2021 BNC Awards of Excellence Winners

Presented June 2022

Healthy Communities Journalism award sponsored by Genome Alberta
  1. St. Albert Gazette with Paging Dr. Roy to the inventor's lab, written by Scott Hayes
  2. Wetaskiwin Times with More than food and a bed at Open Door, written by Christina Max
  3. The Provost News with 'I Was So Emotional That I Was Breathing on My Own', written by Jill Sherring
Best Ag Section sponsored by Genome Alberta
  1. Provost News
  2. Rocky Mountain House Mountaineer
  3. Lakeland This Week
Sue Gawlak Best Local Editorial sponsored by St. Albert Gazette
  1. Shootin' the Breeze with They were children, written by Shannon Robison
  2. Slave Lake Lakeside Leader with Different notions of representation, written by Joe McWilliams
  3. St. Albert Gazette with It's our right to seek accountability, written by Editorial board
    Honourable Mentions to
  • Oyen Echo, writer Sheri Monk
Best Habitat Conservation Story sponsored by DUCKS Unlimited Canada
  1. Shootin' the Breeze with Proposed water allocation changes cause local turbulence, written by Sean Oliver
  2. Lakeland This Week with Moose Lake proposed to be first Canadian lake treated with alum to curb blue-green algae, written by Jazmin Tremblay
  3. The Pipestone Flyer with Pigeon Lake environment gets a boost from new technology, written by Shaela Dansereau
    Honourable Mentions to
  • Town and Country This Week, writer Heather Stocking
  • Slave Lake Lakeside Leader, writer Pearl Lorentzen
Best Feature Story by a Local Writer sponsored by SAIT
  1. Claresholm Local Press with Stavely's Little Free Library across from golf course was a labour of love, written by Rob Vogt
  2. Whitecourt Star with Local vet receives nationwide honour, but service is what drives him, written by Brad Quarin
  3. Shootin’ The Breeze with Formal Fridays - a family turns pain to purpose, written by Shannon Robison
Effective & Original Use of Colour in Advertising
  1. Meridian Source with Alison Lamont School of Dance, designer Shawna Chernichen
  2. Ponoka News with Enchanted Garden, designer Jessica Crandall
  3. Claresholm Local Press with Casa Roma: Smoking hot fire prevention special, designer Amanda Zimmer
    Honourable Mentions to
  • Rocky Mountain House Mountaineer, designers Jayne Larsen, Shelly Safronetz
  • Rimbey Review, designer Alex Streicher
Excellence in Ad Campaign Award
  1. Sylvan Lake News with Long Weekend meal ideas, designers Barb Pettie, Alex Streicher
  2. Wainwright EDGE with Not Just the Classics, designer Carrie Baumgartner
  3. Lloydminster Meridian Source with KAT Salon & Spa, designer Amanda Richard
    Honourable Mentions to
  • Jasper Fitzhugh, designer Melissa Morris
Excellence in Creative Advertising
  1. Jasper Fitzhugh with Dinner Thank-You
  2. Rimbey Review with Meadow Kenney Realtor "Holiday Greeting"
  3. Lloydminster Meridian Source with Landmark Whitefish
Excellence in Education Writing Award sponsored by Lethbridge College Award
  1. Mayerthorpe Freelancer with Sangudo School will be open 2022-23, community to be consulted on growth, written by Brad Quarin
  2. The Pipestone Flyer with Graduating students in Wetaskiwin throw water fight after being told it could result in suspension, written by Shaela Dansereau
  3. Rocky Mountain Outlook with Two of three Bow Valley school boards fully opt out of draft K-6 curriculum‚ Rocky Mountain Outlook, written by Greg Colgan
    Honourable Mentions to
  • Claresholm Local Press, writer Rob Vogt
Best Feature Column by a Local Writer, the Gordon Scott Memorial award
  1. Lakeland This Week with It's pretty real when you have it, written by Rob McKinley
  2. Shootin' the Breeze with My Little Corner, written by Shannon Robison
  3. Ponoka News with Finding your centre in troubled times, written by Emily Jaycox
    Honourable Mentions to
  • Pipestone Flyer, writer Shaela Dansereau
  • Claresholm Local Press, writer Rob Vogt
Special Supplement or Section sponsored by Metro Creative Graphics
  1. Claresholm Local Press with Celebrating our Veterans
  2. Shootin’ The Breeze with 2021 Summer Guide
  3. Pipestone Flyer with Christmas Baking Special
Sports Writing Award
  1. Lakeland This Week with St. Paul Canadiens re-establishing unique affiliation with Montreal Canadiens, written by Janice Huser
  2. Fort Macleod Gazette with Pandemic cuts player's career short, written by Frank McTighe
  3. Vauxhall Advance with Vauxhall Jets hopeful for spring baseball, written by Cole Parkinson
Pandemic Writing
  1. The Albertan with Barbershop owners plan to defy public health order, written by Johnnie Bachusky
  2. Lakeland This Week with Local restaurants open for dine-in to protest provincial regulations, written by Rob McKinley, Robynne Henry
  3. The Mountaineer with Tea Rocks closes doors to those recently vaccinated for COVID-19, written by Brittany Willise
Best Local News Story sponsored by Mount Royal University
  1. Shootin' the Breeze with MD will cover Snake Trail fire bill, some smouldering questions remain, written by Sean Oliver
  2. Slave Lake Lakeside Leader with Fed-up town council calls for MLA Pat Rehn to resign, written by Joe McWilliams
  3. Rocky Mountain Outlook with Buried in the Avalanche, written by Tanya Foubert
    Honourable Mentions to
  • Wetaskiwin Times, writer Christina Max
  • Mayerthorpe Freelancer, writer Brad Quarin
  • Whitecourt Star, writer Brad Quarin
  • Meridian Source, writer Taylor Weaver
  • St. Albert Gazette, writer Kevin Ma
  • Okotoks Western Wheel, writer Krista Conrad
  • Drayton Valley Western Review, writer Cathy Weetman
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