CONGRATULATIONS to all winners of the 2012 Canadian Community Newspaper Awards

GENERAL EXCELLENCE

CONGRATULATIONS to all winners of the 2012 Canadian Community Newspaper Awards News Canada appreciates the hard work and dedication that goes into running a successful publication. We wish you continued success. www.newscanada.com www.leditionnouvelles.com

Table of Contents - Class 1011 2-3 Circulation up to 1,249 - Class 1012 4-5 Circulation up to 1,249 - Class 1013 6-7 Circulation 2,000 to 2,999 - Class 1014 8-9 Circulation 3,000 to 3,999 - Class 1015 10-11 Circulation 4,000 to 6,499 - Class 1016 12-13 Circulation 6,500 to 12,499 - Class 1017 14-15 Circulation 12,500 to 24,999 - Class 1018 16-17 Circulation 25,000 and over

Class 1011 Circulation up to 1,249 BEST FRONT PAGE BEST editorial PAGE Blue Ribbons Judge: Laura Blackwell Advance, Gull Lake, SK Eagle Valley News, Sicamous, BC Herald, Whitewood, SK Nanton News, Nanton, AB The Lake Cowichan Gazette, Lake Cowichan, BC The North Thompson Times, Clearwater, BC The Valley Sentinel, Valemount/McBride, BC Nanton News Nanton, AB Eagle Valley News Sicamous, BC The Lake Cowichan Gazette Lake Cowichan, BC Herald Whitewood, SK The Valley Sentinel Valemount/McBride, BC The Lake Cowichan Gazette Lake Cowichan, BC

Class 1011 Circulation up to 1,249 Judge: Laura Blackwell Advance Gull Lake, SK The Valley Sentinel Valemount/McBride, BC Nanton News Nanton, AB Thank you for allowing me to judge the category. It really gives you a chance to review a paper as a whole rather then just one sectionmaking it sometimes difficult to score as most papers were good. One of the most challenging things I know for a small paper is trying to provide coverage in a variety of areas--such as news, sports and entertainment--as in a small community, it can be that your big news story is a sports story so it can be challenging. I also noticed not everyone had a clear, good editorial page. As I marked each paper, I could see that in most cases this was effort put forth by each newspaper. I think this is one of the most important pages in your paper-- so for those of you who scored low marks try to improve this page first as it will pay off in the long run. It was unfair to really judge the print quality as you could clearly distinguish which papers had the newer, improved presses compared to the older presses. It will be nice when we are up to speed using high tech presses. In some cases the layout was visually appealing and consistent. Other publications didn t take the time to perhaps move an ad to a different position and instead cramped a cut line where ever it could go. This design is confusing for the reader as they are not sure which cut goes with which picturei could only find three papers out of the bunch that actually had a very clean and clear layout.

Class 1012 Circulation 1,250 to 1,999 BEST FRONT PAGE BEST editorial PAGE Blue Ribbons Judge: Carol Farnalls The Macleod Gazette Fort Macleod, AB Express Meaford, ON Cobden Sun, Cobden, ON Express, Meaford, ON Independent, Elmira, ON News Express, Fergus-Elora, ON North Island Gazette, Port Hardy, BC Northern Journal, Fort Smith/Fort Chipewyan, AB The Eastern Door, Kahnawake, QC The Hinton Voice, Hinton, AB The Hope Standard, Hope, BC Cobden Sun Cobden, ON North Island Gazette Port Hardy, BC The Hope Standard Hope, BC The Eastern Door Kahnawake, QC

Class 1012 Circulation 1,250 to 1,999 Judge: Carol Farnalls The Hinton Voice Hinton, AB Northern Journal Fort Smith/Fort Chipewyan, AB If content is the engine that drives readership, the newspapers in this category should have no trouble retaining readers. With rare exception, these newspapers provide strong community content with well written stories. However, most papers would benefit if they put more thought into photo opportunities. The tired grip & grin could be avoided with a little planning--get out there and capture what these people actually did to win an award or receive a cheque. Many front pages appeared cluttered with multiple teaser boxes, photos and ads. Packaging is important and this is where many newspapers fell short. Reading long lengths of text is tiring and easily avoided, too many staged photos and poor reproduction does nothing to entice and entrap prospective readers. The Ladysmith Chronicle jumped to the front of the pack in the best all-round category with their excellent photos, both in content and technical quality. Wide range of coverage was provided in this well designed paper. The letters page shows strong readership. The Chronicle Ladysmith/Chemainus, BC

