Village Gamer

Last night the Canadian Public Relations Society Toronto (CPRS Toronto) honoured the best and brightest of Toronto’s public relations community at the annual Achieving Communications Excellence (ACE) Awards gala. For the winners, the benefits of winning an ACE Award go well beyond the trophies and a short appearance on stage. You can check out the Gala Photos on the CPRS Toronto Flickr Feed.

“The value of these awards comes from the nature of the judging process,” said Martin Waxman, President, CPRS Toronto. “The ACE Awards are judged by experienced professional communicators. Being scored by industry peers adds a level of credibility and validation to the ACE Award brand that the winners can benefit from, especially in today’s competitive market.”

Companies that have been successful at capturing ACE Awards often see positive returns on the time and effort put into their submission. Receiving an ACE Award can help with market differentiation and raise the winning company’s profile which can lead to the growth of existing relationships or help to attract new business. This year, Strategic Objectives and Yum! Canada captured the PR Campaign of the year for their KFC double down campaign, while Edelman captured the award for best creative campaign of the year for their work on Red Bull’s Crashed Ice campaign.

“Being recognized as an ACE Award winner can help to open doors for any business. Many winners display their trophies in lobbies as a marketing tool showcasing a job well done to visiting clients, prospective employees or even to enhance employee morale,” said Chantelle Bernard, ACE Awards Chair, CPRS Toronto. “When it comes to the ACE Awards, the benefits of winning often far exceed the effort put forth through the application process.”

Congratulations to the 2011 ACE Award winners:

Leadership Awards

• PR Professional of the Year: Lawrence Stevenson, APR
• PR Student of the Year: Oluwadamilola Omolade Okunlola
• Young PR Professional: Erick Bauer

Best Creative PR Campaign

• Edelman Canada – Red Bull Crashed Ice 2010

PR Campaign of the Year

• Strategic Objectives/ Yum! Canada – KFC Canada Double Down

Best Use of Media Relations – Budget Over $50,000

Gold

• Edelman Canada – Red Bull Crashed Ice 2010
• Fleishman- Hillard – Eye Health Month
• Wal-Mart Canada Corp./ APEX Public Relations/ Morin Relations Publiques – Wal-Mart Canada Corp’s “Re-introducing George”
• Faye Clack Communications Inc. – 2010 NWPB Media Relations

Silver

• Strategic Objectives/ Yum! Canada – KFC Canada Double Down
• Fleishman-Hillard Canada – Aviva Community Fund
• Edelman Canada/ Labatt Breweries Canada – Stella Artois Draught Master
• DDB Public Relations – 2009/2010 Bosch Eco-Leadership
• NATIONAL Public Relations – Burning Rubber On Ice
• Edelman Canada – Zantac(R) Chilli Challenge
• Edelman Canada – 2010 Canadian Olympic Apparel
• Paradigm Public Relations/TD Canada – TD Canada Trust educates about fraud
• Strategic Objectives – Crohn’s and Colitis Month
• Strategic Objectives – Kraft Salad Dressing Launch
• Fleishman-Hillard – Abbott Laboratories Everest campaign
• Optimum Public Relations – Retire Your Ride Ontario HST

Bronze

• Edelman Canada, Technology Practice – Launch of Mint.com
• Strategic Objectives – Caramilk Key to the Secret
• DDB Public Relations – CTC Locals Know/Gold Medal Getaway
• Edelman Canada – Red Bull Air Race World Champions 2010

Best Use of Media Relations – Budget Under $50,000

Gold

• APEX Public Relations Inc./ UPS Canada – UPS Peak Packing Season 2011
• energi PR – The Powder Room Winter Olympics Campaign
• Argyle Communications – Pain: An Emerging Public Health Crisis
• Environics Communications – Stanfield’s: The Guy At Home
• PraxisPR – The Lifesaving Society: Ethnic Water Safety

Silver

• Argyle Communications – UNICEF Gifts of Magic
• Environics Communications, eBay Canada Team – 2010 eBay Canada Entrepreneur of Year Awards
• Argyle Communications – Maple Leaf: For the Love of Bacon
• Argyle Communications/ HOOPP – HOOPP Speaks out on Retirement Income
• Environics Communications/ CSA Group – CSA’s Grand Rexdale Re-opening
• Environics Communications/ CSA Group – CSA’s Confined Spaces Standard Launch
• Praxis PR – GFV Blushin’ Bridesmaids
• Argyle Communications/ Franklin Templeton – Franklin Templeton Emotions of Investing

Bronze

• Weber Shandwick Canada/ Best Buy – Best Buy Canada Holiday Campaign
• Narrative Advocacy Media/ Ontario Science Centre – Ontario Science Centre Mythic Creatures
• Optimum Public Relations – Toys  “R” Us Black Friday Event

Best Use of Special Events

Silver

• Faye Clack Communications Inc. – Red Prince Apple Civility Launch Event
• APEX Public Relations – Bringing Samsung’s Galaxy to the Street
• Faye Clack Communications Inc. – Score a Touchdown with Ontario Beef
• Optimum Public Relations – Retire your Ride Last Call
• Toronto Hydro-Electric System – Toronto Hydro Smart Experience

Bronze

• Future Shop – Samsung 3D TV Launch
• Argyle Communications – Experience the Caribbean… In Canada!
• CNW Group – Breakfast with the Media: The New Newsroom

New Product or Service Launch

Gold

• Strategic Objectives/ Yum! Canada – KFC Double Down
• Paradigm Public Relations/ BOOM Marketing/ Schick – Schick Quattro for Women TrimStyle Launch

Silver

• GolinHarris Canada – Moores Canadian Suit Drive
• DDB Public Relations – Hennessy Black Ontario Launch
• Faye Clack Communications Inc. – Red Prince Apple Civility Launch

Bronze

• Narrative Advocacy Media/WIND Mobile – WIND Mobile National Launch
• Paradigm Public Relations – The Launch of Molson Canadian 67

Employee Communications of the Year

Gold

• Meridian Credit Union – Strengthening Service and Sales

Silver

• Meridian Credit Union – 2010 Strategic Plan

Investor/Financial Relations Campaign of the Year

• Fleishman-Hillard Canada – Royal LePage HST Education Campaign

Community Relations Campaign of the Year

Gold

• Weber Shandwick Canada/ Best Buy – Best Buy Canada Best in Class Fund
• Women’s College Hospital – One Thousand Voices for Women’s Health

Silver

• Toronto Hydro-Electric System – Light the Night with Toronto Police Service

Bronze

• Foresters – Mobilizing Communities and Families

Best Digital Campaign of the Year

Gold

• Sequentia Environics  – Globe Catalyst

Silver

• Weber Shandwick Canada/ Best Buy – Best Buy Canada UNboxing Day Canada

Best Use of Communication Tools

Gold

• Sequentia Environics – Globe Catalyst

Silver

• RSA Canada – Creating Calm Before the Storm

Brand Development Campaign of the Year

Gold

• Environics Communications/Sequentia/ Free For All Marketing – The Globe and Mail Redesign
• Future Shop – Holiday 2010

Silver

• Fleishman-Hillard Canada – SunChips 100% Compostable Bag Launch

Bronze

• GCI Group Canada/ Mattel Canada – Barbie Basics at Fashion Week
• elevator communications Inc. – Right at Home on Howe
• Weber Shandwick Canada/ Campbell’s Canada – Campbell’s Chunky Most Valuable Coach
• PraxisPR – The Pepsi Refresh Project

Public Affairs/Government Campaign of the Year

Silver

• World Vision Canada – Five for 5