2019 BNC Awards
Believing that we will all want some fun, friendship and frolic when the COVID-19 threat is passed, we plan to reschedule the Better Newspaper Competition awards and gala for some time in the fall. We are currently investigating options. As a result, the winners will not be announced on April 3rd: we will wait to reveal them when we are all together again.
The OCNA is proud to recognize the outstanding work produced by our member newspapers. Thank you to everyone that submitted entries for the 2019 BNC Awards. Finalists in each category are listed in alphabetical order below.
General Excellence Awards
GE01 - Class 1: Circ. 1,999 & under
Barry's Bay, The Valley Gazette
Blyth/Brussels Citizen
Burks Falls Almaguin News
GE02 - Class 2: Circ. 2,000 - 3,499
New Liskeard Temiskaming Speaker
Vankleek Hill Review
Winchester Press
GE03 - Class 3: Circ. 3,500 - 6,499
Eganville Leader
Gravenhurst Banner
Niagara This Week, Niagara-on-the-Lake Advance
GE04 - Class 4: Circ. 6,500 - 12,499
Sponsored by: Metro Creative Graphics
Collingwood Connection
Haliburton, The Highlander
Niagara This Week, Fort Erie Post
GE05 - Class 5: Circ. 12,500 - 22,499
Elmira-Woolwich Observer
Northumberland News
Stouffville Sun-Tribune
GE06 - Class 6: Circ. 22,500 - 44,999
Sponsored by: Northern News Services
Fergus Wellington Advertiser
Guelph Mercury Tribune
Sudbury Northern Life
GE07 - Class 7: Circ. 45,000 & over
Ajax Pickering News Advertiser
Niagara This Week, St. Catharines
Oakville Beaver
GE08 - Class 8: College & University
Durham College - The Chronicle
Fanshawe College - Interrobang
University of Waterloo - Imprint
Honourable Mention: Algonquin College - Algonquin Times
College/University Awards
CU01 - Student Feature Writing
Sponsored by: Ontario General Contractors Association
Algonquin College - Jessica Alberga
Centennial College - Amarra Shakira Mohamed
Centennial College - Margaryta Ignatenko
Honourable Mention: Fanshawe College - Angela McInnes & Emma Fairgrieve
CU02 - Student News Writing
Sponsored by: Ontario Journalism Educators Association
Humber College - Patrick Simpson
University of Waterloo - Harleen Kaur Dhillon
University of Waterloo - Varun Venkataramanan
CU03 - Student Photography
Centennial College - Ryan MacEachern
Loyalist College - Andrej Ivanov
Loyalist College - Gagandeep Sarangal
Honourable Mention: Humber College - Paige McGowan
CU04 - Best College/University Newspaper Website
Algonquin College - algonquintimes.ca
Durham College - chronicle.durhamcollege.ca
University of Waterloo - uwimprint.ca
Honourable Mention: Centennial College - torontoobserver.ca
Honourable Mention: Humber College - humberetc.ca
Premier Awards
PC01 - Arts & Entertainment
Sponsored by: Listowel Banner
Peterborough This Week
Sarnia Journal
Voice of Pelham
Honourable Mention: Haliburton County Echo
Honourable Mention: Sudbury Northern Life
PC02 - Best Business and Finance Story
Arnprior Chronicle-Guide
Milton Canadian Champion
Niagara This Week, Niagara Falls
PC03 - Best Editorial, circ. over 10,000
Barrie Advance
Brampton Guardian
Fergus Wellington Advertiser
Honourable Mention: Orangeville Citizen
PC04 - Best Editorial, circ. under 9,999
Eganville Leader
Haliburton, The Highlander
Manotick Messenger
PC05 - Education Writing
Sponsored by: Ontario Journalism Educators Association
Cambridge Times
Milton Canadian Champion
Oshawa This Week
Honourable Mention: Northumberland News
PC06 - Environment Ontario
Carleton Place/Almonte Canadian Gazette
Richmond Hill/Thornhill Liberal
Smiths Falls Record News
