2022 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 2022 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. 1,999 & under
1st place: The Independent Serving Petrolia and Central Lambton December 2021 June 2022
2nd place: Haliburton County Echo December 2021 June 2022
3rd place: Listowel Banner December 2021 June 2022
Honourable Mention: Minden Times December 2021 June 2022
GE02&03 - Class 2 & 3: Circ. 2,000 - 6,499
1st place: Eganville Leader December 2021 June 2022
2nd place: New Liskeard Temiskaming Speaker December 2021 June 2022
3rd place: Niagara This Week, Niagara-on-the-Lake Advance December 2021 June 2022
GE04 - Class 4: Circ. 6,500 - 12,499
1st place: Haliburton, The Highlander December 2021 June 2022
2nd place: Niagara This Week, Fort Erie Post December 2021 June 2022
3rd place: Glanbrook Gazette December 2021 June 2022
GE05 - Class 5: Circ. 12,500 - 22,499
1st place: Elmira-Woolwich Observer December 2021 June 2022
2nd place: Orangeville Citizen December 2021 June 2022
3rd place: Grimsby Lincoln News December 2021 June 2022
Honourable Mention: Midland/Penetanguishene Mirror December 2021 June 2022
GE06&07 - Class 6: Circ. over 22,500
1st place: Fergus Wellington Advertiser December 2021 June 2022
2nd place: Barrie Advance December 2021 June 2022
3rd place: Niagara This Week, Niagara Falls December 2021 June 2022
Honourable Mention: Listowel Independent Plus December 2021 June 2022
GE08 - Class 8: College &University
1st place: Durham College - The Chronicle Fall Semester Winter Semester
2nd place: Fanshawe College - Interrobang Fall Semester Winter Semester
3rd place: Loyalist College - Pioneer Fall Semester Winter Semester
College/University Awards
CU01 - Student Feature Writing
1st place: Centennial College - Erin Horrocks-Pope
2nd place: Algonquin College - Nathan Drescher
3rd place: Centennial College - Kai Gammage
CU02 - Student News Writing
Sponsored by: Ontario Journalism Educators Association
1st place: Durham College - Joey Cole
2nd place: Fanshawe College - Amy Simon
3rd place: Loyalist College - Jessica Schmidt
CU03 - Student Photography
1st place: Loyalist College - Felix Chagnon
2nd place: Durham College - Corrado Distefano
3rd place: Loyalist College - Kayla Isomura
CU04 - Best College/University Newspaper Website
1st place: Fanshawe College - theinterrobang.ca
2nd place: Centennial College - torontoobserver.ca
3rd place: Humber College - humbernews.ca
Premier Awards
PC01 - Arts & Entertainment
Sponsored by: Midwestern Newspapers
1st place: Haliburton, The Highlander - Sam Gillett
2nd place: Glanbrook Gazette - Tamara Botting
3rd place: Hamilton Mountain News - Mark Newman
PC02 - Best Business and Finance Story
1st place: Elmira-Woolwich Observer - Leah Gerber
2nd place: Aylmer Express - Renee Hueston
3rd place: Stoney Creek News - Richard Leitner
Honourable Mention: Hamilton Mountain News - Mark Newman
PC03 - Best Editorial, circ. over 10,000
1st place: Ancaster News - Kevin Werner
2nd place: North Wellington Community News - Patrick Raftis
3rd place: Dundas Star News - Kevin Werner
PC04 - Best Editorial, circ. under 9,999
1st place: Voice of Pelham - Dave Burket
2nd place: Parry Sound North Star - Pamela Steel
3rd place: Burks Falls Almaguin News - Pamela Steel
Honourable Mention: Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Richard Harley
PC05 - Education Writing
Sponsored by: Ontario Journalism Educators Association
1st place: Orangeville Banner - Tabitha Wells
2nd place: Manitoulin Expositor - Warren Schlote
3rd place: Brampton Guardian - Krystle Hewitt
Honourable Mention: Milton Canadian Champion - Kathy Yanchus
Honourable Mention: Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Evan Saunders
PC06 - Environment Ontario
1st place: Newmarket Era/Aurora Banner - Kim Zarzour
2nd place: Waterdown Flamborough Review - Julia Lovett-Squires
3rd place: Ottawa Community Voice, Kanata South - Nevil Hunt
PC07 - Feature Writing, circ. over 10,000
Sponsored by: ORP Law
1st place: Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Jordan Snobelen
