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Home/Events & Awards/2021 BNC Winners Print This Page

2021 BNC Winners 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 who submitted entries for the 2021 BNC Awards and congratulations to the winners in each category. 


Thank you to our Gala Sponsor, Ontario Power Generation, for their continued support of Ontario’s community newspapers!

                           

General Excellence Awards

              

GE01 - Class 1: Circ. 1,999 & under

1st place:            The Independent Serving Petrolia and Central Lambton                     October 2020      July 2021

2nd place:          Haliburton County Echo                                                                    October 2020      July 2021

3rd place:           The Herald Serving Thamesville, Dresden and Bothwell                      October 2020      July 2021

Honourable Mention:      Deep River North Renfrew Times                                           October 2020      July 2021

              

GE02&03 - Class 2 & 3: Circ. 2,000 - 6,499

1st place:            Niagara This Week, Niagara-on-the-Lake Advance                             October 2020      July 2021

2nd place:          Vankleek Hill Review                                                                           October 2020      July 2021

3rd place:           Eganville Leader                                                                                October 2020      July 2021

              

GE04 - Class 4: Circ. 6,500 - 12,499

1st place:            Haliburton, The Highlander                                                                 October 2020      July 2021

2nd place:          Niagara This Week, Fort Erie Post                                                        October 2020      July 2021

3rd place:           Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report                                               October 2020      July 2021

Honourable Mention:      Voice of Pelham                                                                      October 2020      July 2021

              

GE05 - Class 5: Circ. 12,500 - 22,499

1st place:            Elmira-Woolwich Observer                                                                   October 2020      July 2021

2nd place:          Ancaster News                                                                                     October 2020      July 2021

3rd place:           Orangeville Citizen                                                                               October 2020      July 2021

              

GE06 - Class 6: Circ. 22,500 - 44,999

1st place:            Fergus Wellington Advertiser                                                                 October 2020      July 2021

2nd place:          Sarnia Journal                                                                                       October 2020      July 2021

3rd place:           Niagara This Week, Niagara Falls                                                           October 2020      July 2021

Honourable Mention:      Grimsby Lincoln News                                                               October 2020      July 2021

              

GE07 - Class 7: Circ. 45,000 & over

1st place:            Niagara This Week, St. Catharines                                                          October 2020      July 2021

2nd place:          Hamilton Mountain News                                                                      October 2020      July 2021

3rd place:           Barrie Advance                                                                                      October 2020      July 2021

Honourable Mention:      Burlington Post                                                                          October 2020      July 2021

              

GE08 - Class 8: College &University

1st place:            Durham College - The Chronicle                                                            Fall 2020              Winter 2021

2nd place:          Humber College - Et Cetera                                                                   Fall 2020              Winter 2021

3rd place:           Fanshawe College – Interrobang                                                            Fall 2020              Winter 2021

Honourable Mention:      Loyalist College – Pioneer                                                          Fall 2020              Winter 2021


             

College/University Awards        

              

CU01 - Student Feature Writing

1st place:            Durham College - Allaya Sue

2nd place:          Algonquin College - Madalyn Howitt

3rd place:           Durham College - Shaun McLeod

              

CU02 - Student News Writing

Sponsored by: Ontario Journalism Educators Association

1st place:            Centennial College - Alexander Varoutas

2nd place:          Humber College - Tyler Cheese

3rd place:           Centennial College - Arsheen Shamaila

Honourable Mention:      Algonquin College - Tamara Condie

              

CU03 - Student Photography

1st place:            Loyalist College - Alex Lupul  

2nd place:          Algonquin College - Tamara Condie

3rd place:           Loyalist College - Cassie Williamson  

              

CU04 - Best College/University Newspaper Website       

1st place:            Fanshawe College - theinterrobang.ca

2nd place:          Centennial College - torontoobserver.ca

3rd place:           Algonquin College - algonquintimes.com

Honourable Mention:      Durham College - chronicle.durhamcollege.ca



Premier Awards

             

PC01 - Arts & Entertainment

Sponsored by: Midwestern Newspapers

1st place:            Perth Courier - Laurie Weir

2nd place:          Walkerton Herald Times - Colin Burrowes

3rd place:           Manotick Messenger - Skyler Fraser & Jeff Morris

Honourable Mention:      Fort Frances Times - Ken Kellar

Honourable Mention:      Guelph Mercury Tribune - Jonathan Duncan

              

PC02 - Best Business and Finance Story

1st place:            Bracebridge Examiner - Mary Beth Hartill

2nd place:          Brampton Guardian - Graeme Frisque

3rd place:           Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Jordan Snobelen

Honourable Mention:     Arnprior Chronicle-Guide - Derek Dunn

Honourable Mention:     Stoney Creek News - Richard Leitner

              

PC03 - Best Editorial,  circ. over 10,000

1st place:            Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Chris Daponte

2nd place:          North Wellington Community News - Pat Raftis

3rd place:           Elmira-Woolwich Observer - Steve Kannon

Honourable Mention:      Brampton Guardian - Roger Belgrave

              

PC04 - Best Editorial, circ. under 9,999

1st place:            Eganville Leader

2nd place:          Minden Times - Chad Ingram

3rd place:           Burks Falls Almaguin News - Pamela Steel

Honourable Mention:      Smiths Falls Record News - Hollie Pratt-Campbell

              

PC05 - Education Writing

Sponsored by: Ontario Journalism Educators Association

1st place:            Perth Courier - Desmond Devoy

2nd place:          Ajax Pickering News Advertiser - Jillian Follert

3rd place:           Milton Canadian Champion - Bambang Sadewo

Honourable Mention:      Barrhaven Independent - Jeff Morris

Honourable Mention:      Newmarket Era/Aurora Banner - Lisa Queen

              

PC06 - Environment Ontario

1st place:            Parry Sound North Star - Stephannie Johnson

2nd place:          Manitoulin Expositor - Mike Erskine

3rd place:           Waterdown Flamborough Review - Mac Christie

Honourable Mention:      Kincardine Independent - Tammy Schneider

              

PC07 - Feature Writing, circ. over 10,000

Sponsored by: O’Donnell, Robertson & Partners

1st place:            Guelph Mercury Tribune - Jessica Lovell

2nd place:          Cambridge Times - Bill Doucet

3rd place:           Oshawa This Week - Jillian Follert

Honourable Mention:      Northumberland News - Natalie Hamilton

              

PC08 - Feature Writing, circ. under 9,999

Sponsored by: O’Donnell, Robertson & Partners

1st place:            Voice of Pelham - Dave Burket & Helen Tran

2nd place:          Haliburton County Echo - Sue Tiffin

3rd place:           Haliburton, The Highlander - Sam Gillett & Lyelca Rodrigues


PC09 - Health & Wellness            

1st place:            Cambridge Times - Bill Doucet

2nd place:          Glanbrook Gazette - Tamara Botting

3rd place:           Haliburton County Echo - Sue Tiffin

              

PC10 - Heritage

Sponsored by: Fort Frances Times

1st place:            Eganville Leader - Johanna Zomers

2nd place:          Haliburton County Echo - Sue Tiffin

3rd place:           Voice of Pelham - Dave Burket & Don Rickers

Honourable Mention:      Vankleek Hill Review – Louise Sproule

              

PC11 - Best Investigative News Story

1st place:            Perth Courier - Laurie Weir

2nd place:          Cambridge Times - Bill Doucet

3rd place:           Smiths Falls Record News - Evelyn Harford


PC12 - Best News Story, circ. over 10,000            

Sponsored by: Hydro One

1st place:            Wasaga/Stayner Sun - Ian Adams

2nd place:          Sarnia Journal - Cathy Dobson

3rd place:           Niagara This Week, Welland - Nick Fearns

              

PC13 - Best News Story, circ. under 9,999

Sponsored by: Hydro One

1st place:            Manitoulin Expositor - Warren Schlote

2nd place:          Niagara-on-the-Lake Local

3rd place:           Voice of Pelham - Dave Burket & Don Rickers

Honourable Mention:      Burks Falls Almaguin News

Honourable Mention:      East Gwillimbury Express - Jeremy Grimaldi

              

PC14 - Best Rural Story, circ. over 10,000

Sponsored by: Ontario Federation of Agriculture

1st place:            Milton Canadian Champion - Herb Garbutt

2nd place:          Haldimand County, The Sachem - Tara Lindemann

3rd place:           Waterdown Flamborough Review - Julia Lovett-Squires

              

PC15 - Best Rural Story, circ. under 9,999

Sponsored by: Ontario Federation of Agriculture

1st place:            Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Don Reynolds & Jill Troyer

2nd place:          Barrhaven Independent - Jeff Morris

3rd place:           Aylmer Express - Jodi Clayton & Veronica Reiner

Honourable Mention:      Gravenhurst Banner - Sarah Law

Honourable Mention:      Smiths Falls Record News - Evelyn Harford

Honourable Mention:      Voice of Pelham - Michael Ruehle

              

