Nunatsiaq News has an extra reason to celebrate its 50^th anniversary after receiving 20 award nominations for its journalism in 2022.

The paper is on the shortlist in 14 categories in the Quebec Community Newspapers Association awards, which are to be handed out June 16 in Gatineau, Que.

The awards recognize the journalism done by similar-size papers in 2022.

“It was a big year for news in Nunavut and Nunavik. It was a big year for Nunatsiaq News,” said managing editor Corey Larocque.

“From Pope Francis’ visit to Canada to the Inuit delegation that called on France to extradite Father Rivoire, not only did our journalists cover the stories that were important to readers, they covered them exceptionally well.”

Madalyn Howitt, in her second year with the paper, is a finalist in five categories — Best Feature Series for ongoing coverage of Tyler Hikoalok’s murder trial, Best Business Story about an idea to help Inuit thrive in public sector jobs, Best Sports Story about two Winter Olympic Inuktitut broadcasters, Best Education Story about the impact of the so-called Freedom Convoy on Nunavut Sivuniksavut students, and Best News Photo for an image of protesters at Pope Francis’ Iqaluit visit.

Former Nunatsiaq News reporter David Venn earned three nominations, including one for Best Business Column or Feature for an article about a Rankin Inlet cake maker, Best Municipal/Civic Affairs Story on Iqaluit’s tax exemption bylaw, and Best Feature Photo for an image of Naujaat’s Josh Mapsalak harvesting a caribou.

Former reporter Mélanie Ritchot has three nominations for work she did before returning to university in the fall. She’s a finalist in the following categories: Best Investigative Reporting for a piece about artists’ concerns over funding for the Uqqurmiut print shop in Pangnirtung, Best Education Story about parents’ concerns about sending children back to school during COVID-19, and Best Agricultural Story about the Tundra to Table program.

Emma Tranter, the paper’s former Nunavut editor, is a finalist in the Best Feature Series category for her coverage of Nunavut Tunngavik Inuit’s trip to France to pressure the French government to extradite accused sex offender Rev. Johannes Rivoire.

Editor Randi Beers is a finalist in the Best Community Health Story category for a story about a Sanikiluaq ambulance that sat idle for 10 months.

Editor Gord Howard, who brought readers the breathtaking accounts of Team Nunavut’s performance at the Canada Summer Games, is nominated for Best Sports Story for his coverage of wrestler Eekeeluak Avalak’s gold-medal win.

Reporter Meral Jamal is a finalist in the Best Feature Story category for a piece she wrote about how Inuit outside of Iqaluit reacted to Pope Francis’ visit.

Former reporter Andrea Sakiyama Kennedy is a finalist for Best Environmental Story for an article about research into the loss of sea ice.

The Canada Summer Games photography of freelancer Denis Cahill, who shot the competition in Ontario’s Niagara region, earned a finalist spot in the Photo Essay category.

Managing editor Corey Larocque is nominated in the local editorial-writing category for a piece about the abrupt departure of Iqaluit’s then-mayor Kenny Bell. This is the second year that QCNA renamed that category in memory of former Nunatsiaq News editor Jim Bell.

Nunatsiaq News is also nominated for Best Website and Best Front Page. That recognizes a front page of the e-edition on Oct. 21, 2022, that reported the news of Bell’s sudden resignation as well as a feature about Nunavik musician Nivii Snowball, featuring strong photography by Cedric Gallant.

Following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Nunatsiaq News published online only, but on March 3 the paper resumed publication of a print edition.