KIVALLIQ
Kivalliq News put in one of its strongest showings at the Manitoba Community Newspaper Association awards in Winnipeg earlier this month.

Noel Kaludjak of Coral Harbour gives Kivalliq News a big thumbs-up for its performance at the Manitoba Community Newspaper Association awards earlier this month. - photo courtesy of Noel Kaludjak

The Northern News Services Ltd. (NNSL) publication captured the prestigious Best in Class award for a second straight year, and garnered five additional first place awards and three second place finishes.

The paper took top honours for Best Environmental Story, which the judges said gave an interesting Northern perspective and shed light on the political situation concerning polar bears.

Editor Darrell Greer said winning the Better Communities Award was special to him because the story was on the work being done by Coral Harbour's Men Rising Up group.

He said he enjoyed the judge's comments on the story having strong quotes on men overcoming addictions and other problems in their community.

"Noel Kaludjak is one of the leaders of that group and I deeply respect his efforts to improve his own life, and then work so hard to help improve the lives of others," said Greer.

"It takes a lot of courage to confront your problems head-on like that.

"Noel has also been a big contributor to the paper for many years and efforts like his help to keep it a truly regional newspaper.

"It's hard to believe the first time we met we were throwing punches at each other in a hockey tournament in Repulse Bay more than a decade ago."

Kivalliq News also took first place for Best Advertisement, Best Front Page and Best Layout and Design.

It took second place for Best News Story on its coverage of grave desecrations in Baker Lake, Best Local Editorial on a Business Topic and Best Photo Essay.

Greer said he was a little overwhelmed by the paper's success this year and the awards highlighted the solid support he received from NNSL's head office during the year.

"I'm especially appreciative of the job done by our photo and production departments this past year.

"But, I've said it before and I'll say it again, the true strength of the newspaper is the great people in every community across the region.

"This is my 13th year at the helm of Kivalliq News, and I want to continue doing my part to produce a newspaper our region can, hopefully, take pride in."

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