Observer staff have once again been recognized for their achievements – in a big way.
This past weekend both the BC and Yukon Community Newspapers Association (BCYCNA) and the Canadian Community Newspapers Association (CCNA) held their annual awards banquets in Vancouver. The Observer and the Sicamous Eagle Valley News brought home a grand total of six gold awards and two bronze.
In the BCYCNA competition, the Observer received a gold medal in its circulation category in general excellence, with the Agassiz-Harrison Observer taking silver and the Hope Standard, bronze.
Stated the judge: “A beautiful and engaging front page that drew me into a paper filled with interesting stories. The content is of high quality, with relevant local stories and reporting. The photography brings it all to life.”
James Murray garnered two awards in the BCYCNA competition. He was awarded a gold for sports photo, circulation under 25,000, for his shot of a bull rider narrowly avoiding being trampled by a bull. The bronze came in the spots news, under 25,000 circulation category, for the photo of RCMP arresting a robbery suspect on the railway tracks in Salmon Arm.
Also in the BCYs, Lachlan Labere received a gold medal in the feature photo, under 25,000 circulation category, for his poignant photo in the Eagle Valley News of four young girls observing Remembrance Day ceremonies in Sicamous.
In the CCNA competition, Labere received a second gold for the same photo, this one in the feature photo, under 4,000 circulation category.
Also in the CCNAs, Labere took a third gold medal, this one in the feature story, circulation under 4,000 category, for his article in the Eagle Valley News profiling convicted Sicamous drug dealer Colin Martin.
Martha Wickett took gold in the business writing, under 10,000 circulation category, for her special report in the Observer on the apple industry in Salmon Arm.
Tracy Hughes was awarded a bronze medal in the local editorial under 4,000 circulation category for her editorial on a tragic speedboat and houseboat collision on Shuswap Lake last July.
Publisher Rick Proznick commended staff, saying the awards speak to their dedication and skill.
“I am proud of the level of excellence our staff achieve. While it is good to get recognition from peers, staff do what they do daily, not for awards, but because they want to put out the best newspapers possible for our readers. It is gratifying to be recognized for that commitment.”12:29:09
