paNOW wins storytelling honour at Western Canadian media conference

paNOW.com has been recognized for its extensive and evolving coverage of the devastating Christmas Day fire that destroyed the Salvation Army building in Prince Albert, earning a News & Storytelling Excellence Award at the 2026 FWD Conference in Kelowna.

The award highlights journalism that demonstrates accuracy, creativity and impact while providing in-depth coverage of major events or public issues.

paNOW’s submission centred on its sustained reporting of the fire that gutted the long-standing downtown facility on Dec. 25. The newsroom was among the first to report on the blaze as thick smoke and flames engulfed the building, and continued to follow the story as it developed over the following days and weeks.

Coverage included on-the-ground reporting from the scene, with images and updates from firefighters battling the blaze in extreme cold conditions, as well as details on the immediate emergency response and the coordinated efforts by the City of Prince Albert, the Salvation Army and community agencies to relocate warming shelter services overnight.