Ontario Newspaper Awards

First off, I salute all of the journalists whose work is represented in the entries. There are many aspects of daily journalism, but there is something foundational to Breaking News, and the mission of working against a daily deadline to

Winner: Elliot Ferguson, Kingston Whig-Standard In a series of stories focused on the Davis Tannery property, Ferguson skilfully reported on a complex City Hall issue that pitted environmental concerns against the city’s need for more housing. Whether explaining the financial

Winner: Trevor Wilhelm, Windsor Star Wilhelm takes the health beat to the street with a searing examination into the death of a homeless man, bringing him to life on the page in a city that doesn’t track homeless deaths. The

Winner: Cory Smith, Stratford Beacon-Herald Sports Editor Cory Smith of the Stratford Beacon Herald was as shocked as everyone else when  19-year-old Carter Schoonderwoerd, local hockey hero, “gentle giant”  and all-round good guy,  committed suicide.  In interviews months later with Carter’s

Writing a column for a community newspaper offers a unique opportunity to expose wrongs, hold the powerful to account and introduce readers to hidden corners of the world. Columnists also face unique challenges in what to do with the wide-open

Winner: Susan Clairmont, Hamilton Spectator With a clear, empathetic voice and an eye for detail, Susan Clairmont carefully guides readers down the path of one Hamilton family’s tragedy. An adult son, on the edge of financial ruin after exhausting all

Winner: Jon Wells, Hamilton Spectator Jon Wells paints a gripping portrait of Ken Murdock in his three-part series, “Hitman,” and his journey to become one of Canada’s most prolific mob killers, while chronicling one of Hamilton’s bloodiest periods for organized

Winner: Dax Melmer, Windsor Star This photograph is shot from an unexpected perspective, which lends visual interest as two basketball players battle for the ball. As the photographer explains: “What I captured resembles somewhat of an orchestrated dance recital, as

Winner: Bob Tymczyszyn, St. Catharines Standard There’s a clean otherworldliness to Bob Tymczyszyn’s photo of the tunnel under the Niagara Falls power station. The neat brick cylinder, a cluster of unidentifiable people, and, beyond, a glimpse of a mysterious snowscape.

Winner: Joanna Frketich, Hamilton Spectator A thorough and chilling look inside a long-term care home that fell “into a complete gap” during the COVID-19 pandemic, part of a disturbing trend with far-reaching implications. Frketich is dogged in her investigation of

Winner: Brian Thompson, Brantford Expositor For spot news, a photographer needs to be in the right place at the right time. But that’s not a matter of luck. That’s being prepared and, in this case, advocating for a journalist’s right