The OCNA is proud to recognize the outstanding work produced each week by our member newspapers.
Finalists in each category are listed in alphabetical order below.
First, second and third place winners will be announced during the BNC & Hall of Fame Awards Dinner
taking place Friday, April 11 at the Queen's Landing Hotel in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
To register, go to: Independent Publisher Retreat Registration
Thank you to our Gala Sponsor, Ontario Power Generation, for their continued support of
Ontario’s community newspapers!
Thank you to everyone who submitted entries and congratulations to the finalists!
General Excellence Awards
GE01 - Class 1: circ. 1,500 & under
Haliburton County Echo
Listowel Banner
Wingham Advance Times
Honourable Mention: Minden Times
GE02 - Class 2: circ. 1,500 - 8,000
Blyth/Brussels Citizen
Eganville Leader
New Liskeard Temiskaming Speaker
Honourable Mention: The Haldimand Press
GE03 - Class 3: circ. 8,001 & over
Elmira-Woolwich Observer
Haliburton, The Highlander
Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report
Honourable Mention: Kitchissippi Times
GE04 - Class 4: College & University
Fanshawe College - Interrobang
Humber College - Et Cetera
University of Waterloo - Imprint
Honourable Mention: Loyalist College - Pioneer
College/University Awards
CU01 - Student Feature Writing
Centennial College - Haruka Ide
Humber College - Annicca Albano & Jeferson Quiro-Vargas
Humber College - Carlo Cantisani
Honourable Mention: Durham College - Gage Patte
CU02 - Student News Writing
Sponsored by: Ontario Journalism Educators Association
Centennial College - Christian Zdravko
Humber College - Antonio Canyameras Rojas
University of Waterloo - Nadia Khan
Honourable Mention: Fanshawe College - Mauricio Prado
CU03 - Student Editorial Writing
Algonquin College - Arty Sarkisian
Algonquin College - Naomie Twagirumukiza
Humber College - Santiago Helou Quintero
CU04 - Student Photography
Algonquin College - Mat Dicsi
Centennial College - Zachary Phillips
Loyalist College - Jilly MacIver
CU05 - Best College/University Newspaper Website
Centennial College - torontoobserver.ca
Humber College - humbernews.ca
University of Waterloo - uwimprint.ca
Honourable Mention: Algonquin College - algonquintimes.com
Premier Awards
PC01 - Arts & Entertainment
Sponsored by: Midwestern Newspapers
Creemore Echo - Trina
Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Julia Sacco
Picton Gazette - Karen Valihora
PC02 - Best Business and Finance Story
Aylmer Express - Rob Perry
Blyth/Brussels Citizen - Scott Stephenson
Fort Frances Times - Ken Kellar
PC03 - Best Editorial, circ. over 8,000
Elmira-Woolwich Observer - Steve Kannon
Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Richard Harley
North Wellington Community News - Chris Daponte
Honourable Mention: Uxbridge Cosmos - Lisha Van Nieuwenhove
PC04 - Best Editorial, circ. 8,000 & under
Barrhaven Independent - Jeff Morris
Listowel Banner - Patrick Raftis
The Independent Serving Petrolia and Central Lambton - Heather Wright
PC05 - Best Editorial Cartoon
Cornwall Seaway News - James Lapierre
Elmira-Woolwich Observer - Scott Arnold
New Liskeard Temiskaming Speaker - David Dickerson
PC06 - Best Editorial Page/Section
Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Kelly Waterhouse, Dave Adsett & Steve Nease
Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report
Wingham Advance Times
PC07 - Education Writing
Sponsored by: Ontario Journalism Educators Association
Listowel Banner - Kelsey Bent
Manotick Messenger - Jeff Morris
The Independent Serving Petrolia and Central Lambton - Heather Wright
Honourable Mention: Eganville Leader - Gerald Tracey
PC08 - Environment Ontario
Creemore Echo - Trina Berlo
Haliburton, The Highlander - Mike Baker
Picton Gazette - Chris Fanning
Honourable Mention: Bancroft This Week - Nate Smelle
Honourable Mention: Manitoulin Expositor - Jacqueline St. Pierre
PC09 - Feature Writing, circ. over 8,000
Sponsored by: ORP Law
Haliburton, The Highlander - Lisa Gervais
Kitchissippi Times - Charlie Senack
Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Richard Harley
PC10 - Feature Writing, circ. 8,000 & under
Sponsored by: ORP Law
Ayr News - Irene Schmidt-Adeney
Kincardine Independent - Liz Small
Listowel Banner - Dan McNee
PC11 - Health & Wellness
Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Julia Sacco
The Haldimand Press - Tara Lindemann
Uxbridge Cosmos - Lisha Van Nieuwenhove
PC12 - Heritage
Sponsored by: Fort Frances Times
Ayr News - Irene Schmidt-Adeney
Elmira-Woolwich Observer - Julian Gavaghan
Listowel Banner - Dan McNee
Honourable Mention: Kitchissippi Times - Dave Allston, Charlie Senack & Céline Paquette
PC13 - Best Investigative News Story
Creemore Echo - Trina Berlo
Kitchissippi Times - Charlie Senack & Sarah MacFarlane
The Independent Serving Petrolia and Central Lambton - Heather Wright
Honourable Mention: Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report
- Richard Hutton, Kevin MacLean & Julia Sacco
Honourable Mention: Picton Gazette - Karen Valihora
PC14 - Best News Story, circ. over 8,000
Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Robin George
Haliburton, The Highlander - Lisa Gervais
Kitchissippi Times - Charlie Senack
Honourable Mention: Manotick Messenger - Charlie Senack
PC15 - Best News Story, circ. 8,000 & under
Barrhaven Independent - Charlie Senack
The Independent Serving Petrolia and Central Lambton - Heather Wright
Wingham Advance Times - Rachel Hammermueller
Honourable Mention: Woodstock Ingersoll Echo - Lee Griffi
PC16 - Best Rural Story
Eganville Leader - Bruce McIntyre
Elmira-Woolwich Observer - Leah Gerber
Fort Frances Times - Elisa Nguyen
PC17 - Best Feature/News Series, circ. over 8,000
Caledon Citizen - Zachary Roman
Haliburton, The Highlander - Lisa Gervais
Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Richard Wright
PC18 - Best Feature/News Series, circ. 8,000 & under
Listowel Banner - Kelsey Bent & Rachel Hammermueller
Stratford Times - Connor Luczka
The Independent Serving Petrolia and Central Lambton - Cathy Dobson & Glenn Ogilvie
PC19 - Sport & Recreation Story
Ayr News - Richard Yoshioka & Irene Schmidt-Adeney
Napanee Beaver - Adam Prudhomme
Orangeville Citizen - Sam Odrowski
Honourable Mention: Barrhaven Independent - Jeff Morris
PC20 - Best Headline Writing
Haliburton, The Highlander - Lisa Gervais & Mike Baker
Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Kevin MacLean & Richard Harley
The Haldimand Press
Honourable Mention: Fort Frances Times - Allan Bradbury & Elisa Nguyen
PC21 - Diversity Coverage
Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Joanne Shuttleworth & Robin George
Kitchissippi Times - Charlie Senack & Hannah Wanamaker
The Haldimand Press - Mike Renzella
PC22 - Best Police/Court Story
Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Jordan Snobelen
Manotick Messenger - Jeff Morris
The Haldimand Press - Tamara Botting
PC23 - Best Police/Court Series
Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Jordan Snobelen
Manotick Messenger - Jeff Morris
The Haldimand Press - Mike Renzella
PC24 - Best Guest/Freelance Column
Listowel Banner - Keisha Fletcher
Manitoulin Expositor - Marie McGregor Pitawanakwat
Uxbridge Cosmos - Wynn Walters
PC25 - Humour Columnist of the Year
Barrhaven Independent - Jeff Morris
Elmira-Woolwich Observer - Steve Galea
New Liskeard Temiskaming Speaker - Diane Johnston
PC26 - Columnist of the Year
Fort Frances Times - Bob Dunn
Listowel Banner - Kelsey Bent
New Liskeard Temiskaming Speaker - Darlene Wroe
Honourable Mention: Wingham Advance Times - Rachel Hammermueller
PC27 - Reporter of the Year - Stephen Shaw Award
Sponsored by: Ontario Power Generation
Kitchissippi Times - Charlie Senack
Listowel Banner - Kelsey Bent
Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Julia Sacco
Honourable Mention: The Independent Serving Petrolia and Central Lambton - Heather Wright
PC28 - Best Feature Photo, circ. over 8,000
Chatham Voice
Cornwall Seaway News - Jason Setnyk
Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Dave Van de Laar