PC07 - Feature Writing, circ. over 10,000
Sponsored by: O’Donnell, Robertson & Partners
Bradford West Gwillimbury Topic
Northumberland News
Richmond Hill/Thornhill Liberal
PC08 - Feature Writing, circ. under 9,999
Sponsored by: O’Donnell, Robertson & Partners
Barrhaven Independent
Manitoulin Expositor
Minden Times
PC09 - Health & Wellness
Peterborough This Week
Smiths Falls Record News
Uxbridge Cosmos
Honourable Mention: Brampton Guardian
PC10 - Heritage
Sponsored by: Fort Frances Times
Barry's Bay, The Valley Gazette
Niagara This Week, Niagara-on-the-Lake Advance
Oshawa Express
Honourable Mention: Orillia Today
Honourable Mention: Parry Sound North Star
Honourable Mention: Peterborough This Week
PC11 - Best Investigative News Story
Oakville Beaver
Orangeville Banner
Voice of Pelham
Honourable Mention: Barry's Bay, The Valley Gazette
PC12 - Best News Story, circ. over 10,000
Sponsored by: Hydro One
Muskokaregion.com
Perth Courier
Wasaga/Stayner Sun
PC13 - Best News Story, circ. under 9,999
Sponsored by: Hydro One
Glanbrook Gazette
The Independent Serving Petrolia and Central Lambton
Walkerton Herald Times
Honourable Mention: Aylmer Express
PC14 - Best Rural Story, circ.over 10,000
Sponsored by: Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Orangeville Banner
Port Perry/Uxbridge, The Standard
Wasaga/Stayner Sun
Honourable Mention: Elmira-Woolwich Observer
PC15 - Best Rural Story, circ. under 9,999
Sponsored by: Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Barry's Bay, The Valley Gazette
Eganville Leader
Voice of Pelham
Honourable Mention: Wingham Advance Times
PC16 - Best Feature/News Series, circ. over 10,000
Sponsored by: Hydro One
Barrie Advance
Sarnia Journal
Vaughan Citizen
PC17 - Best Feature/News Series, circ. under 9,999
Sponsored by: Hydro One
Bracebridge Examiner
Eganville Leader
Voice of Pelham
PC18 - Sport & Recreation Story
Barry's Bay, The Valley Gazette
Niagara This Week, The Leader
Sarnia Journal
Honourable Mention: Cornwall Seaway News
Honourable Mention: Minden Times
PC19 - Best Headline Writing
Ayr News
Cornwall Seaway News
Voice of Pelham
PC20 - Humour Columnist of the Year
Haliburton County Echo - Steve Galea
Manotick Messenger - Jeff Morris
Niagara This Week, The Leader - James Culic
PC21 - Columnist of the Year
Manotick Messenger - Jeff Morris
Mississauga News - John Stewart
Niagara This Week, The Leader - James Culic
Honourable Mention: Eganville Leader - Johanna Zomers
PC22 - Reporter of the Year - Stephen Shaw Award
Sponsored by: Ontario Power Generation
Haliburton, The Highlander - Joseph Quigley
Richmond Hill/Thornhill Liberal - Kim Zarzour
Vaughan Citizen - Jeremy Grimaldi
Honourable Mention: Ottawa Community Voice, West Carleton - Erin McCracken
PC23 - Best Feature Photo, circ. over 10,000
Peterborough This Week
Richmond Hill/Thornhill Liberal
Scarborough Mirror
Honourable Mention: Toronto York-City Centre Neighbourhood Voice
PC24 - Best Feature Photo, circ. under 9,999
Arnprior Chronicle-Guide
Glanbrook Gazette
Listowel Banner
PC25 - Best Photo Layout
Fergus Wellington Advertiser
New Liskeard Temiskaming Speaker
The Independent Serving Petrolia and Central Lambton
Honourable Mention: Sarnia Journal
Honourable Mention: Etobicoke Guardian
PC26 - Best Sports Photo
Barrhaven Independent
Blyth/Brussels Citizen
Brampton Guardian
Honourable Mention: Port Perry Star
PC27 - Best Spot News Photo
Sponsored by: Listowel Banner
Alliston Herald
Haliburton Highlander
Renfrew Mercury
PC28 - Best News Photo
Brampton Guardian
Mississauga News
New Liskeard Temiskaming Speaker
