MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, June 22, 2026
ATLANTIC JOURNALISM AWARDS CELEBRATES 2026 WINNERS AND EXCELLENCE IN ATLANTIC CANADIAN JOURNALIS
HALIFAX, NS – The Atlantic Journalism Awards (AJAs) proudly congratulates all recipients recognized at the 2026 Atlantic Journalism Awards Gala, held Saturday, June 20 at the Halifax
Central Library in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
The AJAs celebrate excellence in journalism across Atlantic Canada, recognizing the stories, investigations, visuals, audio, and reporting that informed communities, sparked conversations, and demonstrated the power of journalism over the past year.
This year’s awards brought together journalists, editors, students, freelancers, and media organizations from across the region to recognize outstanding work produced in 2025.
The Atlantic Journalism Awards Board extends sincere congratulations to all finalists and winners. The calibre of submissions this year reflected the strength, creativity, and dedication of Atlantic Canadian journalism and highlighted the essential role journalists continue to play in our communities.
A special congratulations is extended to Stephen Kimber, who was inducted into the Atlantic Journalism Awards Hall of Fame in recognition of his outstanding contributions to journalism and storytelling throughout his distinguished career.
The AJAs also proudly presented the Mike Critch Excellence in Crime Reporting Award, created by Mark Critch in honour of his late father and celebrating exceptional local crime reporting.
In addition, the AJAs awarded three student journalism scholarships, recognizing emerging talent and supporting the next generation of journalists across Atlantic Canada.
2026 Atlantic Journalism Awards Winners:
PRINT/DIGITAL
Breaking News
Gold – Nicole Sullivan – Cape Breton Post, NS, ‘I felt sick’; Cape Breton police investigating swastikas across from Jewish cemetery
Silver – Tara Bradbury – The Telegram, NL, Gander man arrested after DNA cracks Toronto cold case
Bronze – James Reid – allNewfoundlandLabrador, NL, Auditor General Uncovers Wasted Funds On Travel Nursing Agencies
Enterprise Reporting
Gold – Derek Montague and Justin Brake – The Independent, NL, Labrador gynecologist accused of malpractice
Silver – Lindsay Jones and Greg Mercer – Globe and Mail, NS, Jack and Lilly Sullivan
Bronze – Josh Lewis – Eastern Graphic, PEI, Health PEI Series
Features
Gold – Lindsay Jones – Globe and Mail, NS, MSC Baltic III
Silver – Aaron Beswick – The Chronicle Herald, NS, ‘He was a legend, one of the best’: North Atlantic claims two N.S. fishermen
Bronze – Spoorthy Raman – Mongabay, NL, Newfoundland’s puffins are perilously
attracted to artificial light
Photojournalism Feature
Gold – Greg Locke – Globe and Mail, NL, Ice bath therapy on Signal Hill, Newfoundland
Silver – Jeorge Sadi – CBC Nova Scotia, NS, Long-standing Africville activist says he will fight latest eviction notice
Bronze – Kevin McBain – South Shore Bulletin, NS, AAA Atlantic championships
Photojournalism News
Gold – Keith Gosse – The Telegram, NL, Senior Saviours
Silver – Greg Locke – Globe and Mail, NL, Newfoundland Wildfires
Bronze – Keith Gosse – The Telegram, NL, Tactical Takedown
Magazine Covers
Gold – Dru Kennedy – Atlantic Salmon Journal, NB, Atlantic Salmon Journal’s Winter Cover
Silver – Glen Strickey and Roxanna Boers – Saltscapes Magazine, NS, Chasing the aurora borealis
Bronze – Heather Fegan and Gwen North – Atlantic Books Today, NS, Natalie MacMaster Has a Story to Tell
AUDIO
Documentary Program
Gold – Mariam Mesbah and Lindsay Bird – CBC Atlantic Voice, NB, The Graduate
Silver – Lindsay Bird and Caroline Hillier – CBC Atlantic Voice, NL, Looking for Eliza
Enterprise Reporting
Gold – Tom Ayers – CBC Nova Scotia, NS, Lack of trust in the public trustee?
