Ma Murray Community Newspaper Awards

The BCYCNA has been hosting the Ma Murray Community Newspaper Awards for over 80 years. Dedicated to celebrating excellence amongst our member newspapers, the accolades recognise all aspects of the newspaper industry, including production, publishing, reporting, editing, advertising, photography, website design and community contribution.

2005 BCYCNA Convention Highlights

The B.C. & Yukon Community Newspapers Association (BCYCNA) held its annual convention on April 22nd and 23rd at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel. The weekend was a great success and highlights included the Agency Mingler at Relish – the Restaurant and Lounge, the Scholarship Luncheon and the Awards Gala Dinner.

On Friday evening, 70 publishers, advertising representatives and awards finalists kicked off the weekend at one of Vancouver’s best new restaurants, Relish, just next door to the Wall Centre, right in the heart of the city and surrounded by a waterfall. The timing was perfect for the after-work crowd and also a good social for those attending the weekend.

On Saturday afternoon, CN and the BCYCNA sponsored a Scholarship Luncheon where $15,000 in scholarships was handed out to university students from Kwantlen University College, University of Victoria, Camosun College, Capilano College, Thompson Rivers University, and Langara College. The students who received the scholarships (click here to see the scholarship winners) all hope to pursue careers in community newspapers, in print media, graphic design, journalism, photography, and within sales, business, and marketing.

The weekend also included a BCYCNA Board of Directors meeting, as well as the Association’s Annual General Meeting.

NorskeCanada sponsored this year’s President’s Reception, which took place Saturday evening at the Wall Centre, just before the Awards Gala Dinner. Outgoing BCYCNA president Joyce Carlson thanked all the sponsors before handing over the gavel to new BCYCNA president Steve Robertson, who introduced the 2005-2006 Board of Directors.

This year’s Terasen Ma Murray Community Newspaper Awards Gala dinner had a record showing, with well over 230 people in attendance. Another record was broken, in that almost every newspaper attending redeemed a registration voucher; members from all over the province – even those who weren’t finalists – redeemed their vouchers and showed up for the celebration, proving that the Ma Murray Awards are the place to be!

Comedian Darryl Lenox, whose face will be familiar from the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival and the professional comedy circuit, had everyone in hysterics after dinner with his hilarious stand-up routine. (Watch for Darryl on the David Letterman show in the next few months!) Emcees Mark Forsythe of CBC and actress-comedienne Veena Sood kept everyone buzzing as they announced each award winner with an entertaining flair.

This year's Eric Dunning Integrity Award recipient was Joyce Carlson of the Powell River Peak. With an unparalleled commitment to her community, Joyce’s name was put forth in a nomination signed by her entire staff, and the BCYCNA Board of Directors is pleased to honour her experience, her integrity, and her commitment to community with the Eric Dunning Integrity Award.

In total, the BCYCNA handed out awards in 38 categories of the Terasen Ma Murray Community Newspapers Competition, and all were well-received and will surely be proudly displayed in community newspaper offices all over British Columbia and the Yukon.

The celebration didn’t end with the awards. When the gala was over, everyone was invited up to the Constellation Suite on the 35^th floor of the Wall Centre for a Hospitality Suite like no other. With a DJ, two levels, two balconies, and a view unlike any other, this party went on late into the night.

The 2005 Ma Murray Community Newspaper Awards were an overwhelming success. The BCYCNA would like to thank our title sponsor, Terasen, as well as our major event sponsors, NorskeCanada, British Columbia Lottery Corporation, and CN, for their continued support of the community newspaper industry. We would also like to thank all of our awards sponsors: Alan & Adelaide Black, Bell Canada, British Columbia Arts Council, BCAA, BC Press Council, Canada Post, Canadian Bankers Association, CGA Association of BC, CIBC, ComBase, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Ross & Sandra Dunning, Homeworks, Horizon Publications, Hub International TOS Limited, New Car Dealers Association of BC, TELUS, Thompson Rivers University Journalism Department, and Vancouver Area Newspaper Network.