AlbertaViews takes top mag award

AlbertaViews, Toronto Life, The Walrus and Calgary writer Chris Koentges were the big winners at this year’s National Magazine Awards.

The awards were handed out at the annual gala in Toronto June 5.

AlbertaViews beat out Spacing and Canadian Business for the magazine of the year award. Of the winning mag the judges said:

“It is an impassioned and authentic voice that demands to be heard. AlbertaViews is defining what idea-driven and socially driven magazines should be.”

This year’s Foundation Award for Outstanding Achievement went to writer, editor and teacher Cynthia Brouse. You can read Brouse’s acceptance speech at her blog The Clothesline Saga.

Toronto Life won the most awards overall, with 4 Gold and 5 Silver awards.

The Walrus and Explore magazine both won 6 awards, with The Walrus winning the most Golds overall (5).

Other multiple Gold winners include enRoute (2 Gold, 3 Silver), Swerve (2 Gold, 2 Silver), Malahat Review (2 Gold, 2 Silver), and Report on Business (2 Gold).

Chris Koentges, a Calgary writer, picked up the most awards for an individual, winning 2 Gold and 2 Silver awards.

B.C.-based writer J.B. MacKinnon nabbed two golds as well, one in Columns and another in Science, Technology & Environment (for his work in Explore magazine.)

Other individual gold winners included Toronto Life art director Jessica Rose for Best Magazine Cover, Ian Brown for Best Short Feature, Noah Richler for Travel, David Macfarlane for Profiles and Chris Turner for Essays. 

A full list of winners is available at the National Magazine Awards Foundation website.