2024 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 2024 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: |
Wingham Advance Times |
May 2024 | September 2024 |
| 2nd place: | Listowel Banner | May 2024 | September 2024 |
| 3rd place: | Haliburton County Echo | May 2024 | September 2024 |
| Honourable Mention: | Minden Times | May 2024 | September 2024 |
GE02 - Class 2: Circ. 1,501 - 8,000
|
1st place: |
Eganville Leader |
May 2024 | September 2024 |
| 2nd place: | New Liskeard Temiskaming Speaker | May 2024 | September 2024 |
| 3rd place: | Blyth/Brussels Citizen | May 2024 | September 2024 |
| Honourable Mention: | The Haldimand Press | May 2024 | September 2024 |
GE03 - Class 3: Circ. 8,000 & over
|
1st place: |
Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report | May 2024 | September 2024 |
| 2nd place: | Elmira-Woolwich Observer | May 2024 | September 2024 |
| 3rd place: | Haliburton, The Highlander | May 2024 | September 2024 |
| Honourable Mention: | Kitchissippi Times | May 2024 | September 2024 |
GE08 - Class 8: College &University
|
1st place: |
Humber College - Et Cetera | Fall Semester | Winter Semester |
| 2nd place: | Fanshawe College - Interrobang | Fall Semester | Winter Semester |
| 3rd place: | University of Waterloo - Imprint | Fall Semester | Winter Semester |
| Honourable Mention: | Loyalist College - Pioneer | Fall Semester | Winter Semester |
College/University Awards
CU01 - Student Feature Writing
|
1st place: |
Humber College - Carlo Cantisani |
| 2nd place: | Centennial College - Haruka Ide |
| 3rd place: | Humber College - Annicca Albano & Jeferson Quiro-Vargas |
| Honourable Mention: | Durham College - Gage Patte |
CU02 - Student News Writing
Sponsored by: Ontario Journalism Educators Association
|
1st place: |
Humber College - Antonio Canyameras Rojas |
| 2nd place: | University of Waterloo - Nadia Khan |
| 3rd place: | Centennial College - Christian Zdravko |
| Honourable Mention: | Fanshawe College - Mauricio Prado |
CU03 - Editorial Writing
|
1st place: |
Algonquin College - Naomie Twagirumukiza |
| 2nd place: | Algonquin College - Arty Sarkisian |
| 3rd place: | Humber College - Santiago Helou Quintero |
CU04 - Student Photography
|
1st place: |
Loyalist College - Jilly MacIver |
| 2nd place: | Centennial College - Zachary Phillips |
| 3rd place: | Algonquin College - Mat Dicsi |
CU05 - Best College/University Newspaper Website
|
1st place: |
Centennial College - torontoobserver.ca |
| 2nd place: | University of Waterloo - uwimprint.ca |
| 3rd place: | Humber College - humbernews.ca |
| Honourable Mention: | Algonquin College - algonquintimes.com |
Premier Awards
PC01 - Arts & Entertainment
Sponsored by: Midwestern Newspapers
|
1st place: |
Picton Gazette - Karen Valihora |
| 2nd place: | Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Julia Sacco |
| 3rd place: | Creemore Echo - Trina Berlo |
PC02 - Best Business and Finance Story
|
1st place: |
Aylmer Express - Rob Perry |
| 2nd place: | Blyth/Brussels Citizen - Scott Stephenson |
| 3rd place: | Fort Frances Times - Ken Kellar |
PC03 - Best Editorial, circ. over 8,000
|
1st place: |
North Wellington Community News - Chris Daponte |
| 2nd place: | Elmira-Woolwich Observer - Steve Kannon |
| 3rd place: | Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Richard Harley |
| Honourable Mention: | Uxbridge Cosmos - Lisha Van Nieuwenhove |
PC04 - Best Editorial, circ. 8,000 & under
|
1st place: |
Barrhaven Independent - Jeff Morris |
