Annual CPRS National Awards Gala Recognizes Best in Canadian Public Relations

TORONTO, June 10, 2014 /CNW/ - The Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) celebrated excellence in the public relations and communications field during the 2014 CPRS National Awards Gala in Banff, AB on May 27. CPRS presented a total of 32 Awards of Excellence to the best public relations and communications management teams from across Canada. This year's Awards of Excellence include 10 gold awards, 11 silver and 11 bronze in 12 categories.

"CPRS is proud to celebrate the best in Canadian public relations and communications management by awarding gold, silver and bronze Awards of Excellence to our industry peers," said Pierrette Leonard APR, FCPRS, Presiding Officer of the CPRS Awards of Excellence. "Our members do remarkable work for their organization or clients, and the CPRS awards allow communicators from across the country to be congratulated by the Canadian public relations and communications community as a whole. Winners often mention the importance of peer recognition and note it as a point of professional pride."

The Awards of Excellence recognize outstanding achievement in a comprehensive public relations project or program. Judging was performed by expert panels of leading public relations practitioners from across the country. The names of the winners were announced in early May and recipients were presented with gold, silver and bronze awards at the awards gala.

"Ambulance New Brunswick is honoured to receive a Gold Award of Excellence from the Canadian Public Relations Society - an organization so central to the development, advancement and promotion of our industry in Canada," said Tracy Bell, public relations specialist for Ambulance New Brunswick.

Ambulance New Brunswick received the gold award in the community relations category for its CPR Public Education Program.

"We set out to empower people with the knowledge, skills and motivation to act quickly and with confidence in a medical emergency to save the life of someone who has suffered a sudden cardiac arrest. The response from the public has been incredible and has resulted in positive partnerships with schools and school districts, athletic associations, community groups and industry allies. We've provided hands-on training to thousands of individuals and our message has reached millions more through the media, to whom we are grateful."

The 2014 Awards of Excellence winners are:

Gold:

• Marketing Communications: Veritas Communications - Toronto, ON
• Community Relations: Ambulance New Brunswick - Moncton, NB
• Canadian Advocacy and Social Marketing: Manifest Communications - Toronto, ON
• Media Relations (Agency): Pfizer Canada and Strategic Objectives - Toronto, ON
• Media Relations (Non-Agency): Rogers Communications - Toronto, ON
• Internal Communications: Alberta Blue Cross - Edmonton, AB
• Special Events: Espace pour la vie - Montréal, QC
• Multi-Media: Alberta Energy Regulator - Calgary, AB
• Electronic and Social Media: DDB Public Relations - Toronto, ON
• Writing: Paradigm Public Relations - Toronto, ON

Silver:

• Marketing Communications: Edelman Public Relations - Toronto, ON
• Community Relations: Northern Health and Partnerships British Columbia - Prince George, BC
• Canadian Advocacy and Social Marketing: Yellow Pages Group - Montréal, QC
• Media Relations (Agency): NATIONAL Public Relations - Toronto, ON
• Media Relations (Non-Agency): Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan - Toronto, ON
• Government Relations: Niagara Region - Thorold, ON
• Internal Communications: ATCO Gas - Edmonton, AB
• Special Events: Alberta Blue Cross - Edmonton, AB
• Multi-Media: Halton Regional Police - Oakville, ON
• Electronic and Social Media: Bombardier Aéronautique - Montréal, QC
• Writing: Alberta Energy Regulator - Calgary, AB

Bronze:

• Marketing Communications: High Road - Toronto, ON
• Marketing Communications: Northern Health - Prince George, BC
• Community Relations: Edelman Public Relations - Toronto, ON
• Canadian Advocacy and Social Marketing: Northern Health - Prince George, BC
• Media Relations (Agency): Argyle Communications and GlaxoSmithKline Canada - Toronto, ON
• Media Relations (Non-Agency): Rogers Communications - Toronto, ON
• Internal Communications: Rogers Communications - Toronto, ON
• Special Events: Citoyen Optimum - Montreal, QC
• Multi-Media: City of Hamilton - Hamilton, ON
• Print: Saskatchewan Arts Board - Regina, SK
• Electronic and Social Media: Vancouver Island University - Nanaimo, BC

Click here to view other campaign videos submitted by this year's Gold.

About CPRS

Founded in 1948, the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) is a not-for-profit organization whose members are engaged in the practice, management or teaching of public relations. Members work to maintain the highest standards and to share a uniquely Canadian experience in public relations. CPRS is a federation of more than 1,800 members across 14 Member Societies based in major cities or organized province-wide.  For more information, visit our website: cprs.ca.

Image with caption: "Isabelle Landry and Tracy Bell from Ambulance New Brunswick accept the gold Award of Excellence in community relations. (CNW Group/Canadian Public Relations Society)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140610_C9356_PHOTO_EN_41250.jpg

Image with caption: "Jaclyn Spurrell from Alberta Blue Cross accepts the gold Award of Excellence in internal communications. (CNW Group/Canadian Public Relations Society)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140610_C9356_PHOTO_EN_41254.jpg

Image with caption: "Victoria Procunier from Fifth Story presents Lucie Paquin from Espace pour la vie with the Gold Award of Excellence in the special events category. (CNW Group/Canadian Public Relations Society)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140610_C9356_PHOTO_EN_41251.jpg

Image with caption: "The Alberta Energy Regulator team accepts the gold Award of Excellence in multi-media projects. (CNW Group/Canadian Public Relations Society)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140610_C9356_PHOTO_EN_41252.jpg

Image with caption: "Julie-Catherine Racine and Christina Antoniou from Pfizer Canada accept the gold Award of Excellence in media relations (agency). (CNW Group/Canadian Public Relations Society)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140610_C9356_PHOTO_EN_41249.jpg

Image with caption: "Ashley Therriault from Veritas Communications accepts the gold Award of Excellence in marketing communications (CNW Group/Canadian Public Relations Society)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140610_C9356_PHOTO_EN_41253.jpg

SOURCE: Canadian Public Relations Society

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