The B.C. Catholic has won eight awards for Christian journalism in Canada, including two for investigative work on the Fraser Health Authority’s unauthorized expansion of assisted suicide in its hospitals.

Contributing writer Terry O’Neill took home the A.C. Forrest Memorial Award honourable mention for his three-page report documenting how the health authority was promoting assisted suicide over palliative care, contrary to its own policies.

The Canadian Christian Communicators Association gives the award annually for excellence in socially conscious religious journalism, specifically for news events or trends that raise religious ethical questions.

The euthanasia coverage also earned O’Neill second place in the news writing category.

B.C. Catholic editor Paul Schratz said he was honoured by the awards and pleased to see efforts by O’Neill and the newspaper recognized. “The runaway expansion and abuse of euthanasia in Canada is one of the underreported stories of all time,” he said. “The traditional media have zero interest in it, even as Canadians today are protesting at the March for Life in Victoria and at legislatures across the country.”

Newspaper designer Inca Siojo picked up several awards for layout and design, including the best newspaper front page award with her stark Page 1 titled “In pursuit of healing,” following the announcement of undiscovered graves near a Kamloops residential school last year.

Siojo also won the best newspaper feature layout and design award for a two-page feature, “Catholic, homeschooled, and I still got addicted to porn.”

Movie columnist David Paul Baird won second place in the media review category for his column on Disney’s Encanto.

Schratz won second place in the editorial writing category for his opinion piece “Conscience vs. vaccination passports.”

The B.C. Catholic also took second place in the website general excellence category.