Class 1013 Circulation 2,000 to 2,999 BEST FRONT PAGE BEST editorial PAGE Blue Ribbons Judge: Alistair Taylor Deh Cho Drum Fort Simpson, AB The Williams Lake Tribune Williams Lake, BC Deh Cho Drum, Fort Simpson, AB Hants Journal, Windsor, NS Independent, New Hamburg, ON Salmon Arm Observer, Salmon Arm, BC The Advertiser, Grand Falls-Windsor, NL The Interior News, Smithers, BC The Kincardine Independent, Kincardine, ON The Labradorian, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL The Williams Lake Tribune, Williams Lake, The Advertiser Grand Falls-Windsor, NL Independent New Hamburg, ON The Interior News Smithers, BC Gazette Grand Forks, BC

Class 1013 Circulation 2,000 to 2,999 Judge: Alistair Taylor The Interior News Smithers, BC The Advertiser Grand Falls-Windsor, NL This is a circulation class which tends to have small staff and that presents challenges which needs to be acknowledged. I know these people are dedicated to their craft and strive for excellence. If we just had more resources we could do wonderful things, they think. The solution is to make the best with what you have. I raise this issue because the most consistent problem I see throughout this class is bland photographs. Too many are posed and static. There is a consistent need for active, candid photos played boldly on the page. With training, imagination and coaching, a reporter in a newsroom of two or three can produce as good a photograph as a reporter in a large paper. The same applies to writing. Most of the writing was functional but there were too few instances of writers stretching themselves or being more creative. There were also a lot of basic design concepts being compromised. Create variety and contrast using headline point size. Create hierarchy as well, letting readers know which stories are the most important. Too many headlines were too small and all the same size. The winning entries were, of course, more consistently in their writing, photography and design. Hants Journal Windsor, NS

Class 1014 Circulation 3,000 to 3,999 BEST FRONT PAGE BEST editorial PAGE Blue Ribbons Judge: Todd Hamilton Bonnyville Nouvelle, Bonnyville, AB Bugle Observer, Woodstock, NB Gulf Islands Driftwood, Salt Spring Island, BC Northern Pride, Meadow Lake, SK The Chief, Squamish, BC The Compass, Carbonear, NL The Fitzhugh, Jasper, AB The Chief Squamish, BC The Saint Croix Courier St. Stephen, NB The Powell River Peak, Powell River, BC The Saint Croix Courier, St. Stephen, NB Gulf Islands Driftwood Salt Spring Island, BC The Powell River Peak Powell River, BC The Compass Carbonear, NL Bugle Observer Woodstock, NB

Class 1014 Circulation 3,000 to 3,999 Judge: Todd Hamilton d the jasper s independent, locally owned newspaper www.fitzhugh.ca Thursday, November 10, 2011 FREE Winter on its Way: The snow line is making its way ever further downwards, but this red fox got an early taste of winter at higher altitudes near Maligne Lake. A dusting of flakes fell on him while he foraged for food in late October, but neither the weather nor the presence of a Fitzhugh photographer seemed to bother him. For more photos, please see page 17. ROBSON FLETCHER PHOTO The Fitzhugh Jasper, AB Gulf Islands Driftwood Salt Spring Island, BC The disparity in this category was staggering, from a three-staff-member, eight-page newspaper to an 80-plus page, two-dozen-staff-member publication. In many cases, these newspapers were very much like restaurants preparing fine food. They superbly and meticulously prepared the food using fresh, quality ingredients. With great skill and hard work, they prepared a fine meal. However, while perfectly cooked, they fired it into a dog dish and served it with plastic cutlery. Newspaper design, or presentation, is as important as great editorial, advertising and photography. The newspapers that understood design rose to the top of this category. Secondly, there was a disturbing lack of colour. Publishers and editors of these newspapers need to understand that their successful competition have learned that the consumer requires more. I ask each of these publishers if they still watch black-and-white television or listen to music on AM radio? Is your website black and white? There needs to be a paradigm shift in Canadian community newspapers that presentation is vital. And that colour can be a profitable revenue stream. The Chief Squamish, BC The Squamish Chief understands presentation and for that reason barely edged out the Jasper Fitzhugh solely due to its superior front page and an incredible Day in the Life supplement despite the Fitzhugh s outstanding use of colour, editiorial and advertising for best overall newspaper. The Chief s clean design and fantastic photography was a close winner over the Salt Spring Gulf Island Driftwood and the Carbonear Compass outstanding submissions for best front page. All three newspapers should be commended for a front page that captured readers attention. The most engaging and thought-provoking editorial pages were St. Stephen s St. Croix Courier followed by the Powell River Peak and Woodstock Bugle-Observer. These were fully the best of the editorial pages that had the backbone to take a firm position on a local topic.

