2020 National Pictures of the Year Winners

March 28, 2021

NEWS PHOTOGRAPHERS ASSOCIATION OF CANADA SELECTS TOP PHOTOJOURNALISTS OF 2020

VANCOUVER, March 28, 2021 – Photographers use their cameras as tools of exploration, documentation and ultimately as instruments of change. Over 2,000 images submitted for consideration to Canada’s premier photojournalism competition is a testament to the ideal that photography matters—now more than ever.

In 2020, a pandemic further tested the limits of already stressed newsrooms. With slashed budgets, layoffs and a tremendous responsibility for those left to carry the load, Canada’s dedicated photojournalists were there on the streets to ensure the events of our world were properly documented.

Canada’s photojournalists masked up and documented the world around us. Risking exposure to the virus, encountering acts of physical violence and placing the vital importance of news coverage ahead of their personal safety, they ensured that our experiences and unique moments were captured and shared.

Now in its fourteenth year, the News Photographers Association of Canada (NPAC) strives to recognize exceptionalism and professionalism in Canadian visual journalism.  After careful consideration by a panel of acclaimed judges, Barbara Davidson, Arnold Lim and Andy Clark, NPAC is pleased to announce the winners of the 2020 National Pictures of the Year Awards.

“The News Photographers Association of Canada is so proud to have such a vast number of talented photographers who pushed themselves extremely hard through this challenging year to ensure Canadians can have the experience of seeing their world in a whole new way. I offer huge congratulations to all the nominees,” NPAC President Crystal Schick said.

The public is invited to view the winning photographs in person at the Pendulum Gallery in Vancouver during the Capture Photography Festival from March 29 to April 23, 2021, (Covid safety measures will be in place).

2020 NATIONAL PICTURES OF THE YEAR WINNERS

Photojournalist of the Year – sponsored by The Canadian Press

Darren Calabrese / Independent

View all the nominated portfolios.

Photograph of the Year– sponsored by Sony (Selected from all category first-place finishers)

Carlos Osorio for Reuters

Socially-distanced music fans watch a performance by rock band “Monster Truck” at a drive-in concert held in a parking lot on the city’s waterfront in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, July 17, 2020. (Carlos Osorio for Reuters)

National Clip Contest Winner

Darryl Dyck / Independent

Student Photographer of the Year – sponsored by Loyalist College

Alex Lupul / Loyalist College

View all student nominees and watch the judging process.

Single Images

General News – sponsored by Cision

1. Ben Nelms / CBC – Drive-Thru Confessional
2. Lars Hagberg for The Canadian Press – Gravestone Kiss
3. Lars Hagberg for The Canadian Press – Stay Home
HM. Darren Calabrese / Independent – Graduation Day
HM. Evan Mitsui / CBC – Vigil

Spot News – sponsored by The Camera Store

1. Darryl Dyck for The Canadian Press – Train Derailment
2. Darryl Dyck for The Canadian Press – Demonstration Scuffle
3. Maggie MacPherson / Independent – Pipeline Demonstration
HM. Carlos Osorio for Reuters – Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory Camp
HM. Darryl Dyck for The Canadian Press – Residential Building Fire

Feature – sponsored by the Winnipeg Free Press

1. Carlos Osorio for Reuters – Drive-In Concert
2. Darren Calabrese / Independent – Fishing Boat Celebration
3. Carlos Osorio for Reuters – CN Tower
HM. Chris Young / Independent – Drag Queen Show
HM. Justin Tang for The Canadian Press – Sunflower

Sports Action – sponsored by Nikon

1. Nick Iwanyshyn for Canadian Cycling Magazine – Track Cycling
2. Kevin Light / Independent – Triathlon Training
3. Chris Tanouye for Getty Images – OHL Game
HM. Dave Holland / Independent – Speed Skaters
HM. Bernard Brault / La Presse – Moguls skier

Sports Feature – sponsored by Sony

1. Leah Hennel for The Globe and Mail – Water Polo Training
2. Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press – Hockey Win
3. John Lucas / Independent – Waterskiing
HM. Bernard Brault / La Presse – Sea Doo
HM. Darryl Dyck for The Canadian Press – Rugby Fans

Social Issues – sponsored by Fujifilm

1. Valerian Mazataud / Le Devoir – Mobile Hospital
2. John Mahoney / Montreal Gazette – Homeless Care
3. Darryl Dyck for The Canadian Press – Oppenheimer Park
HM. Jesse Winter for The Globe and Mail – Family Caregivers
HM. Chris Young / Independent – Toronto Homeless

Portrait – sponsored by Beau Photo

1. Darren Calabrese / Independent – COVID Musician
2. Jimmy Jeong for Maclean’s Magazine – Nurse
3. Leah Hennel / Independent – Rancher
HM. Cole Burston / Independent – Che
HM. Leah Hennel for The Narwhal – Mac Blades

Personality – sponsored by Panasonic

1. Darren Calabrese / Independent – Lighthouse Keeper
2. Leah Hennel for the CBC – BLM Protest
3. Darryl Dyck for The Canadian Press – Family Visit
HM. Chad Hipolito for The Globe and Mail – Flooding

Picture Story News – sponsored by the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology

1. Jesse Winter for Vice – Wet’suwet’en Land Defender Camps
2. Cole Burston for The Globe and Mail – COVID-19
3. Ben Nelms / CBC – COVID-19
HM. Leah Hennel for the CBC – Black Lives Matter Vigil

View all the nominated news picture stories.

Picture Story Feature – sponsored by Canon Canada

1. Darren Calabrese / Independent – The Last Lighthouse Keeper
2. Chris Young / Independent – Drive-In Drag Show
3. Leah Hennel for The Globe and Mail – Refugee Farmers

View all the nominated feature picture stories.

Single Multimedia – sponsored by Vistek

1. Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press – Reading the Forest
2. Chad Hipolito / Independent – Cowichan Valley Flood
3. Matt Smith / Saskatoon StarPhoenix – Scotsguard, Saskatchewan
HM. Melissa Tait / The Globe and Mail – Cherry Blossoms

View all nominated multimedia.

Team Multimedia – sponsored by Thomson Reuters

1. Manhunt Manitoba
Director, videographer, editor – Melissa Tait / The Globe and Mail
Director, editor – Timothy Moore / The Globe and Mail
Additional video – Renada D’Aliesi / The Globe and Mail
Additional video – Billy Beardy / Independent
Additional video – Bryn Lipinski / Full Circle Visuals

2. Microplastics
Videographer, producer, editor – Deborah Baic / The Globe and Mail
Producer, editor – Patrick Dell / The Globe and Mail
Reporter and additional video – Rick Smith / The Globe and Mail
Additional photos and video – courtesy of the Rochester Institute of Technology
Additional photos and video – Sherri Mason / Penn State University

3. Inside Hospitals During COVID-19
Photographer, videographer – Evan Mitsui / CBC
Reporter, writer – Adam Miller / CBC
Editor – Anand Ram / CBC

View all nominated multimedia.

Student Multimedia
Not awarded due to insufficient number of entries.