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Triple honours for The Langley Times

The Times named second-best newspaper by Local Media Association, third-best in Canada, and wins many other honours.

The Times has been triply honoured by the newspaper industry, winning awards in three separate competitions sponsored by newspaper industry associations.

It won second place in the North America-wide Local Media Association Newspaper of the Year competition, for newspapers with circulations from 22,501 to 37,500, coming second to the Sarasota Observer, in Sarasota, Florida.

Judges said the following about The Times: "(There is a ) strong mix of news, public service and features. Well‐written and strongly edited. Amazing amount of "refrigerator news" for readers to clip."

In the area of typography, "classic use of typefaces that are easy to read. Strong hierarchy of fonts. Teases, indexes and sells are well‐executed. (In advertising), colour palette for locally produced advertising without being garish. Borders to editorial are consistent.

The "block" of ads make for smooth editorial layout. Ad directories are smart‐looking."

Overall, the judges said "There is much to read and savour here. Everything about this publication is well‐thought out."

The Times also received word Thursday that it placed third in the Canadian Community Newspaper Association's general excellence category, for newspapers with a circulation of 25,000 and higher. Two editions, one from January, 2013 and one from August, 2013. were submitted for judging.

The Times was judged to have the best front page and third-best editorial page, finishing third overall. Kamloops This Week placed first overall, with What's Up Muskoka, from Muskoka, Ontario, coming second.

Reporter and arts writer Brenda Anderson won first place in the best historical writing category, for newspapers with a circulation of 12,500 or more. Her feature story on Bob Crerar, a Langley resident who took part in the battle at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii which brought the United States into the Second World War, was published on Nov. 12, 2013.

Police and court reporter Monique Tamminga placed second in the best news story category, for newspapers with a circulation of 12,500 or more. Her story headlined "Murderer continues to victimize from jail," published on Feb. 21, 2013, told how double murderer William McCotter continues to play the justice system to his advantage, and victimize members of the families of his two victims. He murdered a man and a woman on the street in Langley City, outside their apartment building, on Dec. 2, 2001.

In the B.C. and Yukon Community Newspaper Association awards, which will be presented in Richmond in April, production manager Millie McKinnon is one of the three finalists in the ad campaign category, for her design work on the advertising for Langley Has Talent. The final of this year's event, part of an ongoing arts and entertainment event to highlight hometown talent, took place on April 12 at Christian Life Assembly. Organizers are raising funds and awareness so that Langley can one day have its own arts centre.

The Times is also among the top three finalists in the community service category. The award was given for the series of stories, ads and other material prepared each year to promote Langley Good Times Cruise-In, the largest one-day event in the community and one that raises thousands of dollars for local charities each year.

The Times also produces a special section highlighting various events at the Cruise-In car show, which is published each year just before the event. This year's Cruise-In, which is organized by the Cruise-In board headed by president Eric Taylor, is scheduled for Sept. 6.

Update: At Saturday’s B.C. and Yukon Community Newspaper Association annual awards banquet, The Times came third in the Ma Murray community service awards, for its partnership with Langley Good Times Cruise-In. McKinnon’s work on the Langley Has Talent series of ads also received a third-place award, for ad campaigns.