EDMONTON – The Rocky Mountain Outlook took home nine awards, including best overall newspaper for its size, at the Alberta Weekly Newspaper Association’s annual awards event, June 1.
The newspaper also won best front page, best editorial page and best sports page, taking home all four awards in its classification for the 2017 Better Newspapers Competition Awards of Excellence.
The Outlook’s Justin Brisbane took first place in the sports writing category for a series of stories on the death of Richard Boruta, a pillar of the biathlon community and respected coach who died last summer during a climbing accident on the Middle Sister in Canmore.
The judge praised his work and said his reporting went “above and beyond.”
“An exceptionally well-conceived and well executed series. What struck me most was how instantaneously I came to care about a man and sport I knew little to nothing about. More objectively, the series featured an incredible depth of reporting, weaving the story of Richard’s life (and death) seamlessly and precisely in and out of ‘official’ type statements, athlete profiles, family perspective and more.”
Aryn Toombs picked up three awards for his photography, including first place for his photo illustration called Marriage Woes, which depicted a ghost in a wedding dress. The illustration was published on Oct. 26, a few days before Halloween.
Toombs also took second place in the human interest category for his candid shot of the Banff boys rugby team celebrating after winning a game last year and third place for another photo illustration of a woman doing a yoga pose on a paddleboard late at night.
Cathy Ellis was recognized for her environmental reporting, winning second place for her story about bear 148, which highlighted human-wildlife issues in Canmore and the surrounding area.
“For the Outlook to receive awards for writing, photography and the overall publication that we produce on a weekly basis is a reflection of our commitment to the community we serve,” said Jason Lyon, the newspaper’s publisher.
“At the core of the Outlook is the belief that our success hinges on quality local journalism. Receiving this recognition from our peers in the industry is humbling.”
The Bow Valley Crag and Canyon also won several awards, including third place for best habitat conservation story about Johnson Lake, and several photography awards.
