The Local’s awards season continued Friday evening, with two prizes at the Digital Publishing Awards and one at the National Magazine Awards, both held at Arcadian Court in downtown Toronto.

At the Digital Publishing Awards, which celebrates the best in digital publishing in Canada, The Local’s coverage of the 2023 mayoral by-election, “Mayor’s Race,” won the gold medal in the Best News Coverage (Community Publication) category. The work of dozens of contributors, “Mayor’s Race” included long-form profiles of the major candidates, analysis of the issues that mattered most to Torontonians, and the reported, fact-checked biographies of all 102 candidates.

The Local also took home the silver medal for our “Finch West” Issue, a series of stories from northwest Toronto about a community in transition.

At the National Magazine Awards, held later that evening, photographer Christopher Katsarov Luna won the gold medal for Photo Essay & Photojournalism for his work on “Canada’s Worst Obstacle Course,” which documented the chaos around the construction of the Finch West LRT.

“It’s an incredible honour to be recognized among the very best in Canadian journalism,” said Tai Huynh, The Local’s Editor-in-Chief. “These awards reinforce our core belief in producing local journalism that not only matters, but treats our readers to compelling stories that are worth their time.”

These awards cap off an exciting week that also saw Local journalists take home two Canadian Association of Journalists Awards last weekend.

Here is a list of all the winners and finalists honoured on Friday.

Digital Publishing Awards

Best News Coverage, Community Publication (GOLD)
Mayor’s Race Issue
Contributors: Nicholas Hune-Brown, editor and writer; Inori Roy, editor and writer; Tai Huynh, editor and writer; Richard Trapunski, writer; Kunal Chaudhary, writer; Jason McBride, writer; Navneet Alang, writer; Neville Park, writer; Ashley Okwuosa, writer; Brennan Doherty, writer; Denise Balkissoon, writer; Ashleigh-Rae Thomas, writer; Heidi Lee, writer; H.G. Watson, writer and fact checker; Emma Buchanan, writer and fact checker; Rebecca Gao, writer and fact checker; Ramona Leitao, writer and fact checker; Nikky Manfredi, writer and fact checker; Danielle Orr, writer and fact checker; Steph Truong, illustrator; Sid Sharp, illustrator; Christopher Katsarov Luna, photographer; Wade Hudson, photographer; Chloë Ellingson, photographer; Nick Iwanyshyn, photographer

Best Digital Editorial Package, Small (SILVER)
The Finch West Issue
Contributors: Nicholas Hune-Brown, editor and writer; Inori Roy, editor and writer; Tai Huynh, editor; Simon Lewsen, writer; Mobólúwajídìde D. Joseph, writer; Furqan Mohamed, writer; Daysha Loppie, writer; Richard Trapunski, writer; Kunal Chaudhary, writer; Christopher Katsarov Luna, photographer; Chloë Ellingson, photographer; Yader Guzman, photographer

Best Data Journalism (Honourable Mention)
“At the Landlord and Tenant Board, Tenants Wait Twice as Long as Their Landlords” by Tahmeed Shafiq

Best Digital Design (Honourable Mention)
The Finch West Issue
Designer: Tai Huynh
Contributors: Steve Combes, developer at Station WP; Lia Mattacchione, developer at Station WP, Torin Rhodin developer at Station WP

General Excellence in Digital Publishing, Small Publication (Honourable Mention)

National Magazine Awards

Photo Essay & Photojournalism (GOLD)
“Canada’s Worst Obstacle Course” by Christopher Katsarov Luna

Feature Writing (Honourable Mention)
“The Realities of Renting While Black” by Ashley Okwuosa

Profile (Honourable Mention)
“Where Has Olivia Chow Been?” by Nicholas Hune-Brown

Editorial Package (Honourable Mention)
The Finch West Issue
Contributors: Nicholas Hune-Brown, editor and writer; Inori Roy, editor and writer; Tai Huynh, editor; Simon Lewsen, writer; Mobólúwajídìde D. Joseph, writer; Furquan Mohamed, writer; Daysha Loppie, writer; Richard Trapunski, writer; Kunal Chaudhary, writer; Christopher Katsarov Luna, photographer; Chloë Ellingson, photographer; Yader Guzman, photographer

Best Emerging Writer (Honourable Mention)
Adin Wagner for “In Small Claims Court, Justice Delayed”