informaon to its residents. What a unique opportunity for a newspaper to do what it was meant to do. I could go on and on about how outstanding the newspaper edion is and the folks who made it happen. But just wow. Welldone.

EGANVILLE LEADER - FUNDRAISER FOR UKRAINE

Excellent work organizing a fundraiser for Ukraine to mark the anniversary of the Eganville Leader. Outstanding coverage leading up to and including the event. Thinking outside the borders of Eganville broughtthegenerosityofitscizenstoagloballevel.Welldone!

THE HALDIMAND PRESS - 2022 PROVINCIAL ELECTION DEBATE

Outstanding work organizing a polical forum to bring to local residents. Congratulaons on a successfulevent.

GENERAL COMMENT

The entries for Community Service all went beyond the normal community service mission of the newspaper and were a pleasure toread.Ilikedhowmostentrieshadadifferentcausetosupportand enhance its community. It was also reassuring to see the global impact our smaller communies can have. Well done and please connuetoaimhighandthinkoutsideofthebox.

Karen Gibson Freelance Journalist, Alberta

Karen’s journalism career began in the early 1990’s with a wee Southern Alberta community newspaper (The Nanton News) aer graduang from SAIT’s Journalism Arts program. Being part of a small team, Karen experienced every aspect of the industry, including covering stories, adversing sales and design, photography (as well as souping film in the darkroom and prinng), page layout (complete with light table and wax), eding, stuffing flyers and delivering the paper. She le the industry in 2000 to raise her family, but sll tries to keep her hand in journalism byfreelancing when she can. She currently works as part of a finance and accounng team for a large ranching/farm group of companies and is sll an acve member of the small community that welcomed her as a young writer.

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CAMBRIDGE TIMES

A headline that literally has 'bite'! The photo makes the most of what could have been a dull pic by dramacally changing the angle. The ads compete with the editorial content, although they are beer controlled and understated in comparison to other submissions. This story, image and strong design makethemostofwhat'savailable,otherthantheunnecessary"Impacng"element.

STONEY CREEK NEWS

A fairly clean front page, with a funconal photo, and good wring around a community issue. The 'Impacng' banner should be dropped and consideraon given to replacing the house ad on the right railwithsomethingofmorereaderinterestandpurpose.

MIDLAND/PENETANGUISHENE MIRROR

It's hard to compete with major news events for 'best front page.' In this case, this is a very strong fire photo, and good headline/subdeck wring. Yet, this entry just missed first place due to outdated and unnecessaryelementsinthedesign.Whyputan"Impacngyourcommunity"chevronontopofagreat news pic? Scan codes to access news in a print product was an experiment that was quickly abandoned bymostnewsagenciesmanyyearsago.Usethatspaceforthefirestory.

GENERAL COMMENT

This category featured some great stories, examples of fine photography, and a few instances of bright, descripve wring. It also encompassed some outdated ill-considered design elements, such as a very heavy black and white "Impacng your community" chevron commonly laid over strong photos, or on top of headlines clearly capable of delivering impact without the graphic. Also detracng from most front page presentaons were the presence of excessively coloured, dominant ads, along with anquated scan codes for news or bright teaser boxes for online that contain no informaon. As a general rule, editorial departments in this category are doing their best, but are oen unsupported by clean, well-considered design. Ads on the front page are a fact of the print business, but some boundaries should be applied to let the news lead.

Andrew Holota

Editorial Director, Black Press Media, BC

Andrew Holota recently rered as the editorial director of Black Press Media, the largest independently owned newspaper company in Canada, with more than 150 tles in print and online in Brish Columbia, Alberta, the Yukon, Washington, Hawaii, and Alaska. In his role, Andrew oversaw editorial strategies and standards, including print and digital, coordinated hiring, training, and mentoring programs for mulmedia journalists, and provided first-line legal advice to the chain’s publicaons. Andrew's journalism career began more than 40 years ago as a photographer. He moved into reporng and was an editor at various B.C. community newspapers. Throughout his career, he haswonnumerousprovincial,naonal,andconnentalawards.

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NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT

Niagara-on-the Lake’s Lake Report edged out its nearest rival for top spot thanks to its lively and engaging wring. The reporters strove to be more than mere fact-providers; they put effort into their story telling.Nice,crisplayoutaddedtotheappealandallowedforacleanpresentaonofatotaloffive stories, each with reader appeal and adding to the community’s understanding of itself. Photography couldbemorecreave,butitsusewasslleffecve.

BURKS FALLS ALMAGUIN NEWS

The Burks Falls Almaguin News earned second place with its two strong lead stories about the outcome of a police shoong of a young mother, covering both the personal and legal aspects of such a tragedy. Using appealing design, the News also adds one more crime story and a story of public interest into the mix.Again,photographycouldbestrongerbutsllcontributedtoapleasingpackage.

LISTOWEL BANNER

The Listowel Banner presented three stories of compelling public interest to earn its third-place win: a major victory for a local sports team, capturing the tension and thrill of the championship game, a heart-warming story about a woman whose cancer death inspires the community to support local healthcare facilies, and a news story about a truck plowing into the side of a building. There were meswhenmoreclarityinwringstylewasneeded,butoverall,afineeffort.

GENERAL COMMENT

It takes a lot to grab a print newspaper reader’s aenon in this age ofdigitalcontentthat’soenaccessiblelongbeforetheinkbeginsto hit the paper’s front page. Stories have to be engaging and offer new informaon, photos have to be eye-catching, and layout has to be crispandclean.

Martha Perkins is a rered newspaper editor who has helmed award-winning community newspapers in Ontario’s coage country and Brish Columbia’s Lower Mainland.

Judge

Martha Perkins

Rered journalist of 30 years, Ontario and BC

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LISTOWEL INDEPENDENT PLUS - COUNTRY LIFE - SPRING 2022

This publicaon really hit all the touch points of the qualificaons for entry: the majority of the arcles were wrien by the paper's reporters, there were a lot of ads that were relevant to readers, and the arcles were all relatable not only to the farming community, but also to anyone who would pick up the vercal to read. They ranged from the praccal and instrucve, to stories about local farm families and theexpansionofahome-grownfoodbusinesstoonefarmthatherdsbison.Reallywelldone.

