The Canadian Christian Communicators Association annual awards event took place May 15, and the NB Anglican won three 3rd place, two second place, one 1st place and one honorable mention.
The most important category of the awards is General Excellence, which measures the entirety of the paper: its stories, photography, use of colour and fonts, layout and so on. The NB Anglican placed first once again in this category, judging it the best Christian newspaper in Canada.
The NB Anglican has placed first in this category in 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024 and now 2026. It placed second in 2025.
Here are the award-winning entries, along with judge’s comments.
3rd Place: News Story - "Alongside Hope’s diocesan rep hospitalized in Kenya” by Gisele McKnight
Judge’s comments: The writer has told a harrowing tale that covers the details of what occurred when one member of a delegation to Kenya endured illness and the loss of a parent while far from home.
The narrative pace of this unfolding story is very capably handled as the reader becomes eager to know how Ms. Edwards is going to recover from her personal ordeal. The writing capably shifts gears from narrative to exposition to description, and eventually reflection.
One anticipated a story about the good works of Alongside Hope in Kenya. We got a lot more — and the writer made it interesting and relevant, too.
2nd Place: Column - "Along the Way" by Canon Shawn Branch
Three columns were entered from last fall, when Shawn first launched his new column.
Judge’s comments:
The Ministry of Small Things: does a good job of linking our small acts to Biblical witness (Zechariah 4:10, the mustard seed parable). Small acts are vital to good ministry as much as “big acts.”
Showing Up: Relatable scenarios build empathy, culminating in a “she didn’t flinch” anecdote for a memorable impact. The Romans quote anchors the call to imperfect presence, mirroring Jesus’ compassion without judgement.
Interruptible: The timing of this article is good (right during Advent), framing the Incarnation as a “holy interruption.” Practical applications balance theology with action.
Canon Branch’s exegetical work and pastoral relevance shines throughout these three articles. In these articles, he makes pastoral invitations for ordinary believers to do extraordinary things.
3rd Place: Photo Essay - "Family Camp" at Camp Medley by Gisele McKnight
Judge’s comments: The face painting picture is a great one, capturing the smile on the painter’s face and the focus on the face of the girl being painted. Its placement top left welcomes the viewer into the story, even if the action is looking off the page. It is the strongest image so it makes sense to place it as you have.
The photo essay shows lots of action of camp, which is great to see. The text does a good job of filling in the blanks for the viewer, welcoming them into the breadth of camp life.
2nd Place: Front Page - "Summer Fun" by Gisele McKnight. The entry included a VBS photo taken in the Parish of St. Andrews.
Judge’s comments: This bright, community-focused, image-driven front page does an excellent job highlighting local parish life. It is welcoming and very accessible.
The major strength is the excellent human-centered photo of children at VBS. It is lively, and captures action (bubbles, play, movement).
It has strong community focus. VBS is highly relevant to families and parishes. It is easy to understand and relatable.
The page offers a clear caption with context. It explains what’s happening, includes activities (tie-dye, games, learning) and directs readers to page 7.
There is credibility and recognition in showing “Judged Canada’s Best Christian Newspaper…” It sends a signal of trust and reinforces authority and quality.
3rd Place: Feature Layout & Design (Newspaper) - "Advent Activities" by Gisele McKnight - annual Advent calendar
Judge’s comments: This is a warm, inviting page that suits both the season and the audience. The soft palette and subtle seasonal graphics set an appropriate tone without overwhelming the content.
The modular approach works well. Breaking the activities into individual boxes makes the piece easy to scan and encourages readers to engage at their own pace. It feels accessible and practical, which fits the intent.
Typography is clean and readable, and the headline carries a nice sense of occasion. A thoughtful, accessible piece that connects well with its audience.
Honorable Mention: A.C. Forrest Memorial Award - "Kids Lead at Stone," by Gisele McKnight. This category recognizes excellence in socially conscious religious journalism that focuses on current news events or trends that raise religious ethical questions.
Judge’s comments: This article has all the essential ingredients of a classic Jesus parable.
What happened at Stone Church in Saint John, New Brunswick can be a model for any faith community.
We need to publish more articles about what young people are doing in churches, schools, and other groups to improve the lives of others; certainly children learn by doing and in turn they can also teach adults to do likewise
1st Place: General Excellence (Newspaper), measures overall quality of the publication and appropriateness to its audience, including variety and quality of editorial content, design, photography, graphics and typography.
Judge’s comments: Good eye for design – the editor recognizes the value of a good pic, using great art to dominate the front page in all three editions submitted for judging. Never underestimate the value of a compelling pic to stop a scanning reader and entice them to read the “grey stuff” surrounding the art.
Graphics and layout look good. Clean and airy design. Easy to read – a crucial feature in today’s fast-paced, screen-oriented world.
A great publication that gives readers an enjoyable insight into Anglican events throughout New Brunswick. Well-done!
Photo captions:
1. This front page placed second. It featured a boy attending VBS in the Parish of St. Andrews last summer, having a fun time with bubbles.
2. This news story, of Debbie Edwards' harrowing journey of illness and loss in Kenya last year, won third place in the best news story category.
3. One of three columns by Canon Shawn Branch that were entered in the best column category. Shawn placed second in the country.
4. One of three editions of the NB Anglican that were judged to be the best Christian newspaper in Canada.
Congratulations!!!!👏🤩 Really teamwork! 💚