2nd place: Newmarket Era/Aurora Banner - Jeremy Grimaldi
3rd place: Brampton Guardian - Alexandra Heck
Honourable Mention: Guelph Mercury Tribune - Graeme McNaughton
Honourable Mention: Waterloo Chronicle - Bill Jackson
PC08 - Feature Writing, circ. under 9,999
Sponsored by: ORP Law
1st place: Voice of Pelham - Don Rickers, Carolyn Mullin & Dave Burket
2nd place: New Liskeard Temiskaming Speaker - Diane Johnston
3rd place: Manotick Messenger - Jeff Morris
Honourable Mention: Carleton Place/Almonte Canadian Gazette - Tara Gesner
Honourable Mention: Gravenhurst Banner - Sarah Law
PC09 - Health & Wellness
1st place: Newmarket Era/Aurora Banner - Kim Zarzour
2nd place: Haliburton, The Highlander - Mike Baker
3rd place: Milton Canadian Champion - David Lea
Honourable Mention: Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Evan Saunders
PC10 - Heritage
Sponsored by: Fort Frances Times
1st place: Carleton Place/Almonte Canadian Gazette - Ashley Kulp
2nd place: Manotick Messenger - Jeff Morris
3rd place: Wingham Advance Times - Cory Bilyea
PC11 - Best Investigative News Story
1st place: Newmarket Era/Aurora Banner - Kim Zarzour
2nd place: Fort Frances Times - Merna Emara
3rd place: Voice of Pelham - John Chick & Dave Burket
PC12 - Best News Story, circ. over 10,000
Sponsored by: Hydro One
1st place: Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Jordan Snobelen
2nd place: Orangeville Citizen - Sam Odrowski
3rd place: Ottawa Community Voice, Kanata South - Nevil Hunt & Blair Edwards
Honourable Mention: Grimsby Lincoln News - Luke Edwards
PC13 - Best News Story, circ. under 9,999
Sponsored by: Hydro One
1st place: Manitoulin Expositor - Gina Simon
2nd place: Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Richard Harley
3rd place: Haliburton, The Highlander - Sam Gillett
PC14 - Best Rural Story, circ. over 10,000
Sponsored by: Ontario Federation of Agriculture
1st place: Listowel Independent Plus - Dan McNee
2nd place: Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Jordan Snobelen
3rd place: Grimsby Lincoln News - Chris Pickles
PC15 - Best Rural Story, circ. under 9,999
Sponsored by: Ontario Federation of Agriculture
1st place: Eganville Leader - Gerald Tracey and Debbi Christinck
2nd place: Glanbrook Gazette - Tara Lindemann
3rd place: Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Jill Troyer
PC16 - Best Feature/News Series, circ. over 10,000
Sponsored by: Hydro One
1st place: Markham Economist & Sun - Heidi Riedner, Amanda Persico & Kim Zarzour
Article #1 Article #2 Article #3 Article #4
2nd place: Hamilton Mountain News - Mark Newman
3rd place: Burlington Post - Melanie Hennessey, Bambang Sadewo & Mansoor Tanweer
Article #1 Article #2 Article #3
PC17 - Best Feature/News Series, circ. under 9,999
Sponsored by: Hydro One
1st place: Kemptville, North Grenville Times - David Shanahan
2nd place: Voice of Pelham - Don Rickers, Dave Burket & Helen Tran
3rd place: Haliburton County Echo - Stephen Petrick
Honourable Mention: Kemptville Advance - Jennifer Westendorp
Article #1 Article #2 Article #3
PC18 - Sport & Recreation Story
1st place: Haliburton, The Highlander - Sam Gillett
2nd place: Waterloo Chronicle - Bill Jackson
3rd place: The Independent Serving Petrolia and Central Lambton - Barry Wright & Heather Wright
PC19 - Best Headline Writing
1st place: Listowel Banner
2nd place: Barrie Advance - Chris Simon, Janis Ramsay & Rick Vanderlinde
Article #1 Article #2 Article #3
3rd place: Burks Falls Almaguin News - Sarah Cooke
Article #1 Article #2 Article #3
PC20 - Best Covid-19 Coverage
1st place: Wilmot - Tavistock Gazette - Veronica Reiner, Melissa Mills, Lee Griffi & Nigel Gordijk
Article #1 Article #2 Article #3 Article #4
2nd place: Niagara This Week, Niagara-on-the-Lake Advance
Article #1 Article #2 Article #3 Article #4
3rd place: Manitoulin Expositor - Mike Erskine
PC21 - Diversity Coverage
1st place: Wingham Advance Times - Cory Bilyea
2nd place: Waterloo Chronicle - Bill Jackson
Article #1 Article #2 Article #3 Article #4
3rd place: Perth Courier - Laurie Weir, Ashley Kulp & Desmond Devoy
