Presented May 2026
DOWNLOAD Our Handout for images and judges comments.
BNC-Best Feature Story By Local Writer
Sponsored by: SAIT
- Cochrane Eagle with Calgary Region Offers Treasure Trove Of Early Mammal Fossils, Credit(s): Tim Kalinowski
- Fort Macleod Gazette with Grizzly Dude shares story of resilience, Credit(s): Frank McTighe
- Town & Country News (Grande Prairie) with A devotion to fire: Doug the Demon sets the world ablaze, Credit(s): Jesse Boily
Honourable Mention:
- Town & Country This Week with This woman's place is in the boiler room, Credit(s): Daniel Janson
BNC-Best Feature Column by Local Writer
The Gordon Scott Memorial Award
- Shootin' the Breeze with When 1.5% becomes grounds for suspending charter rights, Credit(s): Sean Oliver
- Stettler Independent with Facing the darkness: Returning to work after mental health struggles, Credit(s): Kevin Sabo
- Claresholm Local Press with The family translator, Credit(s): Rob Vogt
BNC-Excellence in Creative Advertising
- Wainwright EDGE with Did You Hear?, Credit(s): Carrie Chisholm
- Slave Lake Lakeside Leader with Canadian Tire-Moonlight Madness Giveaway, Credit(s): Jisun Kwon
- Viking Weekly Review with Cloverlodge Stampede 2025, Credit(s): Eric Anderson
BNC-Best In-House Ad
Sponsored by:
- Drayton Valley Free Press with Thank you for supporting your local newspaper, Credit(s): Brittany Belyea, Brandy Fredrickson
- Lloydminster Meridian Source with Meridian Source - Submit Your Story, Credit(s): Meridian Source
- Tofield Mercury with Spring Sale, Credit(s): Eric Anderson
BNC-Use of Colour in Advertising
Sponsored by:
- Lamont Leader with FP Ad Sale, Credit(s): Eric Anderson
- Wainwright EDGE with Fall Smile Cookie Campaign, Credit(s): Carrie Chisholm
- Flagstaff/Sedgewick Community Press with NexGen Systems, Credit(s): Eric Anderson & Erik Skoberg
BNC-Sports Writing Award
Sponsored by:
- St. Albert Gazette with Ultramarathoner runs down her dreams, Credit(s): Tristan Oram
- Rocky Mountain Outlook with Canmore minor hockey wears Jasper jerseys for teammate, wildfire-devastated town, Credit(s): Jordan Small
- The Albertan with Hockey referee finally called to Hall of Fame, Credit(s): Johnnie Bachusky
Honourable Mention:
- Ponoka News with Pedalling for Parkinson’s stops in Ponoka for pickleball, Credit(s): Emily Jaycox
BNC-Education Writing Award
Sponsored by:
- Fort Macleod Gazette with W.A. Day students find calm in Zen Den05, Credit(s): Frank McTighe
- Town & Country News (Grande Prairie) with Savanna School students set sail, Credit(s): Austin Payeur
- Drayton Valley Free Press with Charter school proposal moving forward, Credit(s): Amanda Jeffery
Honourable Mention:
- Town & Country This Week with Two schools of thought: homeschoolers and public school leaders weigh in on growing divide, Credit(s): Lexi Freehill
Special Section
Sponsored by: Metro Creative Graphics
- Slave Lake Lakeside Leader with 2025 Grad paper, Credit(s): Jisun Kwon
- Wainwright EDGE with National Fire Prevention Week, Credit(s): Carrie Chisholm, Sukie Su
- Shootin' the Breeze with Pincher Creek Pro Rodeo 2025, Credit(s): Jaiden Panchyshyn, William Cockerell, Shannon Peace
BNC-Sue Gawlak Best Local Editorial
Sponsored by: St. Albert Gazette
- Ponoka News with Addressing homelessness requires compassionate solutions, Credit(s): Emily Jaycox
- Fort Macleod Gazette with Coal mining meeting needed, Credit(s): Frank McTighe
- Okotoks Western Wheel with Hand counting is costly and unnecessary, Credit(s): Ted Murphy
BNC-Best Local News Story
Sponsored by: Calgary Journal (Mount Royal Univ)
- Airdrie City View with Airdrie moms welcome new Canadian fentanyl control measures, Credit(s): Ryan Uytdewilligen
- Lakeland This Week with Municipal councils in the Lakeland spend an average of 35 per cent of meetings closed to public, Credit(s): Meredith Kerr
- Viking Weekly Review with Med students get a sample of all things Viking, Credit(s): Ally Anderson