PAGE A8 Published every Thursday editor@thepacket.ca Kevin Hiscock, General Manager, Newfoundland and Labrador Weeklies Managing Editor... Kerry Hann Reporter... Adam Randell Circulation Manager... Marilyn Puddicombe Business Manager...Bonnie Goodyear Associate Managing Editor... Barbara Dean-Simmons Media Consultant... Glenda Reardon Associate Editor... Laura Button Customer Service Representative... Una Abbott Reporter... Kathy Gosse Circulation... Natalie Montague Reporter... Mallory Clarkson Layout Supervisor... Mark Vaughan-Jackson Letters Policy: Opinions expressed in letters to the editor are those of the writers. All letters must be accompanied by the writer s name, address and telephone number and, if published, will appear with the writer s real name. The editor reserves the right to edit letters. Unsigned letters will not be accepted. Writers should be as brief as possible, and letters should not exceed 500 words. We cannot guarantee the return of any letters not published. Copyright and/or property rights subsist in all advertising and in other materials appearing in this edition of The Packet. Permission to re produce wholly or in any form whatsoever, particularly by photographic or offset process in a publication, must be obtained in writing from the publisher. NOTE: Opinions expressed in the Letters to the Editor column are those of the writers. All letters must be accompanied by the writer s name, address and phone number. We cannot guarantee to return any letters not published. pickersgill@mac.com www.thepacket.ca Charles Stacey........Group Publisher Marc Ouellette....Senior Vice President Transcontinental Newfoundland and Labrador Media Group G.P. Subscription rates: Canada - $108.48 (Tax incl.) Foreign - $195.00 We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities. Class 1015 Circulation 4,000 to 6,499 BEST FRONT PAGE BEST editorial PAGE Blue Ribbons Judge: Malcolm Baxter THURSDAY, Viewpoint MAY 12, 2011 Citizen Brock, ON Stupid assumption Here s one to file under the they re so stupid category. Misfortune visited the doorstep of an Elliston family on the weekend and now two adults and nine children are without a home. Fortunately there were no lives lost. Still it will be a struggle for this family to rebuild. They had no insurance against their losses. Here s where the stupid part comes in. When the news brief was posted on media websites across the province, one person offered up this comment: I cannot understand how or why so many idiotic people continue to NOT insure their homes and contents. Then, when an incident such as a fire happens to them, they expect to get everything replaced for them at no cost to them. Do they think that, because their home may be paid for, that they don t need to insure it??? Unbelievable!!! For the sake of a few dollars a month, in my opinion, insurance is well worth the money. If you can t afford the insurance, then you should not own a home! The writer signed off as I am insured. There are several reasons why statement by I am insured is stupid. Chief among them is the assumption that anyone who does not have home insurance is stupid. The writer intimates, by such a sweeping statement, that insurance is available and affordable for all. We know this to be untrue. For low- and fixed-income homeowners - seniors, seasonal workers and families living at or below the poverty line - home insurance falls behind food, heat, light and car insurance in order of priorities. And insurance is not always available to all. If a house does not meet certain standards related to construction, heating equipment and the like it can be nearly impossible to get a policy. We have heard stories, for example, of seniors who have owned their own home for years and were declined insurance unless they carried out major, costly, upgrades. Many people do not carry homeowners insurance, not because they don t see the importance of it but because they simply can t afford it. So, yes, the only insurance some people have to fall back on is the goodwill of their fellow man. We can only hope the majority do not have such a narrow-minded view as I am insured. Thankfully our faith in the common sense of mankind was restored by the comment offered in response to I am insured. Anonymous offered: Well insured with 11 people in the house, maybe they couldn t afford the insurance and a few dollars to you may be someone s bread and butter for the week or two weeks and maybe if it s only a few dollars to you, you would like to pay it for the next person. Here s hoping that comment is the opinion shared by the majority and that we, as a society, still have the ability to have compassion for our fellow man. On that note the people of Elliston have already begun to mobilize to help the family rebuild. A community meeting was held Monday night to lay a plan for fundraising to help rebuild what was lost. Hats off to them for showing how a society should work, and best wishes for success. Barbara Dean-Simmons They turned up here a few years after we moved to Salvage from the mainland to live year-round. NEITHER When we were still summer people, we were find- HERE NOR ing it harder and harder to THERE return to Quebec every September. One year we stretched our stay until Christmas. It was during Peter Pickersgill that three-month bonus that I saw my first otter in Salvage. ette onto the screen of spruce lining It was just at sundown one the far shore. I