HUNTSVILLE FORESTER - ALGONQUIN LIFE

Algonquin Life is a beauful magazine, laid out on quality mae paper and filled with excellently photographed images and thoughully researched and wrien arcles. Although the ad-to-editorial rao is a bit low, all of the arcles are interesng, informave and highlight the beauty and importance oftheregiontoallwhoventureintoitswildness,andtothosewhohavenotyethadtheexperience.

CORNWALL SEAWAY NEWS - CORNWALL LIVING

Cornwall Living is a beaufully laid out magazine, filled with interesng editorial and a lot of ads. A good readthatisveryrelatabletothecommunity.Whereitlostpointswasinthelackofcopyeding.

GENERAL COMMENT

This is the second year I am judging this category and I must say how impressed I was, once again, with the entries. I read through each and every one of them twice. Choosing "the best" among them was not an easy task, since they all reflected the dedicaon and hard work that goes into a print magazine. However, there were a few that truly excelled, and so have been designated as the award winners.

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

Marlene Eisner is the editor of RENO+DECOR magazine and New Home and Condo Guide, naonal magazines with local edions published in the GTA, Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver. Before movingtoTorontoin2014,MarlenelivedinMontrealandworked asareporter,associateeditor,andeditor-in-chiefattheSuburban Newspaper (1994-2007), and freelance writer and editor-in-chief at the NDG Free Press (2011-2014). She has won nine community newspaperawardsinthebestcolumncategory.

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EGANVILLE LEADER

Eganville Leader was the best in this group thanks to an array of coverage and stronger layout. But sll could improve its community coverage. Community sports is more than hockey and recapping game scores ... especially when you are not a daily. Add more features, colour in your stories, and good acon shots,butavoidfillingspacewithteamphotos.Letyoursportspagesbreathe!

ST. MARYS INDEPENDENT

Runner-uphonoursgotoSt.MarysIndependent.Yes,theLincolnsdominatethepages-butcommunity sports is more than hockey, and there's no need to give a goal-by-goal descripon of every game. What about some colour in your stories? Avoid team photos ... include acon photos! Remember in a weekly paper, your scores are old news. Broaden your audience - high school sports, features on athletes. Lots ofpotenalwiththespaceyoureceiveforsportscoverage.

NEW LISKEARD TEMISKAMING SPEAKER

The Speaker took third spot in a secon featuring just eight submissions. Try to avoid filling sports space withgrip’n’grinsandteamphotos.Useaconforarttocomplimentthewords.

GENERAL COMMENT

Having a long career covering daily and community sports, and laying out provincial/naonal award-winning secons, judging the best sports secon always piques my interest when I start perusing the entries. Disappointed in what's happening to our sports secons in communitynewspapers-buriedinads,and whytheuseof grip'ngrins andteamphotos?Lazysportscoverage.Justfillspace?!Sportsisabout acon photography, to enhance the wrien words. Speaking of words. How about some colour in the stories. And more than just hockey coverage. Yes, hockey is Canada's No. 1 sport, but don't ignore your high school sports coverage. And Ontario high schools providea sports scribe with plenty of stories to write - especially feature arcles.

Xavier Editor, Shilo Stag, CFB Shilo, MB

It has been 38 years since editor Lorne Drury (now rered) offered him his first reporter job at the Brampton Guardian, and he is sll going like the Energizer Bunny. Currently in Manitoba looking aer the award-winning army newspaper Shilo Stag, which published its first edion in July 1947, he's kept busy in a two-person newsroom which focuses on army life, including infantry 2PPCLI and arllery 1RCHA soldiers. Xavier has been with the Stag for nine years and is finally set to rere in July as the 76-year-old Stag’s longest serving editor. He relocated from Vancouver Island following newspaper and radio jobs in Ontario, B.C., and Alberta. Being embedded among soldiers who are honing their fighng skills for deployment to Ukraine or Latvia is a lot more fun than covering school board or city council meengs.

Judge

Jules

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LISTOWEL INDEPENDENT PLUS MILVERTON FIRE DEPARTMENT 100TH ANNIVERSARY

Great secon! The secon pages are easy to idenfy with the matching borders and colour theme. Storiesareinteresngandadslookgreat.

CORNWALL SEAWAY NEWS CHRISTMAS AT HOME

Beauful magazine print. Very appealing and something people would pick up off the shelf. Something that most magazines include is a table of contents/teaser story list. I thought the 21 things to do was a tableofcontents-oops.Lovethelayoutandideasincluded.

FERGUS WELLINGTON ADVERTISER ARTHUR 150TH ANNIVERSARY

Great -nicewaytocommemoratethisevent.Niceadsandgoodstories.Layoutlackscreavity.

GENERAL COMMENT

These are all great secons recognizing special occasions. Great job in alldepartments.

Amanda Zimmer is the publisher of the Claresholm Local Press and hasbeeninthecommunitynewspaperbusinessforover20yearsas agraphicdesigner.Shegainedherfirstexperienceworkinginaprint shop as her aer school job in high school. She completed her Prinng Management Technologies diploma at SAIT. She is involved with many organizaons within her community, such as the Claresholm & District Chamber of Commerce, the Welcoming Claresholm Commiee, Skye-Anna Dance society board, and Summer Games Planning Commiee. She is also on the AWNA board of directors. Amanda loves living in a small community and being a part of the connecon people have to each other through their paper. She believes the newspaper is the hub of their community and loves to see people reading and sharing it.

