NPAC/APPC National Pictures of the Year Winners
The NPAC/APPC 2024 NPOY winners announcement was held in conjuction with the Annual General Meeting held on June 19, 2025
The judging was recorded and will be made available on our YouTube channel as the finalists are announced for membership to gain feedback and insights from the judges.
We look forward to once again showcasing the absolute best of the Canadian photojournalism industry in a time where truth in visuals is more important than ever.
2024 SPOT NEWS
Finalists:
Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press
Nick Lachance/The Toronto Star
Arlyn McAdorey/The Canadian Press
Arlyn McAdorey/The Canadian Press
Sponsored by
The Camera Store
WINNER: Nick Lachance/The Toronto Star
A man participating in the 2024 Toronto Pride Parade screams at a pro-Palestinian protester, after a small group of protestors infiltrated the parade route and shut it down. Toronto, June 30, 2024. Nick Lachance/The Toronto Star
2024 Feature Photo
Finalists:
Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press
Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press
Arlyn McAdorey/The Toronto Star
Justin Tang/The Canadian Press
Sponsored by:
Winnipeg Free Press
WINNER: Arlyn McAdorey/The Toronto Star
No booze, no phones – in Toronto, the sauna is the new nightclub” Inside Othership, an upscale spa and wellness club. People take part in a social event at Othership Spa in Toronto, Canada on Thursday, Sep. 26, 2024. Arlyn McAdorey/The Toronto Star
2024 GENERAL NEWS
Finalists:
Sammy Kogan/The Globe and Mail
Nick Lachance/The Toronto Star
Steve Russell/Toronto Star
Sponsored by
Thomson Reuters
WINNER: Sammy Kogan/The Globe and Mail
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow and Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw hold Sophia Dunn as she falls to her knees next to the spot where her son-in-law was fatally shot following a mass shooting in Etobicoke over the weekend. Seymour Gibbs, a father of six, died in hospital after two suspects open fired in the parking lot of a school. Sammy Kogan/The Globe and Mail
2024 PORTRAIT
Finalists:
Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press
Nick Iwanyshyn/The Canadian Press
Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail
Carlos Osorio
Sponsored by
Beau Photo
WINNER: Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press
Vi Roden, who turned 101 on June 16, poses for a photograph at her home in West Vancouver, on Friday, June 14, 2024. Roden, who reads about 50 books a year and does chair yoga twice a week says it never occurred to her that she would live this long and she doesn’t know why but she thinks it’s because she finds enjoyment in every day. The country’s centenarian population is soaring. Statistics Canada figures show the country’s population of people aged 100 or older more than tripled to over 11,700 between 2000 and 2023, and are poised to pass 100,000 in the next 50 years. Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press
2024 SPORTS ACTION
Finalists:
Bernard Brault
Nick Iwanyshyn/Canadian Running Magazine
Steve Russell/Toronto Star
Sponsored by
Sony Canada
WINNER: Nick Iwanyshyn / Canadian Running Magazine
Mariam Abdul-Rashid, 100m hurdler from Canada, competes at Stade de France during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, August 9, 2024. Nick Iwanyshyn/Canadian Running Magazine
2024 SPORTS FEATURE
Finalists:
Bernard Brault
Nick Iwanyshyn\Canadian Running Magazine
Nick Iwanyshyn\ Canadian Cycling Magazine
Sponsored by
Sony Canada
WINNER: Nick Iwanyshyn / Canadian Running Magazine
Sifan Hassan, of the Netherlands, celebrates gold in the women’s marathon during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, August 11, 2024. Nick Iwanyshyn\Canadian Running Magazine
2024 SOCIAL ISSUE
Finalists:
Leah Hennel
Steve Russell/Toronto Star
Steve Russell/Toronto Star
Sponsored by
The Globe and Mail
WINNER: Leah Hennel
Joan Connor hugs her respite care worker Seeta who was at her home to help with respite care for Joan’s husband Alan Rae on June 1, 2024. Joan has been living with dementia for over 10 years and lives with her husband Alan Rae. “People try to sweep you under the carpet,” says Rae, “What Joan has isn’t contagious, she’s still Joan. There’s a real person there. In Canada the rates of dementia are rising and researchers predict that by 2030 about 1 million people will be living with the disease. Leah Hennel
2024 PICTURE STORY – NEWS
Finalists:
Nick Lachance
Carlos Osorio
Sponsored by
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT)
WINNER: Carlos Osorio
2024 PICTURE STORY FEATURE
Finalists:
Darryl Dyck
Arlyn McAdorey
Sponsored by
Cision
WINNER: Darryl Dyck / Canadian Press
2024 NPAC “CLIPS” Monthly Picture Contest
The NPAC Monthly Picture Contest is open to ANY photograph, published or not, taken within a calendar month.
