After weeks of anticipation, Black Press papers cleaned up at the 2017 Ma Murray Awards in Richmond on Sunday.

Hosted by the BCYCNA, the honours celebrate the work of community journalists across the province for advertising, photography, writing in print and online and overall newspaper excellence.

Black Press winners were:

NEWSPAPER EXCELLENCE AWARD Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ CATEGORY A

• Lake Cowichan Gazette, first place
• Haida Gwaii Observer, second place
• Eagle Valley News, third place

NEWSPAPER EXCELLENCE AWARD Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ CATEGORY B

• The Similkameen Spotlight, second place
• North Thompson Times, third place

NEWSPAPER EXCELLENCE AWARD Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ CATEGORY C

• Salmon Arm Observer, second place

NEWSPAPER EXCELLENCE AWARD Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ CATEGORY D

• Oak Bay News, second place

NEWSPAPER EXCELLENCE AWARD Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ CATEGORY E

• Langley Advance, third place

NEWSPAPER EXCELLENCE AWARD Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ CATEGORY F

• The Chilliwack Progress, first place
• Parksville/Qualicum Beach news, second place

NEWSPAPER EXCELLENCE AWARD Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ CATEGORY G

• Peace Arch News, second place

BUSINESS WRITING AWARD

• Nanaimo News Bulletin, third place Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ John McKinley

FEATURE WRITING AWARD

• Surrey Leader, third place over 25,000 Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ Kevin Diakiw, Rick Kupchuk, Sheila Reynolds, Evan Seal and Paula Carlson

SPORTS PHOTO AWARD

• Langley Advance, second place over 25,000 Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ Troy Landreville
• Hope Standard, first place under 25,000 Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ Barry Stewart
• 100 Mile Free House Press, second place under 25,000 Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ Ken Alexander
• Salmon Arm Observer, third place under 25,000 Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ Even Buhler

NEWSPAPER PROMOTION AWARD

• Mission City Record Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ Kevin Plastow

SPECIAL SECTION AWARD

• North Island Gazette, first place under 25,000 Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ Gazette staff
• Langley Times, second place over 25,000 Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ Langley Times staff
• Chilliwack Progress, third place over 25,000 Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ Chilliwack Progress creative, sales and editorial staff

AD DESIGN AWARD

• Saanich News, first place over 25,000 Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ Rod Fraser, Leslie Eaton, Oliver Sommer

AD CAMPAIGN AWARD

• Campbell River Mirror, first place Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ Tammy Robinson
• The Interior News, second place Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ Nick Briere

FEATURE SERIES AWARD

• Surrey Now, first place Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ Amy Reid
• Abbotsford News, third place Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ Vikki Hopes, Kelvin Gawley

JOHN COLLISON MEMORIAL AWARD FOR INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM

• The Northern View, first place Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ Shannon Lough

EDITORIAL AWARD

• Comox Valley Record, first place Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ Terry Farrell
• Parksville/Qualicum Beach News, second place Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ John Harding

PHOTO ESSAY AWARD

• Oak Bay News, first place Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ - Christine van Reeuwyk, Arnold Lim, Don Descoteau, Carlie Connolly

COLUMNIST AWARD

• Abbotsford News, first place Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ Andy Holota

FEATURE PHOTO AWARD, BLACK AND WHITE

• Nanaimo News Bulletin, second place Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ Chris Bush
• Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows News, third place Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ Michael Hall

FEATURE PHOTO AWARD, COLOUR

• Parksville/Qualicum Beach News, first place over 25,000 - Jeff Westnedge
• Oak Bay News, first place under 25,000 - Christine van Reeuwyk
• Salmon Arm Observer, second place under 25,000 - Evan Buhler
• Victoria News, third place over 25,000 Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ Arnold Lim

PORTRAIT PERSONALITY PHOTO AWARD

• Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows News, third place - Phil Melnychuk, Colleen Flanagan

ARTS AND CULTURE WRITING AWARD

• Victoria News, second place Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ Pamela Roth

AD CAMPAIGN AWARD, COLLABORATIVE

• Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News, first place - Maryn Goms, Lisa Prophet, Cheryl Ariken

AD DESIGN AWARD, COLLABORATIVE

• The Chilliwack Progress, second place over 25,000 - Lisa Clarke, Maureen Tempel
• Mission City Record, third place under 25,000 - Kevin Plastow, Karen Murtagh

SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS AWARD

• Peninsula News Review, third place over 25,000 Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ Penny Sakamoto

CLASSIFIEDS AWARD

• Hope Standard Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ Janice McDonald

ONLINE INNOVATION AWARD

• Abbotsford News Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ Cristine MacDonald, Andrew Franklin

• Surrey Now Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ Amy Reid, Beau Simpson

• Alberni Valley News - Susan Quinn

MA MURRAY COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD

• Williams Lake Tribune Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ Gaeil Farrar, Angie Mindus, Kathy McLean

• Comox Valley Record Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ Terry Farrell

• Abbotsford News Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ Andrew Franklin, Andrew Holota, Ben Lypka, Cristine MacDonald

SPORTS WRITING AWARD

• Surrey Now Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ Beau Simpson

NEVILLE SHANKS MEMORIAL AWARD FOR HISTORICAL JOURNALISM

• Comox Valley Echo Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ Judy Hagen

OUTDOOR RECREATION WRITING AWARD

• Campbell River Mirror Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ Mike Davies

SPOT NEWS PHOTO AWARD

• Goldstream News Gazette, first place over 25,000 Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ Joel Tansey
• Vernon Morning Star, second place over 25,000 Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ Lisa Vander Velde
• Langley Times, third place over 25,000 Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ Dan Ferguson

SPOT NEWS PHOTO AWARD

• Ladysmith-Chemainus Chronicle, first place under 25,000 Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ Craig Spence
• Sooke News Mirror Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ Octavian Lacatusu

ERIC DUNNING FOR DEDICATION AND SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

• Nanaimo News Bulletin Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ Maurice Donn

See a few of the winners having some fun at the Ma Murrays: