Presentation of the Michener Award

The Michener Awards Foundation celebrates and promotes excellence in Canadian public service journalism. The Michener Award was launched in 1970, under the auspices of the late Right Honourable Roland Michener, governor general from 1967 to 1974.

Ms. Rita Celli, Ottawa-based CBC journalist, received the Michener-Deacon Fellowship for Investigative Journalism. She plans to examine the public policy concerns related to the profits generated by the mining industry.

"The best journalists are seekers of truth. You pursue stories that are in the public interest, shining a light on the news that matters, not just the news that sells. You hold those in positions of power to account. You expose wrongdoings, waste and inefficiencies. And you do what you can to make this a better country and a more just world."

Ms. Francine Pelletier, Montréal-based writer, independent filmmaker, and columnist for Le Devoir, received the Michener-Deacon Fellowship for Journalism Education. Ms. Pelletier will organize workshops on big data journalism and elements of digital information at Concordia University.

Mister Tim Kotcheff and Mister Alain Guilbert received the Michener-Baxter Special Award which recognizes an individual whose work exemplifies the best in public service journalism. Both recipients are namely responsible for the creation of the micheneraward.ca website.

The Toronto Star won The Michener Award for 2013. Mr. Michael Cook, Editor, accepted the award on behalf of his organization.

The five other outstanding finalist to the 2013 award were: The Canadian Press, CTV News, The Edmonton Journal and Calgary Herald, The Globe and Mail, and The Windsor Star.

His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, presented the Michener Award for outstanding public service in journalism, as well as the Michener-Deacon Fellowships and the Michener-Baxter Special Award, during a ceremony at Rideau Hall.

Here are the winning colleagues who represented the Toronto Star. Front row: Mr. Michael Cook (Editor), His Excellency, Her Excellency Sharon Johnston, Mr. Kevin Donovan (Chief Investigative Reporter). Back row: Ms. Jane Davenport (Managing Editor), Ms. Jayme Poisson (reporter), Ms. Irene Gentle (City Editor); and Mr. Russel Mills (President of the Michener Awards Foundation).