Judge

Amanda Zimmer Publisher, Claresholm Local Press, Claresholm, AB

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THE HALDIMAND PRESS - FARMS: HARVEST 2022

Wow! Great stuff. Loved the idea. Loved the read. Definitely stood out from the rest. I like that you explain the evoluon of this secon, too bad you didn't break up that copy with mugs of the copublishers, but that's a minor detail. Stories are interesng throughout. Love the fact boxes, cheat sheets, pull quotes, and efforts in layout to make the pages appealing, drawing in the readers. Nice clean layout overall. Even loved the different shapes and sizes of pics! Great variety of farming topics, too. Talk about strong ad support, with clean design for ads, too. Like the cover, but a lile disappointed to see a hanging banner on a project like this. Understand the toe lugs, but not the banner ad. Also appreciate efforts through much of it to keep a modular layout. Plus, and this has to be applauded, the kids’secon,well,allIcansayis:"ACES!"

RENFREW MERCURY - RENFREW 150TH ANNIVERSARY

Very striking cover, KUDOS. Not a fan of the browning of old papers for anniversary issues, but it's not too bad here. Love the simple clear banner across. You didn't try to overload it. Some great and concise stories inside. Good clean layout and good imagery. Looks like some great ad support for the project. Too bad it couldn't be placed in there as a pullout secon. Thanks for not only looking backwards with yourstories,oldads,andart.Youalsohavesomearclesthatspeaktopresentandfuture,whichiscool. Especially love the inclusion of the oen forgoen end of our industry - the people who get our papers infrontofourreaders-ourcarriers.Welldone!

BARRY'S BAY, THE VALLEY GAZETTE - CHRISTMAS

This Christmas edion was loaded with lots of great stories and acvies for the reader. There's a lot of real good ideas executed here, everything from staff tradions to efforts to interact with kids. The message on the front and staff pics along the boom are nice. Liked the top graphics and most of the headline fonts. A few suggesons. While it's nice to add in the Christmas history stories (Virginia and T'was), local copy should have lead the special secon. I like the efforts to reach and involve children and schools, but the large leers to Santa banners are too big. One per page would have been okay, but even that is a bit much. Graphics in the ads are strong and very fesve and differ from ad to ad. Well done. Christmas carol pages look nice with headlines and graphics; however the lyrics are hard to read. Inclusionofpoetrywasanicetouch,too.Overall,arealfeel-goodChristmassecon.Reallywelldone.

GENERAL COMMENT

Thanks to all the contestants in this category for all the extra effort you put in on these special secons. Your commitment to your readers and to your industry are apparent – and appreciated. Congratulaons to the papers that reached the remarkable 150, 155, and 160-year marks – that in itself is an incredible feat deserving of kudos. The anniversary edions you created helped the readers celebrate that milestone. I also salute staff at the papers who took me to honour our soldiers (past and present) with a special Remembrance Day secon. A must for any publicaon. Hats off to you for your efforts, especially those who included feature stories about locals. I have to say the secons that grabbed me as different and unexpected were the 11th annual Irish edion and the Farms Harvest 2022. Unique ideas that were very well executed. Plus the Carry the Torch was a visually appealing and interesng read. Thanks for reminding me that every story doesn’t have to be epic to be meaningful. Great design. Kudos all around! And again, thanks for creang some really great special secons. You shouldallbeproud.

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

Roxanne Hooper has been in the newspaper industry since age 15, starng her career right in Langley – at the then Langley Advance. While she has also worked for newspapers in Abbotsford, Mission, MapleRidge-PiMeadows,andKamloops,shehasastrongpassion for sharing stories about the people in her hometown of Langley. Needless to say, she was excited to return to the local team in 2006, as a reporter. She has since taken over the leadership role in the newsroom as group editor. She’s said she wakes up every day excited about what new challenges will befall this evolving industry and moreover what excing stories she and the team will find and share within their community.

WISHES 2021

Roxanne Hooper

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NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT UPPER CANADA FOOD GUIDE

This one stood out as a creave soluon for all pares. The descripon nong it was part of a weekly feature was also a key factor in scoring high. Niceuse of image and editorial to introduce the item with a cleararacvefrontpage.Thelarge,cleanadsmadethemeasytouseasintended-topulloutandkeep addinglongevitytotheitem.

SMITHS FALLS RECORD NEWS

SMITHS FALLS HONOURS LPGA SUPERSTAR - BROOKE HENDERSON

A creave idea with the team element evident. The editorial copy was clearly wrien to the purpose and to the space adversing allowed for. Ads are large enough and clean enough to have impact, despitesomeofthembeingtextheavy.Designrosetothechallengeonthose.

MANITOULIN EXPOSITOR FARM SAFETY

Excellenteditorial,clearlyintendedforthisusealongsidelarge,clean,andthoughtoutadversing.

GENERAL COMMENT

Itwasfantasctoseesomanytrulyteamprojectsinthiscategory.

Christine van Reeuwyk Senior journalist, Oak Bay News, Oak Bay, BC

Aer finishing journalism school in 2002, Chrisne van Reeuwyk returned home to Vancouver Island to embark on a career. She has since worked in newsrooms from Victoria to Port Hardy and back again. A mul award winner on the provincial and naonal level, Chrisne has worked as editor of Black Press papers across Greater Victoria and now serves the community of Oak Bay.

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

You've managed to personalize the business...we get expert advice from Wally, supported by Patch. Consistent design in the three ads for this campaign, with the copy adjusted for that month's advice. Goodeffortforyourmedium.Patchwouldbeproud.

FERGUS WELLINGTON ADVERTISER - ALICIA ROZA

Niceuseofsomestocktemplates...withgoodplacementoftherelavearaconsoftheevent.

FORT FRANCES TIMES - TANYA JEROME

ThetreatmentoftheYOGAwordheadlinegrabsaenon,andthendrawsyouintotheuniqueimageof the"onthedock"yogaparcipants.Imagineifthey'dsprungforfullcolour!

GENERAL COMMENT

A strong creave ad can be put together for your customer with some simple stock images/stock illustraons, or even a trip out to their business to take some pics (I'm looking at you Patch the Cat). It doesn't have to be expensive in producon to work. It's going to be a tough market in 2023...let your customers know that you can create eyecatchingadswithinaghtbudget.