| 2nd place: | The Independent Serving Petrolia and Central Lambton - Heather Wright |
| 3rd place: | Listowel Banner - Patrick Raftis |
PC05 - Best Editorial Cartoon
|
1st place: |
Elmira-Woolwich Observer - Scott Arnold |
| 2nd place: | Cornwall Seaway News - James Lapierre |
| 3rd place: | New Liskeard Temiskaming Speaker - David Dickerson |
PC06 - Best Editorial Page/Section
|
1st place: |
Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report |
| 2nd place: | Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Kelly Waterhouse, Dave Adsett & Steve Nease |
| 3rd place: | Wingham Advance Times |
PC07 - Education Writing
Sponsored by: Ontario Journalism Educators Association
|
1st place: |
Listowel Banner - Kelsey Bent |
| 2nd place: | The Independent Serving Petrolia and Central Lambton - Heather Wright |
| 3rd place: | Manotick Messenger - Jeff Morris |
| Honourable Mention: | Eganville Leader - Gerald Tracey |
PC08 - Environment Ontario
|
1st place: |
Creemore Echo - Trina Berlo |
| 2nd place: | Haliburton, The Highlander - Mike Baker |
| 3rd place: | 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
|
1st place: |
|
| 2nd place: | Haliburton, The Highlander - Lisa Gervais |
| 3rd place: | Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Richard Harley |
PC10 - Feature Writing, circ. 8,000 & under
Sponsored by: ORP Law
|
1st place: |
Listowel Banner - Dan McNee |
| 2nd place: | Kincardine Independent - Liz Small |
| 3rd place: | Ayr News - Irene Schmidt-Adeney |
PC11 - Health & Wellness
|
1st place: |
The Haldimand Press - Tara Lindemann |
| 2nd place: | Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Julia Sacco |
| 3rd place: | Uxbridge Cosmos - Lisha Van Nieuwenhove |
PC12 - Heritage
Sponsored by: Fort Frances Times
|
1st place: |
|
| 2nd place: | Elmira-Woolwich Observer - Julian Gavaghan |
| 3rd place: | Ayr News - Irene Schmidt-Adeney |
| Honourable Mention: | Kitchissippi Times - Dave Allston, Charlie Senack & Céline Paquette |
PC13 - Best Investigative News Story
|
1st place: |
The Independent Serving Petrolia and Central Lambton - Heather Wright |
| 2nd place: | Creemore Echo - Trina Berlo |
| 3rd place: | Kitchissippi Times - Charlie Senack & Sarah MacFarlane |
| 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
|
1st place: |
Haliburton, The Highlander - Lisa Gervais |
| 2nd place: | Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Robin George |
| 3rd place: | Kitchissippi Times - Charlie Senack |
| Honourable Mention: | Manotick Messenger - Charlie Senack |
PC15 - Best News Story, circ. 8,000 & under
|
1st place: |
Barrhaven Independent - Charlie Senack |
| 2nd place: | Wingham Advance Times - Rachel Hammermueller |
| 3rd place: | The Independent Serving Petrolia and Central Lambton - Heather Wright |
| Honourable Mention: | Woodstock Ingersoll Echo - Lee Griffi |
PC16 - Best Rural Story
|
1st place: |
Fort Frances Times - Elisa Nguyen |
| 2nd place: | Elmira-Woolwich Observer - Leah Gerber |
| 3rd place: | Eganville Leader - Bruce McIntyre |
PC17 - Best Feature/News Series, circ. over 8,000
|
1st place: |
Caledon Citizen - Zachary Roman |
| 2nd place: | Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Richard Wright |
| 3rd place: | Haliburton, The Highlander - Lisa Gervais |
PC18 - Best Feature/News Series, circ. 8,000 & under
PC19 - Sport & Recreation Story
|
1st place: |
Ayr News - Richard Yoshioka & Irene Schmidt-Adeney |
| 2nd place: | Orangeville Citizen - Sam Odrowski |
| 3rd place: | Napanee Beaver - Adam Prudhomme |
