2025 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 2025 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!
This list is interactive! To view the entry submitted for each winner, click on the newspaper name or edition.
General Excellence Awards
GE01 - Class 1: Circ. 1,500 & under
|
1st place: |
Haliburton County Echo | February 2025 | July 2025 |
| 2nd place: | The Herald Serving Thamesville, Dresden and Bothwell | February 2025 | July 2025 |
| 3rd place: | Listowel Banner | February 2025 | July 2025 |
| Honourable Mention: | Minden Times | February 2025 | July 2025 |
GE02 - Class 2: Circ. 1,501 - 8,000
|
1st place: |
The Independent Serving Petrolia and Central Lambton | February 2025 | July 2025 |
| 2nd place: | New Liskeard Temiskaming Speaker | February 2025 | July 2025 |
| 3rd place: | Eganville Leader | February 2025 | July 2025 |
GE03 - Class 3: Circ. 8,000 & over
|
1st place: |
Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report | February 2025 | July 2025 |
| 2nd place: | Elmira-Woolwich Observer | February 2025 | July 2025 |
| 3rd place: | Fergus Wellington Advertiser | February 2025 | July 2025 |
| Honourable Mention: | Picton Gazette | February 2025 | July 2025 |
GE08 - Class 8: College &University
|
1st place: |
Fanshawe College - Interrobang | Fall Semester | Winter Semester |
| 2nd place: | Humber College - Et Cetera | Fall Semester | Winter Semester |
| 3rd place: | University of Waterloo - Imprint | Fall Semester | Winter Semester |
College/University Awards
CU01 - Student Feature Writing
|
1st place: |
University of Waterloo - Sarah An |
| 2nd place: | Humber College - Anayas Fernanda Medeiros |
| 3rd place: | Centennial College - Abby Russchen |
| Honourable Mention: | Algonquin College - Claire Donnan |
| Honourable Mention: | Centennial College - Logan Brown, Ethan Gabor, Bennett Griffith, Faraz Hashmi, Tomas Morgan, Michael Coyle, Anthony Lancione & Anthony Santia |
| Honourable Mention: | Durham College - Izza Adil |
CU02 - Student News Writing
Sponsored by: Ontario Journalism Educators Association
|
1st place: |
Durham College - Megan Foster |
| 2nd place: | Durham College - Sunmeet Kour |
| 3rd place: | Humber College - Harnoor Kaur |
| Honourable Mention: | Centennial College - Andrew Rock |
CU03 - Editorial Writing
|
1st place: |
Algonquin College - Lara Simard |
| 2nd place: | Humber College - Asher Klaver |
| 3rd place: | Fanshawe College - Caleigh Reid & Jack Sutton |
CU04 - Student Photography
|
1st place: |
Humber College - Anayas Fernanda Medeiros |
| 2nd place: | Humber College - Luis Miguel S. De Castro |
| 3rd place: | Algonquin College - Autumn Beeston |
CU05 - Best College/University Newspaper Website
|
1st place: |
Centennial College - torontoobserver.ca |
| 2nd place: | Humber College - humberetc.ca |
| 3rd place: | Algonquin College - algonquintimes.com |
Premier Awards
PC01 - Arts & Entertainment
Sponsored by: Midwestern Newspapers
|
1st place: |
Wingham Advance Times - Rachel Hammermueller |
| 2nd place: | Beeton, New Tecumseth Times - Brian Lockhart |
| 3rd place: | Paris Independent - Edward Lander |
PC02 - Best Business and Finance Story
|
1st place: |
Simcoe Advocate - Jeff Tribe |
| 2nd place: | Listowel Banner - Denny Scott, Kelsey Bent & Rachel Hammermueller |
| 3rd place: | Tillsonburg Post - Jeff Helsdon |
PC03 - Best Editorial, circ. over 8,000
|
1st place: |
Picton Gazette - Karen Valihora |
| 2nd place: | Haliburton, The Highlander - Lisa Gervais |
| 3rd place: | Listowel Independent Plus - Patrick Raftis |
PC04 - Best Editorial, circ. 8,000 & under
