The Macleod Gazette is the best newspaper of its size in Canada for the third consecutive year.

   The Gazette was judged the best all-round newspaper by the Canadian Community Newspapers Association (CCNA) among those that circulate 1,250 to 1,999 copies.

   The award for best all-round newspaper was one of four The Macleod Gazette received Thursday during the Better Newspapers Competition gala awards banquet at the Sheraton Centre in Montreal.

   “The Macleod Gazette and Digby Courier stand out in this category for their professional, clean and modern design, clear and concise news writing, organization, ease of navigation, strong opinion pages, good sports coverage and effective use of photos and other art,” judge Chuck Brown noted.

   The Digby, Nova Scotia Courier was second for best all-round newspapers and the Labradorian from Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland placed third. The Macleod Gazette won a first-place award for best front page. The Digby Courier was second and the High Prairie South Peace News was third. The Labradorian placed first for best editorial page, followed by The Macleod Gazette and High Prairie South Peace News.

   The Macleod Gazette editor and publisher Frank McTighe received a second-place award for best feature photo among papers that circulate up to 3,999 copies.

   McTighe received the award for a photo last June at Granum school.

   “The photo was snapped by McTighe at just the right moment as a student blasts down a home-made water side,” judge Erin Haluschak wrote. “The expression of the student and tight cropping catches the viewer’s attention immediately.”

   In other news from the convention, McTighe was appointed corporate secretary for the CCNA board of directors.