Awards

One of the most awarded weekly community newspapers in Canada.

Total Awards: 152

2023

CCNA Awards

  • 3rdBest Local Editorial
    (Circ 10,000+) (Steve Kannon)
  • 1stBest Business Writing
    (Circ 10,000+) (Leah Gerber)

2022

OCNA Awards

  • 1stGeneral Excellence
    (Circ 12,500-24,999)
  • 1stBest Business & Finance Story
    (Leah Gerber)
  • 2ndCartoonist of the year
    (Scott Arnold)
  • 3rd - In-House Promotion
    (over 10,000 circ) (Patrick Merlihan)

2021

OCNA Awards

  • 1stGeneral Excellence
    (Circ 12,500-24,999)
  • 3rdBest Editorial
    (Steve Kannon)
  • 2ndCartoonist of the year
    (Scott Arnold)
  • 3rd - Special Section
    (over 10,000 circ)
  • 2nd - Original Ad Idea
    (Patrick Merlihan)
  • 2nd - Online Special Initiative
  • 3rd - Best Community Website

2020

OCNA Awards

  • 1stGeneral Excellence
    (Circ 12,500-24,999)
  • 1stBest Editorial
    (Steve Kannon)
  • 2ndBest Humour Columnist
    (Steve Galea)
  • 3rdCartoonist of the year
    (Scott Arnold)
  • 2nd - Best Front Page
  • 3rd - In-House Promotion
  • 3rd - Local Retail Layout
  • 1st - Best Community Website

2019

OCNA Awards

  • 1stGeneral Excellence
    (Circ 12,500-24,999)
  • 1stBest Sports Section
  • 1stBest Community Website
  • HMBest Rural Story
    (Faisal Ali)
  • 2nd - Best Humour Columnist
    (Steve Galea)

2018

OCNA Awards

  • 2ndBest Business & Finance Story
  • 3rdBest Community Website
    (Over 10,000 circ & over)

2017

CCNA Awards – News Media Canada

  • 1stBest Community Website
    (12,500 circ & over)
  • 2nd Best Sports Section
    (12,500 circ & over)

OCNA Awards

  • 3rdEducation Writing
  • 2ndBest Sports Section
  • 3rdBest Community Website
  • HMGeneral Excellence
    (Circ 12,500-24,999)

2016

CCNA Awards – News Media Canada

  • 1stBest Community Website
    (12,500 circ & over)

OCNA Awards

  • 3rdBest Editorial
    Over 10,000 circ. – (Steve Kannon)
  • 2ndBest Feature Writing
    (Whitney Neilson)
  • 3rdBest Sports Section
    (Observer Staff)
  • 3rdBest Creative Ad
    (Jake Stallard)
  • 2ndBest Original Ad
    (Jake Stallard)
  • 3rdBest Community Website

2015

OCNA Awards

  • 1stGeneral Excellence
    (Observer Staff)
  • 1stBest In-House Promotion
    (Patrick Merlihan)
  • 2ndBest Humour Columnist
    (Steve Galea)
  • 3rdBest Community Newspaper Website

2014

CCNA Awards – News Media Canada

  • 3rdBest Community Newspaper Website

OCNA Awards

  • 1stGeneral Excellence
    (Observer Staff)
  • 1stBest Humour Columnist
    (Steve Galea)
  • 1stUse of Process Colour
    (Jake Stallard)
  • 3rdFeature Writing
    (Elena Maystruk)
  • 3rd – Best Community Newspaper Website

2013

CCNA Awards – News Media Canada

  • 1stBest National Editorial
    (Steve Kannon)
  • 3rdBest Editorial Page
  • Blue Ribbon Award Winner

OCNA Awards

  • 1stGeneral Excellence
  • 2ndBest Sports Section
  • 3rdBest Health & Wellness Story
  • 3rdBest Local Retail Layout

2012

CCNA Awards – News Media Canada

  • 2ndBest All Around Newspaper
  • 1stBest Front Page

OCNA Awards

  • 1stGeneral Excellence
  • 1stBest Heritage Story
  • 2ndBest Photo Layout
  • 3rdBest In-House Promotion
  • 1stBest Use of Colour
  • 3rdSurfer’s Selection (Website)
  • HMBest Feature Writing
  • HMBest Humour Columnist
    (Steve Galea)