Wayne

Aubert Professor,

Adversing and Markeng Communicaons Management Program, Mohawk College, ON

Wayne is a Professor in the Adversing and Markeng Communicaons Management program at Mohawk College. He enjoys reading his weekly Hamilton Mountain News.

Judge

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

The designer at The Lake Report newspaper wanted to celebrate with a bang and that rings loud and clear! Wow. This entry is incredible. A winning effort to highlight the OCNA awards received the previous year. The first three pages are so well planned and designed with gorgeous material showcased within the pages too. This entry is no queson design excellence, although I feel page 4 was unnecessaryanditdidn'treallyfitintothisparcularpromoon.Reallyincrediblework!

FORT FRANCES TIMES - LEANNE DONALDSON

Ilovethisad!It'ssobright,colourfulandfun!Themetakenandthoughtbehindeachcommentbubble shows the commitment the designer made to knock this ad straight out of the park! The visual impact is dynamite.WhatagreatjobandfantascwaytointroducethecommunityofFortFrancestotheteamat theirlocalpaper!ExcellentJob!

GENERAL COMMENT

Really great job with this In House Promoon. Clean and clear and shows great promoonal pieces for the paper and pride in its community. The designer handled this with obvious skill and care. Nice work by designer and good idea by the Elmira-Woolwich Observer in general for offering local merchandise. Coolidea.

Judge

Andrea Hillo Publisher and Graphic Design, Haiburton, ON

The work produced by the entries for Best In-House Promoon were all effecve in raising awareness for their papers. However, the top three showed design excellence and ad originality. The top three clearly took me, effort, thought, and incredible creave talent and vision. They clearly show pride in their work, paper and the communiestheyserve.Congratulaons!

Andrea’sdesignpassionandcreavethinkinghaveaffordedherthe privilege of working with some of Canada’s leading forces of art and culture, including arst Michael Dumas, author Roy MacGregor, arst/musician Mendelson Joe, and legendary naturalist/arst Robert Bateman. She is an award winning freelance graphic arst and independent book publisher who has owned her own community newspaper and is a past OCNA award winner, judge, and member. Andrea has worked in the newspaper/publishing industry for over 30 years.

ELMIRA-WOOLWICH OBSERVER - PAT MERLIHAN

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NORTH WELLINGTON COMMUNITY NEWS - ALICIA ROZA

Veryclassyad!Nicelayoutandcreaveuseofgraphics.Veryeyecatching.

PORT PERRY, THE STANDARD - COLLEEN GREEN

Lovetheuseofthepun.Greatuseofwhitespaceinkeepingthelayoutsimpleandclassic.

HALIBURTON, THE HIGHLANDER - TANIA MOHER

Nice ad. Great use of white space. I would have put the discount % in front of the store wide. I think it readsbeer.

Judge

GENERAL COMMENT

Nice ads! Great work between the sales teams and designers to create clear,comprehensivemessages.

Sponsored by: Metro Creave Graphics

Amanda Zimmer is the publisher of the Claresholm Local Press and hasbeeninthecommunitynewspaperbusinessforover20yearsas agraphicdesigner.Shegainedherfirstexperienceworkinginaprint shop as her aer school job in high school. She completed her Prinng Management Technologies diploma at SAIT. She is involved with many organizaons within her community, such as the Claresholm & District Chamber of Commerce, the Welcoming Claresholm Commiee, Skye-Anna Dance society board, and Summer Games Planning Commiee. She is also on the AWNA board of directors. Amanda loves living in a small community and being a part of the connecon people have to each other through their paper. She believes the newspaper is the hub of their community and loves to see people reading and sharing it.

Amanda Zimmer Publisher, Claresholm Local Press, Claresholm, AB

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DEEP RIVER NORTH RENFREW TIMES - JANE BARKLEY

Lovethisdesign.Greatcolourchoicesforawinterad.Jumpsoffthepage.

PORT PERRY, THE STANDARD - COLLEEN GREEN

Greatad!Veryeyecatchingandstandsoutonthepage.

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

Great ad for yourselves. Relevant messaging in clear, concise points. Gonna steal this idea for my own paper!

GENERAL COMMENT

Toughtopickawinnerinthiscategory.Alladsareverygood.

Amanda Zimmer Publisher, Claresholm Local Press, Claresholm, AB

Amanda Zimmer is the publisher of the Claresholm Local Press and hasbeeninthecommunitynewspaperbusinessforover20yearsas agraphicdesigner.Shegainedherfirstexperienceworkinginaprint shop as her aer school job in high school. She completed her Prinng Management Technologies diploma at SAIT. She is involved with many organizaons within her community, such as the Claresholm & District Chamber of Commerce, the Welcoming Claresholm Commiee, Skye-Anna Dance society board, and Summer Games Planning Commiee. She is also on the AWNA board of directors. Amanda loves living in a small community and being a part of the connecon people have to each other through their paper. She believes the newspaper is the hub of their community and loves to see people reading and sharing it.

PORT PERRY, THE STANDARD - NATASHA GREEN

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Excellent example of the colour white bringing life to full colour. Beauful layout shows the adverser's products clearlyand instantly. Love the colour swatch bar running up the centre of page. Great balance. Welldone!

HONOURABLE MENTION

Nice use of colour. The bright and light copy works well to balance the black background. I like that they used a gradient yellow and red as the font colour to emphasize the business being fireplaces and grills. Nicejob.Thisadmusthavereallypoppedoffthepage!

NORTH WELLINGTON COMMUNITY NEWS - ALICIA ROZA

Great use of red as spot colour. The solid black starbursts work well with the red and white. I did have to look at their website to see exactly what they sold. The ad didn't makeitreallyclear.Overallgreatuseofcolour.

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT - RICHARD HARLEY Crisp and cool! I feel cold looking at this ad! :) Beaufully simple and does call for immediate acon. The adverser must have been pleasedwiththisadrepresenngtheircompany.Nicejob.

