Canadian Communicators Shine at 2013 CPRS National Awards Gala

OTTAWA-GATINEAU, June 19, 2013 /CNW/ - The Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) recognized excellence at the 2013 CPRS National Awards Gala in Gatineau, QC. CPRS presented a total of 36 Awards of Excellence to the best public relations and communications management teams from across Canada. The 36 awards include 12 gold, 13 silver and 11 bronze.

"We've been told by our members that a valued benefit of CPRS membership is the opportunity for peer recognition," said National Awards Presiding Officer Robyn Quinn, APR, FCPRS. "Each year we receive entries that reflect how much our own public relations roles are evolving and each year we see evidence of how our members deliver strategic and successful public relations projects and campaigns across the country. Our annual awards celebration demonstrates true peer recognition for work well done."

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 May and recipients were presented with gold, silver and bronze awards at the awards gala on June 11.

"SAIT Polytechnic is very honoured to receive a Gold Award of Excellence from the Canadian Public Relations Society," said Melanie Simmonds, public relations specialist, SAIT Polytechnic. SAIT received the gold award in the non-agency media relations category for the official opening of its Trades and Technology Complex in Calgary.

"We saw an increase in Calgarians' awareness of the complex and an increase in public perceptions of SAIT being connected to the community. We're pleased with the success of the launch and grateful to media outlets for telling the SAIT story so effectively," added Simmonds.

The 2013 Awards of Excellence winners are:

Gold:

• Marketing Communications: CASACOM - Montréal, QC
• Marketing Communications: Massy Forget Langlois relations publiques - Montréal, QC
• Community Relations: Argyle Communications - Toronto, ON
• Canadian Advocacy and Social Marketing: Work Zone Safety Alliance with WorkSafeBC - Richmond, BC
• Media Relations (Agency): GolinHarris Canada - Toronto, ON
• Media Relations (Non-Agency): SAIT Polytechnic - Calgary, AB
• Issues/Crisis Management: De Beers Canada - Toronto, ON
• Government Relations: Town of Okotoks - Okotoks, AB
• Special Events: Citizen Optimum L.P. - Toronto, ON
• Multi-Media: Toronto Hydro Corporation - Toronto, ON
• Print: ATCO Gas - Edmonton, AB
• Electronic and Social Media: Paradigm Public Relations - Toronto, ON
• Writing: Paradigm Public Relations - Toronto, ON

Silver:

• Marketing Communications: Thornley Fallis Communications - Toronto, ON
• Community Relations: ATCO Gas - Edmonton, AB
• Canadian Advocacy and Social Marketing: NATIONAL Public Relations Ltd. -Halifax, NS
• Media Relations (Agency): Argyle Communications - Toronto, ON
• Media Relations (Non-Agency): BC Emergency Health Services - Victoria, BC
• Issues/Crisis Management: ACJ Communications and Kennedy Jones & Sweeney Inc. - Ajax/Oakville, ON/Montreal, QC 
• Government Relations: Brown & Cohen - Toronto, ON
• Internal Communications: McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) - Montréal, QC
• Special Events: Toronto Port Authority - Toronto, ON
• Multi-Media: Thornley Fallis Communications - Toronto, ON
• Print: Toronto Hydro Corporation - Toronto, ON
• Electronic and Social Media: Edelman Canada - Toronto, ON
• Writing: Canadian Patient Safety Institute - Edmonton, AB

Bronze:

• Marketing Communications: Paradigm Public Relations - Toronto, ON
• Community Relations: Hamilton Health Sciences - Hamilton, ON
• Canadian Advocacy and Social Marketing: Town of Oakville - Oakville, ON
• Media Relations (Agency): CASACOM - Montréal, QC
• Media Relations (Non-Agency): Rogers Media - Toronto, ON
• Internal Communications: Toronto Hydro Corporation - Toronto, ON
• Special Events: NATIONAL Public Relations Ltd. - Toronto, ON
• Multi-Media: Babble On Communications Inc. - Toronto, ON
• Print: Massy Forget Langlois relations publiques - Montréal, QC
• Electronic and Social Media: Edelman Canada - Toronto, ON
• Writing: Fédération des médecins spécialistes du Québec (FMSQ) - Montréal, QC

This year's title sponsor of the awards gala was CNW Group and the opening champagne reception was sponsored by NATIONAL Public Relations.

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: "Multi-Media Gold - Toronto Hydro Corporation (CNW Group/Canadian Public Relations Society)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130619_C9608_PHOTO_EN_28239.jpg

Image with caption: "Government Relations Gold - Town of Okotoks (CNW Group/Canadian Public Relations Society)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130619_C9608_PHOTO_EN_28235.jpg

Image with caption: "Crisis/Issues Management Gold - De Beers Canada (CNW Group/Canadian Public Relations Society)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130619_C9608_PHOTO_EN_28236.jpg

Image with caption: "Media Relations Non-Agency Gold - SAIT Polytechnic (CNW Group/Canadian Public Relations Society)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130619_C9608_PHOTO_EN_28234.jpg

Image with caption: "Media Relations Agency Gold - GolinHarris and McDonalds Canada (CNW Group/Canadian Public Relations Society)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130619_C9608_PHOTO_EN_28240.jpg

Image with caption: "Advocacy and Social Marketing Gold - Work Zone Safety Alliance with WorkSafeBC (CNW Group/Canadian Public Relations Society)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130619_C9608_PHOTO_EN_28241.jpg

Image with caption: "Community Relations Gold - Argyle Communications (CNW Group/Canadian Public Relations Society)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130619_C9608_PHOTO_EN_28237.jpg

Image with caption: "Marketing Communication Gold - Massy Forget Langlois R.P. (CNW Group/Canadian Public Relations Society)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130619_C9608_PHOTO_EN_28238.jpg

Image with caption: "Marketing Communication Gold - CASACOM (CNW Group/Canadian Public Relations Society)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130619_C9608_PHOTO_EN_28233.jpg

Image with caption: "Print Projects Gold - ATCO Gas (CNW Group/Canadian Public Relations Society)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130619_C9608_PHOTO_EN_28244.jpg

SOURCE: Canadian Public Relations Society

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