Bell Media News Properties Recognized with 44 Awards for Exceptional National and Local News Coverage at the 2026 RTDNA Canada Awards

– W5 Senior Investigative Correspondent and Managing Editor Avery Haines is honoured with the RTDNA Canada National Lifetime Achievement Award –
– Bell Media’s Vice President of News Richard Gray is honoured with the 2026 RTDNA National Distinguished Service Award –
– Bell Media platforms awarded numerous national honours, including Best TV Newscast, Breaking News, Excellence in Sports Reporting, Best Enterprise Journalism, and more –

TORONTO (November 10, 2026) – Honouring exceptional contributions to journalism by Canada’s radio, television, and digital news operations, Bell Media congratulates its team members on a total of 44 wins at the 2026 RTDNA Canada Awards. Announced Saturday evening by the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA), Bell Media won 15 National and Local News awards, in addition to 23 previously announced Regional Award wins, and numerous lifetime achievement and special award honours. W5 Senior Investigative Correspondent and Managing Editor Avery Haines was named a recipient of RTDNA Canada’s National Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to individuals who have distinguished themselves through outstanding service and continued excellence during their career in broadcast and digital journalism. Several current and former longtime Bell Media employees received Regional Lifetime Achievement Awards, including Jeff Rogstad and Bruce Gellvear for the Prairies region, and Joanne Clancy for the East region. CTV News Social Content Coordinator Sydney Wray was presented with the Emerging Journalist Award, given in recognition of the achievements and excellent work of Canadian journalists who are at the beginning stages of their career. In addition, Bell Media’s Vice President of News Richard Gray was named a recipient of RTDNA Canada’s National Distinguished Service Award, presented to individuals in recognition and appreciation of their outstanding contribution and exemplary distinguished service rendered for the benefit and advancement of digital journalism. “On behalf of everyone at CTV News, I congratulate all of this year’s RTDNA Award winners and nominees, whose exceptional work continues to inform Canadians and strengthen trusted journalism in communities across the country,” said Richard Gray, VP News, Bell Media. “For me personally, receiving this honour from RTDNA Canada is truly meaningful, and I’m grateful to all the talented people I have had the privilege of working alongside throughout my career. Their dedication to serving Canadians with truth and accuracy continues to inspire me every day, and I share this recognition with all of them.” CTV News was recognized with a multitude of national honours, including CTV NATIONAL NEWS WITH OMAR SACHEDINA for Best TV Newscast, Best Digital Breaking News for CTVNews.ca’s coverage of the resignation of former prime minister Justin Trudeau, as well as the Excellence in Sports Reporting award for CTV News’ coverage of PWHL player Abby “Hustles” Hustler. CTV News’ Investigative Unit W5 was honoured for Multiplatform Enterprise Journalism for its investigation into how Canada became the largest meth exporter to New Zealand in AVERY HAINES INVESTIGATES: CARTEL CANADA, as well as Investigative Excellence for AVERY HAINES INVESTIGATES: SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY for its investigation into an online network of men secretly drugging and videotaping their crimes. In the local news categories, CTV News Vancouver won an award for Breaking News (Large Market) for their coverage of the Fraser Valley Flooding, and CP24.com was recognized for Best Live Special Event for their Ontario provincial election coverage in 2025. The following is a summary of Bell Media’s 2026 RTDNA Canada Awards: National Awards Digital Breaking News CTVNews.ca – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Resignation Excellence in Sports Reporting CTVNews.ca – Blue Jays Unite Canadians News – Live Special Events CTVNews.ca – 2025 Canada Federal Election Multiplatform Enterprise Journalism CTV News – W5/IJF – Avery Haines Investigates: Cartel Canada Investigative Excellence CTV News – W5/IJF – Avery Haines Investigates: Sleeping With The Enemy Video Breaking News CTV News – Trudeau Resigns Excellence in Sports Reporting CTV News – Abby “Hustles” Hustler: From PEI to PWHL TV Newscast CTV News – CTV National News with Omar Sachedina – April 23, 2025 Best Canadian Local News Winners Digital News – Live Special Events CP24.com – Ontario Votes Multiplatform Continuing Coverage (Large Market) CTV News Toronto – Blue Jays Playoff Coverage Continuing Coverage (Small/Medium Market) CTV News Saskatoon – Saskatchewan on Fire Enterprise Journalism (Large Market) CTV News Vancouver – Hidden in Plain Sight Video Breaking News (Large Market) CTV News Vancouver – Fraser Valley Flooding Feature News (Small/Medium Market) CTV Atlantic – “I Can Build Something Out of That”: Jurassic Parts Come to Life VJ Video CTV News Vancouver – The Darkest Day Debate Regional Awards: West Region Multiplatform Enterprise Journalism (Large Market) CTV News Vancouver – Hidden in Plain Sight Enterprise Journalism (Small/Medium Market) CTV News Vancouver Island – Bylaw department marred by bullying investigations Video Breaking News (Large Market) CTV News Vancouver – Fraser Valley Flooding Excellence in Editing CTV News Vancouver – The Haunting of BC Penitentiary Excellence in Video CTV News Vancouver – Eyes on the eagles VJ Video CTV News Vancouver – The darkest day debate Regional Awards: Prairies Region Multiplatform Continuing Coverage (Small/Medium Market) CTV News Saskatoon – Saskatchewan on Fire Video Breaking News (Large Market) CTV News Calgary – Deadly Rockslide Regional Awards: Central Region Audio Breaking News (Small/Medium Market) AM800 CKLW – Diageo to close Crown Royal bottling plant in Amherstburg Digital News – Live Special Events CP24.com – Ontario Votes Multiplatform Continuing Coverage (Large Market) CTV News Toronto – Blue Jays Playoff Coverage Enterprise Journalism (Small/Medium Market) CTV News Barrie – Eyes in the Darkness: The hidden cost of roadside zoos Excellence in Writing (Small/Medium Market) CTV News Barrie – Eyes in the Darkness: The hidden cost of roadside zoos Video Breaking News (Small/Medium Market) CTV News Barrie – Double-Murder: Uncovering the Horror in the City’s Core TV Newscast (Large Market) CTV News Toronto – CTV News at Six TV Newscast (Small/Medium Market) CTV News Barrie – State of Emergency: Unprecedented Action in the City of Barrie VJ Video CTV News Montreal – Digging up the past – in the Cree Nation of Chisasibi Regional Awards: East Region Digital Breaking News (Small/Medium Market) CTV News Atlantic – Bayers Lake Wildfire: Business Park Evacuated Feature News – Digital (Small/Medium Market) CTV News Atlantic – Photographer Retraces Steps of Nova Scotia Cyclist Video Audio-Visual Storytelling CTV News Atlantic – Don’t Laugh, It’s Paid For: Maritimer Drives Car Over a Million Kilometers Breaking News (Small/Medium Market) CTV Atlantic – Susies Lake Fire Prompts Evacuation Feature News (Small/Medium Market) CTV Atlantic – “I Can Build Something Out of That”: Jurassic Parts Come to Life Opinion CTV Atlantic – Murphy’s Logic: Hacks

