2018 BNC Award Finalists Announced
The OCNA is proud to recognize the outstanding work produced each week by our member newspapers and showcase it to readers and advertisers. Thank you to everyone that submitted entries for the 2018 BNC Awards. Finalists in each category are listed in alphabetical order below. First, second and third place winners will be presented during the Awards Gala on Friday, April 5 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Vaughan. Online registration for the Spring Convention and Awards Gala is available now. To register, go to Spring Convention Registration. To see a list of our confirmed speakers, please visit our Session page. To view the Convention schedule, please view the Agenda.
General Excellence Award
GE01 - Class 1: Circ. 1,999 & under
Deep River North Renfrew Times
Petrolia Lambton Independent
Thamesville Herald
GE02 - Class 2: Circ. 2,000 - 3,499
Fort Frances Times
Haliburton County Echo
Winchester Press
GE03 - Class 3: Circ. 3,500 - 6,499
Eganville Leader
Niagara This Week, Town Crier
Nunavut News/North
GE04 - Class 4: Circ. 6,500 - 12,499
Sponsored by: Metro Creative Graphics
Haliburton Highlander
Niagara This Week, Fort Erie Post
Niagara This Week, The Leader
GE05 - Class 5: Circ. 12,500 - 22,499
Ancaster News
Dundas Star News
Northumberland News
GE06 - Class 6: Circ. 22,500 - 44,999
Sponsored by: Northern News Services
Fergus Wellington Advertiser
Sarnia Journal
Sudbury Northern Life
GE07 - Class 7: Circ. 45,000 & over
Burlington Post
Niagara This Week, St. Catharines
Oakville Beaver
GE08 - Class 8: College & University
Algonquin College - Algonquin Times
Humber College - Et Cetera
Niagara College - Niagara News
College/University Awards
CU01 - Student Feature Writing
Sponsored by: Ontario General Contractors Association
Centennial College - Bobby Hristova, Taylor Bridger, Sergio Arangio, Rushanthi Kesunathan & Anjelica Balabat
Centennial College - Trisha Sales, Ellen Samek, Mouhamad Rachini, Jessica Lam, Louise Allyn Palma
Loyalist College - Jessica Clement
Honourable Mention: Fanshawe College - Lauren Dietrich
CU02 - Student News Writing
Sponsored by: Ontario Journalism Educators Association
Humber College - Amy Chen
Humber College - Andrew Jeffrey
Loyalist College - Frank Moses
CU03 - Student Photography
Algonquin College - Karine Beaulieu
Loyalist College - Andrej Ivanov
Niagara College - Beth Audet
CU04 - Best College/University Newspaper Website
Algonquin College - algonquintimes.ca
Durham College - chronicle.durhamcollege.ca
Niagara College - niagara-news.com
Honourable Mention: Humber College - humberetc.ca
Premier Awards
PC01 - Arts & Entertainment
Sponsored by: Star Metroland Media, Southwestern Ontario Division
Barrhaven Independent
Grimsby Lincoln News
Orillia Today
Honourable Mention: Deep River North Renfrew Times
PC02 - Best Business and Finance Story
Aylmer Express
Beach-East York Neighbourhood Voice
Elmira-Woolwich Observer
Honourable Mention: Peterborough This Week
PC03 - Best Editorial, circ. over 10,000
Stoney Creek News
Sudbury Northern Life
Toronto Canadian Jewish News
Honourable Mention: Fergus Wellington Advertiser
PC04 - Best Editorial, circ. under 9,999
Eganville Leader
Pelham, Voice of Pelham
Petrolia Lambton Independent
Honourable Mention: Barrhaven Independent
PC05 - Education Writing
Sponsored by: Ontario Journalism Educators Association
Cambridge Times
Toronto Canadian Jewish News
Whitby This Week
Honourable Mention: New Liskeard Temiskaming Speaker
PC06 - Environment Ontario
Hamilton/Burlington Bay Observer