Article #1 Article #2 Article #3 Article #4
Honourable Mention: Voice of Pelham - Dave Burket & Brian Green
PC22 - Best Police/Court Story or Series
1st place: Muskokaregion.com - Kristyn Anthony
Article #1 Article #2 Article #3 Article #4
2nd place: Voice of Pelham - Don Rickers & Dave Burket
3rd place: Burks Falls Almaguin News - Sarah Cooke
Honourable Mention: Orangeville Citizen - Paula Brown
Honourable Mention: Smiths Falls Record News - Laurie Weir
Article #1 Article #2 Article #3 Article #4
PC23 - Best Guest/Freelance Column
1st place: Hamilton Mountain News - Shane Pennells
2nd place: Wilmot - Tavistock Gazette - Chip Bender
3rd place: Haldimand County, The Sachem - Suzanne Hurley
Honourable Mention: Manitoulin Expositor - Heather Marshall
Honourable Mention: Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Maddy Gordon
Honourable Mention: Voice of Pelham - Victoria Balfour & Dave Burket
PC24 - Humour Columnist of the Year
1st place: Walkerton Herald Times - Mike Wilson
2nd place: Fort Frances Times - Jack Elliott
3rd place: Listowel Banner - Dan McNee
PC25 - Columnist of the Year
1st place: Manotick Messenger - Jeff Morris
2nd place: Minden Times - Jim Poling
3rd place: Perth Courier - Laurie Weir
Article #1 Article #2 Article #3
PC26 - Reporter of the Year - Stephen Shaw Award
Sponsored by: Ontario Power Generation
1st place: Richmond Hill/Thornhill Liberal - Jeremy Grimaldi
Article #1 Article #2 Article #3
2nd place: Haliburton, The Highlander - Lisa Gervais
3rd place: Newmarket Era/Aurora Banner - Kim Zarzour
Article #1 Article #2 Article #3
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PC27 - Best Feature Photo, circ. over 10,000
1st place: Newmarket Era/Aurora Banner - Steve Somerville
2nd place: Georgetown/Acton Independent & Free Press - Graham Paine
3rd place: Ottawa Community Voice, Kanata North + - Nevil Hunt
PC28 - Best Feature Photo, circ. under 9,999
1st place: Vankleek Hill Review - Reid Masson
2nd place: Perth Courier - Desmond Devoy
3rd place: Aylmer Express - Rob Perry
PC29 - Best Photo Layout
1st place: Listowel Banner - Janine Martin, Dan McNee & Mike Wilson
2nd place: Walkerton Herald Times - Pauline Kerr & Janine Martin
3rd place: Ayr News - Irene Schmidt-Adeney, Jimmy Balkwill, Bob Howes & Helen Hall
PC30 - Best Sports Photo
1st place: Fort Frances Times - Dallas Phillips
2nd place: The Independent Serving Petrolia and Central Lambton - Heather Wright
3rd place: Ayr News - Irene Schmidt-Adeney
Honourable Mention: Wingham Advance Times - Kelsey Bent
PC31 - Best Spot News Photo
Sponsored by: Midwestern Newspapers
1st place: Bracebridge Examiner - Mary Beth Hartill
2nd place: Milton Canadian Champion - Graham Paine
3rd place: Carleton Place/Almonte Canadian Gazette - Tara Gesner
PC32 - Best News Photo
1st place: Bracebridge Examiner - Mary Beth Hartill
2nd place: Georgetown/Acton Independent & Free Press - Graham Paine
3rd place: Glanbrook Gazette - Tamara Botting
PC33 - Most Creative Grip and Grin Photo
1st place: Perth Courier - Desmond Devoy
2nd place: Smiths Falls Record News - Desmond Devoy
3rd place: Port Perry, The Standard - James J. Green
PC34 - Photographer of the Year
1st place: Burlington Post - Graham Paine
2nd place: Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Dave Van de Laar
PC35 - Cartoonist of the Year
1st place: Dundas Star News - Mike Vukovich
2nd place: Elmira-Woolwich Observer - Scott Arnold
3rd place: Port Perry, The Standard - Walt Radda
PC36 - Community Service
1st place: Uxbridge Cosmos - Special Early Edition
2nd place: Eganville Leader - Fundraiser for Ukraine
3rd place: The Haldimand Press - 2022 Provincial Election Debate
Article #1 Article #2 Article #3
PC37 - Best Vertical Product
1st place: Listowel Independent Plus - Country Life - Spring 2022
2nd place: Huntsville Forester - Algonquin Life
3rd place: Cornwall Seaway News - Cornwall Living
PC38 - Best Front Page, circ. over 10,000
1st place: Cambridge Times
2nd place: Stoney Creek News
3rd place: Midland/Penetanguishene Mirror