lifted my arm and its evening in October as I emerged shadow reached up past the treetops. I felt a childlike thrill. I lifted from the woods and began walking downhill to the saltwater pond. my other arm. Wow. Then I waved Reaching the bottom of the heavily both arms and began to jump up treed ridge that separates Net Point and down. It was amazing. from the rock-enclosed grassy area My shadow was so huge I felt like that surrounds the harbour, I Goliath. I paused and looked walked at sea level along the pond s around, wanting to be sure there edge. were no witnesses. There was one. As I began to climb the gentle Cutting a long orange V in the surface of the dark pond, something slope from the shore, following the curve of the picket fence enclosing was headed my way. As it got closer, the graveyard, the dying sun burst the otter slowed and lifted its head through a narrow gap between the out of the water to check me out. top of Cow Head and a ribbon of It made a sound that in a human dark cloud just above. might have been a snort of disapproval, but in an otter was probably There is something about the sunsets of autumn. The low angle of just exhaling water forcefully from the light possesses a warmth of its nose. It was only later that I colour from the red end of the spectrum. It s as though The Great had my goofy behaviour observed learned I was lucky enough to have Designer is treating us to a final by likely the most sympathetic witness in the animal kingdom. That s after-taste of summer before unleashing the icy winds and long because otters are the gurus of nights into which we are about to goofy. If there are comic shenanigans that otters haven t performed, plunge. The slice of orange-red light that s because they haven t been threw long shadows across the invented yet. pond, projecting my outsize silhou- The proof was last week. Lisa the Packet 8B Thompson St., Clarenville, NL, A5A 1Y9 Tel: 709-466-2243 Fax: 709-466-2717 E-mail: editor@thepacket.ca E-mail: adsales@thepacket.ca www.thepacket.ca www.thepacket.ca Visit us online to submit a letter to the editor, and so much more! Check out our Breaking News updates Watch videos from local events Comment on our stories, link to weather, driving conditions, celebrity news and more. Sign up for a free trail of our SmartEdition, providing you with the complete weekly edition of The Packet to your e-mail. Have your say at www.thepacket.ca. Otters just want to have fun shadows underneath our speedboat on its trailer. They came out from that hiding place, went back in again, came out, then hid away again. The pace seemed to calm down a bit, when the plot thickened. Up the federal slipway came another, noticeably larger and obviously male otter, sniffing the air and clearly looking for a good time. In a couple of minutes he discovered the loving couple under the speedboat. Who knew how this love triangle would play out? In a moment they were off again, all three this time, racing in a line up a steep rocky hill and disappearing over the top, a hundred feet above the water. Lisa and I looked at one another. What now? They re-appeared, all three in a line, sliding down the steep slope on their bellies in the snow, like a line of kids on toboggans. No sooner did they reach the bottom than called up from the kitchen. There trate on the job at hand, if that is was an otter by the wharf. I hurried the body part in question. they raced back to the top and slid downstairs and joined her at the He attempted to mount her right down again. I ve heard of playful window. There was an otter for there on the federal government sex, but hey. I told you otters were sure, but something about it wasn t slipway, but she managed to push goofy. right; it seemed to have a bump on him off and race away up the main After 45 minutes, the three of its back. Then it looked like it had road through the village. He caught them disappeared over the crest of two tails. As it emerged from the her, got the scruff of her neck the hill and we saw nothing for a little while. Then the large male water and climbed the concrete between his teeth, wrapped his slipway across the road from where forepaws around her and tried appeared at the summit, slid slowly we watched it became clear what again. They don t show this stuff on and I imagined sadly, down to the was going on. the nature channels. water s edge, dived in, and swam It was not one, but two otters, After a minute or so she broke away. The happy couple did not reappear. With any luck we will see and they were engaged in a goofy free and disappeared behind a otter version of what is a very intimate act. It went on for 45 minutes. They re-emerged, had another try spring and the ongoing goofiness house with buddy in hot pursuit. two or three new kits later in the Not because buddy had any particular staying power; it s just the pair the stairs to the front bridge, then next to our car parked at the foot of will continue. of them seemed unable to concen- dodged off to hide in the discreet The Packet Clarenville, NL Citizen, Brock, ON Dauphin Herald, Dauphin, MB Fort Frances Times, Fort Frances, ON Kings County Record, Sussex, NB Mountaineer, Rocky Mountain House, AB Nanaimo Daily News, Nanaimo, BC Northern Pen, St. Anthony, NL The Casket, Antigonish, NS Vanguard Yarmouth, NS Yellowknifer Yellowknife, AB The Packet, Clarenville, NL Vanguard, Yarmouth, NS Northern Pen St. Anthony, NL Dauphin Herald Dauphin, MB