|
1st place: |
Ayr News - Irene Schmidt-Adeney |
| 2nd place: | Stratford Times - Connor Luczka |
| 3rd place: | Wingham Advance Times - Denny Scott |
PC05 - Best Editorial Cartoon
|
1st place: |
Ottawa Hill Times - Michael de Adder |
| 2nd place: | Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Richard Harley |
| 3rd place: | Paris Independent - Chris Whelan |
PC06 - Best Editorial Page/Section
PC07 - Education Writing
Sponsored by: Ontario Journalism Educators Association
|
1st place: |
Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Robin George |
| 2nd place: | Haliburton, The Highlander - Mike Baker |
| 3rd place: | Manitoulin Expositor - Jacqueline St. Pierre |
| Honourable Mention: | Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Paige Seburn |
PC08 - Environment Ontario
|
1st place: |
Kitchissippi Times - Amanda McLeod |
| 2nd place: | Haliburton, The Highlander - Mike Baker |
| 3rd place: | Manitoulin Expositor - Jacqueline St. Pierre |
PC09 - Feature Writing, circ. over 8,000
Sponsored by: ORP Law
|
1st place: |
Ottawa Hill Times - Tessie Sanci |
| 2nd place: | Elmira-Woolwich Observer - Julian Gavaghan |
| 3rd place: | Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Jordan Snobelen |
PC10 - Feature Writing, circ. 8,000 & under
Sponsored by: ORP Law
|
1st place: |
Manitoulin Expositor - Jacqueline St. Pierre |
| 2nd place: | Deep River North Renfrew Times - Hazel Atkins |
| 3rd place: | Orono Weekly Times - Julie Cashin-Oster |
PC11 - Health & Wellness
|
1st place: |
Manitoulin Expositor - Jacqueline St. Pierre |
| 2nd place: | Walkerton Herald Times - Pauline Kerr |
| 3rd place: | Wilmot-Tavistock Gazette - Galen Simmons |
| Honourable Mention: | Haliburton, The Highlander - Mike Baker |
PC12 - Heritage
Sponsored by: Fort Frances Times
|
1st place: |
Haliburton County Echo - Thomas Smith |
| 2nd place: | Elmira-Woolwich Observer - Julian Gavaghan |
| 3rd place: | Kitchissippi Times - Charlie Senack |
| Honourable Mention: | Wingham Advance Times - Cory Bilyea |
PC13 - Best Investigative News Story
|
1st place: |
Ottawa Hill Times - Stuart Benson |
| 2nd place: |
The Haldimand Press - Mike Renzella |
| 3rd place: | Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Paige Seburn |
| Honourable Mention: | Picton Gazette - Karen Valihora |
PC14 - Best News Story, circ. over 8,000
|
1st place: |
Ottawa Hill Times - Abbas Rana |
| 2nd place: | Ottawa, Your Community Voice, Stittsville - Nevil Hunt |
| 3rd place: | Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Julia Sacco |
PC15 - Best News Story, circ. 8,000 & under
|
1st place: |
Listowel Banner - Rachel Hammermueller |
| 2nd place: | Haliburton County Echo - Emily Stonehouse |
| 3rd place: | The Independent Serving Petrolia and Central Lambton - Heather Wright |
PC16 - Best Rural Story
|
1st place: |
Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Jill Troyer |
| 2nd place: | Elmira-Woolwich Observer - Julian Gavaghan |
| 3rd place: | Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Robin George |
| Honourable Mention: | Haliburton County Echo - Emily Stonehouse |
PC17 - Best Feature/News Series, circ. over 8,000
|
1st place: |
The Auroran - Brock Weir |
| 2nd place: |
Picton Gazette - Karen Valihora |
| 3rd place: | Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Paige Seburn |
| Honourable Mention: | Uxbridge Cosmos - Roger Varley |
PC18 - Best Feature/News Series, circ. 8,000 & under
|
1st place: |
Deep River North Renfrew Times - Hazel Atkins |
| 2nd place: |
The Haldimand Press - Mike Renzella & Nick Fearns |
