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B10 - The Canadian Champion, Friday, April 27, 2007 Champion receives top honour at awards gala \Veïe Ne o.I loyal ( hioliptit i tcaters whîî tepeoti on the l)dpci te hrtng inii tht' iatest tri cern1 mnntri ews anti sports cti h confident îhvegetiuîng a quahîsy piedot. lle Chaioîtpîn toit top heneurs Marc h 31 ai anl industry etimpetîtion, heatitîg out 20 ether newspapcî s frein across Ontarie te place No. 1 in generai excellence. Awartis for the 2006 Better Newspapers Cemnpetitien, heid hy the Ontario Community Newspapers Association (OCNA), were presenit- ed in Niagara Falls. Wýe're extremely proud cf the recognition the Champion has KrnMcl received, especially con- n icl sidering the trying times it has had over the past month or two, ' said Puhlisher Neil Oliver, referring to the fire that forced staff to .e-locate to the Holiday Inn Express and the office cf the Oakville Beaver, the Champions sister newspaper, until a temporary location could be secured. The Champion was op against newspa- pers from Clarington and Barrhaven for the General Excellence award in ils circulation class of 12,500 to 24,999. The judges said they based their decision on several factors, including front-page lay- out, community news, editorial comment, Mohsen Taghavî (left) of Salam Toronto presents Graham Painie wîth hîs Photographer of the Year award. photography and advertising content. "Being selected as the top provincial "(It was) easily tops among the 21 entries newspaper in our circulation class is a reflec- thanks to a dlean front page, excellent pho- tion cf the hard work cf a great team cf peo- tography from veteran shcoter Graham pIe," said Editcr in Chiefjill Davis. Paine, strong writing from the reporters and "Withoot each other we couldn't do it. a flow te, the community coverage thanks to From advertising to editorial to photography the editors," said one of the judges. to circulation to production, it takes a dedi- cateci group ci talented indivicleals te pio- duce the Chamîîpion. T his particîtiar awartl shines a light on A ci the departnîiuts and 1 ain prend ti hc a pari cf tis cluise lkiti newspaper famiilyý" Chamnpiont Managtng Edîter Karîen Mîcei acceîuted the award ai ihe Niagarat Falls gala. "'m really proud of ail the stafi," she saîd after the wvin. Also recognîzed with an impressive dis- tinction was Championî phoîtographer Graham Paine, who was once agaîn named Photographer ci the Year. Oliver saîd Faines involvement in the communîty is rellected mn his photos. "We're extremely prcud cf Graham," he said. Judge Larry Wcng said Paines photos stood out from the other entries. ,,This versatile photographer demon- strates he has a good eye and Understands the importance cf gcod composition," he said. Paine is fair frcm heing a stranger to this award, with this heing the third lime hes taken the honoUr. He also placed third this year for Best Sports Photo. The Oaltville Beaver placed first for General Excellence in the over 40,000 circu- lation class. The Burlington Post was third. The wins cf the Champion, the Burlingîiin Post and the Oakville Beaver contrihutcd toward the impressive overaîl success of the Metroland West groop at this years OCNA competition, Oliver said. ,a