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 ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ CATEGORY A

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

NEWSPAPER EXCELLENCE AWARD ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ CATEGORY B

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

NEWSPAPER EXCELLENCE AWARD ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ CATEGORY C

• Salmon Arm Observer, second place

NEWSPAPER EXCELLENCE AWARD ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ CATEGORY D

• Oak Bay News, second place

NEWSPAPER EXCELLENCE AWARD ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ CATEGORY E

• Langley Advance, third place

NEWSPAPER EXCELLENCE AWARD ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ CATEGORY F

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

NEWSPAPER EXCELLENCE AWARD ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ CATEGORY G

• Peace Arch News, second place

BUSINESS WRITING AWARD

• Nanaimo News Bulletin, third place ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ John McKinley

FEATURE WRITING AWARD

• Surrey Leader, third place over 25,000 ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ Kevin Diakiw, Rick Kupchuk, Sheila Reynolds, Evan Seal and Paula Carlson

SPORTS PHOTO AWARD

• Langley Advance, second place over 25,000 ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ Troy Landreville
• Hope Standard, first place under 25,000 ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ Barry Stewart
• 100 Mile Free House Press, second place under 25,000 ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ Ken Alexander
• Salmon Arm Observer, third place under 25,000 ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ Even Buhler

NEWSPAPER PROMOTION AWARD

• Mission City Record ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ Kevin Plastow

SPECIAL SECTION AWARD

• North Island Gazette, first place under 25,000 ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ Gazette staff
• Langley Times, second place over 25,000 ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ Langley Times staff
• Chilliwack Progress, third place over 25,000 ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ Chilliwack Progress creative, sales and editorial staff

AD DESIGN AWARD

• Saanich News, first place over 25,000 ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ Rod Fraser, Leslie Eaton, Oliver Sommer

AD CAMPAIGN AWARD

• Campbell River Mirror, first place ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ Tammy Robinson
• The Interior News, second place ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ Nick Briere

FEATURE SERIES AWARD

• Surrey Now, first place ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ Amy Reid
• Abbotsford News, third place ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ Vikki Hopes, Kelvin Gawley

JOHN COLLISON MEMORIAL AWARD FOR INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM

• The Northern View, first place ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ Shannon Lough

EDITORIAL AWARD

• Comox Valley Record, first place ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ Terry Farrell
• Parksville/Qualicum Beach News, second place ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ John Harding

PHOTO ESSAY AWARD

• Oak Bay News, first place ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ - Christine van Reeuwyk, Arnold Lim, Don Descoteau, Carlie Connolly

COLUMNIST AWARD

• Abbotsford News, first place ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ Andy Holota

FEATURE PHOTO AWARD, BLACK AND WHITE

• Nanaimo News Bulletin, second place ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ Chris Bush
• Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows News, third place ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ 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 ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ 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 ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ 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 ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ Penny Sakamoto

CLASSIFIEDS AWARD

• Hope Standard ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ Janice McDonald

ONLINE INNOVATION AWARD

• Abbotsford News ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ Cristine MacDonald, Andrew Franklin

• Surrey Now ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ Amy Reid, Beau Simpson

• Alberni Valley News - Susan Quinn

MA MURRAY COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD

• Williams Lake Tribune ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ Gaeil Farrar, Angie Mindus, Kathy McLean

• Comox Valley Record ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ Terry Farrell

• Abbotsford News ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ Andrew Franklin, Andrew Holota, Ben Lypka, Cristine MacDonald

SPORTS WRITING AWARD

• Surrey Now ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ Beau Simpson

NEVILLE SHANKS MEMORIAL AWARD FOR HISTORICAL JOURNALISM

• Comox Valley Echo ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ Judy Hagen

OUTDOOR RECREATION WRITING AWARD

• Campbell River Mirror ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ Mike Davies

SPOT NEWS PHOTO AWARD

• Goldstream News Gazette, first place over 25,000 ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ Joel Tansey
• Vernon Morning Star, second place over 25,000 ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ Lisa Vander Velde
• Langley Times, third place over 25,000 ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ Dan Ferguson

SPOT NEWS PHOTO AWARD

• Ladysmith-Chemainus Chronicle, first place under 25,000 ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ Craig Spence
• Sooke News Mirror ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ Octavian Lacatusu

ERIC DUNNING FOR DEDICATION AND SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

• Nanaimo News Bulletin ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ Maurice Donn

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