PC16 - Best Feature/News Series, circ. over 10,000

Sponsored by: Hydro One

1st place:            Smiths Falls Record News - Laurie Weir, Evelyn Harford, Tara Gesner, Jonathan Mulvihill                             Article #1            Article#2              Article#3              Article#4

2nd place:          Burlington Post - Herb Garbutt, Bryan Myers, Bambang Sadewo                                                          Article #1            Article#2              Article#3

3rd place:           Newmarket Era/Aurora Banner - Lisa Queen                                                                                         Article #1            Article#2              Article#3

              

PC17 - Best Feature/News Series, circ. under 9,999

Sponsored by: Hydro One

1st place:            Barrhaven Independent - Jeff Morris

2nd place:          Barry's Bay, The Valley Gazette - Katrina Boguski

3rd place:           Listowel Banner - Colin Burrowes

Honourable Mention:      Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Richard Harley, Elizabeth Masson, Evan Saunders

              

PC18 - Sport & Recreation Story

1st place:            Guelph Mercury Tribune - Jessica Lovell

2nd place:          The Haldimand Press - Mike Renzella

3rd place:           Listowel Banner - Dan McNee


PC19 - Best Headline Writing

1st place:            Walkerton Herald Times 

2nd place:          Listowel Banner

3rd place:           Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Richard Harley & Kevin MacLean

Honourable Mention:      New Liskeard Temiskaming Speaker - Steven Larocque

              

PC20 - Best Covid-19 Coverage

1st place:            Barrie Advance - Janis Ramsay & Chris Simon                                                                                           Article #1            Article#2              Article#3              Article#4

2nd place:          The Independent Serving Petrolia and Central Lambton - Heather Wright & Alex Kurial

3rd place:           Aylmer Express - Brett Hueston & Veronica Reiner

Honourable Mention:      Carleton Place/Almonte Canadian Gazette - Ashley Kulp                                                       Article #1            Article#2              Article#3


PC21 - Diversity Coverage          

1st place:            The Haldimand Press - Mike Renzella

2nd place:          Wingham Advance Times - Cory Bilyea

3rd place:           Waterdown Flamborough Review - Mac Christie & Julia Lovett-Squires                                                        Article #1            Article#2              Article#3              Article#4

Honourable Mention:      Caledon Enterprise - Steve Cornwell

Honourable Mention:      Manotick Messenger - Jeff Morris

Honourable Mention:      Smiths Falls Record News - Evelyn Harford                                                                                      Article #1            Article#2

              

PC22 - Best Police/Court Story or Series

1st place:            Gravenhurst Banner - Kristyn Anthony                                                                                                          Article #1            Article#2              Article#3              Article#4

2nd place:          Manitoulin Expositor - Lori Thompson

3rd place:           Perth Courier - Desmond Devoy                                                                                                                  Article #1            Article#2              Article#3              Article#4

Honourable Mention:      Renfrew Mercury - Jonathan Mulvihill                                                                                                Article #1            Article#2              Article#3              Article#4

Honourable Mention:      Voice of Pelham - Dave Burket & Don Rickers

              

PC23 - Best Guest/Freelance Column

1st place:            Deep River North Renfrew Times - Jenna Walsh

2nd place:          Manitoulin Expositor - Bonnie Kogos

3rd place:           Niagara This Week, Fort Erie Post - Wendy Sturgeon

Honourable Mention:      Dundas Star News - Shane Pennells


PC24 - Humour Columnist of the Year    

1st place:            Haliburton County Echo - Steve Galea   

2nd place:          Vankleek Hill Review - Mike Gasher                                                                                                             Article #1            Article#2              Article#3

3rd place:           Niagara This Week, The Leader - James Culic

              

PC25 - Columnist of the Year

1st place:            The Independent Serving Petrolia and Central Lambton - Heather Wright

2nd place:          Cambridge Times - Loraine Centeno                                                                                                             Article #1            Article#2              Article#3

3rd place:           Uxbridge Cosmos - Ted Barris   

Honourable Mention:      Mississauga News - John Stewart                                                                                                     Article #1            Article#2              Article#3 

Honourable Mention:      Niagara-on-the-Lake Local - Jane Andres

              

PC26 - Reporter of the Year - Stephen Shaw Award

Sponsored by:  Ontario Power Generation

1st place:            Richmond Hill/Thornhill Liberal - Kim Zarzour                                                                                               Article #1            Article#2              Article#3 