Silver – VOCM News; Linda Swain and Sara Strickland – VOCM, NL, On the Ground of the CBN Wildfires
Feature
Gold – Sarah Keaveny Vos – CBC Prince Edward Island, PEI, Kindergarten to Grade 12 – Lessons in Life
Silver – Lindsay Bird and Sarah Keaveny Vos – CBC Atlantic Voice, NL, The Art of Life
Bronze – Viola Pruss – CBC New Brunswick, NB, Covered Bridges
Information Program
Gold – Christina Harnett, Erin MacInnis, Portia Clark, Katy Parsons, Jerry West, Cynthia Gatti and Phlis McGregor – CBC Nova Scotia, NS, Information Morning Nova Scotia with Portia Clark
Silver – 95.7 NewsRadio Team Halifax; Vanessa van des Nes, Dan Ahlstrand, Mark Hodgins, Chris Halef, Blake Priddle and Shelli Summers – 95.7 NewsRadio, NS, 95.7
NewsRadio 20th Anniversary Special
Newscast (radio)
Gold – Tara Clow – Acadia Broadcasting – Moncton CKNI The Bend, NB, New Brunswick Wildfires
Silver – 95.7 NewsRadio Team Halifax; Mark Hodgins, Chris Halef and Dan Ahlstrand – 95.7 NewsRadio, NS, Susie’s Lake Wildfire Aug 12th, 2025 4 pm Newscast
Bronze – Caitlin Snow – Acadia Broadcasting – CKHY / CKHZ Halifax, NS, Nova Scotia Wildfires
Podcast
Gold – Matt Stickland – Grand Parade, NS, Grand Parade Goes to Quebec
Newscast (television)
Gold – Vincent Lehouillier – Radio-Canada, NB, Téléjournal Acadie
Silver – Tracy Lightfoot – CBC Prince Edward Island, PEI, CBC News: Compass, Premier Resigns
Silver – David Squires, Amy Smith, Tom Murphy and Ryan Snoddon – CBC Nova
Scotia, NS, A tribute show to Colleen Jones
Feature
Gold – Bailey Howard – NTV News, NL, Ahead by a Century: 100 Years of MemorialUniversity
Silver – Jocelyn Elsdon and Michael Heenan – CBC News, NB, Swamp Water
Bronze – Jodi Cooke – NTV News, NL, We the North
VIDEO
Breaking News
Gold – Marykate O’Neill – NTV News, NL, Concern for Trepassey’s Breakwater as Powerful Storm Batters Province
Silver – Reeti Meenakshi Rohilla – Global New Brunswick, NB, Man Charged with First-Degree Murder, Saint John, N.B.
Bronze – Becky Daley – NTV News, NL, Badger Fire Evacuation Lifted
Enterprise Reporting
Gold – Ella MacDonald – Global Halifax, NS, Unheard. Unserved; Maritime Women’s Health in Crisis
Silver – Allyson Dubé and Yves Levesque – Radio-Canada, NB, Mauvais climat de travail à la prison de Saint-Hilaire
Bronze – Ben Cleary – NTV News, NL, Power to the People: The Upper Churchill Contract
ANY MEDIUM
Arts & Entertainment Reporting and Writing
Gold – Wendy Bergfeldt – CBC Nova Scotia, NS, Miner’s Houses, Glace Bay
Silver – Rhea Rollmann – The Independent, NL, What the water holds
Bronze – Kevin Yarr – Saltscapes Magazine, NS, Music is the language of hope
Climate Action Reporting and Writing
Gold – Cloe Logan – Canada’s National Observer, ON, Planned New Brunswick gas plant could threaten vital migratory bird corridor
Silver – Brian Owens – Atlantic Salmon Journal, NB, Fish Can’t Walk
Bronze – Jeremy Hull – Saltscapes Magazine, NS, Castles made of sand
Business Reporting and Writing
Gold – Brian McLaughlin – The Telegraph-Journal, NB, Is Time of Day Pricing The Next Frontier for NB Power?
