The Eastern Door of Kahnawake won three first place awards at the Quebec Community Newspapers Association’s annual awards night in Magog, Quebec this past week.
They won for Best Photo Essay, Best Page Layout and Best Community Newspaper promotion. They also picked up 2nd and 3rd place awards in four other categories.
Nunavut and Nunavik’s Nunatsiaq News also picked up three first place awards and took 2nd and 3rd place for five other awards. Former Chisasibi teacher Lionel Tessier of the Pontiac Journal won 2nd place for French language editorial.
Will Nicholls won third place for best editorial on local affairs. The judges called his editorial, “a clarion call for accountability with solid research and emotion.” The Nation’s advertising manager Aaron “Ace” MacDevitt followed in the footsteps of advertising great Herb Tarlek when he was awarded the Joan Durnin Outstanding Salesperson Award. The award is given to those who have made a significant contribution to their newspaper through sales performance, dedication, client development and work that raises the profile of the newspaper.
“This award honors the spirit of Herb,” gushed MacDevitt, “It’s a real big surprise for me. I’m happy to live up to the high standard set by Joan Durnin. Another round of tequilas here!” An editor from another newspaper challenged MacDevitt when he asked him how he managed to win when the Nation never makes any money. “Hey man, I didn’t have to smile at anyone to get this award,” said MacDevitt as he desperately clutched his award. No one was going to spoil this night for our happy winner. Later that night he continued the celebration and accepted and offered drinks to his admirers.
The festivities got a bit out of hand later that evening when a half asleep art director from one of the newspapers was dragged down a hallway to the now closed bar.
One of the keynote speakers at the banquet was someone from the Quebec government. Her speech went way past dessert and managed to drive many from their tables to the adjacent smoking room where they loudly debated her public speaking talents.
The Montreal Gazette’s editorial cartoonist Terry “Aislin” Mosher entertained the crowd with a slide show of his work from the past three decades. The crowd was delighted when he pointed out a subliminal image he had placed into a glass former premiere Parizeau was holding. If this weren’t a family magazine I would tell you it was a pen*s. The crowd oohed and aahed as they remembered some of his best work.
A hush came over the room when a “tribute” to the events of September 11 in the form of a slide show showing QCNA members’ coverage.
The evening ended with a dance in the banquet hall with a rock blues combo providing entertainment Nation Editor William Nicholls and his lovely date had to be dragged off the dance floor.
