Awards
2025 POMAC COMMUNICATIONS AWARDS WINNERS
This annual competition recognizes and rewards excellence in outdoor communication and promotes craft improvement. It is open to all members of the Professional Outdoor Media Association of Canada "in good standing".
In each category the winner of the 2025 Outdoor Communication Award is listed first followed by two Award of Merit winners.
The awards are presented annually.
Also Including:
National Communication Awards
- Sponsored by Tourism Saskatchewan, Shimano and Outdoor Group Media
The Future of Hunting in Canada Writing Award
- Sponsored by Delta Waterfowl
1. COLUMN
1st T.J. Schwanky (Tied)
Title: Dogs with Jobs
Publication: Alberta Outdoorsmen
1st Scott Gardner (Tied)
Title: Escape Plan
Publication: Outdoor Canada
3rd Steve Galea
Title: Mythical Creatures
Publication: Ontario Out of Doors
2. BOOKS
1st Linda Gabris
Title: Wild Harvest BC
2nd Jon Robert Remus
Title: The Ultimate Authority on Hunting Trophy Black Bear
3. TELEVISION/VIDEO
1st Vanessa Harrop
Title: Alberta Whitetail (Outdoor Quest TV Ep 11 2024)
Broadcaster: WildTV
2nd Dave Mercer
Title: The Facts of Fishing THE SHOW Ep 1701 The Sneaky Sneak
Broadcaster: SportsNet360
3rd T.J. Schwanky (Tied)
Title: Alberta Bison (Outdoor Quest TV Ep 6 2024)
Broadcaster: WildTV
3rd Vanessa Harrop (Tied)
Title: Roan and Blesbok (Outoor Quest TV Ep 2 2024)
Broadcaster: WildTV
4. HUNTING FEATURE
1st Ken Bailey
Title: Toxic Shock
Publication: Outdoor Canada
2nd Joshua Martin
Title: Achieving a Hunt-Life Balance
Publication: Conservation
3rd Steve Galea (Tied)
Title: The State of Coyotes
Publication: Ontario Out of Doors
3rd Vanessa Harrop (Tied)
Title: Surprise Elk
Publication: North American Outdoors
5. FISHING FEATURE
1st Patrick Walsh
Title: Recipe for Success
Publication: Outdoor Canada
2nd Ken Bailey
Title: One Tricky Trout
Publication: Outdoor Canada
3rd Scott Gardner
Title: Learning the Hard Way
Publication: Outdoor Canada
6. OTHER FEATURE
1st Ken Bailey
Title: Arctic Harvest
Publication: Outdoor Canada
John Geary
Title: Urban Wetlands: Natural Oases in Concrete
Publication: Canadian Wildlife
3rd Michaela Ludwig
Title: Wild Art
Publication: BC Outdoors
7. PHOTOGRAPHY - FISH, WILDLIFE AND WILD SPACES
1st T.J. Schwanky
Title: Happiness Is
Publication: Alberta Outdoorsmen
2nd Nick Trehearne
Title: Work of Art
Publication: BC Outdoors
3rd Nick Trehearne
Title: The Next Generation Arrives
Publication: BC Outdoors
8. PHOTOGRAPHY - OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
1st Nick Trehearne
Title: Coming Out Heavy
Publication: Petersens Hunting Journal
2nd Nick Trehearne
Title: Never Too Late
Publication: Grays Sporting Journal
3rd T.J. Schwanky
Title: Sunset Success
Publication: Canadian Firearms Journal
9. PODCAST
1st Brad Fenson
Title: Harvest Your Own - Episode 73: Changing Demographics of Hunters – Fatima Dhooma
Publication: Various
2nd Steve Hamilton
Title: Wild Talk – Episode 15: It’s Time to Speak Up with While Sheep Society of BC and Blood Origins
Publication: WildTV Network
3rd Steve Hamilton
Title: Wild Talk – Eposide 19: The Future of Trapping & Hunting with Laura Groesbeck and Reid Roberts
Publication: WildTV Network
10. THE FUTURE OF HUNTING IN CANADA AWARD sponsored by Delta Waterfowl
1st Brad Fenson
Title: Too Young to Hunt?