GENERAL COMMENT

The use of colour can oen be tricky. Too much or too lile can make a world of difference especially when prinng on newsprint. The top four of this category show confidence in their design choices and use colour to enhance their message, not overpower it. I liked the use of white in the winning ad, and black in the second place ad to compliment the colours being used. Nice to see a couple spot colour adstoo!Greatwork.Congratulaons!

Andrea Hillo Publisher and Graphic Design, Haiburton, ON

Andrea’sdesignpassionandcreavethinkinghaveaffordedherthe privilege of working with some of Canada’s leading forces of art and culture, including arst Michael Dumas, author Roy MacGregor, arst/musician Mendelson Joe, and legendary naturalist/arst Robert Bateman. She is an award winning freelance graphic arst and independent book publisher who has owned her own community newspaper and is a past OCNA award winner, judge, and member. Andrea has worked in the newspaper/publishing industry for over 30 years.

FERGUS WELLINGTON ADVERTISER - STEVE GILHOLM

WEBPORTAL, CIRC. OVER 10,000

HAMILTON MOUNTAIN NEWS

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THESPEC.COM/LOCAL-HAMILTON-MOUNTAIN/HOME.HTML

Acleanwebsite.Easytonavigate,withstronglocalcontentandavarietyofothercategories.Localvideo to support stories and reader engagement opportunies such as polls, or invitaons to contribute, wouldmakethiswinningsitemuchstronger.

CAMBRIDGE TIMES

CAMBRIDGETIMES.CA

Another clean website design, with content arranged in an easy to find fashion. More photos add to the appealofthislayout.

ANCASTER NEWS

THESPEC.COM/LOCAL-ANCASTER/HOME.HTML

Third place is based on the same website template as the winners, which offered slightly stronger contentintheirentry.

GENERAL COMMENT

Almost all of the entries in this category had well-designed websites, with some easier to navigate than others. Local content was good overall but video storytelling is integral to good news websites, so the general absence of that in the entries was surprising. Also, efforts could be made to add more reader interacvity to all the sites, such as polls,quizzesandinvitaonstocontributecontent.

Andrew Holota

Editorial Director, Black Press Media, BC

Andrew Holota recently rered as the editorial director of Black Press Media, the largest independently owned newspaper company in Canada, with more than 150 tles in print and online in Brish Columbia,Alberta,theYukon,Washington,Hawaii,andAlaska.Inhis role, Andrew oversaw editorial strategies and standards, including print and digital, coordinated hiring, training, and mentoring programs for mulmedia journalists, and provided first-line legal advicetothechain’spublicaons.Andrew'sjournalismcareerbegan more than 40 years ago as a photographer. He moved into reporng and was an editor at various B.C. community newspapers. Throughout his career, he has won numerous provincial, naonal, and connental awards.

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HONOURABLE MENTION

FORT FRANCES TIMES - FFTIMES.COM

This is a busy website, but it's not so busy that it makes the reader want to leave. The drop-down menus are very detailed, and you can get to wherever it is you want to go quickly. Local content is front and centre, and that's key when you want people to sck around. I chose this site as the winner because from the moment I visited, something always caught my eye that I wanted to read or learn more about. Simple websites are oen the best, but you want to give the visitor a reason to stay and play. This site doesthat.

VANKLEEK HILL REVIEW - THEREVIEW.CA

For a publicaon which depends on donaons, this is a rather impressive operaon. I like how everything is laid out and there's a good mix of community news with sports sprinkled in. A lile somethingforeveryonewhentheylogon.Itisvisuallypleasingontheeyes,nothingoverpowering.

WILMOT - TAVISTOCK GAZETTE - WILMOTPOST.CA

Really nice local sports coverage and current news that readers will see as soon as they visit. Also like the interacvity of the site where ps can be submied for news, community events and leers. The leers/opinionporoniswherethissiteislacking,buttherestmakesupforthat.

LISTOWELBANNER-MIDWESTERNNEWSPAPERS.COM

My favourite part about this website is the amount of local sports coverage. As an old sports editor myself, that is always a big sell in a small community. People like to see that and that's from experience here in Yellowknife. Good local news content in there as well. The onlydrawbackbeingtheopinionpage.Otherthanthat,verynice.

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE,THELAKEREPORT-NIAGARANOW.COM

I don't know what the site used to look like, but this was my first visit to the site and I enjoyed it. Simple is always beer and that's what you get with this site. A nice use of photography with each arcle andaneasysitemap.Verynice.

GENERAL COMMENT

All the entries had their own style, which probably works for their region. Some had plenty of good local content in one shot on one day, some had one or two fresh stories per day. A lot of the sites were simple in nature, which is good. The busier it looks; the more things can get lost. Most of the sites were easy to navigate and the informaon was easy to get to. A couple of the sites had news which wasoutofdatebyseveralweeksandthat’sneveragoodsign. Mytopthreeandhonourablemenonsweretheoneswhichstoodout to me as I was vising those sites for the very first me. Well done to youallandkeepupthegoodcommunitynewsfight.

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

James McCarthy has been with NNSL Media since 2007. He began as the sports editor and performed several other dues on the side before being gently nudged to take on the managing editor's role in August 2022. James is a past OCNA award winner for his work with Nunavut News and has won several other regional and naonal awards for his sports wring and event coverage.

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HALIBURTON, THE HIGHLANDER

Outstanding work in using online and print to cover the civic elecon. The use of podcast was able to reach a younger demographic and liked that the material was used to print opinion pieces. The produconofthetwoshowsensuredacomprehensivecoveragefortheelecon.

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

A great way to approach this important & debatable topic with the support of interacve online maps, makingthedatasupportofthestoryclearandprecise.

BURLINGTON POST - LOUIE ROSELLA & BAMBANG SADEWO

Great resources for the music fesvals with showstoppers, videos,and an interacve map. Opportunity toexpandittoayearroundchannelwithinthewebsite.

GENERAL COMMENT

All entries are massive projects which require extra preparaon, innovaon and using different plaorms to aract the non-tradional print newspaper audience. Shoutout to their me commitment in going that extra mile to build new digital audience, which is essenal fornewsmediaoutletsthesedays.

