The Eastern Door up for big awards

The Eastern Door has been nominated for 18 awards at the Quebec Community Newspapers Association (QCNA) Better Newspapers Contest this year.

“I’m incredibly proud of the whole team, as we are up for key awards across so many categories! It shows what goes into the daily and weekly grind, and how much we all care for the work we produce for you, the reader,” said editor/publisher Steve Bonspiel.

“Without your support, we could not get the access to people, the background on stories, the recounting of history, and the passion of building our community up, one article at a time.”

Lead reporter Eve Cable led the way this year with six nominations, including five for writing and a photo nod.

“I’m really proud of all of the work that the TED team has done this year, and our nominations are evidence of the effort we all put into telling stories that need to be told,” said Cable.

“I’m super happy with my nominations, especially for my feature focusing on Lily Ieroniawákon Deer’s story, which I wrote as part of the Spotlight: Child Welfare collaborative reporting project,” said Cable. “I’m really glad to have been able to work on so many major stories this year, and I’m excited to see what happens at the gala in June!”

Cable is nominated for Best News Story, Best Feature Story, Best Feature Series, Best Agricultural Story, Best Municipal/Civic Affairs Story, and Best Arts & Entertainment Photo.

Managing editor Marcus Bankuti has been nominated four times: Best News Story, Best Feature Series, Best Investigative Reporting, and Best Community Health Story.

Reporter Olivier Cadotte received his first-ever QCNA nomination. He is in the running for Best Municipal/Civic Affairs Story.

The Eastern Door’s layout and ad designer Dana Marquis is nominated in the Best Advertising Creation Small Format category; Megan Kanerahtenha:wi Whyte is nominated for Best Editorial Cartoon; Martin Akwiranoron Loft is nominated for Best Photo Essay; and a photo courtesy of Kanesatake community member Kahsennóktha George is nominated for Best Contributed Photo.

The Eastern Door is also nominated for Best Feature Page, Best Community Newspaper Promotion, and Best Website.

“I’m so proud of our team for another strong showing at the QCNAs. I think it’s proof of the passion that goes into every issue,” said Bankuti.

“Every week, I’m privileged to get a front-row seat to the commitment our reporters show not just to their craft, but to the principles of community journalism,” he said. “Whether we’re highlighting people’s achievements or digging deep and highlighting things that need to change, there’s no story too big or too small, and that’s what makes The Eastern Door what it is.”

Award winners will be announced at the QCNA Awards gala in Gatineau this June. Other awards announced the night of the event include Best Overall Newspaper, Outstanding Photojournalism Award, the Lindsay Crysler Outstanding Achievement Award, and the Paul Dumont-Frenette Outstanding Journalism Award for Journalist of the Year, given to the individual who wins the most writing awards.

The Eastern Door won the Best Overall Newspaper award last year in a three-way tie with The Suburban and Nunatsiaq News, while Bankuti was named the winner of the Paul Dumont-Frenette Outstanding Journalism Award for Journalist of the Year, with six wins across a record nine writing nominations. It was the fourth consecutive year a TED journalist won the honour, with Cable (2024) and Bonspiel (2022 and 2023, his second and third career wins) filling out the streak.

Fellow local newspaper Iorì:wase received two nominations, with its publisher Greg Horn nominated for Best News Photo and Best Feature Photo.

The QCNA has 33 member publications, most of which are full members that are eligible for the Better Newspapers Contest.

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