Publication: Delta Waterfowl
2nd Brad Fenson
Title: The Changing Demographics of New Hunters
Publication: 2024 Alberta Guide to Hunting Regulations
3rd Ken Bailey
Title: Go Public
Publication: Outdoor Canada
11. EDITOR’S CHOICE AWARD
1st Outdoor Canada
Title: Big Fish Matter
Written by: Gord Pyzer
2nd Ontario Out of Doors
Title: Destination Maitland
Written By: Jason Forde
3rd BC Outdoors
Title: Four Years After the Big Bar Landslide
Written by: Tom Davis
PAST AWARDS WINNERS
2024 POMAC Communications Awards
2023 OWC Communications Awards
2022 OWC Communications Awards
2021 OWC Communications Awards
2020 OWC Communications Awards
2019 OWC Communications Awards
Pete McGillen Award
The Pete McGillen Award is presented annually (when warranted) to a member of the Professional Outdoor Media Association of Canada who has, over the years, best reflected the aims and objectives of the organization. The award honors the memory of one of Canada's most outstanding outdoor writers.
Leo (Pete) McGillen (1908 - 1973) was one of the most productive and active outdoor writers in Canada. He was the first full-time Outdoors Editor of The Toronto Telegram, the first such position of its kind on a daily newspaper in Canada. He also served as the City Editor for The Peterborough Examiner for 11 years. He broadcast a weekly outdoors show, "Outdoors with Pete McGillen", over CFRB radio in Toronto and was a regular contributor to the CBC Sportsmen's Show on radio. According to a Canadian Press survey of the day, he was "the most widely quoted outdoor writer in Canada." Named to the Fishing Hall of Fame in Chicago in 1954, he was also inducted into the Canadian Sportsmen's Hall of Fame and the Peterborough Sports Hall of Fame. He was a director of the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, and a life member of five and honorary member of nine fish and game clubs in Ontario. McGillen was a director of the Outdoor Writers Association of America and the president of the OWC in 1960. He published a collection of his newspaper and radio writings, Outdoors with Pete McGillen, in 1955 (Ryerson Press). His writings and broadcasts covered the full spectrum of outdoor experiences, from hunting and fishing to nature appreciation, conservation and the value of national parks for all to enjoy.
The Pete McGillen award recognizes members who, during their professional career, have met the following criteria:
- Stimulated interest and appreciation of the outdoors;.
- Stimulated high standards of craftsmanship among professionals concerned with the portrayal of outdoor life.
Past Pete McGillen Award Recipients
1974 - Ernie Taylor
1975 - Berndt Berglund
1976 - Jack Davis
1977 - John Power
1978 - Sheila Kaighin
1979 - Jack Davis
1981 - Leo Prince
1983 - Michael Bolton
1984 - George R. Cooke
1985 - Burton J. Myers
1986 - W.A. MacDonald
1987 - Robert A. Rife
1988 - Art Briggs-Jude
1989 - Bob Keir
1990 - Dave Sutherland
1991 - Robert H. Jones
1992 - Helen Mason
1993 - Ernie Fedoruk
1994 - Jack Simpson
1995 - Roger Fortier
1996 - Teddi Brown
1997 - Bill Thompson
1999 - Dr. Robert O. Bailey
2002 - Marty Roberts
2003 - Dr. Hugh Best
2004 - Lloyd Fridenburg
2007 - Susan Kane-Doyle
2009 - Shirley Teasdale
2010 - Don Meredith
2012 - Tom Doyle
2013 - John Kerr
2014 - Ken Bailey
2015 - T.J. Schwanky
2017 - Duane S. Radford
2019 - Brad Fenson
2023 - Michael Snook
2024 - Ken Bailey
