Archdiocese of Vancouver and The B.C. Catholic win 22 Catholic Media Association awards

The Archdiocese of Vancouver has received 22 awards from the Catholic Media Association, recognizing the work of The B.C. Catholic and the communications team’s excellence in print, digital media, photography, social media, video, and fundraising communications.

The B.C. Catholic earned top honours, receiving multiple first-place finishes and recognition across reporting, photography, and editorial work. 

The B.C. Catholic placed second for best diocesan newspaper, and Judges praised the paper’s strong reporting, clear writing, and engaging presentation, noting its ability to make complex topics accessible to readers. 

“The B.C. Catholic serves its audience very well,” wrote the judges. “Where others lean more heavily on wire copy, this staff produces an array of relevant new and interesting features that resonate with its readers.” Judges also singled out the quality of the paper’s writing and photography. 

The paper won awards for its Lunar New Year's supplement and Christmas edition. 

Among the individual recipients, The B.C. Catholic’s Terry O’Neill won first place for the Gerard E. Sherry Award for Best Analysis/Background/Round-Up News Writing for his coverage of Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada, and first place for Best In-Depth News/Special Reporting — Diocesan Weekly.

O’Neill also earned second place and third place in Best Investigative News Writing for his reporting on the financial incentives behind euthanasia and the broader MAiD system in Canada.

O’Neill was praised for his “well-investigated” and “well sourced” reporting. Judges were impressed, noting his tremendous understanding of the proliferation of euthanasia in Canada and British Columbia. 

O’Neill also earned an award for the work he did through the Canadian Catholic News service, reporting on St. Paul’s Hospital.

Paul Schratz received third place for editorial writing on a local issue for his piece, ‘Silent Night at City Hall’.

In the photography categories, The B.C. Catholic’s Nicholas Elbers won first place for his photo package documenting the annual Our Lady of Fatima Grotto pilgrimage in Mission and second place for a combined story and photo feature on St. John Brebeuf Regional Secondary School’s woodworking program.

Elbers also received two honourable mentions: one for a portrait of Sacred Heart Parish pastor Father Ray Smith and another for a photograph of a young altar server in training during a Catechesis of the Good Shepherd event.

The Archdiocese of Vancouver’s communications team was also recognized with eight awards. The team received first place for the Vancouver Archbishop social media account, which documented the transition from Archbishop J. Michael Miller to Archbishop Richard Smith, as well as first place for its coverage of the Jubilee Year.

The communications office also received second place for the main Archdiocesan social media account, along with several third-place finishes in digital communications, video, and fundraising categories.

Judges praised the social media accounts for their “beautiful design” and integration of “high quality images.”

“The archdiocese demonstrates a strong and deliberate approach to honoring the saints through social media,” wrote the judges. “Each design feels unique, with thoughtful use of color and visual elements that avoid a one-size-fits-all appearance.”

“The strategy behind content distribution is equally effective,” they added, “favoring a smaller number of impactful posts that encourage sustained audience connection over time.”

Judges also highlighted the archdiocese’s inclusion of content from partner organizations as an effective way of fostering community engagement.

Here is the complete list of Catholic Media awards.

The B.C. Catholic: 

GN111a: Best Newspaper — Diocesan Weekly
Second Place:
The B.C. Catholic — Archdiocese of Vancouver
Paul Schratz, Nicholas Elbers and Inca Siojo-Das

N347: Best Special Supplement or Special Issue with Advertising Emphasis
Third Place:
Lunar New Year Supplement — The B.C. Catholic
Raymond Loretan, Advertising; Kelly Hady, Design; Paul Schratz, Editor

N510: Hot Topic — The Jubilee Year
Honorable Mention:
Year of Hope — The B.C. Catholic
Kelly Hady, Layout and Design; Nicholas Elbers, Reporter and Photographer; Paul Schratz, Editor

N521e: Best Coverage — Disaster or Crises
Honorable Mention:
Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) — The B.C. Catholic
Terry O'Neill, Writer; Paul Schratz, Editor

N531: Best Editorial on a Local Issue
Third Place:
Silent Night at City Hall — The B.C. Catholic
Paul Schratz

N561a: Best In-Depth News/Special Reporting — Diocesan Weekly
First Place:
MAiD in Canada — The B.C. Catholic
Terry O'Neill

N563a: Best Investigative News Writing — Diocesan Weekly
Second Place:
Big Money for B.C.'s Euthanasia Doctors — The B.C. Catholic
Terry O'Neill

N563a: Best Investigative News Writing — Diocesan Weekly
Third Place:
Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada — The B.C. Catholic
Terry O'Neill

N564a: Best Analysis/Background/Round-Up News Writing — The Gerard E. Sherry Award — Diocesan Weekly
First Place:
Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada — The B.C. Catholic
Terry O'Neill

N587a: Best Seasonal Issue — Print
Third Place:
Christmas 2025 — The B.C. Catholic
Paul Schratz, Editor; Inca Siojo-Das, Designer; Nicholas Elbers, Reporter and Photographer

N811b: Best Multiple Picture Package — News
First Place:
Our Lady of Fatima Grotto Pilgrimage, Mission, British Columbia — The B.C. Catholic Newspaper
Nicholas Elbers

N831a: Best Story and Photo Package — By an Individual
Second Place:
St. John Brebeuf Secondary — New Woodworking Program — The B.C. Catholic Newspaper
Nicholas Elbers

Archdioces of Vancouver Communications Department:

C301a: Best Diocesan Fundraising Appeal – Produced by a Communications Department Staff – Print
Honorable Mention:
Hope Thrives Here — Project Advance 2025
Archdiocese of Vancouver
Matthew Furtado, Rachel Wong, Kelly Hady and Claudine Bananal

C301b: Best Diocesan Fundraising Appeal – Produced by a Communications Department Staff – Digital
Third Place:
Hope Thrives Here | Project Advance 2025
Archdiocese of Vancouver
Matthew Furtado, Rachel Wong, Kelly Hady and Claudine Bananal

C318: Hot Topic — The Jubilee Year
First Place:
Pilgrims of Hope: Jubilee Year 2025 in Vancouver
Archdiocese of Vancouver
Matthew Furtado, Rachel Wong, Kelly Hady, Claudine Bananal, Emi Namoro and Arleen D Souza

C320: Best Annual Report
Third Place:
RCAV Annual Report 2024/2025 Pilgrims of Hope
Archdiocese of Vancouver
Rachel Wong, Kelly Hady, Claudine Bananal, Matthew Furtado and Inca Siojo-Das

C325b: Best Interview – Video
Third Place:
The Future of the Church in Vancouver with Archbishop Richard Smith & Archbishop Michael Miller
Archdiocese of Vancouver
Matthew Furtado and Deacon Zak Santiago

C351a: Best Social Media Account — Bishop
First Place:
Archbishop Richard Smith
Archdiocese of Vancouver
Emi Namoro, Matthew Furtado and the Archdiocese of Vancouver Communications Office

C351b: Best Social Media Account — Diocese or Archdiocese
Second Place:
Archdiocese of Vancouver
Archdiocese of Vancouver
Emi Namoro, Matthew Furtado, Inca Siojo-Das, Kelly Hady and the Archdiocese of Vancouver Communications Office

A full list of winners is available at catholicmediaassociation.org.

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