Best Journalist/Columnist: Rick Bell, Calgary Sun
Captured by Neil Zeller
As a columnist for the Calgary Sun, Rick Bell has made a name for himself in the community covering local and provincial politics. As a working journalist with decades of industry experience, his columns are routinely shared amongst the political elite from all sides. Rick Bell’s words have helped to contextualize political acts and local reputations for years while informing readers on a wide array of topics.
From controversial discussions to in-depth columns, there’s no questioning Rick Bell has been a figurehead in the Calgary journalism community for a long time. He’s not afraid to critique city hall, no matter the consequences. Not every Calgarian may agree with the thoughts and opinions shared in Bell’s columns, but he certainly has a place at the journalistic table. Perhaps all can be summed up in a line from his former online biography reading: he “delights in tormenting those in authority at city and provincial levels.” Find the latest Rick Bell column on page five of the Calgary Sun.
FIRST RUNNER UP: JEN GERSON, FREELANCE
SECOND RUNNER UP: JASON MARKUSOFF, MACLEAN’S