Nunatsiaq News takes three top honours in newspaper awards

Nunatsiaq News had three top finishes in this year’s Quebec Community Newspapers Association awards.

Nunatsiaq News reporter Sarah Rogers won the top honour in the best investigative reporting category for her story about how the Government of Nunavut reports the results of health inspections at facilities that prepare or sell food to the public.

She found some progress, in that the Department of Health was moving to an electronic system for filing those reports, but she noted that Nunavut is the only jurisdiction in Canada that does not make its health inspection reports public.

Rogers also placed second in the best community health story category for her story about the nursing shortage in Nunavut that left the Baker Lake health centre offering minimal services in early 2019 and third in the best municipal/civic affairs story category for her story about Nunavik’s one legal aid lawyer no longer being based within the region.

Freelance writer and former Nunatsiaq News staff member Lisa Gregoire won the top spot in the best feature story category about how the managed alcohol program at The Oaks in Ottawa is providing help and comfort to Inuit residents.

Nunatsiaq News reporter Elaine Anselmi placed second in the best feature story category with a story about what the future of Arctic shipping could look like, given the visit to northern Baffin Island last year by cruise ship MS Roald Amundsen, which is propelled by a hybrid engine, and the call to ban the use of heavy fuel oil.

Nunatsiaq News reporter Emma Tranter placed third in the best investigative reporting category for breaking a story about how some Kivalliq beneficiaries, including Premier Joe Savikataaq, were finding to their surprise that they were ineligible to vote in the Kivalliq Inuit Association elections last year.

The paper’s editorial writer, Jim Bell, placed second in the best editorial (general) category for his insightful analysis of the results of last year’s federal election in Nunavut.

Emerging talent Dayna Bruce, who took part in a journalism workshop for Nunavut Sivuniksavut students in 2019 run by Nunatsiaq News staff members Sarah Rogers and Kahlan Miron, placed second in the best education category for her story about the struggles of some out-of-territory students to make ends meet on Nunavut’s student funding.

Nunatsiaq News placed first in the best front page category and third in the best overall newspaper category.

Because of the pandemic, the QCNA cancelled this year’s gala and announced the winners by email.

The QCNA’s president, Lily Ryan, said, “Congratulations to all the finalists. These past months have been difficult, and we hope the situation gets better soon. Long live local newspapers!”