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2024 BNC Awards of Excellence Winners

Presented May 2025

Best Local News Story

Sponsored by:

  1. Town & Country News (Grande Prairie) with Not a hospital: A complementary service to GPRH, Credit(s): Austin Payeur and Rebecca Dika
  2. St. Albert Gazette with Teens recovering after Labour Day shooting, Credit(s): Craig Gilbert
  3. Fort Macleod Gazette with Youths ‘had no right’ to interrupt drag show, Credit(s): Frank McTighe
Honourable Mention:
  • Slave Lake Lakeside Leader with Council closes homeless shelter without warning, Credit(s): Pearl Lorentzen

Best Feature Story By Local Writer

Sponsored by:

  1. Rocky Mountain Outlook with Banff National Park wildlife staff urged 'transparent, fact-based' information on fake cougar attack, Credit(s): Cathy Ellis
  2. Airdrie City View/ Rocky View Weekly/ Cochrane Eagle with Cochrane Family Mourns the loss of Everest Reign Valasco-Raralio, Credit(s): Daniel Gonzalez
  3. Shootin' the Breeze with Pincher Creek powerlifter ain't your average Joe, Credit(s): Shannon Peace
Honourable Mention:
  • Fort Macleod Gazette with STARS honours Fort Macleod boy, Credit(s): Frank McTighe
  • St. Albert Gazette with Indigenous chefs share food from the land — and the heart, Credit(s): Kevin Ma
  • Town & Country News (Grande Prairie) with County fire dog more than a mascot, Credit(s): Jesse Boily

BNC-Excellence in Creative Advertising

Sponsored by:

  1. Wainwright EDGE with Indoor RV Show, Credit(s): Carrie Chisholm
  2. Lamont Leader with Calling all Lamont County Residents & Rate Payers!, Credit(s): Crystal Moren
  3. Viking Weekly Review with Family Day Fun, Credit(s): Eric Anderson

BNC-Best In-House Ad

Sponsored by:

  1. The Pipestone Flyer with Monstrous, Credit(s): Christina Komives
  2. Viking Weekly Review with Order your printing with us, Credit(s): Eric Anderson
  3. High Prairie South Peace News with Good Morning, Alberta!, Credit(s): Cori Burgar
Honourable Mention:
  • Meridian Source with SOURCE IT!, Credit(s): Yujin Chae
  • Wainwright EDGE with The EDGE wants to hear from you, Credit(s): Carrie Chisholm

BNC-Habitat Conservation Story

Sponsored by:

  1. Rocky Mountain Outlook with Reintroduction of at-risk fish in Banff National Park creek ‘historic conservation milestone’, Credit(s): Cathy Ellis, Editor Greg Colgan
  2. The Albertan with A36 - Tuesday, May 7, 2024, The Albertan Ecological limits must be factored in future watershed planning, says biologist, Credit(s): Simon Ducatel
  3. Stettler Independent with At risk, a look at bats in Alberta, Credit(s): Kevin Sabo
Honourable Mention:
  • Airdrie City View/ Rocky View Weekly/ Cochrane Eagle with Haskaynes and Harvies speak out against Glenbow East option, Credit(s): Howard May
  • Drayton Valley Free Press with Keeping track of Kestrels, Credit(s): Amanda Jeffery
  • St. Albert Gazette with Wetland restoration fights effects of climate change, Credit(s): Kevin Ma

BNC-Sue Gawlak Best Local Editorial

Sponsored by:

  1. Rocky Mountain Outlook with Banff field unit senior leadership handling of fake cougar attack another failure, Credit(s): Greg Colgan
  2. Ponoka News with Just give them the money, Credit(s): Emily Jaycox
  3. The Mountaineer with Barely a risk in bear country?, Credit(s): Glen Mazza

BNC-Sports Writing Award

Sponsored by:

  1. Meridian Source with Rustlers win national gold at home, Credit(s): Taylor Weaver
  2. Shootin' the Breeze with Dragons soar to historic volleyball championship win, Credit(s): William Cockerell and Shannon Peace
  3. Rocky Mountain Outlook with Canadian cross-country skiing's big gamble, Credit(s): Jordan Small
Honourable Mention:
  • Fort Macleod Gazette with Tom O’Connor ready for biggest fight of his career, Credit(s): Frank McTighe
  • The Albertan with Play ball time at new field of dreams, Credit(s): Johnnie Bachusky
  • The Mountaineer with Kennedy Justinen competing in World Cup tour, Credit(s): Brittany Willsie
  • Town & Country This Week with Less than 500 days to the Olympics for Barrhead bobsledder, Credit(s): Barry Kerton

BNC-Best Feature Column by Local Writer

Sponsored by:

  1. Okotoks Western Wheel with Elvis has entered the building, Credit(s): Ted Murphy
  2. Wetaskiwin Times with Taking precautions could prevent future tragedy, Credit(s): Christina Max
  3. Town & Country This Week with Caveat Lector, Credit(s): Tim Shoults

BNC-Education Writing Award

Sponsored by:

  1. Town & Country This Week with Homeschool boom brings tough  choices for parents and rural schools, Credit(s): Brett McKay
  2. The Albertan with Student aggression toward teachers increasing, Credit(s): Dan Singleton
  3. The Pipestone Flyer with Frustration, questions arise after WRPS announces removal of modified calendars, Credit(s): Emily Jaycox
Honourable Mention:
  • Stettler Independent with Wildcat Theatre debuts new production, Credit(s): Kevin Sabo

BNC-Use of Colour in Advertising

Sponsored by:

  1. Claresholm Local Press with Janet's Fashions Winter Blowout, Credit(s): Trevor McDavid
  2. Slave Lake Lakeside Leader with Canadian Tire - Canada's Christmas Store, Credit(s): Jisun Kwon
  3. Flagstaff/Sedgewick Community Press with Killam Black Top Bonanza, Credit(s): Eric Anderson

Special Section

Sponsored by:

  1. Sylvan Lake News with Discover Sylvan Lake
  2. The Pipestone Flyer with Fall Bounty
  3. Rocky Mountain Outlook with Bow Valley Summer Olympics connection