Honourable Mention: Haliburton County Echo
PC29 - Most Creative Grip and Grin Photo
Barry's Bay, The Valley Gazette
Manitoulin Expositor
Oakville Beaver
Honourable Mention: Eganville Leader
Honourable Mention: North Grenville Times
PC30 - Photographer of the Year
Ajax Pickering News Advertiser - Ryan Pfeiffer
Haliburton County Echo - Darren Lum
Oshawa This Week - Sabrina Byrnes
PC31 - Cartoonist of the Year
Orleans Star - Sarah Chaplin
Oshawa Express - George Longley
Stoney Creek News - Mike Vukovich
PC32 - Community Service
New Liskeard Temiskaming Speaker - Fundraiser on the Fairways
The Haldimand Press - All Candidates Debate
Uxbridge Cosmos - Federal Election 2019
PC33 - Best Vertical Product
Bracebridge Examiner - Muskoka Life
Burlington Post - West of the City - 100th edition
Caledon Enterprise - Sideroads of Caledon, Dufferin & King
PC34 - Best Front Page, circ. over 10,000
Sponsored by: Laurentian Publishing
Kemptville Advance
Milton Canadian Champion
Sudbury Northern Life
PC35 - Best Front Page, circ. under 9,999
Sponsored by: Laurentian Publishing
Eganville Leader
Fort Frances Times
The Haldimand Press
Honourable Mention: Vankleek Hill Review
PC36 - Best Sports Section
Elmira-Woolwich Observer
New Liskeard Temiskaming Speaker
Voice of Pelham
PC37 - Special Section, circ . over 10,000
Caledon Enterprise - 130th Anniversary
Milton Canadian Champion - Welcome to Milton
Sarnia Journal - Sarnia Remembers
Honourable Mention: Georgetown/Acton Independent & Free Press - Halton Hills Festivals and Events Guide
PC38 - Special Section, circ. under 9,999
Barry's Bay, The Valley Gazette - Christmas Wishes 2018
Eganville Leader - Irish Edition March 6, 2019
The Haldimand Press - Farms Harvest 2019
PC39 - Best Feature/Unit Pages
Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Broadline Rentals
Fort Frances Times - EMO Walleye Classic
The Haldimand Press - Saluting our Heroes… lest we forget
PC40 - Best Creative Ad
Haliburton, The Highlander
Manitoulin Expositor
Scarborough Mirror
Honourable Mention: Deep River North Renfrew Times
PC41 - In House Promotion
Cornwall Seaway News
Sarnia Journal
The Herald Serving Thamesville, Dresden and Bothwell
PC42 - Local Retail Layout
Sponsored by: Metro Creative Graphics
Drayton Community News
Fergus Wellington Advertiser
Fort Frances Times
PC43 - Original Ad Idea
Haliburton, The Highlander
Orangeville Banner
The Haldimand Press
PC44 - Best Use of Colour
Deep River North Renfrew Times
Fergus Wellington Advertiser
Kincardine Independent
Honourable Mention: Manotick Messenger
PC45 - Best Community Website/WebPortal, circ. over 10,000
Cornwall Seaway News - cornwallseawaynews.com
Elmira-Woolwich Observer - ObserverXtra.com
Sudbury Northern Life - sudbury.com
Honourable Mention: Hamilton Mountain News - hamiltonnews.com
PC46 - Best Community Website/WebPortal, circ. under,9 999
Burks Falls Almaguin News - northbaynipissing.com
Parry Sound North Star - parrysound.com
Vankleek Hill Review - thereview.ca
Honourable Mention: North Grenville Times - ngtimes.ca
PC47 - ONLINE Special Initiative
Barrie Advance
Cambridge Times
Newmarket Era/Aurora Banner
PC48 - ONLINE Breaking News Coverage
Burlington Post
Caledon Enterprise
Sudbury Northern Life
PC49 - Multimedia Online/Best Online Experience for a Story
Burlington Post
Georgetown/Acton Independent & Free Press
Sudbury Northern Life
PC50 - Breaking News Video
Bracebridge Examiner
Caledon Enterprise
Peterborough This Week
Questions? Contact Karen Shardlow at k.shardlow@ocna.org or 416-923-7724 ext. 4432.