Last December, Megan Hederson received news from her instructors she’ll never forget – she was shortlisted for the 2024 Canadian Online Publishing Awards (COPAs). And this January, her instructors asked whether she would like to attend the awards to represent RRC Polytech. 

“I was so honoured that my story was worthy of recognition. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I couldn’t not go,” said Hederson, 2024 graduate of the Creative Communications (CreComm) program. 

The COPAs are presented by Masthead, an industry magazine for Canadian publishing professionals, and are judged by media professionals from across the country. Eight student articles – plus the online magazine where they’re hosted – were submitted for the 2024 awards by Emily Cain and Karen Press, CreComm instructors. 

The articles selected by Cain and Press are part of the student-produced Working Draft online magazine. All Working Draft articles are long-form pieces that CreComm students write, peer edit, and focus on continuous improvement through diverse feedback, as a second-year final project. 

The Working Draft theme for 2024 was Time. With this theme, students could take their writing in many directions, opting for a long-form non-fiction creative piece, feature article or white paper. For Hederson, she chose to share a deeply personal moment of time from her life, recounting her experience of psychosis and navigating the mental health system in her feature article, Together We Escape.  

Together We Escape was one of five Working Draft submissions shortlisted for the 2024 COPAs. 

This February, Hederson, who now resides in Bracebridge, Ontario, invited her mom to join, and made the train commute to the COPAs in downtown Toronto. As Hederson sat on the train to Toronto, she read all the fellow Feature Article (Academic) nominations, noting that she was sure In Sickness and Health written by Chloe Hannan would win. 

At the COPAs Hederson made her way to the stage to accept awards on behalf of her peers. She recalls the event MC commenting as she stepped on stage to accept the third award on behalf of her peers and RRC Polytech, “you’re producing really great things out there!”  

When it came time to announce the winner for Feature Article (Academic) category, the Silver award winner was called first, In Sickness and Health written by Chloe Hannan. Next, Hederson heard her name. Together We Escape took home the Gold. 

“While receiving this recognition is incredible, what was even more meaningful was the support of my instructors and classmates throughout the entire process. CreComm instructors – especially Karen Press, Emily Cain, and Joanne Kelly – go above and beyond to set their students up for success. This isn’t just my win; it’s a win for all of RRC Polytech and its CreComm program,” said Hederson, acknowledging that she shed a few tears when she realized she had won. 

Throughout the awards, Hederson was texting live updates to her instructors back in Winnipeg, letting them know each time another CreComm graduate was awarded. 

“When I teach students in semester four of Writers Craft, I haven’t taught them since their first semester, so there’s a lot of growth. It’s rewarding to see how far students have come,” said Cain. 

CreComm students are building an award-winning reputation, placing RRC Polytech in the top three out of 50 post-secondaries and publications such as Toronto Life and CBC British Colombia, at the 2024 COPAs. 

Congratulations to all the 2024 Canadian Online Publishing Awards winners – Danna Carreon (Silver for Investigative Article), Megan Hederson (Gold, Feature Article – Academic), Caleb Jutzi (Gold for Feel Good Story – Academic), and Christina Klysh (Silver for Lifestyle Article).  

Read the award-winning articles that were published as part of the 2024 Working Draft issue on Time: 

A Forest in a Day by Caleb Jutzi  
10,000 trees or bust. 

Together We Escape by Megan Hederson  
When a psychotic break lands a teen in the hospital, she is forced to navigate the mental health system. Eight years later, she meets a woman with similar experiences — and finds community and connection. 

Life Beyond Borders by Danna Bianca Carreon  
International students leave their home countries to pursue their dreams — and education — in Canada, but once they arrive, many are faced with a harsh reality. Housing, employment, and issues around recruitment that don’t surface until they are already thousands of kilometres from home leave many international students in precarious situations. 

The Resale Revolution by Christina Klysh  
Thanks to TikTok, Gen Z, and the impending climate crisis, the online second-hand clothing resale market is booming — but in-person thrifting is here to stay. 

Shortlisted Working Draft article 

Aaniindi Ezhaayin? (Where are you Going?) by Hannah Palamer 
In the family tree, trauma’s roots run deep. After losing a family member to addiction, one young woman confronts the pain of her past and reconnects to her Indigenous identity. 

The Working Draft online magazine was also shortlisted for Best News/Sports site.