Hi there,

I’m thrilled to share that outlets in the Discourse Community Publishing network recently picked up eight (!) Canadian Online Publishing Awards. The Discourse, IndigiNews and The Wren were honoured for our ongoing commitment to top-tier community service journalism. 

I want to give a special shout-out to Lys Morton, who won the gold medal for Best Column, for his thoughtful and personal reflections on rising queerphobia on Vancouver Island. Here’s what Lys had to say in response to the win:

“I’m not surprised this article remains just as relevant tonight as it did when I wrote it in June, particularly as we watch restrictive policies across Canada target queer communities, especially our youth. As one of my sources from the United States said, “you’re all just two elections behind us or something like that?” He meant it as a bad joke, one that grows more sour each day.

“Thank you, COPA judges for selecting this piece. The nomination alone brings more attention to these stories and our calls for community support. My immense thanks to my Nanaimo team, Lauren Kaljur and Julie Chadwick, for your editing and support of this piece. And my thanks to the entire Discourse Community Publishing team for providing space for my queer journalistic self.

“Protect queer youth so they grow up to be queer adults. Who knows, some of them might end up in newsrooms trying to break down Short Term Rental regulations for their audiences.”

Lys recently moved on from The Discourse Nanaimo to become the community reporter for the Revelstoke Mountaineer, the latest addition to the Discourse Community Publishing network. We’re so grateful for Lys’s continued journalistic talents and gifts!

As always, we share these honours with you, our readers and supporters. Truly, I believe that it’s our commitment to including you in everything we do that sets our work apart.

I hope you’ll take some time to check out all the award-winning work below. I’m so proud of all my colleagues, and grateful to know them!

Support The Discourse.

There’s been a lot of bad news from the journalism industry in recent weeks. More than ever, we need your support to continue producing award-winning news that really matters. 

Nicole supports The Discourse because: “Local journalism is essential so we have an understanding of what is important where we live, especially for those of us who live in smaller communities.”

Thank you, Nicole! And thanks to all the supporters who help keep this thing going. You mean the world to us.

Every little bit helps, and every single contribution lets us know that we are still on the right track, that our dream of sustainable, community-led local journalism is still worth fighting for. Can you help?

Award-winning journalism.

‘Pride is a protest’ as queerphobia rises on Vancouver Island - The Discourse

By Lys Morton. Edited by Lauren Kaljur

🥇GOLD for Best Column

“I don't think there is a person who has read your gold award-winning story who hasn't cried or been angry or been moved to action,” said Hollie Ferguson, the editor of Discourse Community Publishing’s outlets in the B.C. Interior. “The emotional effort, thought and mental work that went into that story was amazing.”

Seven years after her disappearance, family of Caitlin Potts reignites calls for justice - IndigiNews

Reporting and photography by Aaron Hemens

🥇GOLD for Best Photojournalism

🥇GOLD for Best Local Community News

🏆TOP 10 Award

This incredible piece of reporting earned three awards, including a Top 10 award, which recognizes the best work across all categories. After the wins, Aaron shared how meaningful it is that this recognition will bring renewed attention to an important story about a family’s ongoing search for their missing loved one — and their call for justice.

History at the Confluence: A glimpse into Tk’emlúps’ past - The Wren

Reporting by Lyssa Martin, editing by Lauren Kaljur, Hollie Ferguson and Tegwyn Hughes

🥈SILVER for Best Local Community News

🏆TOP 10 Award

Reporter Lyssa Martin put an extraordinary amount of time and care into this series of stories on the history of Tk’emlúps’ (Kamloops). “The opportunity to write this series was a dream come true,” Lyssa shared after the wins. “Thank you especially to Secwepmec Traditional Knowledge Keepers Diena and Jackie Jules for their thoughtful and patient guidance throughout the process.”

‘It’s better than Disneyland’: Local environmentalists unite to protect Harewood Plains - The Discourse

Photography by Rae-Anne Guenther, reporting by Julie Chadwick, edited by Lauren Kaljur

🥈SILVER for Best Photojournalism

At The Discourse, we love a solutions-focused story about people coming together to make their community a better place. Julie Chadwick deeply reported this article about efforts to protect Nanaimo’s Harewood Plains, and Rae-Anne Guenther’s photography truly brought the story to life.

Highliners in Vancouver: A Connected and Limitless Community - UBC Journalism

Reporting, photography and multimedia by Liz McDonald

🥇GOLD for Best Photojournalism

I’d be remiss not to mention this award-winning story by Liz McDonald, community reporter for Sun Peaks Independent News. Liz produced this incredible piece of multimedia journalism as part of her UBC journalism master’s program. We’re so grateful that Liz agreed to bring her incredible talents to Sun Peaks and Discourse Community Publishing!