Awards and Recognition
INDUSTRY AWARDS TO DATE: 119
The Observer is the most award-winning weekly newspaper in Waterloo Region. Recognized for over 100 industry awards over the past two decades, our accolades represent every facet of newspaper production.
The Observer is no stranger to those in the Canadian Newspaper industry. Known for it’s consistent award-winning coverage over the past two decades, The Observer has racked up a respectable amount of awards recognized by our peers within Ontario and across Canada. We’re proud to continue this tradition for years to come.
1996
Woolwich Chamber of Commerce Award Entrepreneurs of the Year
1999
OCNA Awards
- 1st – Best Feature Writing
- 2nd – Best Original Ad Idea
- 2nd – Best Education Writing
2000
OCNA Awards
- 4th – General Excellence Award
- 1st – Best Local Retail Layout
- 1st – Best Vertical Product
- 2nd – Best Process Colour
2001
OCNA Awards
- 4th – General Excellence Award
- 2nd – Best Agriculture Story
- 3rd – Best Columnist
- 3rd – Best Creative Artwork
- HM – Best Technically Enhanced Photo
CCNA Awards
2002
OCNA Awards
- 1st – General Excellence Award
- 1st – Best Use of Ad Service
CCNA Awards
- 2nd – Best Ad Design
- Blue Ribbon Winner
2003
OCNA Awards
- 1st – General Excellence Award
- 3rd – Best Use of Process Colour
- 3rd – Best Agricultural Writing
CCNA Awards
2004
CCNA Awards
- 1st – Best Historical Writing
- Best Idea – Publisher’s Award
2005
OCNA Awards
- 1st – Local Retail Layout
- 3rd – Technically Enhanced Photo
- 1st – Columnist of the Year – Steve Galea
- 3rd – Best Spot News Photo
- 3rd – Humour Columnist of the Year – Steve Galea
- HM – Original Ad Idea – Where’s Elmer – Scott Arnold
2006
OCNA Awards
- 3rd – Business & Finance Story
- 1st – Education Writing
- 2nd – Feature Writing
- 3rd – Best Rural Story
- 3rd – Best Columnist – Owen Roberts
- 1st – In House Promotion
2007
OCNA Awards
- 3rd – General Excellence Award
- 2nd – Education Writing
- 2nd – Best Creative Advertising
- 1st – Humour Columnist – Steve Galea
- HM – Feature Writing
CCNA Awards
- 1st – Best In-House Ad Campaign
- 3rd – Best Web Site Design
RNAO Awards Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario
- 1st – Best In Depth Feature – Vanessa Moss
2008
OCNA Awards
- 1st – Health & Wellness Writing
- 1st – Humour Columnist – Steve Galea
- 2nd – Feature Writing
- 2nd – Surfer’s Selection (Website)
- 2nd – Photo Illustration
CCNA Awards
- 1st – Best Community Website
2009
OCNA Awards
- 2nd – General Excellence
- 2nd – Best Rural Story
- 2nd – Columnist of the Year
- 1st & 3rd – Humour Columnist of the Year – Steve Galea
- 1st – Best Community Website
- 2nd – Surfer’s Selection (Website)
CCNA Awards
- 2nd – Best All Around Newspaper
- Blue Ribbon Award
2010
OCNA Awards
- 2nd – General Excellence
- 2nd – Best Editorial
- 2nd – Sports & Recreation Story
- 2nd – Spot News Photo
- 3rd – Best Front Page
- 1st – Use of Process Colour
- 3rd – Best Community Website
- 3rd – Surfer’s Selection (Website)
- 1st – Humour Columnist – Steve Galea
CCNA Awards
- 2nd – General Excellence
- 1st – Environmental Writing
- Blue Ribbon Award
COPA (Canadian Online Publishing Awards)
2011
OCNA Awards
- 1st – General Excellence
- 3rd – Best Sports Section
- 2nd – Surfer’s Selection (Website)
CCNA Awards
- 2nd – Best All Around Newspaper
- 2nd – Best Front Page
- Blue Ribbon Award
2012
OCNA Awards
- 1st – General Excellence
- 1st – Best Heritage Story
- 2nd – Best Photo Layout
- 3rd – Best In-House Promotion
- 1st – Best Use of Colour
- 3rd – Surfer’s Selection (Website)
- HM – Best Feature Writing
- HM – Best Humour Columnist
CCNA Awards
- 1st – Best All Around Newspaper
- 1st – Best Editorial Page
- 2nd – Best Front Page
- 2nd – Best Feature Writing
- Blue Ribbon Award
2013
OCNA Awards
- 1st – General Excellence
- 2nd – Best Sports Section
- 3rd – Best Health & Wellness Story
- 3rd – Best Local Retail Layout
CCNA Awards
- 2nd – Best All Around Newspaper
- 1st – Best Front Page
2014
OCNA Awards
- 1st – General Excellence
- 1st – Humour Columnist of the Year (Steve Galea)
- 1st – Use of Process Colour (Jake Stallard)
- 3rd – Feature Writing (Elena Maystruk)
- 3rd – Best Community Newspaper Website
CCNA Awards
- 1st – Best National Editorial – Steve Kannon
- 3rd – Best Editorial Page
- Blue Ribbon Award Winner
2015
OCNA Awards
- 1st – General Excellence
- 1st – Best In-House Promotion (Patrick Merlihan)
- 2nd – Humour Columnist of the Year (Steve Galea)
- 3rd – Best Community Newspaper Website
CCNA Awards
- 3rd – Best Community Newspaper Website
2016
OCNA Awards
- 3rd – Best Editorial (Over 10,000 circ.) – Steve Kannon
- 2nd – Best Feature Writing – Whitney Neilson
- 3rd – Best Sports Section (Observer Staff)
- 3rd – Best Creative Ad (Jake Stallard)
- 2nd – Best Original Ad (Jake Stallard)
- 3rd – Best Community Website
2017
OCNA Awards
- 3rd – Education Writing
- 2nd – Best Sports Section
- 3rd – Best Community Website
- HM – General Excellence (Circ. 12,500-24,999)
CCNA Awards – News Media Canada
- 1st – Best Community Website (12,500 circ & over)