| Honourable Mention: | Barrhaven Independent - Jeff Morris |
PC20 - Best Headline Writing
|
1st place: |
|
| 2nd place: | The Haldimand Press |
| 3rd place: | Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Kevin MacLean & Richard Harley |
| Honourable Mention: | Fort Frances Times - Allan Bradbury & Elisa Nguyen |
PC21 - Diversity Coverage
|
1st place: |
Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Joanne Shuttleworth & Robin George |
|
|
Article #1 Article #2 Article #3 Article #4 |
| 2nd place: | The Haldimand Press - Mike Renzella |
| 3rd place: | Kitchissippi Times - Charlie Senack & Hannah Wanamaker |
PC22 - Best Police/Court Story
|
1st place: |
Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Jordan Snobelen |
| 2nd place: | The Haldimand Press - Tamara Botting |
| 3rd place: | Manotick Messenger - Jeff Morris |
PC23 - Best Police/Court Series
|
1st place: |
Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Jordan Snobelen |
| 2nd place: | Manotick Messenger - Jeff Morris |
| 3rd place: |
The Haldimand Press - Mike Renzella |
PC24 - Best Guest/Freelance Column
|
1st place: |
Manitoulin Expositor - Marie McGregor Pitawanakwat |
| 2nd place: | Listowel Banner - Keisha Fletcher |
| 3rd place: | Uxbridge Cosmos - Wynn Walters |
PC25 - Humour Columnist of the Year
|
1st place: |
New Liskeard Temiskaming Speaker - Diane Johnston |
| 2nd place: | Elmira-Woolwich Observer - Steve Galea |
| 3rd place: | Barrhaven Independent - Jeff Morris |
PC26 - Columnist of the Year
|
1st place: |
Fort Frances Times - Bob Dunn |
| 2nd place: | Listowel Banner - Kelsey Bent |
| 3rd place: | 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
|
1st place: |
Kitchissippi Times - Charlie Senack Online Article |
| 2nd place: | Listowel Banner - Kelsey Bent |
| 3rd place: | 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
|
1st place: |
Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Dave Van de Laar |
| 2nd place: | Cornwall Seaway News - Jason Setnyk |
| 3rd place: | Chatham Voice |
| Honourable Mention: | Leamington/Wheatley Southpoint Sun Journal - Paul Forman |
PC29 - Best Feature Photo, circ. 8,000 & under
|
1st place: |
Listowel Banner - Nicole Beswitherick |
| 2nd place: | The Haldimand Press - Tamara Botting |
| 3rd place: | New Liskeard Temiskaming Speaker - Sue Nielsen |
| Honourable Mention: | Deep River North Renfrew Times - Terry Myers |
PC30 - Best Photo Layout
|
1st place: |
The Independent Serving Petrolia and Central Lambton - Heather Wright |
| 2nd place: | Fort Frances Times - Ken Kellar |
| 3rd place: | Elmira-Woolwich Observer - Leah Gerber & Cassandra Merlihan |
| Honourable Mention: | The Haldimand Press |
PC31 - Best Sports Photo
|
1st place: |
Listowel Banner - Nicole Beswitherick |
| 2nd place: | Ayr News - Jim Balkwill |
| 3rd place: | 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
|
1st place: |
Picton Gazette - Jason Parks |
| 2nd place: | Elmira-Woolwich Observer - Julian Gavaghan |
| 3rd place: | Manitoulin Expositor - Michael Erskine |
PC33 - Best News Photo
|
1st place: |
Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Jessica Lovell |
| 2nd place: | |
| 3rd place: | Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - John DeLorenzi |
PC34 - Most Creative Grip and Grin Photo
|
1st place: |
Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Evan Loree |
| 2nd place: | Minden Times - Thomas Smith |
| 3rd place: | The Haldimand Press - Tamara Botting |
