Last Saturday, the BC and Yukon Community Newspapers Association celebrated the great achievements of 2012 at the 91st annual Ma Murray Community Newspaper Awards Gala presented by Coast Capital Savings! Once again, the gala was held at the ornate theatre in the River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond. An annual tradition since 1920, the Ma Murray Awards has recognized the year’s best in community newspaper publishing, bringing in industry professionals from across BC and Yukon.

As is now customary, the Gala was preceded by the CN Scholarship Luncheon, which celebrates emerging talents in the community newspaper industry. This year the awards were focused entirely on students in Journalism programs throughout the province. The deserving winners were each hand-picked by the faculty members who know their work best, and the BCYCNA was very proud to hand out a total of $13,000. The passion and talent embodied by the winners gave all in attendance optimism about the future of the community newspaper industry.

The BCYCNA Annual General Meeting also took place, at which time new BCYCNA President Hugh Nicholson (Glacier Media) was introduced and former president Steve Nicholson (Yukon News) concluded his year-long term as President of the Association. Maurice Donn (Nanaimo News Bulletin) and Marlyn Graziano (Surrey Now) stepped down this year, to be replaced by Mark Warner (Black Press) and Tim Shoults (Glacier Media).

The Catalyst Paper President’s Reception then kicked off the night’s festivities, where almost 300 guests mingled and enjoyed complimentary drinks and hors d’oeuvres before heading into the theatre to enjoy a three-course dinner.

For the night’s entertainment, Breakfast Television’s Dawn Chubai co-hosted with comedian Patrick Maliha –who gave a rip-roaring performance, complete with impersonations.

A total of 45 awards were handed out throughout the night. Special recognition was given to the late Linda Klitch for the Eric Dunning Integrity Award. Linda had spent a career working in the industry and her former colleagues at the Peace Arch News delivered a touching speech on behalf of her family.

With attendants full of food and wine, the party moved to the upper foyer, where the Tighty Whiteys performed live, playing the best songs of the 80s! If an open bar, live 80s cover band and a dance floor were not enough, Coast Capital Savings provided a photo booth, ensuring that no one present was spared from having an embarrassing photo taken of them.

For those who refused to let the fun end with a 1:00am closing of the foyer, the Glacier Lounge(Presidential Suite on the ninth floor of the resort) kept the party going until morning.

The 2013 Ma Murray Community Newspaper Awards Gala was another huge success, and we couldn’t have pulled it off without the support of our generous sponsors.

Huge thanks to our title sponsor Coast Capital Savings as well as our presenting sponsors Catalyst Paper,CN, BCLC, and Glacier Media. We’d also like to extend our thanks to Air North, The Printing House, TD BankGroup, Black Press, Thompson Rivers University – Department of Journalism, Communication & New Media, TELUS, BCAA, Victoria Gold Corp, River Rock Casino Resort, Port Metro Vancouver, Canada Safeway, Hub International, New Car Dealers Association of BC, Trial Lawyers Association of BC, Metro Creative Graphics, Tinhorn Creek Vineyards and International Web Express!

Next year’s Gala has already been booked at the River Rock for April 12, 2014. Mark it on your calendars!

Keep checking back for updates!