Premier Awards - Best Local Civic Journalism ( Circulation up to 1499,Circulation 1500 to 3999,Circulation 4000 to 6499,Circulation 6500 to 9999)
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Place Name:
First Place
Contestant Name:
Nunatsiaq News (Nunavut/Nunavik, NU)
Entry Title:
Ottawa city councillor opposes new Larga Baffin facility
Entry Credit:
Madalyn Howitt
Judge Comment:
This well-balanced, informative piece told the story of opposition to an important build without taking sides or getting bogged down in reports or technical jargon. It politely called out NIMBYism and gave voice to two communities who are geographically far apart, but must come together for the good of both.
Place Name:
Second Place
Contestant Name:
The Chronicle (Ladysmith/Chemainus, BC)
Entry Title:
Truth and reconciliation messges embranced by Ladysmith community
Entry Credit:
Duck Paterson
Judge Comment:
This was a colourful, pleasant reminder that truth and reconciliation is far from being a "chore" - this piece was engaging, making the reader want to take part in a similar event and learn from an Indigenous event. Such a a pleasure to read.
Place Name:
Third Place
Contestant Name:
The Leaf (Winnipeg, MB)
Entry Title:
Saigon Centre battles squatters, lack of funding/Disrepair at Saigon Centre linked to Manitoba Housing Third-party manager says their hands were tied /'The government should look after them, to get everybody safe'
Entry Credit:
Sean Ledwich
Judge Comment:
This piece left such a heartache - heartache for the Vietnamese community trying to operate an affordable housing opportunity, heartache for those who live in the building, and heartache for the squatters who find it necessary to deface the property. The piece brought to stark reality the fact that affordable housing does exist, but governments and other organizations often overlook the work that a community is already doing for its members.
Competition Comment:
This category is the reminder that civic journalism is so necessary today. It holds governments and other organizations to account, it tells the stories of people (or animals) affected by those organizations, and reminds us all that we have a responsibility for ourselves and our fellow community members. These reporters all demonstrate a deep care for their communities, and their desire to see their little world a better place is evident in each and every story.
