HALDIMAND — The Haldimand Press has won three first place, two second place, and two third place awards at the Ontario Community Newspaper Association’s annual Better Newspaper Competition, which shines a spotlight on notable journalistic efforts in the province.
Haldimand Press reporter and assistant editor Mike Renzella managed to beat his second-place achievement from 2022, being recognized this year with top honours as the Reporter of the Year. The award was won based on his articles:
“Retired Afghanistan vet MCpl Berk ‘Sago’ Sagocak on service, PTSD, and overcoming mental health stigmas in the military,” published November 10, 2022;
“Allegations of improper care launched against All for the Dogs,” published April 27, 2023; and
“Unlicensed cemetery on private land highlights need to protect local history,” published July 27, 2023.
Other work by Renzella topped the podium twice in this year’s BNC awards.
He achieved first place in the Health & Wellness category based on the October 13, 2022 article “All in a day’s work: A look at Haldimand’s innovative Community Paramedic program, featuring Tanner the wellness dog.” This article saw Renzella tag along with one of Haldimand’s canine employees as they visited patients across the county to support health and happiness.
Additionally, his June 1, 2023 article “Cayuga farmer runs successful farm while entertaining millions online” took home first place in the Best Rural Story category. This article featured Cayuga farmer and TikTok celebrity Hayden Fox for his efforts to bring ag awareness to the masses online.
The two second place awards for The Press were for Best Community Website – Circulation Under 9,999 (haldimandpress.com) and the In-House Promotion category, based on our “How It’s Made” special feature detailing the steps of making the newspaper each week.
The final third place awards came for Renzella’s November 17, 2022 piece “Killman Zoo responds to World Animal Protection report on ‘roadside zoos’” in the investigative news category and The Press’ annual Farms Harvest edition for special section.
This year’s BNC ceremony also included the induction of five “extraordinary individuals” to its Hall of Fame. Among those individuals is The Haldimand Press’ publisher emeritus Bob Hall, who passed away in 2018 at the age of 82 after a lifetime working with newspapers.
“Bob Hall was born with ink in his veins and naturally followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather into the newspaper industry. His parents, Gordon and Marion, purchased the Haldimand Advocate in 1931 with Bob coming along in 1937,” reads his OCNA biography. “By 16, he was already maintaining the paper’s linotype machine and, after his father’s death in 1965, took over as the paper’s editor and publisher. Ten years later, he amalgamated the Advocate with The Hagersville Press to form The Haldimand Press, which he owned and led until he retired in 2014.”
Current publishers of The Press, Kaitlyn Clark and Jillian Taylor, are grateful for all of Bob Hall’s work. It is thanks to his tireless dedication and community vision that The Press thrived and grew under his leadership, paving the path for its continued success supporting our community.
See the full history of Bob Hall’s legacy at ocna.org/bob-hall-former-owner-publisher-the-haldimand-press.
The Press thanks all of our subscribers and advertisers. While recognition is great, it means nothing if it’s not in service to our readers, and it would not be possible without your support.
