British Columbia Magazine Brings Home Nine IRMA Awards


VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(Marketwire – Oct. 7, 2010) – British Columbia Magazine was in the winners’ circle on September 26, 2010 at the 30th annual awards ceremony hosted by the International Regional Magazine Association (IRMA) in Branson, Missouri. The publication brought nine awards home to British Columbia for excellence in magazine publishing, including Finalist for Magazine of the Year, Gold for Nature Feature, and Gold for Special Focus for its Summer 2009 edition. The issue marked the magazine’s 50th anniversary and featured the full-length special feature, “50 Things to Do in B.C. Before You Die”.

“Throughout its pages, British Columbia Magazine showcases the very best our province has to offer – its natural beauty, tremendous culture, and remarkable people,” said Tourism, Culture and the Arts Minister Kevin Krueger. “I congratulate the magazine and its contributors for their outstanding accomplishments in winning these coveted awards.” 

IRMA’s annual awards are selected by a panel of independent writing and design judges across more than 20 magazine categories. British Columbia Magazine took home honours in the following nine categories:

  • Finalist, for Magazine of the Year, 2009 

  • Gold, for Nature Feature (GSI: Grizzly Site Investigators, Fall 2009; Writer: Dave Quinn)

  • Gold, for Special Focus, “50 Things to Do in B.C. Before You Die”, Summer 2009 (Writers: Various)

  • Silver, for Illustration (50 Things to Do in B.C. Before You Die, Summer 2009; Illustrator: Paul Zwolak)

  • Bronze, for Profile (Annie Oakley of the Chilcotin, Fall 2009; Writer: Danielle Egan)

  • Bronze, for overall art direction of a magazine over 40,000 circulation (Designer: British Columbia Magazine art director: Ken Seabrook)

  • Award of Merit, for Art Direction of a Single Story, Nick Bantock’s Saltspring, Spring 2009 (Designer: British Columbia Magazine art director Ken Seabrook)

  • Award of Merit, for Travel Feature (Itcha Ilgachuz, Spring 2009; Writer: Larry Pynn)

  • Award of Merit, for Culture Feature (Secrets of Klemtu, Fall 2009; Writer: David Leach)

British Columbia Magazine is the scenic geographic and travel magazine of British Columbia. Its quarterly issues showcase the highest-quality photography alongside in-depth articles and service features that help visitors to British Columbia and residents alike explore and enjoy the unique features of the province.