2011

CCNA Awards – News Media Canada

  • 1stBest All Around Newspaper
  • 1stBest Editorial Page
  • 2ndBest Front Page
  • 2ndBest Feature Writing
  • Blue Ribbon Award Winner

OCNA Awards

  • 1stGeneral Excellence
  • 3rdBest Sports Section
  • 2ndSurfer’s Selection (Website)

2010

CCNA Awards – News Media Canada

  • 2ndBest All Around Newspaper
  • 2ndBest Front Page
  • Blue Ribbon Award

OCNA Awards

  • 2ndGeneral Excellence
  • 2ndBest Editorial
  • 2ndSports & Recreation Story
  • 2ndSpot News Photo
  • 3rdBest Front Page
  • 1stUse of Process Colour
  • 3rdBest Community Website
  • 3rdSurfer’s Selection (Website)
  • 1stHumour Columnist
    (Steve Galea)

2009

CCNA Awards – News Media Canada

  • 2ndGeneral Excellence
  • 1stEnvironmental Writing
  • Blue Ribbon Award


COPA (Canadian Online Publishing Awards)

HMBest Overall Website
Link
(Mathew French)

OCNA Awards

  • 2ndGeneral Excellence
  • 2ndBest Rural Story
  • 2ndColumnist of the Year
  • 1st & 3rdHumour Columnist
    (Steve Galea)
  • 1stBest Community Website
  • 2ndSurfer’s Selection (Website)

2008

CCNA Awards – News Media Canada

  • 2ndBest All-Around Newspaper
  • Blue Ribbon Award

OCNA Awards

  • 1stHealth & Wellness Writing
  • 1stHumour Columnist
    (Steve Galea)
  • 2ndFeature Writing
  • 2ndSurfer’s Selection (Website)
  • 2ndPhoto Illustration

2007

CCNA Awards – News Media Canada

  • 1stBest Community Website

OCNA Awards

  • 3rdGeneral Excellence Award
  • 2ndEducation Writing
  • 2ndBest Creative Advertising
  • 1stHumour Columnist
    (Steve Galea)
  • HMFeature Writing

2006

CCNA Awards – News Media Canada

  • 1stBest In-House Ad Campaign
  • 3rdBest Web Site Design

RNAO Award
Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario

  • 1stBest In Depth Feature
    (Vanessa Moss)

OCNA Awards

  • 3rdBusiness & Finance Story
  • 1stEducation Writing
  • 2ndFeature Writing
  • 3rdBest Rural Story
  • 3rdBest Columnist
    (Owen Roberts)
  • 1stIn House Promotion

2005

OCNA Awards

  • 1stLocal Retail Layout
  • 3rdTechnically Enhanced Photo
  • 1stColumnist of the Year
    (Steve Galea)
  • 3rdBest Spot News Photo
  • 3rdHumour Columnist
    (Steve Galea)
  • HMOriginal Ad Idea – Where’s Elmer
    (Scott Arnold)

2004

CCNA Awards

  • 1stBest Historical Writing
  • Best IdeaPublisher’s Award

OCNA Awards

  • 1stGeneral Excellence Award
  • 3rdBest Use of Process Colour
  • 3rdBest Agricultural Writing

2003

CCNA Awards

  • Blue Ribbon Winner

OCNA Awards

  • 1stGeneral Excellence Award
  • 1stBest Use of Ad Service

2002

CCNA Awards*

  • 2ndBest Ad Design
  • Blue Ribbon Winner

OCNA Awards*

  • 4thGeneral Excellence Award
  • 2ndBest Agriculture Story
  • 3rdBest Columnist
  • 3rdBest Creative Artwork
  • HMBest Technically Enhanced Photo

2001

CCNA Awards

  • 1stBest Ad Design

OCNA Awards

  • 4thGeneral Excellence Award
  • 1stBest Local Retail Layout
  • 1stBest Vertical Product
  • 2ndBest Process Colour
  • 1stBest Ad Design

2000

OCNA Awards*

  • 1stBest Feature Writing
  • 2ndBest Original Ad Idea
  • 2ndBest Education Writing

*First year to enter association
newspaper awards

1996

Woolwich Chamber of Commerce Award
Entrepreneurs of the Year