Oshawa Express
Smiths Falls Record News
Honourable Mention: Kawartha Lakes This Week
PC07 - Feature Writing, circ over 10,000
Sponsored by: O’Donnell, Robertson & Partners
Burlington Post
Dundas Star News
Toronto Canadian Jewish News
PC08 - Feature Writing, circ under 9,999
Sponsored by: O’Donnell, Robertson & Partners
East Gwillimbury Express
Haliburton County Echo
Pelham, Voice of Pelham
Honourable Mention: Aylmer Express
PC09 - Health & Wellness
Beach-East York Neighbourhood Voice
Milton Canadian Champion
Perth Courier
Honourable Mention: Niagara this Week, Niagara Falls
PC10 - Heritage
Sponsored by: Fort Frances Times
Niagara This Week, St. Catharines
Smiths Falls Record News
Toronto Canadian Jewish News
Honourable Mention: Eganville Leader
Honourable Mention: Haliburton County Echo
Honourable Mention: Hamilton/Burlington Bay Observer
PC11 - Best Investigative News Story
Pelham, Voice of Pelham
Petrolia Lambton Independent
Scarborough Mirror
PC12 - Best News Story, circ over 10,000
Sponsored by: Hydro One Networks
Etobicoke Guardian
Kitchener Post
Toronto Canadian Jewish News
Honourable Mention: Richmond Hill/Thornhill Liberal
PC13 - Best News Story, circ under 9,999
Sponsored by: Hydro One Networks
Deep River North Renfrew Times
Manitoulin Expositor
Petrolia Lambton Independent
PC14 - Best Rural Story, circ over 10,000
Sponsored by: Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Smiths Falls Record News
Wasaga/Stayner Sun
Waterdown Flamborough Review
Honourable Mention: Guelph Mercury Tribune
Honourable Mention: Stoney Creek News
PC15 - Best Rural Story, circ under 9,999
Sponsored by: Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Blyth/Brussels Citizen
Huntsville Forester
Kincardine Independent
Honourable Mention: Uxbridge Times-Journal
PC16 - Best Feature/News Series, circ over 10,000
Sponsored by: Hydro One Networks
Carleton Place/Almonte Canadian Gazette
Oshawa Express
Scarborough Mirror
Honourable Mention: Ajax Pickering News Advertiser
Honourable Mention: Barrie Advance
Honourable Mention: Stoney Creek News
PC17 - Best Feature/News Series, circ under 9,999
Sponsored by: Hydro One Networks
Haliburton Highlander
Manitoulin Expositor
Nunavut News/North
PC18 - Sport & Recreation Story
Barrhaven Independent
Dundas Star News
Sarnia Journal
Honourable Mention: Nunavut News/North
PC19 - Best Headline Writing
Guelph Mercury Tribune
Perth Courier
Sarnia Journal
PC20 - Humour Columnist of the Year
Deep River North Renfrew Times - Vance Gutzman
Manotick Messenger - Jeff Morris
Uxbridge Cosmos - Lisha Van Nieuwenhove
PC21 - Columnist of the Year
Manotick Messenger - Jeff Morris
Niagara This Week, Fort Erie Post - James Culic
Vankleek Hill Review - Jacquie Severs
PC22 - Reporter of the Year - Stephen Shaw Award
Sponsored by: Ontario Power Generation
Newmarket Era/Aurora Banner - Lisa Queen
Peterborough This Week - Todd Vandonk
Richmond Hill/Thornhill Liberal - Kim Zarzour
Honourable Mention: Markham Economist & Sun - Jeremy Grimaldi
PC23 - Best Feature Photo, circ over 10,000
Etobicoke Guardian
Niagara This Week, Fort Erie Post
Whitby This Week
Honourable Mention: Stouffville Sun-Tribune
PC24 - Best Feature Photo, circ under 9,999
Kincardine Independent
New Liskeard Temiskaming Speaker
Vankleek Hill Review
PC25 - Best Photo Layout
Ajax Pickering News Advertiser
Fergus Wellington Advertiser
Midland/Penetanguishene Mirror
Honourable Mention: Pelham, Voice of Pelham
Honourable Mention: Alexandria Glengarry News
PC26 - Best Sports Photo
Northumberland News
Orleans Star
