The B.C. and Yukon Community Newspaper Association announced its finalists for the 2016 Ma Murray community newspaper competition last week, and the Vancouver Courier received seven nominations.
• Photographer Dan Toulgoet is a finalist in the Feature Photo Award category for his fiery shot of silhouetted children leaping over open flames during Persian New Year celebrations.
• Rebecca Blissett received a nod in the Portrait/Personality Photo Award category for “Birdman,” which was part of reporter Sandra Thomas’s series on Downtown Eastside pets and their owners.
• Jessica Barrett is nominated in the Columnist Award category for her well-read columns “Is it time to leave Vancouver?” and “Pot dispensaries need to grow up.”
• Geoff Olson is nominated in the Cartoonist Award category for his satirical take on Bill C-51.
• Former Courier editor turned podcast network creator Barry Link got the tap for “Holiday Podcast: A Christmas story” in the Online Innovation category.
• Manon Paradis, Tara Lalanne, Marina Rockey and Tori Clark are finalists in Ad Design, Collaborative for Lumiere.
• The Courier is also nominated in the Newspaper Excellence Award category.
The winners will be announced at the Ma Murray Awards Gala at River Rock Casino Resort May 7.
