The National Media Awards Foundation (NMAF) is delighted to unveil the finalists for the 43rd National Magazine Awards, including the publications short listed for the Best Magazine awards. 

For this year’s competition, 174 Canadian magazines from coast to coast to coast—English and French, print and digital—submitted the work of more than 2,000 writers, editors, photographers, illustrators, art directors, and other creators. The NMAF’s 124 volunteer judges have selected a total of 179 submissions from 64 different Canadian publications for awards in 28 written, visual, editorial, and best magazine categories.

FOUNDATION AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT

Congratulations to Don Gillmor, the recipient of the 2020 Outstanding Achievement award! Learn more about Don’s impressive and illustrious career here.

The NMAF’s most prestigious individual prize since its inception in 1990 is the Foundation Award for Outstanding Achievement, an award that recognizes an individual’s innovation and creativity through contributions to the magazine industry. The award is open to circulation experts, editors, marketing, sales and promotion professionals, publishers, creators, designers, production managers – in short, to everyone in the industry. It cannot be given posthumously. 

• Kate Black for Awkward Cause published in Maisonneuve.
• Rachel Jansen for In the Burn published in Maisonneuve.
• Arvin Joaquin for He survived Chechnya’s LGBTQ purge. Now, he’s ready to tell his story published in Xtra.

The Magazine Grand Prix award—the highest honour bestowed to a publication—will be presented to one publication among the four winners of the Best Magazine awards, revealed at the upcoming winners’ celebration in June.

Editor Grand Prix

The three editors shortlisted for the prestigious title of Editor Grand Prix are Jocelyn Bell (Broadview), Nicolas Langelier (Nouveau Projet), and Dawn Calleja (Report on Business).

Issue Grand Prix

The Issue Grand Prix award honours quality and originality of the content of an entire issue as well as its relevance to the intended readers. The magazine finalists are: Dînette Magazine (017-Duo), Le Trente (Novembre 2019), LSTW (LSTW #4), Maisonneuve (The Climate Issue), Nouveau Projet (No.16), Toronto Life (A Critical Look at Sidewalk Labs), and University of Toronto Magazine (The Migration Issue). 

Art Direction Grand Prix

This coveted award honours excellence in art direction for a complete issue. This year’s nominated art directors include: last year’s winner, Eliane Cadieux (BESIDE: NUMÉRO 07) and Carolyne de Bellefeuille (LSTW: LSTW #4). 

Cover Grand Prix

This notable award celebrates the outstanding creation of a magazine cover in collaboration by editors, circulators and art directors to enhance reader experience. This year’s nominees are Mathieu Lachapelle, Hélène Mallette (Dînette Magazine, 016 - Renouveau), Studio Feed (Esse arts + opinions, no. 97 - Appropriation), Amélie Chamberland, Charles Grandmont (L'actualité, La révolution végane), Edith Pelletier, Christian Blais, Charles Grandmont (L'actualité, Le prochain premier ministre ?) and Brett Gundlock, Studio Wyse, Stacey Gibson (University of Toronto Magazine, The Migration Issue).

NOMINATION HIGHLIGHTS

• Toronto Life leads with 15 nominations (they also had the most nominations in 2019)

• Maclean’s is in second place with 14 nominations this year

• The Walrus and L’actualité tied for third with 12 nominations each

• Alec Castonguay of L’actualité received the most individual nominations with three, followed by several two-time nominated creators:

  • Zander Sherman (Report on Business)

  • Troy Sebastian/nupqu _a·k_am_ (The Walrus)

  • Shannon Gormley (Maclean’s)

  • Sabrina Myre (ELLE Québec)

  • Rowan McCandless (The Fiddlehead, The Malahat Review)

  • Nicholas Hune-Brown (Sharp)

  • Emily Urquhart (Room Magazine)

  • Chris Nuttall-Smith (Toronto Life)

TOP NOMINATED MAGAZINES