Record staff
The Comox Valley Record shone at the BC/Yukon Community Newspapers Association’s annual Ma Murray Awards, Saturday in Richmond, winning one gold and two silvers.
Editor Terry Farrell won the Black Family Editorial Award for his editorial titled, ‘When hospitals interfere with rights’ (March 15, 2016 Record), which addressed St. Joseph’s Hospital’s stance against Medical Assistance in Dying.
“Farrell’s editorial puts a spotlight on a national/religious issue by discussing why healthcare at a local level should trump religion,” is what the judges had to say regarding the editorial.
Farrell edged an editorial from John Harding at The Record’s sister paper, the Parksville Qualicum Beach News. Harding won the coveted award in 2016.
“Winning this award is a huge honour for me,” said Farrell. “Considering the awards are judged by fellow journalists, it’s extra special being recognized by my peers.”
The Record was awarded second-place in the Concord Pacific - Ma Murray Community Service Award, for the 2016 Comox Valley Community Clean-up, where residents collected a total of 35,000 pounds of illegally dumped garbage in one morning.
“Congratulations to the Comox Valley Record. Their hard work and commitment to a second year leading this clean-up initiative is wonderful community engagement,” is what the judges had to say.
The Record won the award in 2016 for the same project in its inaugural campaign.
And Record newcomer Judy Hagen collected a silver in the Neville Shanks Memorial Award for Historical Writing for her piece, The man behind the letter ‘Q,’ which was published in the Comox Valley Echo in 2016.
“A well researched article that shows evidence of original research with census records and other archival records,” is what the judges said of Hagen’s work. “It brings attention to a local figure (Frank Quinn) who is not well known, but who served with distinction in a locally-raised 102nd Battalion in the First World War and was a driving force to establish a Legion Hall in the community. Well done!”
Black Press papers did well throughout the evening, with 59 top-three finishes, including 21 golds.