Their Excellencies Governor General Michaëlle Jean and Jean-Daniel Lafond with the editorial staff of the Winnipeg Free Press, a finalist for the 2008 Michener Award – photo taken following a ceremony at Rideau Hall on June 10, 2009.
The Free Press received a Citation of Merit for a two-year investigation of the state of the First Nations child welfare system in Manitoba that resulted in an amendment to the provincial Child and Family Service Act that made child safety the primary consideration.
Seated L to R: Winnipeg Free Press Editor Margo Goodhand; Governor General Michaëlle Jean; His Excellency, Jean-Daniel Lafond; Columnist Lindor Reynolds.
Standing L to R: National Reporter Mia Rabson; Editorial Writer Catherine Mitchell; Reporter Mary Agnes Welch, and Deputy Editor Julie Carl.
The first award covered the calendar year 1970. Since then, a rich variety of news organizations have had their names inscribed on Michener trophies – print and broadcast, large and small, French and English, East and West. The Michener was also the first national journalism award open to both broadcast and print media. The award goes to the news organization itself, rather than the individual journalists involved in the story.