A reporter with a southern Ontario newspaper was named the best investigative journalist for 2002 on Saturday for a series of reports on local smoking bylaws.
Trevor Hache of the Simcoe Reformer was handed the honour by the Canadian Association of Journalists, which announced winners of its annual investigative awards at the association's 25th anniversary annual conference in Toronto.
The CAJ is Canada's national professional organization for reporters, editors, producers and photographers.
Mr. Hache was singled out for his report, 'Smoke Signals,' which was also named best story in the small newspaper category (circulation under 25,000).
The Toronto Star was awarded the computer-assisted reporting award for its analysis of police data on how blacks and whites were treated by city police.
Their controversial story - 'Investigation into Race and Crime' - suggested that black people were treated differently from white people for similar offences.
The award was shared by reporters Jim Rankin, John Duncanson, Jennifer Quinn, Michelle Shephard and Scott Simmie. The group won the 2002 Michener Award for meritorious public-service journalism in April for the same series.
The winning entries received $1,000.
The other winners:
Open newspaper/wire service category: Daniel Leblanc and Campbell Clark, Globe and Mail, for 'Ottawa Can't Find $550,000 Report.'
Open television (greater than 5 minutes): Terence McKenna and Alex Shprintsen, CBC's The National, for 'The Recruiters.'
Open television (less than 5 minutes) category: Ian Kalushner, Heather Spiller and Anthony Germain, CBC News, The National, for 'GST Fraud.'
Open radio news/current affairs: Anthony Germain, Sandra Bartlett and Vito Cupoli, CBC Radio, for 'The GST Scam: Money for the Asking.'
Regional television: Judy Piercey and Sandra Varanesi, CBC News - Canada Now (Edmonton), for 'Patch of Troubles.'
Magazine: Ben Parfitt, The Georgia Straight, for 'Where Does it All Go?'
Photojournalism: Chris Schwarz, Edmonton Journal, for 'Photo Essay.'
Conflict analysis: Ed Struzik, Edmonton Journal, for 'Residential School Lawsuits.'
CAJ/Canada newswire student award of excellence: Andrew Mills, University of Toronto, for 'Loss of Innocence.'