| 3rd place: | Barry's Bay, The Valley Gazette - Robert Fisher |
PC19 - Sport & Recreation Story
|
1st place: |
Eganville Leader - Barry Conway |
| 2nd place: | New Liskeard Temiskaming Speaker - Sue Nielsen |
| 3rd place: | Blyth/Brussels Citizen - Scott Stephenson |
| Honourable Mention: | Elmira-Woolwich Observer - Julian Gavaghan |
| Honourable Mention: |
PC20 - Best Headline Writing
|
1st place: |
The Haldimand Press |
| 2nd place: | Uxbridge Cosmos - Lisha Van Nieuwenhove |
| 3rd place: | Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Richard Harley |
PC21 - Diversity Coverage
|
1st place: |
Ottawa, Your Community Voice, Stittsville - Nevil Hunt |
| 2nd place: | The Independent Serving Petrolia and Central Lambton - Tara Jeffrey |
| 3rd place: | Ottawa Hill Times - Eleanor Wand |
PC22 - Best Police/Court Story
|
1st place: |
Manitoulin Expositor - Jacqueline St. Pierre |
| 2nd place: | Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Robin George |
| 3rd place: | The Independent Serving Petrolia and Central Lambton - Heather Wright |
PC23 - Best Police/Court Series
|
1st place: |
|
| 2nd place: |
Ottawa Hill Times - Samantha Wright Allen |
| 3rd place: |
The Haldimand Press - Mike Renzella Article #1 Article #2 Article #3 Article #4 |
PC24 - Best Guest/Freelance Column
|
1st place: |
Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Wendy Cheropita |
| 2nd place: | Simcoe Advocate - Jeff Tribe |
| 3rd place: | Ayr News - Jaellayna Palmer |
| Honourable Mention: | Stratford Times - Loreena McKennitt |
PC25 - Humour Columnist of the Year
|
1st place: |
Haliburton County Echo - Steve Galea |
| 2nd place: |
Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Kelly Waterhouse |
| 3rd place: | Blyth/Brussels Citizen - Scott Stephenson |
| Honourable Mention: | Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Ross Robinson |
PC26 - Columnist of the Year
|
1st place: |
Ottawa Hill Times - Rose LeMay |
| 2nd place: | Wingham Advance Times - Cory Bilyea |
| 3rd place: | The Independent Serving Petrolia and Central Lambton - Heather Wright |
| Honourable Mention: | Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Garth Turner |
PC27 - Reporter of the Year - Stephen Shaw Award
Sponsored by: Ontario Power Generation
|
1st place: |
Tillsonburg Post - Jeff Helsdon |
| 2nd place: | Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Paige Seburn |
| 3rd place: |
Kitchissippi Times - Charlie Senack |
| Honourable Mention: | Barr'ys Bay, The Valley Gazette - Robert Fisher |
PC28 - Best Feature Photo
|
1st place: |
Haliburton, The Highlander - Justin Belanger |
| 2nd place: | Picton Gazette - Jason Parks |
| 3rd place: | Manitoulin Expositor - Alicia McCutcheon |
| Honourable Mention: | Cornwall Seaway News - Jason Setnyk |
| Honourable Mention: |
PC29 - Best Photo Layout
|
1st place: |
Eganville Leader - Alex Lambert |
| 2nd place: | Orangeville Citizen - Peter Richardson, Joel Krahn & Janine Taylor |
| 3rd place: | Barry's Bay, The Valley Gazette - Robert Fisher & Derek Layman |
| Honourable Mention: | Haliburton, The Highlander - Justin Belanger |
PC30 - Best Sports Photo
|
1st place: |
Barry's Bay, The Valley Gazette - Robert Fisher |
| 2nd place: | Picton Gazette - Jason Parks |
| 3rd place: | Haliburton, The Highlander - Lisa Gervais |
PC31 - Best Spot News Photo
Sponsored by: Midwestern Newspapers
|
1st place: |
The Herald Serving Thamesville, Dresden and Bothwell - Heather Wright |
| 2nd place: | Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Jamie Slingerland |