About RTDNA

RTDNA Canada is a progressive organization offering a forum for open discussion, best practices, educational information, and industry news. The Association speaks for the leaders and members of Canada’s radio, television, and digital news operations on issues that impact news coverage and journalists. RTDNA Canada fosters training, career development, national and regional awards recognition, and active dialogue with the membership.

The RTDNA Code of Journalistic Ethics, adopted by the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council, is used to measure fairness and accuracy in our profession.

About Bell Media

Bell Media is Canada’s leading media and entertainment company with a portfolio of assets in premium video, audio, out-of-home advertising, and digital media. This includes leading Canadian-owned streamer, Crave; Canada’s most-watched television network, CTV; a powerful suite of specialty channels; the most-trusted news brands, CTV News and Noovo Info; Canada’s cross-platform sports leaders, TSN and RDS; leading out-of-home advertising network, Astral; Québec’s fast-growing conventional French-language network, Noovo; the country’s leading audio app, iHeartRadio Canada, and a range of other leading brands and services. Bell Media’s slate of original productions includes HEATED RIVALRY, EMPATHIE, YAGA, SHORESY, and CANADA’S DRAG RACE, and more. Bell Media is majority owner of global content distributor, Sphere Abacus, and is partner in Sphere Media, Blink49 Studios, Montréal’s Grande Studios, and Dome Productions, one of North America’s leading production facilities providers.

Bell Media delivers end-to-end advertising through the Bell Marketing Platform, powered by Bell First Party Data, helping brands plan smarter, activate seamlessly, and measure campaigns to drive real business outcomes at scale. Bell Media is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada’s largest communications company.1 Learn more at BellMedia.ca.

1 Based on total revenue and total combined customer connections.