2021 BNC Awards of Excellence Winners

  • Posted: October 13, 2023

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 GazetteShootin’ the Breeze with They were children, written by Shannon RobisonSlave Lake Lakeside Leader with Different notions of representation, written by Joe McWilliamsSt. Albert Gazette with It’s our right to seek accountability, written by Editorial boardHonourable Mentions toOyen Echo, writer Sheri MonkBest Habitat Conservation Story sponsored by DUCKS Unlimited CanadaShootin’ the Breeze with Proposed water allocation changes cause local turbulence, written by Sean OliverLakeland This Week with Moose Lake proposed to be first Canadian lake treated with alum to curb blue-green algae, written by Jazmin TremblayThe Pipestone Flyer with Pigeon Lake environment gets a boost from new technology, written by Shaela DansereauHonourable Mentions toTown and Country This Week, writer Heather StockingSlave Lake Lakeside Leader, writer Pearl LorentzenBest Feature Story by a Local Writer sponsored by SAITClaresholm Local Press with Stavely’s Little Free Library across from golf course was a labour of love, written by Rob VogtWhitecourt Star with Local vet receives nationwide honour, but service is what drives him, written by Brad QuarinShootin’ The Breeze with Formal Fridays – a family turns pain to purpose, written by Shannon RobisonEffective & Original Use of Colour in AdvertisingMeridian Source with Alison Lamont School of Dance, designer Shawna ChernichenPonoka News with Enchanted Garden, designer Jessica CrandallClaresholm Local Press with Casa Roma: Smoking hot fire prevention special, designer Amanda ZimmerHonourable Mentions toRocky Mountain House Mountaineer, designers Jayne Larsen, Shelly SafronetzRimbey Review, designer Alex StreicherExcellence in Ad Campaign AwardSylvan Lake News with Long Weekend meal ideas, designers Barb Pettie, Alex StreicherWainwright EDGE with Not Just the Classics, designer Carrie BaumgartnerLloydminster Meridian Source with KAT Salon & Spa, designer Amanda RichardHonourable Mentions toJasper Fitzhugh, designer Melissa MorrisExcellence in Creative AdvertisingJasper Fitzhugh with Dinner Thank-YouRimbey Review with Meadow Kenney Realtor “Holiday Greeting”Lloydminster Meridian Source with Landmark WhitefishExcellence in Education Writing Award sponsored by Lethbridge College AwardMayerthorpe Freelancer with Sangudo School will be open 2022-23, community to be consulted on growth, written by Brad QuarinThe Pipestone Flyer with Graduating students in Wetaskiwin throw water fight after being told it could result in suspension, written by Shaela DansereauRocky Mountain Outlook with Two of three Bow Valley school boards fully opt out of draft K-6 curriculum‚ Rocky Mountain Outlook, written by Greg ColganHonourable Mentions toClaresholm Local Press, writer Rob VogtBest Feature Column by a Local Writer, the Gordon Scott Memorial awardLakeland This Week with It’s pretty real when you have it, written by Rob McKinleyShootin’ the Breeze with My Little Corner, written by Shannon RobisonPonoka News with Finding your centre in troubled times, written by Emily JaycoxHonourable Mentions toPipestone Flyer, writer Shaela DansereauClaresholm Local Press, writer Rob VogtSpecial Supplement or Section sponsored by Metro Creative GraphicsClaresholm Local Press with Celebrating our VeteransShootin’ The Breeze with 2021 Summer GuidePipestone Flyer with Christmas Baking SpecialSports Writing AwardLakeland This Week with St. Paul Canadiens re-establishing unique affiliation with Montreal Canadiens, written by Janice HuserFort Macleod Gazette with Pandemic cuts player’s career short, written by Frank McTigheVauxhall Advance with Vauxhall Jets hopeful for spring baseball, written by Cole ParkinsonPandemic WritingThe Albertan with Barbershop owners plan to defy public health order, written by Johnnie BachuskyLakeland This Week with Local restaurants open for dine-in to protest provincial regulations, written by Rob McKinley, Robynne HenryThe Mountaineer with Tea Rocks closes doors to those recently vaccinated for COVID-19, written by Brittany WilliseBest Local News Story sponsored by Mount Royal UniversityShootin’ the Breeze with MD will cover Snake Trail fire bill, some smouldering questions remain, written by Sean OliverSlave Lake Lakeside Leader with Fed-up town council calls for MLA Pat Rehn to resign, written by Joe McWilliamsRocky Mountain Outlook with Buried in the Avalanche, written by Tanya FoubertHonourable Mentions toWetaskiwin Times, writer Christina MaxMayerthorpe Freelancer, writer Brad QuarinWhitecourt Star, writer Brad QuarinMeridian Source, writer Taylor WeaverSt. Albert Gazette, writer Kevin MaOkotoks Western Wheel, writer Krista ConradDrayton Valley Western Review, writer Cathy Weetman