27/03/2015
Big news! For the second time in my newspaper career, I have received the Outstanding Reporter Initiative Award from the Canadian Community Newspapers Association. (This has nothing to do with my photography, but I thought you'd want to know.)
This honour recognizes my long-term coverage of the 2014 Iqaluit dump fire, and is basically the top award for a reporter given by the national association each year (the Ontario Community Newspapers Association (OCNA) honours the same kind of work for its Reporter of the Year award).
Grand Bend Strip readers may remember that I was similarly recognized in 2008 for my coverage of the murders of fellow Mt. Carmel parishioners Bill and Helene Regier the previous summer.
NNSL newspapers won several CCNA awards: Nunavut News/North (where I work) was named third-best paper in its category, and named second-best front page (beaten by sister paper Yellowknifer each time). Several colleagues won awards, including Erin Steele, Darrell Greer, Walter Strong and Laura April. Kudos to former NNSL colleague Jesse Winter, who took four awards in various categories.
Unfortunately, I highly doubt I will be given the opportunity to receive the award in person at the May conference in Toronto, but I'm sure my mom, Rita Lessard will be proud nonetheless. In fact, maybe she should go in my place...
