The best in B.C.’s community news business were honoured Saturday night at the 2018 Ma Murray Community Newspaper Awards, and the Courier came home with a gold, several silvers and a bronze.
Photographer Dan Toulgoet won gold in the portrait/personality photo category for his photo of Templeton drama teacher Jim Crescenzo.
The Courier won silver in newspaper excellence for newspapers with a circulation of 64,000 or more. The North Shore News, which is also owned by Glacier Media, took gold and the Vernon Morning Star won bronze.
Silver award winners included:
- Reporter Jessica Kerr in the environmental initiative category for her story on the new salt marsh at New Brighton Park.
- Reporter Christopher Cheung in business writing for his feature on the comeback of corner stores.
- Videographer Dan Toulgoet, video editor Michael Kissinger and reporter John Kurucz in the feature video category for their collaboration marking the Orpheum’s 90th birthday.
- Reporter Mike Howell and editor Michael Kissinger in breaking news video for the video of Marpole residents at city hall protesting temporary modular housing.
- Reporter John Kurucz, videographer Dan Toulgoet and editor Michael Kissinger in the multimedia feature story category for the online presentation of Kurucz’s profile of watchmaker Fritz Irrgang.
- Graphic designer Marina Rockey, marketing director Michelle Bhatti and multimedia sales representatives David Chiew and Maureen Laventure in the special sections category for the 2017 Stars of Vancouver.
Special features editor Sandra Thomas was awarded bronze in the special sections category for her fall Lifetime section.
The Courier’s sister paper the Westender, which published its last issue in December, garnered several awards Saturday night.
Former editor Kelsey Klassen won gold for best editorial for “Pride and a newspaper’s place”and her insights into the paper’s role in the annual Pride celebration.
Reel People’s Sabrina Furminger, who now writes for the Courier, took home the gold in arts and culture writing for her feature on A Better Man, a documentary by abuse survivor Attiya Khan.
The Westender also swept the special publications category. Gold went to The Alchemist— publisher Gail Nugent, graphic designer Tara Rafiq, editor Finoa Morrow and Westender staff. The Growler took silver — editor Rob Mangelsdorf, graphic designer Tara Rafiq, publisher Gail Nugent and staff. And the 2017 Vancouver International Jazz Festival guide was awarded bronze — graphic designer Tara Rafiq, publisher Gail Nugent and staff.
Graphic designer Tara Rafiq and editor Kelsey Klassen won gold in ad design for their ad for Mattress Recycling TM. Rafiq and advertising consultant Matty Lambert took silver in ad design collaborative for their Mario’s Gelati ad.
The team of Rafiq, Klassen, animator Lucy-ann Armstrong and Westender staff also took silver in newspaper promotion ad for the paper’s Best of the City readers’ choice awards.