| Honourable Mention: | Elmira-Woolwich Observer - Steve Kannon |
PC35 - Photographer of the Year
|
1st place: |
Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Dave Van de Laar |
| 2nd place: | Kitchissippi Times - Aaron Reid |
| 3rd place: | Wingham Advance Times - Cory Bilyea |
PC36 - Community Service
|
1st place: |
|
| 2nd place: | Blyth/Brussels Citizen - Citizen of the Year Awards |
| 3rd place: | Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Celebrating the women of NOTL |
PC37 - Best Vertical Product
|
1st place: |
Kitchissippi Times - 20th Anniversary |
| 2nd place: | Eganville Leader - Discover the Valley! |
| 3rd place: | Fort Frances Times - 2024 Vacation Guide Map |
PC38 - Best Front Page
|
1st place: |
Manitoulin Expositor |
| 2nd place: | Elmira-Woolwich Observer |
| 3rd place: | Kincardine Independent - Liz Small & Pauline Kerr |
| Honourable Mention: | Haliburton, The Highlander - Lisa Gervais |
| Honourable Mention: | The Auroran - Brock Weir |
PC39 - Best Sports Section
|
1st place: |
Elmira-Woolwich Observer |
| 2nd place: | St. Marys Independent |
| 3rd place: | New Liskeard Temiskaming Speaker |
| Honourable Mention: | Ayr News |
PC40 - Special Section
|
1st place: |
Wingham Advance Times - Happy Homecoming! |
| 2nd place: | Barry's Bay, The Valley Gazette - The Train's A Coming…All Aboard |
| 3rd place: | North Wellington Community News - Remembrance Day |
PC41 - Best Feature/Unit Pages
|
1st place: |
North Wellington Community News - Drayton Farm Show |
| 2nd place: | Uxbridge Cosmos - A Nod to Maud Summer Social |
| 3rd place: | Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Volunteer Appreciation Week |
PC42 - Best Creative Ad
|
1st place: |
Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Emily Hughes |
| 2nd place: | Listowel Banner - Janine Martin |
| 3rd place: | Kitchissippi Times - Céline Paquette |
PC43 - In House Promotion
|
1st place: |
Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Richard Harley |
| 2nd place: | North Wellington Community News - Alicia Roza |
| 3rd place: | Creemore Echo - Trina Berlo & Sara Hershoff |
PC44 - Local Retail Layout
Sponsored by: Metro Creative Graphics
|
1st place: |
Kitchissippi Times - Céline Paquette |
| 2nd place: | Elmira-Woolwich Observer - Cassandra Merlihan |
| 3rd place: | The Independent Serving Petrolia and Central Lambton - Tyler Viscount |
PC45 - Original Ad Idea
|
1st place: |
Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Alicia Roza |
| 2nd place: | Kitchissippi Times - Céline Paquette |
| 3rd place: | Uxbridge Cosmos - Susan Gallé |
PC46 - Best Use of Colour
|
1st place: |
Kitchissippi Times - Céline Paquette |
| 2nd place: | Elmira-Woolwich Observer - Cassandra Merlihan |
| 3rd place: | Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Emily Hughes |
| Honourable Mention: | North Wellington Community News - Alicia Roza |
PC47 - Best Community Newspaper Website
|
1st place: |
The North Grenville Times - ngtimes.ca |
| 2nd place: | Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - niagaranow.com |
| 3rd place: | St. Marys Independent - granthaven.com |
| Honourable Mention: | Manitoulin Expositor - manitoulin.com |
PC48 - Best Online Experience
|
1st place: |
Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Summer of the Flood: Part 1 - Richard Wright |
| 2nd place: | Picton Gazette - Catastrophic Fire on the Adolphus Reach - Jason Parks |
Visit www.ocna.org/BNCBooklet2024 to see the BNC Results book or view the entire virtual presentation below.