2009 BCYCNA Ma Murray Awards Gala Highlights

Chuck Bennett welcomes new BCYCNA president Scott Nelson at the 2009 Gala.

The BC & Yukon Community Newspapers Association (BCYCNA) held its annual BCYCNA-Bell Ma Murray Community Newspaper Awards on Saturday, April 4, 2009 at the River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond.

Kicking off this year’s celebrations was the CN Scholarship Luncheon, where the BCYCNA handed out $24,000 to college and university students from all over British Columbia. The chosen students all hope to pursue careers in community newspapers, in the fields of applied communications, graphic design, journalism, sales and marketing.

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

Vancouver's own Stonefoxx Dance Crew perform on stage.

Catalyst Paper returned once again as sponsor of the President’s Reception, which took place Saturday evening just before the Awards Gala Dinner. A record 317 guests enjoyed some delicious hors d’oeuvres and drinks before being invited into the River Rock Show Theatre to say farewell to outgoing BCYCNA president Chuck Bennett and to welcome new BCYCNA president Scott Nelson, who then introduced the 2009-2010 BCYCNA Board of Directors.

This year’s BCYCNA-Bell Ma Murray Community Newspaper Awards Gala kicked off with a toe-tapping performance by Stonefoxx Dance Crew, followed by a delicious dinner, plenty of wine, and an address by five-time Olympian Charmaine Crooks.

Five-time Olympian champion Charmaine Crooks.

Emcees Gloria Macarenko and Paul Bae then took their place at the podium to hand out the awards. Proving to be a hilarious match-up as MCs, they did a fantastic job narrating the evening.

Paul Bae & Gloria Macarenko hosting the 2009 Gala.

Among the many awards presented throughout the evening, this year’s Eric Dunning Integrity Award recipient was Brian McCristall, recently retired as publisher of the Tri-City News. With a lifetime of experience, integrity, and leadership, Brian McCristall is deserving of this recognition. The BCYCNA Board of Directors is pleased to honour him with the Eric Dunning Integrity Award. 

Recently retired as publisher of the Tri-City News, Brian McCristall accepts the Eric Dunning Integrity Award.

In total, the BCYCNA handed out awards in 44 categories of the BCYCNA-Bell 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 Yukon.

The staff of The Whistler Question backstage after receiving the Newspaper Excellence Category C Award.

Of course, the celebration didn’t end with the awards.BCYCNA members are known for their prowess on the dance floor, so when the gala was over, everyone moved back into the Theatre Lounge to keep the party going! With a DJ, snacks, drinks, and plenty of mingling, the party only picked up momentum. For those with extra energy, the Presidential Suite up on the ninth floor was open till the wee hours.

The 2009 Ma Murray Community Newspaper Awards were an overwhelming success. The BCYCNA would like to thank our title sponsor, Bell, as well as our major event sponsors, Catalyst Paper, BCLC, and CN, for their continued support of the community newspaper industry. We would also like to thank all of our awards sponsors: BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, the Black family, British Columbia Arts Council, British Columbia Automobile Association, British Columbia Press Council, Byron Sheardown, Canada Post, Canwest Community Publishing, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Horizon Publications, Hub International, Jeff Gaulin Media, New Car Dealers Association of BC, News-Net, Port Metro Vancouver, Provincial Health Services Authority, TELUS, Thompson Rivers University School of Journalism, and WorkSafeBC.

Ma Murray showgirls outside of the River Rock Theatre.

Watch this space for video highlights to come soon!

Otherwise, see you in 2010!