Class 1015 Circulation 4,000 to 6,499 Judge: Malcolm Baxter The Casket Antigonish, NS The Packet Clarenville, NL Mountaineer Rocky Mountain House, AB With more than a quarter of the points awarded for range of coverage, local story count was the determining factor in this competition. I recognise that puts smaller papers at a disadvantage since a 16-page tabloid with an editorial staff of one cannot compete against 30-plus page broadsheets with a larger newsroom. That s just the way it works. But some of the smaller papers can take solace from the fact that if they add up all their other marks, they were in the running before the lack of space/staff forced them down the final standings. As for the top three, they provided just what a newspaper reader wants: excellent coverage of news, community, features and sports. And the Rocky Mountain House Mountaineer did it better than anybody, especially backing up their news package through good use of briefs, comprehensive coverage of the court and police beats, plus strong photo pages. With a newsstand price of $1.25, it is great value for money. Excellent jobs too from the second and third, The Antigonish Casket and Clarenville Packet. And a special mention in the so near department for the Fort Frances Times, Kings County Record and Yarmouth Vanguard-- an extra point here or there would have pushed any of these into the top three.

Class 1016 Circulation 6,500 to 12,499 BEST FRONT PAGE BEST editorial PAGE Blue Ribbons Judge: Katharine Sealey Alberni Valley News, Port Alberni, BC Aldergrove Star, Aldergrove, BC Mission Record, Mission, BC NWT News/North, Northwest Territories, AB Prince George Citizen, Prince George, BC Scugog Standard, Port Perry, ON Star, Nelson, BC Prince George Citizen Prince George, BC Coast Reporter Sechelt/Gibsons, BC Sun/Tribune, Stouffville, ON The Carillon, Steinbach, MB Mission Record Mission, BC Alberni Valley News Port Alberni, BC Star Nelson, BC Quesnel Cariboo Observer Quesnel, BC

Class 1016 Circulation 6,500 to 12,499 Judge: Katharine Sealey Question Whistler, BC Rocky Mountain Outlook Canmore/Banff/Lake Louise, AB Prince George Citizen Prince George, BC It s amazing how many different things people can build when given the same tools and materials. Styles in this category ranged from folksy church newsletter to action-packed heavyweight, like winner the Prince George Citizen. Even for an outsider, there were many good reads including a piece on snappy tax tips for those in northern communities, a heart-tugging remembrance of a mother killed in an explosion, an indepth look at one city s decision to change its name and a columnist s reminder to shop local at Christmas time to help bolster the town s flagging economy. We might rush to compete with the dailies, but only in community newspapers do you find these street level views. winner the Whistler Question presented this viewpoint especially well, offering the kind of hyper-local content and bright, clean design that keep a paper on the coffee table well past recycling day. It was reassuring, too, to see how much interaction is going on at these papers, with multi-page letters sections, emails on bylines and general encouragement to contact each newsroom. That said, this great content needs a more attractive package. Beware of excessive grey space, trapped copy, too-narrow columns, muddy photos, static shots of cheque presentations, weak front page photos and, the worst offender of all, syndicated national editorials. We are local papers, have a local voice! Even in a Twitter world, many fridge doors still feature a community newspaper clipping of a spelling bee, rec league championship or opening night. The format may be changing, but what we do still matters to real people, and, based on these entries, we are still doing it well.

