The #1 community newspaper in Ontario.
The Observer is one serious little newspaper with a big heart for serving our communities. For the past two decades, The Observer staff have been racking up industry awards that recognize excellence in every facet of newspaper production. The awards competitions span both Canadian and Ontario newspapers — The Observer delivers the hardware year after year.
Every week The Observer offers a complete picture of what’s happening here. You won’t find that anywhere else.
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OCNA Awards
- 1st – General Excellence (Circ 12,500-24,999)
- 1st – Best Editorial (Steve Kannon)
- 2nd – Best Humour Columnist (Steve Galea)
- 3rd – Cartoonist of the year (Scott Arnold)
- 2nd – Best Front Page
- 3rd – In-House Promotion
- 3rd – Local Retail Layout
- 1st – Best Community Website
OCNA Awards
- 1st – General Excellence (Circ 12,500-24,999)
- 1st – Best Sports Section
- 1st – Best Community Website
- HM – Best Rural Story (Faisal Ali)
- 2nd – Best Humour Columnist (Steve Galea)
OCNA Awards
- 2nd – Best Business and Finance Story
- 3rd – Best Community Website (Over 10,000 circ & over)
CCNA Awards – News Media Canada
- 1st – Best Community Website (12,500 circ & over)
- 2nd – Best Sports Section (12,500 circ & over)
OCNA Awards
- 3rd – Education Writing
- 2nd – Best Sports Section
- 3rd – Best Community Website
- HM – General Excellence (Circ 12,500-24,999)
CCNA Awards – News Media Canada
- 1st – Best Community Website (12,500 circ & over)
OCNA Awards
- 3rd – Best Editorial (Over 10,000 circ.) – Steve Kannon
- 2nd – Best Feature Writing – Whitney Neilson
- 3rd – Best Sports Section (Observer Staff)
- 3rd – Best Creative Ad (Jake Stallard)
- 2nd – Best Original Ad (Jake Stallard)
- 3rd – Best Community Website
OCNA Awards
- 1st – General Excellence
- 1st – Best In-House Promotion (Patrick Merlihan)
- 2nd – Humour Columnist of the Year (Steve Galea)
- 3rd – Best Community Newspaper Website
CCNA Awards – News Media Canada
- 3rd – Best Community Newspaper Website
OCNA Awards
- 1st – General Excellence
- 1st – Humour Columnist of the Year (Steve Galea)
- 1st – Use of Process Colour (Jake Stallard)
- 3rd – Feature Writing (Elena Maystruk)
- 3rd – Best Community Newspaper Website
CCNA Awards – News Media Canada
- 1st – Best National Editorial – Steve Kannon
- 3rd – Best Editorial Page
- Blue Ribbon Award Winner
OCNA Awards
- 1st – General Excellence
- 2nd – Best Sports Section
- 3rd – Best Health & Wellness Story
- 3rd – Best Local Retail Layout
CCNA Awards – News Media Canada
- 2nd – Best All Around Newspaper
- 1st – Best Front Page
OCNA Awards
- 1st – General Excellence
- 1st – Best Heritage Story
- 2nd – Best Photo Layout
- 3rd – Best In-House Promotion
- 1st – Best Use of Colour
- 3rd – Surfer’s Selection (Website)
- HM – Best Feature Writing
- HM – Best Humour Columnist
CCNA Awards – News Media Canada
- 1st – Best All Around Newspaper
- 1st – Best Editorial Page
- 2nd – Best Front Page
- 2nd – Best Feature Writing
- Blue Ribbon Award Winner
OCNA Awards
- 1st – General Excellence
- 3rd – Best Sports Section
- 2nd – Surfer’s Selection (Website)
CCNA Awards – News Media Canada
- 2nd – Best All Around Newspaper
- 2nd – Best Front Page
- Blue Ribbon Award
OCNA Awards
- 2nd – General Excellence
- 2nd – Best Editorial
- 2nd – Sports & Recreation Story
- 2nd – Spot News Photo
- 3rd – Best Front Page
- 1st – Use of Process Colour
- 3rd – Best Community Website
- 3rd – Surfer’s Selection (Website)
- 1st – Humour Columnist – Steve Galea
CCNA Awards – News Media Canada
- 2nd – General Excellence
- 1st – Environmental Writing
Blue Ribbon Award
COPA (Canadian Online Publishing Awards) Best Overall Website Finalist – Mathew French
OCNA Awards
- 2nd – General Excellence
- 2nd – Best Rural Story
- 2nd – Columnist of the Year
- 1st & 3rd – Humour Columnist of the Year – Steve Galea
- 1st – Best Community Website
- 2nd – Surfer’s Selection (Website)
CCNA Awards – News Media Canada
- 2nd – Best All-Around Newspaper
- Blue Ribbon Award
OCNA Awards
- 1st – Health & Wellness Writing
- 1st – Humour Columnist – Steve Galea
- 2nd – Feature Writing
- 2nd – Surfer’s Selection (Website)
- 2nd – Photo Illustration
CCNA Awards – News Media Canada
- 1st – Best Community Website
OCNA Awards
- 3rd – General Excellence Award
- 2nd – Education Writing
- 2nd – Best Creative Advertising
- 1st – Humour Columnist – Steve Galea
- HM – Feature Writing
CCNA Awards – News Media Canada
- 1st – Best In-House Ad Campaign
- 3rd – Best Web Site Design
- RNAO Award (Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario) – 1st – Best In Depth Feature – Vanessa Moss
OCNA Awards
- 3rd – Business & Finance Story
- 1st – Education Writing
- 2nd – Feature Writing
- 3rd – Best Rural Story
- 3rd – Best Columnist – Owen Roberts
- 1st – In House Promotion
OCNA Awards
- 1st – Local Retail Layout
- 3rd – Technically Enhanced Photo
- 1st – Columnist of the Year – Steve Galea
- 3rd – Best Spot News Photo
- 3rd – Humour Columnist of the Year – Steve Galea
- HM – Original Ad Idea – Where’s Elmer – Scott Arnold
CCNA Awards
- 1st – Best Historical Writing
- Best Idea – Publisher’s Award
OCNA Awards
- 1st – General Excellence Award
- 3rd – Best Use of Process Colour
- 3rd – Best Agricultural Writing
CCNA Awards
- Blue Ribbon Winner
OCNA Awards
- 1st – General Excellence Award
- 1st – Best Use of Ad Service
CCNA Awards
- 2nd – Best Ad Design
- Blue Ribbon Winner
OCNA Awards
- 4th – General Excellence Award
- 2nd – Best Agriculture Story
- 3rd – Best Columnist
- 3rd – Best Creative Artwork
- HM – Best Technically Enhanced Photo
CCNA Awards
- 1st – Best Ad Design
OCNA Awards
- 4th – General Excellence Award
- 1st – Best Local Retail Layout
- 1st – Best Vertical Product
- 2nd – Best Process Colour
- 1st – Best Ad Design
OCNA Awards
- 1st – Best Feature Writing
- 2nd – Best Original Ad Idea
- 2nd – Best Education Writing
Woolwich Chamber of Commerce Award
Entrepreneurs of the Year
The Observer has accumulated 135 Industry Awards since inception. More awards than every weekly in Waterloo Region
