Led by two first-place prizes won by youth editor Jean Ko Din, The Register’s writers, editors, photographers and designers won six-first place awards, nine seconds and a third. 

The prizes were handed out May 3 by the Canadian Church Press, an association of Christian media dedicated to maintaining high standards of religious journalism, during a ceremony at Hamilton’s Sheraton Hotel.

In awarding The Register the top prize for general excellence — the best Christian newspaper in Canada — the judges praised the paper as being consistently well written and designed. They lauded the "variety of voices and tone," complimented the quality of writing, editing and photography, and called the design of the paper inviting and compelling. 

"The Catholic Register staff have, year after year, produced a publication that serves its readers well through story selection, variety, writing and design," said a judge. "This year's entries are no exception to that record."

The Register took first place in five other individual categories: front cover design, layout of an edition, column writing, photo essay and department.

“What an outstanding night for The Register,” said publisher and editor Jim O’Leary. “It was particularly gratifying that the judges recognized the talent and hard work of so many different people who contribute to every facet of producing a quality publication on weekly deadlines.”

First-place prizes in the photo essay and department categories were won by Ko Din, The Register’s youth editor. Youth Speak News, edited by Ko Din, was judged the best regular "department" and earned praise for its "admirable variety" and quality of editing. Her photo essay on Nativity scenes that was called "wonderfully educational."

Several judges commented on The Register's front pages. The one that took first prize in the category, designed by art director Lucy Barco and featuring a photo by associate editor Michael Swan, prompted a judge to comment, “The entire front page wants me to pick up the publication and read it."

"If the articles are as informative as promised, feel very proud of your publication!"

The Register's Christmas paper, directed by managing editor Mike Simpson, with designer Erik Canaria and Mickey Conlon, won first place for layout of an edition.

Its front page was called a "beautiful and a wonderful expression of Christmas."

"This publication has a steadfast and true old-school newspaper layout,” said a judge. “It is clean and consistent, with well-written headlines.”

In the category of column writing, Herman Goodden won top honours for writing praised as "hopeful and positive." A judge extolled his "sharp and effective turns of phrase" and appreciated how Goodden could be light-hearted and "downright humorous."

Swan won four second-place awards in the categories of news reporting, news photography, in-depth treatment of a news event and theological reflection.

The Register’s four other second-place awards were won for editorial writing, feature photography by Meggie Hoegler, feature writing by Angela Saldanha, and layout and design by David Chen.

Saldanha also won third place in the category of “personal experience” for an article about her correspondence with death-row prisoners.