2nd place:          The Haldimand Press - Mike Renzella                                                                                                             Article #1            Article#2              Article#3 

3rd place:           Markham Economist & Sun - Jeremy Grimaldi                                                                                               Article #1            Article#2              Article#3 

              

PC27 - Best Feature Photo, circ. over 10,000

1st place:            Hamilton Mountain News - Mark Newman  

2nd place:          Orangeville Banner - Alexandra Heck

3rd place:           Sarnia Journal - Ronny D'Haene  

Honourable Mention:      Cornwall Seaway News - Marc Benoit  

              

PC28 - Best Feature Photo, circ. under 9,999

1st place:            Wilmot Post - Lisa Hagen  

2nd place:          The Independent Serving Petrolia and Central Lambton - Heather Wright, Alex Kurial, Cathy Dobson

3rd place:           Minden Times - Darren Lum  

              

PC29 - Best Photo Layout

1st place:            Wingham Advance Times - Cory Bilyea & Kelsey Bent

2nd place:          Sarnia Journal - Ronny D'Haene & George Mathewson

3rd place:           Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Richard Harley & Jill Troyer

              

PC30 - Best Sports Photo

1st place:            New Liskeard Temiskaming Speaker - Steven Larocque  

2nd place:          Deep River North Renfrew Times - Vance Gutzman  

3rd place:           Wilmot Post - Lisa Hagen

              

PC31 - Best Spot News Photo

1st place:            New Liskeard Temiskaming Speaker - Sue Nielsen  

2nd place:          Voice of Pelham - Don Rickers  

3rd place:           Aylmer Express - Rob Perry  

Honourable Mention:      Cambridge Times - Bill Doucet

              

PC32 - Best News Photo

1st place:            Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Richard Harley

2nd place:          Eganville Leader - Gerald Tracey  

3rd place:           Wingham Advance Times - Cory Bilyea  

Honourable Mention:      Voice of Pelham - Don Rickers  

              

PC33 - Most Creative Grip and Grin Photo

1st place:            Oakville Beaver - Graham Paine  

2nd place:          Perth Courier - Desmond Devoy

3rd place:           Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Jessica Maxwell

Honourable Mention:      Milton Canadian Champion - Graham Paine  

              

PC34 - Photographer of the Year

1st place:            Richmond Hill/Thornhill Liberal - Steve Somerville                                                                                         Article #1           Article#2              Article#3              Article#4

2nd place:          Oakville Beaver - Graham Paine  

3rd place:           Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Richard Harley

              

PC35 - Cartoonist of the Year

1st place:            Stoney Creek News - Mike Vukovich 

2nd place:          Elmira-Woolwich Observer - Scott Arnold 

3rd place:           Minden Times - Kim Wark 

              

PC36 - Community Service

1st place:            Manitoulin Expositor - Out of the Shadows: Manitoulin's Opioid Crisis                                                            Article #1            Article#2              Article#3              Article#4              Article#5

2nd place:          Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Pandemic Heroes

3rd place:           Eganville Leader - Cycling for Hospice

              

PC37 - Best Vertical Product

1st place:            Haliburton, The Highlander - Here With Colin and Justin

2nd place:          Listowel Independent Plus - Country Life Spring 2021   

3rd place:           Blyth/Brussels Citizen - Stops Along the Way - Summer 2021

Honourable Mention:      Haliburton County Echo - Welcome to Haliburton County 2021   

              

PC38 - Best Front Page, circ. over 10,000

1st place:            Ancaster News

2nd place:          Fergus Wellington Advertiser

3rd place:           Dundas Star News

              

PC39 - Best Front Page, circ. under 9,999

1st place:            Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report

2nd place:          Parry Sound North Star

3rd place:           Voice of Pelham

              

PC40 - Best Sports Section

1st place:            New Liskeard Temiskaming Speaker

2nd place:          Haliburton, The Highlander

3rd place:           Eganville Leader

              

PC41 - Special Section, circ. over 10,000

1st place:            Sarnia Journal - Sarnia Remembers: A special tribute to our local heroes

2nd place:          Cornwall Seaway News - Christmas At Home 2020

3rd place:           Elmira-Woolwich Observer - Observer 25th Anniversary

Honourable Mention:      Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Remembrance Day

              

PC42 - Special Section, circ. under 9,999

1st place:            Manitoulin Expositor - Out of the shadows: Manitoulin's Opioid Crisis

