2016 SMCC Sponsorship Marketing Award Winners Announced

* Ford Canada's sponsorship of TIFF takes home Best in Show Award

* CIBC inducted into SMCC Hall of Fame for Run for the Cure Campaign

TORONTO, April 28, 2016 /CNW/ - The Sponsorship Marketing Council Canada (SMCC) announced the recipients of the 2016 Sponsorship Marketing Awards (SMAs) at the awards ceremony held last night. The annual awards event honours properties, brands and companies who have raised the bar in sponsorship marketing through not only meaningful connections with communities across Canada, but also through elevating business standards to drive brand and business results.

Out of 72 award submissions this year, winners were announced in nine categories, as well as an overall Best in Show award. The event also featured a keynote address from former CFL Commissioner and Chair of the JUNO Awards Mark Cohon.

"Last night we came together as an industry to celebrate the creativity and innovation of Canadian sponsorship marketing," said Tyler Mazereeuw, Sponsorship Marketing Council Canada Chair and Vice President, Corporate Partnerships, Canadian Football League. "This awards night is important not just because it celebrates great work from this past year, but also because it sets the tone for future programs in Canadian sponsorship marketing. The SMCC has been at the forefront of driving the evolution of sponsorship through our education and mentorship programs, and this awards night highlights the incredible growth we've seen both as an industry and as an association. Congratulations to the all 2016 award recipients and thank you to everyone who made last night a tremendous success."

The 2016 SMCC Sponsorship Marketing Award winners are as follows:

ARTS & CULTURE

Gold: Sun Life Financial & the Sarah McLachlan School of Music's Musical Instrument Donation Drive Campaign

BEST NEW INITIATIVE

Gold: Dairy Farmers of Canada: Fuelling Women Champions

BEST NEW INNOVATION

Gold: Sun Life Financial's Parcours Simplement Brilliant Home Economics Program at Expo-Quebec

CAUSE

Gold: Sick Kids Foundation's Partnership with Murdoch Mysteries

Award of Distinction: Visa Checkout Movember Hockey Tools

EVENTS & FESTIVALS

Gold: Ford Canada's Sponsorship of TIFF

FRENCH

Gold: Canadian Tire's Red vs. White Scrimmage

Award of Distinction: TELUS & Operation Enfant Soleil

SMALL BUDGET

Gold: Sun Life Financial's Kids in Gear in Partnership with the Kitchener Rangers

SPORTS

Gold: SPORTCHEK #MYNORTH

MEDIA

Gold: CIBC's Broadcast of the 2015 Pan/Parapan Am Games

SUSTAINED SUCCESS

Gold: A&W Canada Cruisin' to End MS

HALL OF FAME

Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run For the Cure

BEST IN SHOW

Ford Canada's Sponsorship of TIFF

About Sponsorship Marketing Council Canada (SMCC):

The Sponsorship Marketing Council Canada (SMCC) was created in 2004 to drive advancements in the field of sponsorship marketing. The SMCC mission is to help brands, agencies and properties unleash the power of sponsorship marketing through education on best practices, networking and celebrating experience.

Twitter: @SMCC_CCC

Web: www.sponsorshipmarketing.ca

SOURCE Sponsorship Marketing Council of Canada

For all media inquiries please contact: Rachel King, [email protected], [phone]