Petrolia Lambton Independent
Honourable Mention: Fort Frances Times
PC27 - Best Spot News Photo
Sponsored by: Star Metroland Media, Southwestern Ontario Division
Eganville Leader
Haldimand County, The Sachem
Petrolia Lambton Independent
PC28 - Best News Photo
Brampton Guardian
North York Mirror
Oshawa This Week
PC29 - Most Creative Grip and Grin Photo
Burlington Post
Cambridge Times
Perth Courier
PC30 - Photographer of the Year
Ajax Pickering News Advertiser - Sabrina Byrnes
Oshawa This Week - Ryan Pfeiffer
Petrolia Lambton Independent - Heather Wright
Honourable Mention: Orleans Star - Fred Sherwin
PC31 - Cartoonist of the Year
Ancaster News - Mike Vukovich
Cornwall Seaway News - James Lapierre
Orleans Star - Sarah Chaplin
PC32 - Community Service
Aylmer Express - Three Port Tour
Uxbridge Cosmos - 13 Ways to Kill Your Community
Waterdown Flamborough Review - 100th Anniversary
PC33 - Best Vertical Product
Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Visit Elora and Fergus - Grand and Gorgeous
Hamilton Mountain News - Community Guide
Huntsville Forester - Muskoka Life
PC34 - Best Front Page, circ over 10,000
Sponsored by: Laurentian Publishing
Niagara This Week, St. Catharines
Sudbury Northern Life
Toronto Canadian Jewish News
Honourable Mention: Niagara This Week, Fort Erie Post
Honourable Mention: Caledon Enterprise
PC35 - Best Front Page, circ under 9,999
Sponsored by: Laurentian Publishing
Eganville Leader
Fort Frances Times
Haldimand County, The Haldimand Press
PC36 - Best Sports Section
Fort Frances Times
Haliburton County Echo
Waterdown Flamborough Review
Honourable Mention: Nunavut News/North
PC37 - Special Section, circ over 10,000
Alliston Herald - Potato Festival
Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Celebrating 50 Years
Toronto Canadian Jewish News - Celebrations
PC38 - Special Section, circ under 9,999
Eganville Leader - 7th Annual Irish Edition
Nunavut News/North - Opportunities North
Winchester Press - 130 Years of Stories
PC39 - Best Creative Ad
Caledon Enterprise
Fort Frances Times
Listowel Banner
PC40 - In House Promotion
Fergus Wellington Advertiser
Oshawa Express
Petrolia Lambton Independent
Honourable Mention: Scarborough Mirror
PC41 - Local Retail Layout
Sponsored by: Metro Creative Graphics
Fergus Wellington Advertiser
Haliburton County Echo
Kincardine Independent
Honourable Mention: Manitoulin Expositor
Honourable Mention: Newmarket Era/Aurora Banner
PC42 - Original Ad Idea
Guelph Mercury Tribune
Haldimand County, The Haldimand Press
Haliburton Highlander
Honourable Mention: Fergus Wellington Advertiser
PC43 - Best Use of Colour
Cornwall Seaway News
Manitoulin Expositor
Waterdown Flamborough Review
Honourable Mention: East Gwillimbury Express
PC44 - Best Community Website/WebPortal, circ over 10,000
Elmira-Woolwich Observer - ObserverXtra.com
Fergus Wellington Advertiser - wellingtonadvertiser.com
Sudbury Northern Life - sudbury.com
Honourable Mention: Toronto Canadian Jewish News - cjnews.com
PC45 - Best Community Website/WebPortal, circ under 9,999
Kemptville North Grenville Times - ngtimes.ca
Manitoulin Expositor - manitoulin.ca
Parry Sound North Star - parrysound.com
PC46 - ONLINE Special Initiative
Sudbury Northern Life
Thamesville Herald
Waterdown Flamborough Review
PC47 - ONLINE Breaking News Coverage
Cambridge Times
Newmarket Era/Aurora Banner
Sudbury Northern Life
Honourable Mention: North York Mirror
PC48 - Multimedia Online/Best Online Experience for a Story
Hamilton Mountain News
North York Mirror
Peterborough This Week