2nd place:          Fort Frances Times - 2021 Agricultural Edition

3rd place:           Barry's Bay, The Valley Gazette - Christmas Wishes 2020

              

PC43 - Best Feature/Unit Pages

1st place:            Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Pandemic Heroes

2nd place:          Aylmer Express - This is Aylmer, Our Hometown

3rd place:           The Haldimand Press - Nurses Week

              

PC44 - Best Creative Ad

1st place:            Listowel Banner

2nd place:          Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Jacqueline Furfaro

3rd place:           Fort Frances Times - Susan Taylor

Honourable Mention:      Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report

Honourable Mention:      North Wellington Community News - Alicia Roza

              

PC45 - In House Promotion

1st place:            Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Richard Harley & Kevin MacLean

2nd place:          Fort Frances Times - Leanne Donaldson

3rd place:           Manitoulin Expositor - Kendra Edwards

              

PC46 - Local Retail Layout

Sponsored by:  Metro Creative Graphics

1st place:            Listowel Banner

2nd place:          Manitoulin Expositor - Kendra Edwards

3rd place:           Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Jacqueline Furfaro

              

PC47 - Original Ad Idea

1st place:            Ayr News - Helen and Mark Hall

2nd place:          Elmira-Woolwich Observer - Pat Merlihan

3rd place:           North Wellington Community News - Alicia Roza

Honourable Mention:      Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Jacqueline Furfaro

              

PC48 - Best Use of Colour

1st place:            Deep River North Renfrew Times - Jane Barkley

2nd place:          Kincardine Independent

3rd place:           Haliburton, The Highlander - Lyelca Rodrigues

              

PC49 - Best Community Website/WebPortal, circ. over 10,000

1st place:            Cornwall Seaway News - cornwallseawaynews.com

2nd place:          Fergus Wellington Advertiser - wellingtonadvertiser.com

3rd place:           Elmira-Woolwich Observer - ObserverXtra.com

              

PC50 - Best Community Website/WebPortal, circ. under 9,999  

1st place:            Manitoulin Expositor - manitoulin.com

2nd place:          Deep River North Renfrew Times - northrenfrewtimes.ca

3rd place:           Listowel Banner - midwesternnewspapers.com

Honourable Mention:      Blyth/Brussels Citizen - huroncitizen.ca

Honourable Mention:      The Haldimand Press - haldimandpress.com

Honourable Mention:      Wilmot Post - wilmotpost.ca

              

PC51 - ONLINE Special Initiative

1st place:            Manitoulin Expositor - Giovanni Capriotti, David Patterson, Warren Schlote

2nd place:          Elmira-Woolwich Observer - Pat Merlihan

3rd place:           Muskoka  Muskokaregion.com - Pamela Steel

Honourable Mention:      Parry Sound North Star

Honourable Mention:      Scarborough Mirror - Dan Pearce,  Mike Adler, Tamara Shephard, Andrew Palamarchuk, David Nickle, Joanna Lavoie


              

PC52 - ONLINE Breaking News Coverage

1st place:            Burlington Post - Graham Paine, Louie Rosella, Bambang Sadewo                                                                 Article #1            Article#2              Article#3 

2nd place:          Barrie Advance                                                                                                                                             Article #1            Article#2              Article#3             Article#4

3rd place:           Burks Falls Almaguin News - Sarah Cooke                                                                                                     Article #1            Article#2

Honourable Mention:      Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Richard Harley


PC53 - Multimedia Online/Best Online Experience for a Story    

1st place:            Milton Canadian Champion - Bambang Sadewo

2nd place:          Georgina Advocate - Amanda Persico

3rd place:           Mississauga News - James Chaarani & Steve Cornwell

Honourable Mention:      Brampton Guardian - Clarrie Feinstein

              

PC54 - Breaking News Video

1st Place:            Peterborough This Week - Todd Vandonk

2nd Place:          Cornwall Seaway News - Nick Seebruch  

3rd Place:           Oakville Beaver - David Lea


Visit www.ocna.org/BNCBooklet2021 to see the BNC Results book or view the entire virtual presentation by clicking the image below. 



Ontario Community Newspapers Association

Box #348

6-1500 Upper Middle Rd. W.

Oakville, ON L6M 0C2
Tel: 416-923-7724
Email: info@ocna.org

Departments

Executive Director - ext. 4428

Ad*Reach - ext. 4423

Better Newspaper Awards - Conferences Training - ext. 4432
Junior Citizens Awards/Communications - ext. 4432



Accounts Payable/Receivable - ext. 4423

Website Inquiries - ext. 4432

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