Times’ 2026 Community Choice Awards Honor Rogue Valley’s Best
Published: 10:04 am Saturday, October 3, 2026
By: Rogue Valley Times Staff
The Rogue Valley gathered on the evening of October 1 to celebrate local excellence at the annual Community Choice Awards Gala, hosted by Carpenter Media Group and the Rogue Valley Times at Rogue X in Medford. This year’s event was the largest yet, with over 25,500 nominations and nearly 64,000 votes cast, recognizing 492 winners and finalists across 162 categories.
The evening featured a slideshow highlighting winners in categories such as Dining, Entertainment, Services, Shopping, Finance, and Health and Beauty. Guests enjoyed a buffet dinner and a charcuterie table from Cartwright’s, embraced the decor from Motif Boutique, and appreciated floral arrangements by Corinne’s Flowers.
The highlight was the introduction of the 1st Annual Community Hero Award, presented to Steve Roe, general manager of Roe Motors, known for his extensive community service in Grants Pass. Roe has been involved with numerous organizations and has spearheaded fundraising initiatives, including supporting mental health and suicide prevention.
For a complete list of winners and finalists, check the special section in the Times or view the online edition. The event was made possible by various local businesses, including Rogue X, The Moving Pros, and Cartwright’s.
Contributions by Rogue Valley Times editor Troy Heie, Multimedia Sales Manager Laura Perkins, and Carpenter Media Group Digital Director Shelli Lundgren.
