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The Independent named as one of the best small newspapers in Ontario

February 18, 2022

The Independent has once again been named one of the best small newspapers in Ontario.

It’s the paper’s fourth nomination in the General Excellence category of the Ontario Community Newspaper Awards since it began publishing in 2013. The Independent has been named best newspaper with a circulation of 1,999 or less twice.
The Petrolia based newspaper is nominated in the category alongside its sister paper, The Herald serving Thamesville, Dresden and Bothwell and the Haliburton Echo.
The Independent’s Alex Kurial and Heather Wright also have been recognized for coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.
The Aylmer Express and The Barrie Advance have also been nominated in the category.
Wright is also nominated for Columnist of the Year in the 2021 awards submitting three columns about life and politics.
Columnists from The Cambridge Times (Loraine Centeno) and The Uxbridge Cosmos (Ted Barris) are also in the running for the award.

The Independent is also nominated for the Best Feature Photo for newspapers with circulation 9,999 and less. Wright is in competition with Darren Lum of The Minden Times and Lisa Hagen of The Wilmot Post.

The OCNA will announce the winners of the 2021 awards in a virtual ceremony April 29. It’s the third year the awards gala will be held online because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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