| 3rd place: | The Independent Serving Petrolia and Central Lambton - Heather Wright |
| Honourable Mention: | Blyth/Brussels Citizen - Shawn Loughlin |
| Honourable Mention: |
PC32 - Best News Photo
|
1st place: |
Uxbridge Cosmos - John Cavers |
| 2nd place: | Aylmer Express - Rob Perry |
| 3rd place: | Ottawa, Your Community Voice, Stittsville - Nevil Hunt |
| Honourable Mention: | Blyth/Brussels Citizen - Shawn Loughlin |
PC33 - Most Creative Grip and Grin Photo
|
1st place: |
Kitchissippi Times - Ellen Bond |
| 2nd place: | Stratford Times - Amanda Modaragamage |
| 3rd place: | Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Dave Van de Laar |
PC34 - Photographer of the Year
|
1st place: |
Paris Independent - Michelle Malvaso |
| 2nd place: | Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Dave Van de Laar |
| 3rd place: | Barry's Bay, The Valley Gazette - Robert Fisher |
PC35 - Community Service
|
1st place: |
Eganville Leader - Hike for Hospice |
| 2nd place: | Aylmer Express - Old Town Hall public forum |
| 3rd place: | Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - NOTL women vow 'elbows up' |
PC36 - Best Vertical Product
PC37 - Best Front Page
|
1st place: |
Ottawa Hill Times |
| 2nd place: | Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report |
| 3rd place: | Elmira-Woolwich Observer |
| Honourable Mention: | Kitchissippi Times |
PC38 - Best Sports Section
|
1st place: |
Simcoe Advocate |
| 2nd place: | New Liskeard Temiskaming Speaker |
| 3rd place: | Haliburton, The Highlander |
PC39 - Special Section
|
1st place: |
Shelburne Free Press - Celebrating 150 Years of the Shelburne Free Press |
| 2nd place: | Woodstock Ingersoll Echo - Farm Edition 2025 |
| 3rd place: | Eganville Leader - Irish Edition |
PC40 - Best Feature/Unit Pages
PC41 - Best Creative Ad
|
1st place: |
Kincardine Independent - Becky Grebenjak |
| 2nd place: | Kitchissippi Times - Céline Haché-Paquette |
| 3rd place: | Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Richard Harley |
| Honourable Mention: | Simcoe Advocate - Michelle Foster |
| Honourable Mention: | St. Mary's Independent - Erin Parsons |
| Honourable Mention: | Stratford Times - Sarah Cairns |
PC42 - In House Promotion
|
1st place: |
Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Richard Harley |
| 2nd place: | Aylmer Express - Larissa Lane |
| 3rd place: | Kitchissippi Times - Tanya Connolly-Holmes |
PC43 - Local Retail Layout
Sponsored by: Metro Creative Graphics
|
1st place: |
Wilmot-Tavistock Gazette - Erin Parsons |
| 2nd place: | Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Alicia Roza |
| 3rd place: | Picton Gazette - Natalie Piper |
PC45 - Original Ad Idea
|
1st place: |
Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Richard Harley |
| 2nd place: | Kitchissippi Times |
| 3rd place: | North Wellington Community News - Alicia Roza |
PC46 - Best Use of Colour
|
1st place: |
Kitchissippi Times - Céline Haché-Paquette |
| 2nd place: | North Wellington Community News - Emily Hughes |
| 3rd place: | Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Richard Harley |
| Honourable Mention: | Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Emily Hughes |
| Honourable Mention: | Tillsonburg Post - Stacie Eden |
PC47 - Best Community Newspaper Website
|
1st place: |
Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - niagaranow.com |
| 2nd place: | Elmira-Woolwich Observer - observerxtra.com |
| 3rd place: | Fergus Wellington Advertiser - wellingtonadvertiser.com |
Visit www.ocna.org/BNCBooklet2025 to see the BNC Results book..