Alvin Chow Publisher, Richmond News, Richmond, BC

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

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MILTON CANADIAN CHAMPION

HERB GARBUTT, LOUIE ROSELLA & GRAHAM PAINE

First place eventually went to the Milton Canadian Champion for its clear and comprehensive coverage of four local shoongs: a police officer killed on break at Tim Hortons, a near-fatal car-jacking nearby, the killing of an auto shop owner and the fatal police shoong of the perpetrator. There were many movingpieces in a highly charged atmosphere. What made the coverage so compelling were profiles of twoofthevicms,whichgaveshapetounderstandingtheeventsleadinguptosuchtragiclossesoflife.

BARRIE ADVANCE

JOHN EDWARDS, FRANK MATYS & SARA CARSON

SecondplacewenttotheBarrieAdvanceforitshighlyresponsivereporngonanaccidentthatkilledsix local teenagers. The challenge was piecing together a complicated meline of events and the somewhat bizarre nature of the accident. (The vehicle was not found for hours aer the teens were reported missing because it fell into a deep pit at a closed road construcon site.) By focusing on the vicms,andaendingthecrashsitememorial,thetruescopeofthetragedywasmadecleartoreaders.

CARLETON PLACE/ALMONTE CANADIAN GAZETTE

HOLLIE PRATT-CAMPBELL & ASHLEY KULP

The difference between third place and honourable menon was equally ght. Eventually third place went to the Carlton Place/Almonte Canadian Gazee for its coverage of a weekend storm that downed power lines and caused widespread damage. The reporng team sourced out a variety of people to interviewinaverymelymanner.

HONOURABLE MENTION

SMITHS FALLS RECORD NEWS - LAURIE WEIR, MELISSA

NOVACASKA & HOLLIE PRATT-CAMPBELL - Honourable menon wenttotheSmithFallsRecordNewsforitsquickandcomprehensive coverage of a pre-Christmas fire that destroyed a local fire staon. Interviewsmadetheimpactrealforreaders.

GENERAL COMMENT

The top four entries in this category all demonstrated exemplary reporng of both the news angles of a devastang community event and the human impact. Judging seesawed between all four, with narrower and narrower criteria needing to be applied to come up with a ranking. How difficult was it to get informaon? Were reporters on thescene?

Martha Perkins is a rered newspaper editor who has helmed award-winning community newspapers in Ontario’s coage country and Brish Columbia’s Lower Mainland.

Judge

Martha Perkins

Rered journalist of 30 years, Ontario and BC

EXPERIENCE FOR A STORY

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MISSISSAUGA NEWS IAIN COLPITTS & ALEXANDRA HECK

Strong interacve graphics and a map help guide the reader through a complex chain of events in mulple shoongs. Some supporng video would have boosted this entry into a higher mark; however, theeffortanddesignthatwentintoenhancingthisstorymakesitthewinner.

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT

RICHARD HARLEY &

NICHOLAS ROTHWELL

A fairly well wrien piece, albeit with too much aribuon to each bit of informaon. Feature writers can and should take much more narrave freedom in presenng facts if there is an obvious and connuous source throughout the piece. The video is very well done, with different angles, close-ups and quote clips. Some of the segments on mushrooms just begged for descripve capons, since readerswanttoknowwhatthey'relookingat.

GEORGINA ADVOCATE

AMANDA PERSICO & KIM ZARZOUR

Solid invesgave reporng, with the use of some slick, interacve graphics. Video footage of the protest andsomesoundbytesfromsourceswouldhaveaddedtotheappeal.

Andrew Holota Editorial Director, Black Press Media, BC

GENERAL COMMENT

Although there were only a handful of entries in this category, several showedgoodcreaveefforttohelpreadersvisualizeandunderstanda story. Timelines and interacve maps were used effecvely in a few entries, but were not accompanied by video, which would have enhanced the presentaon even more, or vice versa. There's no doubt graphics and videos are me-consuming, but they are vital online elements that invite readers to engage, spend more me with a piece, andleavefeelingwell-informed.

Andrew Holota recently rered as the editorial director of Black Press Media, the largest independently owned newspaper company in Canada, with more than 150 tles in print and online in Brish Columbia,Alberta,theYukon,Washington,Hawaii,andAlaska.Inhis role, Andrew oversaw editorial strategies and standards, including print and digital, coordinated hiring, training, and mentoring programs for mulmedia journalists, and provided first-line legal advicetothechain’spublicaons.Andrew'sjournalismcareerbegan more than 40 years ago as a photographer. He moved into reporng and was an editor at various B.C. community newspapers. Throughout his career, he has won numerous provincial, naonal, and connental awards.

Judge

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE LAKE REPORT DAVE VAN DE LAAR & KEVIN MACLEAN 1

Kids having fun can make good community stories, and knowing that video can somemes be an aerthought, I applaud the videographer for their work here. The horizontal pans, pushes, and movement were smooth and thoughul, making for a comfortable viewing experience and the angle andlighngwerewellthoughtoutandcapturedcutechildrenhavingagreatme,whichiswonderful.

Things to watch out for next me. I always look for opportunies to maximize visual interest, so even without eding, it is possible to mix in medium shots and close-ups to your great wide shots. This will add variety and intenon into the video to really see the smiles and fun chaos of children and parents. This could have added some extra elements to keep audiences engaged throughout the duraon of the video.

At one point, I also saw your thumb cover the lens, which somemes happens but is definitely something to think about for next me. However, you recovered quickly, which is great. Nice job and I hopetoconnuetoseeyououttheremakingvideos.

GENERAL COMMENT

The transition for newsrooms to incorporate video storytelling into the news cycle has been a challenging one for some, but the work in this years’ entries is proof that a great storyteller is a great storyteller,regardlessofthemedium.Congratulations!

