Frank McTighe’s photo of a train derailment east of Fort Macleod won a Canadian Community Newspapers Award.
A Fort Macleod journalist received three national newspaper awards last week.
Macleod Gazette editor Frank McTighe’s writing and photography was recognized by News Media Canada.
News Media Canada announced the 2023 Canadian Community Newspaper Awards on Friday.
McTighe received a first place award for Best Historical Story for his story about Sherry Hirche’s journey to walk in the footsteps of her World War Two veteran father, Rulon.
Hirsche joined the “In Our Fathers’ Footsteps” tour in September 2022 that followed the path Canadian soldiers took as they liberated Holland from the Nazis.
“Everything I was looking for was included; now/ then; here/there; who/what,” the judge wrote. “Good job Frank!”
McTighe also received a third-place award for Best Feature Story for his piece on Preston Crow Chief, a Canadian veteran working to share the good fortune that saw him return safely from Afghanistan.
Crow Chief in July 2022 was part of a ceremony in Centennial Park during which he painted Blackfoot warrior symbols on two horses. The ceremony was co-ordinated by the Lethbridge Therapeutic Riding Association and Alberta Health Services.
“I want all the prayers that were given to me when I was overseas, all the good luck and fortune, I want these two horses and riders to receive the same luck,” the 33-year-old Crow Chief said.
The two horses, Joseph and Moonshine, as well as other horses travel across southern Alberta to bring comfort and healing to people.
“An excellent example of what a feature should be — a person not normally in the news pages with a unique perspective and story to tell that resonates with the reader,” the News Media Canada judge wrote. “Well done!”
McTighe was also awarded a third-place award for Best Spot News Photo Coverage for his photo of a train derailment east of Fort Macleod in May 2022.
“The top three entries really stood out,” the judge wrote.
The judge noted the presence of the firefighter showed the scale of the derailment.