There is a limit of 12 images per month. Points are awarded to winners
The photographer with the most points at the end of the year is declared the winner for the calendar year.
Sponsored by
Leica
WINNER: DARRYL DYCK/Canadian Press
2024 STUDENT PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
Based on a portfolio of 10 images that demonstrates diverse abilities and photojournalistic excellence.
Sponsored by
Loyalist College
Winner: Sammy Kogan/Toronto Metropolitan University
2024 NPAC PHOTO of the YEAR
One image will be chosen by the judges from the winning pictures of all categories
Sponsored by
Sony Canada
Winner: Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press
Vi Roden, who turned 101 on June 16, poses for a photograph at her home in West Vancouver, on Friday, June 14, 2024. Roden, who reads about 50 books a year and does chair yoga twice a week says it never occurred to her that she would live this long and she doesn’t know why but she thinks it’s because she finds enjoyment in every day. The country’s centenarian population is soaring. Statistics Canada figures show the country’s population of people aged 100 or older more than tripled to over 11,700 between 2000 and 2023, and are poised to pass 100,000 in the next 50 years. Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press
2024 PHOTOJOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Based on a portfolio of individual images that demonstrate diverse abilities and photojournalistic excellence.
This portfolio may include one or more picture stories. The portfolio may have up to 18 images and each Picture Story will count as one image.
Finalists:
Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press
Leah Hennel
Carlos Osorio
Sponsored by:
The Canadian Press
Winner: Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press
Our Esteemed Judges
Lee-Ann Olwage
Lee-Ann Olwage is a South African visual storyteller known for her collaborative approach to photography, focusing on themes of gender, identity, and social justice. Her work invites participants to co-create narratives, often challenging stereotypes and celebrating personal agency. She has been published in National Geographic, Vogue, The Guardian, and Vanity Fair Italy, and has received multiple honors, including World Press Photo and Sony World Photography awards. Olwage’s work has been exhibited internationally, and in 2025, she served as a judge for the Pride Photo Award.
KC Nwakalor
KC Nwakalor is a Nigerian-born Documentary and Photojournalist based in Manchester, UK. His work humanises socioeconomic, health, and environmental issues that affect Africa and its diaspora. He has been published in The New York Times, Time Magazine, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, and The Financial Times, among others. He is a member of Diversify Photo, the Royal Photographic Society, and the African Photojournalism Database (APJD).
Alon Skuy
Alon Skuy is a photojournalist born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and now based in Miami Florida.
Skuy’s career has been defined by his depth and range as a news and documentary photographer. He is noted for his coverage of the 2012 Marikana Massacre, said to be the most lethal use of force by South African security forces against its own civilians since The Sharpeville Massacre of 1976. Skuy is the recipient of numerous local and international awards, including recognition by the World Press Photo Foundation, and multiple awards from the Picture of the Year International (POYI).
Thank you to:
NPAC, sincerely thanks LEE-ANN OLWAGE, KC NWAKALOR AND ALON SKUY our esteemed judges. Without them, there would simply be no winners. The process to judge the POY contest is very long and arduous. Please once the judging video is posted, take the time to listen to the process and learn from what they have to say.
They dedicated long hours, plus more via email, out of their busy schedules to provide constructive criticism while selecting the winners of this year’s National Pictures of the Year contest.
POY Contest Chair / Coordinator: Crystal Schick NPAC Past-President
Contest Production Assistance: Michelle Berg, Brent Calver and Christina Ryan
Monthly NPAC Picture contest chair: Evan Buhler
Slide show and presentation of awards: Dave Chidey
All the NPAC Board Members and Volunteers for their contributions! Without volunteers this does not happen.
Thanks to all of our sponsors for their continued support for the Photojournalism community. These awards exist because of their support.
Congratulations to all the winners and finalists from the News Photographers Association of Canada Board of Directors, Volunteers and Members.
