The Bowen Island Undercurrent has been chosen as one of the province's and country's best community newspapers.
Both the British Columbia Yukon Community Newspaper Association and the Canadian Community Newspaper Association announced the top three finalists in their annual awards last week.
The Undercurrent is guaranteed a top-three placing in two provincial and six national award categories.
In the Ma Murray provincial awards, the Undercurrent is a contender for the best newspaper in its circulation category. It is up against two papers from North Thompson, the Star-Journal and the Times.
Editor Martha Perkins is up for the outdoor recreation award, which was open to all community newspapers in the province, for her feature on dogs off-leash in a possible national park.
At the national level, the Undercurrent is also in the top three as best newspaper overall in its circulation category. It is up against the North Thompson (BC) Times and the Blue Mountain (On) Courier-Herald. Its front page is also up for an award.
Slow Lane columnist Marcus Hondro is in the running to be the CCNA's "outstanding" columnist." He is a finalist in the highly coveted category that is a competition among all community newspapers in Canada, regardless of circulation.
Perkins is in the running for three writing awards: best feature story, circulation up to 3,999, for her story on Island Pacific School; best feature series, circulation up to 3,999, for her series on affordable housing; and best environmental writing, circulation up to 9,999, for her story on Eddie Weismiller's pit.
The ranking - first, second and third - will be announced at an awards ceremony in Vancouver on the weekend of April 29.
