Environmental Writing
Class 2011 - circ. up to 9999

Judge's Comments

These 56 entries showed that Canadian communities are dealing with a range of environment issues, most of which pertain to water or garbage. I found the positive stories about renewed rivers or new manure processing facilities as immediate and insightful as the articles on lake pollution and garbage.

Writers entering this category should not overlook the importance of including an explanatory letter. Also, stories entered should be free of grammar and spelling errors and the lead should not be buried. Of the many excellent entries received, about a dozen of them really stood out.

First place goes to the Meaford (ON) The Express, for Chris Fell's two articles and two strong editorials on the Genoe landfill expansion. Fell put the results of good investigative research into clearly written, easy to read articles that detailed the issues for his readers. That, and his related editorials, resulted in a change of local politicians and a change in waste management planning.

In second is the Carbonear (NF) The Compass for 14 articles and one editorial printed throughout the year, from January to December. Most of the work was written by Lillian Simmons, a couple of the articles and the editorial were done by Bill Bowman. This series kept local readers well informed on the community's struggle to establish a landfill or transfer site. The stories were balanced and well written, with the issues clearly stated.

The Lacombe (AB) Globe took third with a February to December series by Chad Anderson, with a few articles by Lyle Aspinall. Anderson chronicled the fears of area residents faced with proposals for four new residential lakeshore developments with smoothly written articles detailing opinions from both sides of the argument.