The Haliburton County Echo took home first prize in general excellence for its circulation category at the Ontario Community Newspapers Association’s Better Newspapers Competition on Friday April 5.
A special ceremony was held during the OCNA spring convention in Vaughan revealing first second and third place finishes.
“The Haliburton County Echo excels” the judges wrote. “It’s got all the news people need to know but it also explores the human element. A front page feature on one of Canada’s first couples to die together under the new assisted dying legislation is respectfully and lovingly told as was the profile about a beloved local icon who died. The editorial pages reflect this diversity with lots of original content as well as a forum for readers’ views. Darren Lum’s sports photography rivals that of much bigger papers.”
The article referenced by the judges “Bishops leave Haliburton hand in hand” by Sue Tiffin was also honoured with a first place finish in feature writing. “A well written well researched article that touches not just on a couple but also on a sensitive issue with just the right touch. Extremely well done by Sue Tiffin” the judge wrote.
The Echo also took home a third place finish for best sports section and a third in local retail layout.
The paper received an honourable mention in the heritage category for the story “Documenting thousands of years of human history in the Highlands” about the Indigenous roots of the region.