Silver – Alex Bill – allNewfoundlandLabrador, NL, Puddister Sells Pennecon To Ontario Industrial Firm
Bronze – James Reid – allNewfoundlandLabrador, NL, CoLab Drums Up US$72 million For AI Growth
Civic Affairs Reporting and Writing
Gold – Haley Ryan – CBC Nova Scotia, NS, Tenants of Halifax mobile home park set water meter precedent across Nova Scotia
Silver – Carole Morris-Underhill – Valley Journal-Advertiser, NS, ‘A disaster waiting to happen’: No winter warming centre planned for Windsor
Bronze – Logan MacLean – The Guardian, PEI, PEI water woes
Commentary
Gold – Paul MacNeill – Eastern Graphic, PEI, Emails Show What’s Wrong with PSB
Silver – Ainsley Hawthorn – CBC Newfoundland and Labrador, NL, This isn’t the first time American leaders have suggested annexing Canada
Bronze – Bill McGuire – Island Farmer, PEI, Griffon Editorial: Tariffs, lemmings, curling & censorship; AVC’s decision betrays PEI’s core values
Indigenous Affairs Reporting and Writing
Gold – Cassidy Chisholm – CBC Nova Scotia, NS, How adding names to archival images has been healing We’koqma’q First Nation
Silver – Heidi Atter – The Independent, NL, Innu welcome first students into Innuaimun immersion Kindergarten
Bronze – John Chilibeck – Brunswick News, NB, Show of work
Video Journalism
Gold – Colleen Connors – CBC Newfoundland and Labrador, NL, Show of work
Silver – Becky Daley – NTV News, NL, Recovery work continues on grounded MSC Baltic III
Bronze – Skye Bryden-Blom – Global Halifax, NS, Show of work
Legal Affairs Reporting and Writing
Gold – Tim Bousquet – Halifax Examiner, NS, The Wrongful Conviction and Execution
of Daniel Sampson
Silver – Gareth Hampshire – CBC Nova Scotia, NS, N.S. abuse victims reveal lifelong
trauma from father’s sexual violence
Bronze – Lindsay Jones and Tu Thanh Ha – The Globe and Mail, NS, Atlantic Registry
Social Justice Reporting and Writing
Gold – Cameron Kilfoy – The Telegram, NL, ‘I am a Newfoundlander’: MUN residency policy stands in the way of a young woman’s hope to become a physician
Silver – Celina Aalders – CBC Nova Scotia, NS, Intimate Partner Violence: show of work
Bronze – Judith Mendiolea Lelo de Larrea – PNI Atlantic News, NS, Unfair cost and burden: how the pink tax puts women at a disadvantage
Sports Reporting and Writing
Gold – Terry Roberts and Darryl Murphy – CBC Newfoundland and Labrador, NL, Here’s how a ‘ragtag’ Placentia team captured N.L.’s first Canadian junior softball title
Silver – Madiha Mughees – Halifax Examiner, NS, ‘Cricket is where you’re able to
assert a cultural identity’: Going to bat for a rapidly growing sport in Halifax
SPECIAL AWARDS
AJA Hall of Fame Award
Stephen Kimber – Freelance Journalist and Author, NS
Jim MacNeill New Journalist Award
Gold – Giuliana Grillo De Lambarri – CBC Nova Scotia, NS, Show of work
Silver – Yumna Iftikhar – The Independent, NL, Show of work
Bronze – Shauna Bernard – The Telegram, NL, Show of work
Student Journalist Awards
Gold – Melissa Mbeba – NSCC Ivany Campus, NS, Mothering Within
Silver – Marlo Ritchie – University of King’s College, NS, Remand numbers in Nova Scotia’s jails could soar under new law, warn experts
Silver – Olivia Nitti and Tedi Buffett – University of King’s College, NS, Finding sanctuary
The Mike Critch Excellence in Crime Reporting Award
Gold – Ryan Cooke and Katie Breen – CBC Newfoundland and Labrador, NL, Pure Hell
Silver – Ella MacDonald – Global Halifax, NS, The Murder of Devon Marsman
Bronze – Tara Bradbury – The Telegram, NL, A Conversation That Never Came
Contact:
www.atlanticjournalismawards.ca
morgen@impacteventsns.ca