Your community paper has once again been recognized as being among the top of its class in Canada. The finalists of the 2012 Canadian Community B次元官网网址paper Association awards were announced this month and Greater Victoria newspapers are well represented.

Saanich B次元官网网址 reporter Kyle Slavin is among three writers nominated for Best Environmental Writing for his series following a home heating oil spill last November.

Saanich B次元官网网址 editor Jim Zeeben is also in the final three for Best National Editorial for a piece written about the tricky relationship our society has with liquor consumption.

Both are in the highest circulation class of 10,000 and over.

Victoria B次元官网网址, in the same circulation class, is also nominated as a finalist for Best Multimedia Feature. Reporter Erin McCracken earned the nomination for a print story accompanied by a photo and an online video that explored the impact of changes to B.C.B次元官网网址檚 drunk-driving laws on Victoria police.

Cartoonist Ole Heggen, whose work graces the editorial pages of all Black Press papers in the Greater Victoria, earned another nomination for Best Local Cartoon on behalf of the Victoria B次元官网网址.

The Victoria B次元官网网址 and Goldstream B次元官网网址 Gazette are Blue Ribbon recipients for all around General Excellence among Canadian community newspapers with a circulation between 12,500 and 24,999.

Finally, the Saanich B次元官网网址 also earned a Blue Ribbon for General Excellence for papers with a circulation of more than 25,000.

The CCNA awards represent the best work done in the country in 2011 among 342 newspapers that submitted a total of 2,494 entries.

Winners are determined by peer judges from across Canada and will be announced April 26 at a gala in Toronto.

editor@saanichnews.com