Class 1017 Circulation 12,500 to 24,999 BEST FRONT PAGE BEST editorial PAGE Blue Ribbons Judge: Glen Mazza Comox Valley Record, Courtenay Comox Valley, BC Cowichan News Leader Pictorial, Duncan, BC Cowichan Valley Citizen, Duncan, BC Delta Optimist, Delta, BC Dundas Star News, Dundas, ON Gazette, St. Albert, AB Goldstream News Gazette, Victoria, BC Independent, Brighton/Warkworth/Campbellford, ON Observer Elmira-Woolwich, ON Delta Optimist Delta, BC Independent Brighton/Warkworth/Campbellford, ON Perth EMC Perth, ON Kawartha Lakes This Week, Kawartha Lakes, ON Mirror, Midland/ Penetanguishene, ON Observer, Elmira-Woolwich, ON Perth EMC, Perth, ON The News, Parksville/Qualicum Beach, BC The Record, New Westminster, BC Cowichan Valley Citizen Duncan, BC Western Wheel Okotoks, AB Victoria News, Victoria, BC Western Wheel, Okotoks, AB

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Dealer trade may be required. $1,000 gas card offer applies only to retail customer purchase, lease or finance agreements on all new 2012 Civic models. Gas card offer includes HST/GST where applicable. Valid only on purchase, lease or finance agreements concluded at participating Honda retailers. Dealer participation required. **/#/*/ Offers valid from October 1st through October 31st, 2011 at participating Honda retailers. Offers valid only for British Columbia residents at BC Honda Dealers locations. Offers subject to change or cancellation without notice. Terms and conditions apply. Visit www.bchonda.com or see your Honda retailer for full details. Class 1017 Circulation 12,500 to 24,999 Judge: Glen Mazza Special section: all your local election candidates, in one place MUNICIPAL ELECTION, Page 24-27 Review: Chemainus Theatre s CountrysideChristmas is corny Cornwall fun A&E, Page 28 WEDNESDAY CAPS SEIZE FIRST PLACE IN STANDINGS ON THE COAST/32 Serving the Cowichan Valley www.cowichanvalleycitizen.com Wednesday, November 16, 2011 FIRE ENGULFS FAMILY HOME A Duncan Volunteer Fire Department lieutenant sets up a hose outside a McKinstry Place rental home Tuesday afternoon. Flames broke out just before 3 p.m. Everyone inside the home was able to get outside physically unharmed. Check our Friday edition for more information on this developing story. [SARAH SIMPSON/CITIZEN] Storm knocks out power to thousands ON THE WATER: Ferries, small crafts affected SARAH SIMPSON CITIZEN The rain stopped briefly for Remembrance Day ceremonies in Duncan on Friday morning, but the afternoon s foul weather resulted in thousands without power in the Cowichan Valley. It was a pretty intense first storm of the season, according to BC Hydro spokesman Ted Olynyk, who said, at its peak, around 4 p.m., more than 6,000 customers were affected throughout the Cowichan Valley. Damage to lines, downed lines, trees down across lines, he said. All storm-related. Winds reaching 60 kilometres per hour blasted parts of the island, knocking out electricity and creating havoc with the water. Olynyk said the hardest hit spot on the Island was just north of Nanaimo but that the Cowichan Valley also saw its share of outages. We work year-round to maintain the resiliency of our system, he said. Whether it s through vegetation management or hardening of the distribution system. We ll never eliminate outages completely but what we hope to do it lessen the impact on our customers, whether that s through the duration of the outage, or frequency of outages. Olynyk said smart meters will help Hydro do that. It ll make it a lot easier for us to attend to outages, he said. We ll know where the outage is occurring. Currently, Hydro waits for phone calls from customers complaining their power is out. Smart meters, he says, will automatically send the information. We ll still want people to call 1-888-POWER-ON to let us know if there s a safety issue, he said. And we still need people to call that number now to let us know about outages. Social media played a roll in notifications for B.C. Ferries as staff took to Twitter Friday with up to the minute news on delays and cancellations. Most routes on the network including the Crofton-Vesuvius and Mill Bay-Brentwood Bay sailings were affected because of high winds. Smaller ships, too, were affected. See 26 boat calls page 13 IF IT S NOT A HONDA, IT S JUST ANOTHER CAR. $ 169# 1.99 % * PLUS 2012 Civic Sedan LX $ 18,885 Observer Elmira-Woolwich, ON DL#5963 Discovery Motors 6466 Bell McKinnon Road Duncan 866.413.8597 www.discoveryhonda.com Cowichan Valley Citizen Duncan, BC Gazette St. Albert, AB Top newspapers covered things like council, police beat and school board - but added themed pages and humaninterest features on local people. In my mind, this variey is ultimate ambition of a community newspaper team. We should all get more spot news photos or just people doing a variety of activities (not posed). Best papers got creative with staged group shots and cheque presentations. Some papers chose charts/graphs instead of long lists of numbers in articles which is very helpful to readers. The best advertising designs prompted action with a strong heading offering an opportunity or solving a problem for the audience. Based on the copies I read, the news staff at The Gazette (St. Albert, AB) is the most aggressive in this circulation category. This newspaper is bursting with local news, features and events listings. News/sports briefs give the readers a glimpse of many events that don t need in-depth coverage. A great effort is made to get spot news photos. Well thought out headlines and leads were among the best in class. It is a nicely designed paper and offers readers a compelling visual package. Opinion writing mainly focussed on local issues - we can read dailies for the national stuff. The Observer (Woolwich and Wellesley Townships, ON) also had comprehensive news coverage, but I was most impressed by the in-depth feature articles about individuals in the community. The Cowichan Valley Citizen (Duncan,BC) took third place with strong photography and broad range of news coverage. Of final note, any papers that earn a blue ribbon in this category have accomplished something significant. There were many excellent entries and this was a tight race.