Photo and video journalist Arnold Lim directed his first full-length feature film in 2020 and was awarded the Director’s Guild of Canada BC’s Greenlight award in 2022. He’s been a film fesval programmer for the Victoria Film Fesval and the Vancouver Asian Film Fesval and is the Execuve Director of the Black Press Video Networks in Victoria, Canada, where he has worked for 14 years.

College& University

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CENTENNIAL COLLEGE - ERIN HORROCKS-POPE

Erin Horrocks-Pope opens up in a brave account of her struggles with loneliness and depression during the pandemic, backed up with solid research and sources on the importance of pet companions in mentalhealth.Welldone.

ALGONQUIN COLLEGE - NATHAN DRESCHER

Nathan Drescher provides a very human look at the "other side" of the war in Ukraine, the effect on dissenngRussianstryingtomaketheirwayintheWest.Tightlywrien.

CENTENNIAL COLLEGE - KAI GAMMAGE

Kai Gammage provides an in-depth look at the struggle to rebound from the effects of COVID on a communitybeerknownforhighenergyandrawintensity.Greatresearch.

GENERAL COMMENT

This was a difficult category to judge - there wasn't a weak entry in the bunch. Congratulaons to all the writers! The winners set themselves apartbythenarrowestofmarginswithjustalile"something"more.

Judge

Terry Myers Editor in chief, North Renfrew Times, Deep River, ON

Aer graduang from the University of Toronto, Terry Myers began his community newspaper career with the North Renfrew Times (NRT) in his hometown of Deep River in 1986. He later worked for the Oawa Cizen and as news editor for the former Pembroke Daily News. He returned to the NRT as editor-in-chief in 1998 and in 2017, along with two other employees, purchased the newspaper from its previous owners, the Deep River Community Associaon. He has won mulple awards at the provincial and naonal level, including awards for news, feature, and editorial wring.

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DURHAM COLLEGE - JOEY COLE

A fine story about an important global issue. I would have liked it if the lede had a stronger personal connecon(ie.menonaparcipantbynameanddescribewhythey'rethere.)

FANSHAWE COLLEGE - AMY SIMON

Great story about a dramac rescue with great aenon to detail. Liked that the writer captured the humandramaofinternaonalstudentsmakingadifferencehere.

LOYALIST COLLEGE - JESSICA SCHMIDT

This was a fun story about a fun topic. I recommend the writer remember Strunk and White's maxim: "Omitneedlesswords."(ie"ciesandtowns"notneededinparagraphone).

GENERAL COMMENT

There is a lot of talent and potenal in this year’s crop of student journalists. I encourage everyone to never stop reading - both journalism and non-journalism sources - as this is the best way to honeyourcra.

Steve Warburton Editor, The Glengarry News, Alexandria,

ON

Steven Warburton has been the editor of The Glengarry News for nearly 20 years. He has worked regularly in Canadian newspapers since 1999.

Judge

LOYALIST

Excellentcomposion,lighng, andacon.Yourphotosdefinitely tellastoryandareengaging.Welldone.

Greataconshot.Ilovethefacial expressionsontheplayers.Itcan be difficult to get the lighng correct when photographing in an indoor arena, but you nailedit.Welldone.

LOYALIST

Thephotowastakenatan intriguingangle.Thelighngis great,asisthecolour.Veryinteresng.

GENERAL COMMENT

The majority of the photos entered were of outstanding technical quality. I would suggest that it is important to remember how you are framing up your photo. It is always a good idea to include more of the background than you think necessary, so when it comes me to crop it you have the ability to do so as a vercal or horizontal photo without cung someone’s foot or hat off. In the cropping stage bear in mind the horizon and the vercal lines of the buildings or other landmarks. Having a photo slightly crooked is distracng and looks unprofessional. That being said, cropping a photo on an intenon angle can be used for a great effect such as in the wrestling photo. Last but certainly not least, always make sure your photos tell a story.

Colleen Green

Owner/Publisher, The Standard News, North Durham/Kawartha, ON

I began my career in publishing as a graphic designer in 1987. Eventually working my way up to Night Shi Producon Manager at the Port Perry Star in 2000. In 2006 I went to work for the Scugog Standard newspaper, where I eventually became the General Manager. In 2016 I purchased the company and renamed it The Standard Newspaper. I have done everything from stuffing flyers, delivery, producon, sales, photography, wring, managing and accounng. There isn't an area of newspaper publishing that I haven'tdone.Ilovethisindustryandtheprivilegeitaffordsmetobe apartofandpromotemylocalcommunity.

COLLEGE FELIX CHAGNON

DURHAM COLLEGE CORRADO DISTEFANO

COLLEGE KAYLA ISOMURA

BEST COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY NEWSPAPER WEBSITE

FANSHAWE COLLEGE - THEINTERROBANG.CA

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This Interrobang’s design is clean, with a minimalist look. It seems to maintain a posive, upbeat voice, with the goal of a posive student experience. It doesn't delve into as many serious topics as many other student publicaons do, which could be posive or negave, depending on the goal of the publicaon. It has the biggest social media presence of all the finalists, with the largest number of followers. It engages with its readers, with contests and calls for submissions, including its upcoming Black History Month feature. It uses students, faculty and alumni as sources for stories, and each story comes with a writer bio, giving the reader a personal connecon to the site. There is a strong mulmedia presence throughout, with the use of podcasts, video and online arcles, all supported by social media.

CENTENNIAL COLLEGE - TORONTOOBSERVER.CA

Torontoobserver.ca is visually aracve and well designed. Its interface is intuive, and gives users mulple ways to find each category, so they can easily find the one which suits their preference. A very well-planned, easy to navigate site. The photo choices were striking, though it would have been nice to see less stock imagery, and more from the students. Its coverage is community focused and relevant. The Toronto at 4 a.m. feature was really fascinang! I couldn't stop reading! The students do a great job of creang a mul-media experience. The sports secon is extensive and does a nice job of diversifying its coverage. Where this entry fell short was in the interacve categories of this rubric. The school's social media feeds are spoy. The Twier feed is somewhat acve, but the Facebook feed is not. There isnowaytointeractwiththesiteinanyway,otherthanacontactform.