Honourable Mention: Leamington/Wheatley Southpoint Sun Journal - Paul Forman
PC29 - Best Feature Photo, circ. 8,000 & under
Listowel Banner - Nicole Beswitherick
New Liskeard Temiskaming Speaker - Sue Nielsen
The Haldimand Press - Tamara Botting
Honourable Mention: Deep River North Renfrew Times - Terry Myers
PC30 - Best Photo Layout
Elmira-Woolwich Observer - Leah Gerber & Cassandra Merlihan
Fort Frances Times - Ken Kellar
The Independent Serving Petrolia and Central Lambton - Heather Wright
Honourable Mention: The Haldimand Press
PC31 - Best Sports Photo
Ayr News - Jim Balkwill
Listowel Banner - Nicole Beswitherick
Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Dave Van de Laar
Honourable Mention: St. Marys Independent - Spencer Seymour
PC32 - Best Spot News Photo
Sponsored by: Midwestern Newspapers
Elmira-Woolwich Observer - Julian Gavaghan
Manitoulin Expositor - Michael Erskine
Picton Gazette - Jason Parks
PC33 - Best News Photo
Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Jessica Lovell
Leamington/Wheatley Southpoint Sun Journal - Mark Ribble
Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - John DeLorenzi
PC34 - Most Creative Grip and Grin Photo
Minden Times - Thomas Smith
Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Evan Loree
The Haldimand Press - Tamara Botting
Honourable Mention: Elmira-Woolwich Observer - Steve Kannon
PC35 - Photographer of the Year
Kitchissippi Times - Aaron Reid
Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Dave Van de Laar
Wingham Advance Times - Cory Bilyea
PC36 - Community Service
Blyth/Brussels Citizen - Citizen of the Year Awards
Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Celebrating the women of NOTL
The Independent Serving Petrolia and Central Lambton - Petrolia's 150th - 1874 Replica Newspaper
PC37 - Best Vertical Product
Eganville Leader - Discover the Valley!
Fort Frances Times - 2024 Vacation Guide Map
Kitchissippi Times - 20th Anniversary
PC38 - Best Front Page
Elmira-Woolwich Observer
Kincardine Independent - Liz Small & Pauline Kerr
Manitoulin Expositor
Honourable Mention: Haliburton, The Highlander - Lisa Gervais
Honourable Mention: The Auroran - Brock Weir
PC39 - Best Sports Section
Elmira-Woolwich Observer
New Liskeard Temiskaming Speaker
St. Marys Independent
Honourable Mention: Ayr News
PC40 - Special Section
Barry's Bay, The Valley Gazette - The Train's A Coming…All Aboard
North Wellington Community News - Remembrance Day
Wingham Advance Times - Happy Homecoming!
PC41 - Best Feature/Unit Pages
Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Volunteer Appreciation Week
North Wellington Community News - Drayton Farm Show
Uxbridge Cosmos - A Nod to Maud Summer Social
PC42 - Best Creative Ad
Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Emily Hughes
Kitchissippi Times - Céline Paquette
Listowel Banner - Janine Martin
PC43 - In House Promotion
Creemore Echo - Trina Berlo & Sara Hershoff
Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Richard Harley
North Wellington Community News - Alicia Roza
PC44 - Local Retail Layout
Sponsored by: Metro Creative Graphics
Elmira-Woolwich Observer - Cassandra Merlihan
Kitchissippi Times - Céline Paquette
The Independent Serving Petrolia and Central Lambton - Tyler Viscount
PC45 - Original Ad Idea
Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Alicia Roza
Kitchissippi Times - Céline Paquette
Uxbridge Cosmos - Susan Gallé
PC46 - Best Use of Colour
Elmira-Woolwich Observer - Cassandra Merlihan
Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Emily Hughes
Kitchissippi Times - Céline Paquette
Honourable Mention: North Wellington Community News - Alicia Roza
PC47 - Best Community Newspaper Website
Kemptville, North Grenville Times - ngtimes.ca
Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - niagaranow.com
St. Marys Independent - granthaven.com
Honourable Mention: Manitoulin Expositor - manitoulin.com
PC48 - Best Online Journalism
Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Summer of the Flood: Part 1 - Richard Wright
Picton Gazette - Catastrophic Fire on the Adolphus Reach - Jason Parks