Working Draft Wins Five Golds and One Silver at 2025 COPAs
Congratulations to the winning writers!
Working Draft’s “movement” issue came away with five golds and one silver at the 2025 Canadian Online Publishing Awards (COPAs). Winners were announced on February 12, 2026 at an event in Toronto.
Gold – Best Patriotic Story (Academic): “A Chance to Dream” by Sofia Peralta-Baron
Many young Canadians dream of becoming professional hockey players — a dream that women and girls were excluded from until the inaugural season of the PWHL, a league that finally provided female players a livable wage. How has the reality of a professional women’s hockey league impacted elite female players? For Manitoba’s Katie Tabin, it changed everything — and the effects are rippling out to younger women and girls across the province.
Gold – Best Feel Good Story (Academic): “Moving Through Grief” by Grace Wilmer
When my mom died, grief cracked me open and left me feeling disconnected from myself and my identity. Mom always encouraged my creativity, but since she’s been gone, I’ve struggled to sing and paint. Could finding my way back to music help me find a new version of myself?
Gold – Best Feature/Cover Story (Academic): “More Than Words” by Zoé Buissé
Our voices reflect who we are and how the world recognizes us. Technological advancements in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices are allowing people who use AAC to claim a voice they identify with.
Gold – Best Photo Journalism (Academic): “Chasing Fire” by Georgia Dyck
Soot-covered clothes, bruised legs, and tangled hair were physical proof of my first season as a wildland firefighter, but what left a lasting mark were the lessons I learned walking through the wilderness.
Gold – Best Service Article (Consumer): “Supporting Sobriety at Work” by Mackenzie Oliver
Struggling with addiction or recovery? You are not alone. Workplaces can play a big role in creating a culture that supports recovery.
Silver – Best Investigative Article (Consumer): “Breaking the Ice” by Brielle Campbell
Mixed gender teams aren’t as inclusive as they seem, especially at the Paralympic level. Alyssa White dreams of playing para hockey in the Paralympics for an official Canadian women’s team, but right now that team doesn’t exist.
The COPAs are presented by Masthead, an industry magazine for Canadian publishing professionals, and are judged by media professionals from across the country. You can see the full list of winners on the Canadian Online Publishing Awards website. Congratulations to all the winners!
