The Tyee is proud to have won this year's Excellence in Journalism Award from the Canadian Journalism Foundation.

The award is presented annually to a Canadian media organization for "overall extraordinary performance."

It is given, according to the foundation, to an organization that "embraces ideals of originality, courage, independence, accuracy, social responsibility and accountability, as well as diversity and professional development opportunities."

"This is a very great honour and a joy to receive because it honours the entire team of writers and creative people who make The Tyee happen," said founding editor David Beers.

One large and one small media organization receives the honour each year. The Tyee won the small category, among contenders that included CBC New Brunswick, CP24, Turtle Island News and the Vancouver Observer. This year's winner in the large media category was the Winnipeg Free Press.

The Tyee last won the award in 2009.

Michelle Hoar, who co-founded The Tyee with Beers in 2003, accepted the award at the Fairmont Royal York ceremony last night in Toronto.