IT'S his third time winning one of Canadian journalism's highest honours, but the voice of Free Press columnist Gordon Sinclair Jr. trembled last night when he talked about receiving his latest National Newspaper Award.
A record four Free Press journalists were nominated for the awards this year, the highest number of nominations in the newspaper's history.
Free Press columnist Gordon Sinclair, middle, receives an award during the National Newspaper Awards at Westin Harbour Castle Hitlon Hotel in Toronto last night. Sinclair won the NNA for column writing.
Three Free Press journalists won citations of merit: Jen Skerritt (beat reporting); Gerald Flood (editorials); and Phil Hossack (feature photography).
Sinclair Jr. won the columns category, his third NNA after he won in 1997 as part of a Free Press team covering the Flood of the Century, and in 1988 for columns.
"Truthfully, I was overcome, overwhelmed and overcome with emotion," said Sinclair Jr.
"It's just an incredible honour to be here, among these people."
John B. Larter of the Brandon Sun, sister paper of the Free Press, also received a citation of merit in the editorial cartooning category.
Sinclair Jr. said the award was particularly poignant for him due to themes in his work of forgiveness, compassion and commitment.
A trio of columns submitted focused on the background of local hero, Dancing Gabe, who went to the Grey Cup last year on a reader-funded trip spearheaded by Sinclair Jr. The second told the story of Tyler Pelke, a courageous Winnipeg man who was set ablaze as a 14-year-old and grew up to be a firefighter. The last column brought the battle for the future of Upper Fort Garry, one of Canada's most sacred historic sites, to public attention.
This March, after 10 months of civic debate and fundraising, Upper Fort Garry became a heritage site thanks to a group of concerned Winnipeg citizens.
NNA judges lauded Sinclair Jr.'s work for "tugging at his readers' heartstrings with powerfully sensitive columns."
That sentiment was echoed by Free Press publisher Bob Cox.
"Gord writes with tremendous feeling for his subjects," said Cox.
"This award shows that passion matters."
Sinclair Jr. said he was particularly grateful to Pelke for sharing his tale.
He also singled out Free Press editor Carl DeGurse for suggesting he write about Dancing Gabe, and Free Press reader Currie McMillan for contacting him about Upper Fort Garry's precarious future.
"I was guided by other people, and I listened," he said. "As a journalist, it's just so important to listen to what people are telling you and this is why I won, because I listened."
Free Press editor Margo Goodhand said the citations of merit are impressive honours and she calls Sinclair Jr.'s third win "amazing."
"The Free Press has always been a well-respected paper, and its writers have always been some of the best in the country, but it's so wonderful when one of them gets nominated or recognized for a National Newspaper Award," she said.
"It just vindicates what I think this paper is and can be."
Goodhand said Skerritt's nomination for beat reporting was particularly unusual, considering she joined the Free Press only three years ago in her first daily reporting job.
"I'm so thrilled for all four of them, just to get here is enormous, and especially Jen Skerritt, because of her age, it just shows what promise and potential she has," she said.
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