2015 BNC Awards of Excellence Winners

Presented May 2016

Sue Gawlak Best Local Editorial Sponsored by: St. Albert Gazette

1. Stony Plain Reporter for Keep Keephills School open
   Credits: Thomas Miller
2. Claresholm Local Press for It's time to listen
   Credits: Rob Vogt
3. Rocky Mountain Outlook for Canmore makes housing move
   Credits: Dave Whitfield

Best Feature Story by a Local Writer Sponsored by: Southern Alberta Institute of Technology

1. Yellowknife Yellowknifer for Yk’s Muslims continue to flourish after theft
   Credits: Cody Punter
2. Fort Saskatchewan Record for Female fire fighters reflect on their first year
   Credits: Lindsay Morey
3. Inuvik Drum for Last of the original reindeer herders
   Credits: Andrew Livingstone

Higher Education Writing Award Sponsored by: University of Alberta

1. St. Paul Journal for Free Play
   Credits: Janice Huser

Excellence in Education Writing Sponsored by: Lethbridge College

1. St. Albert Gazette for The toilet question
   Credits: Kevin Ma
2. St. Paul Journal for Student brings out teaching moments of empathy
   Credits: Janani Whitfield
3. Rocky Mountain House Mountaineer for Nordegg Education Centre: A community's school
   Credits: Laura Button

Best Habitat Conservation Story Sponsored by: Ducks Unlimited Canada

1. Pincher Creek Echo for Investigation started after Water Act approval pushed past limits
   Credits: Jocelyn Doll
2. Cochrane Eagle for Breaking the stigma of the ‘big, bad wolf’
   Credits: Jenna Dulewich
3. Claresholm Local Press for Alberta Environment, M.D. discuss issues surrounding Pine Coulee
   Credits: Rob Vogt

Best Special Sections and Supplements Award Sponsored by: Metro Creative Graphics, Inc.

1. Lacombe Express for Light Up the Night Festival Guide
   
2. Ponoka News for Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Supplement
   
3. Rocky Mountain House Mountaineer for Christmas Greetings
   

Healthy Communities Journalism Award Sponsored by: AWNA

1. Pincher Creek Echo for "I feel again"
   Credits: Greg Cowan
2. Shootin' the Breeze for Young couple prepare for living donor transplant
   Credits: Shannon Robison
3. St. Albert Gazette for Patients wait for right-to-die law
   Credits: Michelle Ferguson

Gordon Scott Memorial Award for Best Feature Column by a Local Writer Sponsored by: AWNA

1. Airdrie City View for Remembering what’s real after a loss
   Credits: Dustin Ruth
2. Deh Cho Drum for Domestic violence absent from election talks
   Credits: April Hudson
3. Taber Times for Defending the Times — Pulp Fiction Style
   Credits: Greg Price

Arts and Culture Writing award Sponsored by: AWNA

1. Consort Enterprise for Tara's Academy
   Credits: Nikayla Goddard
2. Pincher Creek Echo for Over the hills and far away, in photos
   Credits: John Stoesser
3. Northern Journal for Tlicho designers celebrate Aboriginal Day with fashion show
   Credits: Dali Carmichael, Candice Ward

Best Environmental Writing Sponsored by: AWNA

1. Yellowknife Yellowknifer for Headframe comes down. Three part series
   Credits: James Goldie
2. Northern Journal for UNESCO to review hydro, oilsands threats to Wood Buffalo National Park
   Credits: Meagan Wohlberg
3. St. Albert Gazette for The big green machine
   Credits: Kevin Ma

Sports Writing Award Sponsored by: AWNA

1. Spruce Grove Examiner for Hall of Fame smile
   Credits: Mitch Goldenberg
2. STONY PLAIN REPORTER for One last passage to glory
   Credits: Mitch Goldenberg
3. Fort Macleod Gazette for Jenn Wolstenholme ready for Rumble in the Cage
   Credits: Frank McTighe

Best Agriculture Supplement Sponsored by: Genome Alberta

1. Three Hills Capital 
   
2. Stettler Independent 
   
3. Ponoka News 
   

Excellence in Creative Advertising Sponsored by: AWNA

1. Deh Cho Drum for Hay River's Premier Full-Service Hotel
   Credits: Bonnie Logsdon
2. Eckville Echo for Eckville Co-op Grown at Home
   Credits: Shannon Smelt, Will Castro
3. Wainwright Star/Edge for Honey Pot - Time for lunch
   Credits: Carrie Baumgartner

Creative Use of Colour in Advertising Sponsored by: AWNA

1. Wainwright Star/Edge for Wainwright EyeCare - We Love Happy Customers
   Credits: Carrie Baumgartner
2. Yellowknife Yellowknifer for Barbecue Season is here
   Credits: Diana Mathisen
3. Jasper Fitzhugh for Karaoke at Champs Lounge
   Credits: Laura Coulson

Ad Campaign Award Sponsored by: AWNA

1. Wainwright Star/Edge for Armstrongs Clothing - Not Just the Classics
   Credits: Carrie Baumgartner
2. Strathmore Times for Real Estate Reps
   Credits: Jody Schneider, Alissa Jensen
3. Jasper Fitzhugh for Canada Day Committee
   Credits: Laura Coulson

Best Local News Story Sponsored by: AWNA

1. Red Deer Express for Seven week trial for Brian Malley begins
   Credits: Erin Fawcett
2. Airdrie City View for Advocate questions bullying bylaw’s effectiveness
   Credits: Christina Waldner
3. Rocky Mountain House Mountaineer for Fire chief calls conditions 'grassoline'
   Credits: Laura Button