HUMBER COLLEGE - HUMBERNEWS.CA

A nice clean site, and easy to navigate for newcomers. Title page has a large number of stories, but the use of borders and categories keeps it from looking too busy or confusing. The image icons used for each story are well-sized. However, the blue italic headlines are a bit difficult to read. Once the reader clicks into a story, the large top photo adds a nice bold introducon. However, many were missing cutlines, and had no context or source. There appeared to be some elements that would have been great, but didn't work, like the comments feature and star rangs. The social media feeds were easy to find, but the access to TV and podcasts were buried at the boom, and not visible at all in the mobile version. It would be nice to see the cross-plaorm work featured more prominently, because it really adds a lot of value! The features were fascinang. The Reckoning was a fantasc group project, and I loved reading through the culminang projects, to see the students dive deep into topics they're passionateabout.

GENERAL COMMENT

Colleges and universies are at the forefront of new technology, using online plaorms to showcase their work in new and innovave ways. This year's nominees have shown just some of what's possible in merging mul-media and social plaorms for a full experience, capable of reaching a wide variety of users. These sites are definitely worth a look for any newsroom looking for interesng and innovave ways to design and ulize their own online plaorm. The future of online media is in good hands, with these nominees.

Megan Walchuk Editor, Fort Frances Times, Fort Frances, ON

Megan Walchuk is currently the editor of the Fort Frances Times. She graduated with honours from Sheridan College's Print Journalism course in 2001. Aer graduaon, she worked for the Burlington Post, Flamborough Post and Flamborough Review, beforetakingahiatustocareforherfamily.

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

To see the full synopsis of each of our inductees, please go to OCNA’s Hall of Fame.

Michael Atkins began his newspaper career as a reporter at the Fort William Times Journal. He had found his life's work, but he le the paper shortly aer. Following a snt at The Manitoulin Expositor, he moved to Sudbury in September 1973. At the age of 25, he was editor and publisher of the Sudbury Northern Life. At one me, Northern Life published three edions every week and was delivered to more than 40,000 homes, providing serious compeon for readership and adversing revenue for Sudbury's daily newspaper. In 1980, he launched Northern Ontario Business, a newspaper which bridged northern communies for the first me. Northern Life and Northern Ontario Business grew into Laurenan Publishing. At one me Atkins owned more than a dozen community newspapers throughout Ontario. Atkins was one of the first community newspaper publishers to embrace digital media, and in 2003 launched Northernlife.ca. The website, which won provincial and naonal awards, was rebranded as Sudbury.com in 2016. It was purchased byVillage Media in 2020. Although he was enthusiascally involved with awards programs for business and community leaders, he discouraged people from nominang him for honours. They did not listen. Atkins was a recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow Award fromtheRotaryClubofSudbury,anhonoraryDoctorateofLeersfromLaurenanUniversity,andthepresgiousDr.FredSheridan Award from Cambrian College.

ABBAS HOMAYED, Former Publisher, Sudbury Northern Life; Publisher, Sudbury.com

Abbas Homayed came to Canada in 1986 with lile money and lile English. He began his newspaper career in 1991, driving a truck delivering the Sudbury Northern Life, aer his IBM career ended in a layoff. Soon aer, he managed the circulaon and distribuon departments, and only a few years later, he became publisher of the newspaper. He then became vice president of its parent company, Laurenan Publishing. As publisher of more than a dozen newspapers, magazines and journals, Homayed’s keen business sense and philanthropic ideals help to bridge businesses and non-profit. In both his personal and professional life, he shows his commitment to improving the social condions of his community. By harnessing the power of print and digital media as a voice for change, Homayed helped create several transformave ventures. He has created mentorship and scholarship opportunies for youth, as well as several award recognion programs to honour excellence in business, women of influence, outstanding young professionals, and communityadvancement.HomayedservedontheboardofOCNAfor15years,twoofthosespentaspresident.In2014hebecame the president of the CCNA. His newspaper and community efforts earned him the esteemed Gold Quill Award. A visionary in the evoluon of the publishing industry and a leader in the art of collaboraon, Abbas Homayed models for others the hallmarks of a true community builder.

MICHAEL ATKINS President, Laurenan Publishing

MURRAY SKINNER, Rered President, Metroland Media Group

JIM THOMAS

Rered Columnist/Editor, Stouffville Sun-Tribune, Metroland

KEITH ROULSTON

Rered Publisher, Blyth/Brussels Cizen

CLASS 1 (CIRC. 1,999 & UNDER)

CLASS 2&3 (CIRC. 2,000 - 6,499)

CLASS 4 (CIRC. 6,500 - 12,499)

NEWSPAPER

JUDGE SCORESHEETS

CLASS 5 (CIRC. 12,500 - 22,499)

CLASS 6&7 (CIRC. 22,500 & over)

CLASS 8 (College & University)

COMPETITION

BETTER NEWSPAPERS COMPETITION

Before you know it, it will be time for the 2023 BNC Awards. The call for entries will take place October 1st to October 31st, 2023. Entries will be eligible from any member newspaper published from October 1st, 2022, to September 30th, 2023.

Watch the OCNA website and your inbox on October 1st for the 2023 BNC entry rules and criteria.

Start watching for your entries today!

JOIN US at HOCKLEY VALLEY RESORT

ORANGEVILLE, ON

November 3-4, 2023

Hall Of Fame

The Ontario Community Newspapers Association (OCNA) is proud to recognize and celebrate individuals who have made exemplary contributions to Ontario’s community newspapers through our Hall of Fame. Inductees will be respected community news professionals who have remained passionate about the industry throughout challenges, opportunities and changes. They will be leaders who have helped community newspapers adapt and grow.

Nominees are encouraged from all aspects of the industry, including but not limited to editorial, advertising, publishing, production, circulation, finance, sales or design. This Award may also be given posthumously.

For more informaon on these or any other OCNA member services, please go to the OCNA website at www.ocna.org.