PC39 - Best Front Page, circ. under 9,999
1st place: Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report
2nd place: Burks Falls Almaguin News
3rd place: Listowel Banner
PC40 - Best Sports Section
1st place: Eganville Leader
2nd place: St. Mary's Independent
3rd place: New Liskeard Temiskaming Speaker
PC41 - Special Section, circ. over 10,000
1st place: Listowel Independent Plus - Milverton Fire Department 100th Anniversary
2nd place: Cornwall Seaway News - Christmas At Home
3rd place: Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Arthur 150th Anniversary
PC42 - Special Section, circ. under 9,999
1st place: The Haldimand Press - Farms: Harvest 2022
2nd place: Renfrew Mercury - Renfrew 150th Anniversary
3rd place: Barry's Bay, The Valley Gazette - Christmas Wishes 2021
PC43 - Best Feature/Unit Pages
1st place: Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Upper Canada Food Guide
2nd place: Smiths Falls Record News - Smiths Falls honours LPGA Superstar - Brooke Henderson
3rd place: Manitoulin Expositor - Farm Safety
PC44 - Best Creative Ad
1st place: Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Richard Harley
2nd place: Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Alicia Roza
3rd place: Fort Frances Times - Tanya Jerome
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: Elmira-Woolwich Observer - Pat Merlihan
PC46 - Local Retail Layout
Sponsored by: Metro Creative Graphics
1st place: North Wellington Community News - Alicia Roza
2nd place: Port Perry, The Standard - Colleen Green
3rd place: Haliburton, The Highlander - Tania Moher
PC47 - Original Ad Idea
1st place: Deep River North Renfrew Times - Jane Barkley
2nd place: Port Perry, The Standard - Colleen Green
3rd place: Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Richard Harley & Kevin MacLean
PC48 - Best Use of Colour
1st place: Port Perry, The Standard - Natasha Green
2nd place: Fergus Wellington Advertiser - Steve Gilholm
3rd place: North Wellington Community News - Alicia Roza
Honourable Mention: Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Richard Harley
PC49 - Best Community Website/WebPortal, circ. over 10,000
1st place: Hamilton Mountain News - thespec.com/local-hamilton-mountain/home.html
2nd place: Cambridge Times - cambridgetimes.ca
3rd place: Ancaster News - thespec.com/local-ancaster/home.html
PC50 - Best Community Website/WebPortal, circ. under 9,999
1st place: Fort Frances Times - fftimes.com
2nd place: Vankleek Hill Review - thereview.ca
3rd place: Wilmot - Tavistock Gazette - wilmotpost.ca
Honourable Mention: Listowel Banner - midwesternnewspapers.com
Honourable Mention: Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - niagaranow.com
PC51 - ONLINE Special Initiative
1st place: Haliburton, The Highlander
Article #1 Article #2 Article #3 Article #4 Article #5
2nd place: Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Evan Saunders
3rd place: Burlington Post - Louie Rosella & Bambang Sadewo
PC52 - ONLINE Breaking News Coverage
1st place: Milton Canadian Champion - Herb Garbutt, Louie Rosella & Graham Paine
Article #1 Article #2 Article #3 Article #4 Article #5
2nd place: Barrie Advance - John Edwards, Frank Matys & Sara Carson
Article #1 Article #2 Article #3 Article #4 Article #5
3rd place: Carleton Place/Almonte Canadian Gazette - Hollie Pratt-Campbell & Ashley Kulp
Article #1 Article #2 Article #3 Article #4 Article #5
Honourable Mention: Smiths Falls Record News - Laurie Weir, Melissa Novacaska & Hollie Pratt-Campbell
Article #1 Article #2 Article #3 Article #4 Article #5
PC53 - Multimedia Online/Best Online Experience for a Story
1st place: Mississauga News - Iain Colpitts & Alexandra Heck
2nd place: Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Richard Harley & Nicholas Rothwell
3rd place: Georgina Advocate - Amanda Persico & Kim Zarzour
PC54 - Breaking News Video
1st place: Niagara-on-the-Lake, The Lake Report - Dave Van de Laar & Kevin MacLean
Visit www.ocna.org/BNCBooklet2022 to see the BNC Results book or view the entire virtual presentation below.