Their Excellencies with the staff of Le Courrier de Saint-Hyacinthe, a finalist for the 2008 Michener Award. The photo was taken following the Michener Award ceremony held at Rideau Hall on June 10, 2009.
Seated (L-R): Martin Bourassa, editor in chief; Her Excellency Governor General Michaëlle Jean; His Excellency, Jean-Daniel Lafond; Benoit Chartier, publisher of Le Courrier.
Standing (L-R): reporter Marie-Pier Gagnon Nadeau; Lise Faucher, wife of publisher Benoit Chartier; and reporter Ariane Faribault.
Le Courrier de Saint-Hyacinthe received a Citation of Merit for an investigation into the misuse of public funds by the post-secondary education institution CEGEP of Saint-Hyacinthe. The reports triggered a further investigation by the Auditor General of Quebec and recommendations for improved governance at CEGEPs.
The first award covered the calendar year 1970. Since then, a rich variety of news organizations have had their names inscribed on Michener trophies - print and broadcast, large and small, French and English, East and West. The Michener was also the first national journalism award open to both broadcast and print media. The award goes to the news organization itself, rather than the individual journalists involved in the story.