Class 1018 Circulation 25,000 and over BEST FRONT PAGE BEST editorial PAGE Blue Ribbons Capital News, Kelowna, BC Economist & Sun, Markham, ON Kamloops This Week, Kamloops, BC Judge: Darryl Mills Langley Advance, Langley, BC Mountain News, Hamilton, ON Nanaimo News Bulletin, Nanaimo, BC North Shore News, North/West Vancouver, BC Oshawa This Week, Oshawa, ON Peace Arch News, Surrey, BC The Leader Surrey/North Delta, BC Mountain News Hamilton, ON Red Deer Express, Red Deer, AB Saanich News, Saanich, BC The Now Coquitlam/Pt. Coquitlam/Pt. Moody, BC The News Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows, BC Stoney Creek News, Stoney Creek, ON The Leader, Surrey/North Delta, BC The News, Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows, BC The Now, Coquitlam/Pt. Coquitlam/Pt. Moody, BC Economist & Sun Markham, ON Stoney Creek News Stoney Creek, ON The Vancouver Courier - West Side, Vancouver, BC Tribune, Guelph, ON Tri-City News, Coquitlam/Pt. Coquitlam/Pt. Moody, BC

Class 1018 Circulation 25,000 and over Judge: Darryl Mills Mountain News Hamilton, ON The Leader Surrey/North Delta, BC Peace Arch News Surrey, BC Wow, what a remarkable body of work from some of the largest community newspapers across the country. Actually, it really boils down to papers from two provinces - B.C. and Ontario - who are home to all but two of the entries in this category. These papers clearly showed off some of the best work available in communities in this country. These papers were overall very strong, and I found I had to sometimes look for pretty specific weaknesses in trying to separate the top three from the rest. Most of these newspaper boast strong editorial staff who clearly take serving their communities seriously. And, these papers continue to illustrate how those who proclaim the coming death of the newspaper need to have a second look. These community newspapers still provide their readers with all kinds of important advertising from in and around their communities. There were some weaknesses that popped up with quite a few of the papers in this category. Areas 1 and 1A would be the lack of photos and even more so, the lack of strong photos; and the tendency to create papers that are so tight; I swear layout staff must be using shoehorns to squeeze the editorial content in. Everyone is looking to maximize revenues and reduce costs, but a number of these papers would be so enhanced by just a bit more openness. I was also disappointed with the number of papers who can t be bothered to make sure to make an editorial a key part of their paper. I truly believe that editorial is one of the opportunities community newspapers have to shape the debate and dialogue on community issues and I think papers that are passing on it are really doing themselves and their community a disservice.