April was a standout month for Village Media, with our teams receiving an incredible wave of industry recognition across the organization.
From national honours to local reporting awards, these nominations and wins highlight the strength of our journalism and the impact it continues to have in communities we serve.
Here’s a look at the achievements we are celebrating this month.
Congratulations to the Villagers stepping into new roles this month, including:
Community partner specialist Tom Rose
Community partner specialist Cristian Henriquez
Good Living editor & content coordinator Zakiya Kassam
April is officially awards season for Village 🏆
Our Village journalists had their work recognized across several national awards programs this month, demonstrating the quality and impact of the work they do each day.
The Trillium team racked up a number of impressive nominations, including being named a finalist for a Michener Award, Canada’s highest honour in journalism.
The prestigious Michener Award recognizes excellence in public service journalism that drives meaningful change.
One of six finalists, The Trillium is nominated for its investigative work examining the political ties between the Ford government and recipients of the Ministry of Labour’s controversial Skills Development Fund.
The same in-depth investigative reporting also garnered The Trillium team of Jessica Smith Cross, Charlie Pinkerton and Jack Hauen a nomination for the CJF Dr. Eric Jackman Award for Excellence in Journalism.
On top of that, The Trillium’s Aidan Chamandy, Pinkerton, Smith Cross and Hauen were named finalists in the annual CAJ Awards, presented by The Canadian Association of Journalists. Their work breaking the news that the Ford government had sent a forensic audit of a company involved in the Skills Development Fund controversy to the OPP for investigation earned them a nod in the Scoop category.
Smith Cross and Pinkerton’s “Meet the bagman” is also nominated for the CAJ’s online media award and Smith Cross received a nod in the freedom of information journalism category for an article revealing which long-term care homes met Ontario's hands-on care targets — and which didn't.
This is in addition to Pinkerton, Smith Cross and Hauen’s recent nomination for the National Newspaper Awards’ John Wesley Dafoe Award for Politics for their ongoing coverage of power and influence in Ontario politics.
TorontoToday also received a CAJ nomination, with former reporter Kathryn Mannie being named a finalist in the Community Written Feature category for her story, Toronto cafe ordered to destroy $8K worth of Vegemite by food authority.
Village also received three nominations for this year’s Digital Publishing Awards in the Best News Coverage (Community Publication) category. BayToday’s Jeff Turl was nominated for his story on a father’s plan to convert a former church into affordable housing, BayToday’s David Briggs received a nomination for his coverage of campers stranded overnight in a storm and Sudbury.com’s Jenny Lamothe was nominated for reporting on seniors trapped in a high-rise after elevator failures and the landlords and city officials responsible for the oversight.
Lamothe’s story was a part of in-depth coverage where she examined the significant issues plaguing non-profit seniors housing complexes including Twelve Elgin, Centreville, Rideau Place and Bonik Towers.
Her ongoing coverage earned her the National Newspaper Award’s Cora Hind Award for Local Reporting at the prestigious awards program, with judges praising it as “journalism that serves the public good”.
Incredible work all around! This is journalism that makes a real difference in our communities.
We honour another group of changemakers in Orillia đź’›
The fourth annual Community Builders Awards in Orillia brought the community together to celebrate the individuals, organizations and businesses making a meaningful difference locally.
The program recognizes outstanding contributions across 10 categories, from arts and education to health care, legacy and community leadership, highlighting those who are helping shape a stronger, more vibrant city.
Held on April 23, the 2026 awards honoured a diverse group of changemakers whose efforts continue to improve life in Orillia, reinforcing the power of community-driven efforts and the importance of recognizing those who lead them.
✨ Spotlight on sponsorships ✨
Village sponsored 21 fundraisers and initiatives across our communities 🫶
BarrieToday
Angus Pop-Up Market
BurlingtonToday
Breakfast with the Easter Bunny, Halton Women's Place
CollingwoodToday
Parkinson's South Georgian Bay
FlamboroughToday
Healthy Youth Network - Battle of the Bakers
GuelphToday
Community of Hearts Gala
MidlandToday
Georgian Bay General Hospital Foundation (GBGH)
Oakville News
Arthouse, Niagara Dog Rescue, Oak Park Neighbourhood Centre, Oakville Meals on Wheels, Humane Society of Oakville Milton Halton
SooToday
The Northland Barbershop Chorus, Canadian Police Curling Championship, Crime Stoppers, Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre
StratfordToday
Fever Dream Comedy
Sudbury.com
The Home, Renovation and Style Show, CMI Financial Literacy Workshop
TimminsToday
TimminsCon, Timmins Comedy Festival
TorontoToday
Fever Dream Comedy
Meet Bruce & Gordie
Our big, fluffy, friendly office dogs, Bruce and Gordie are Village favourites. You know where Jake is based on Bruce’s location and you know where Gordie is based on the missing shoes.
Proud pet parent: Jake Cormier
See you next month!
