CPRS-Hamilton recognizes excellence in Public Relations

    HAMILTON, ON, April 9 /CNW/ - The Canadian Public Relations Society
(CPRS), Hamilton Society announced the recipients of its Pinnacle Awards
program earlier this week.
    Close to 100 members and guests of CPRS-Hamilton attended the society's
annual gala event at the Old Powerhouse restaurant in Stoney Creek, Ontario,
and enjoyed a keynote address by Terry Fallis, APR, award-winning author and
experienced public relations practitioner.
    The recipients of the 2009 Pinnacle Awards are as follows:Communication Management: Samantha Booth, John Watson, Carleen Carroll,
    APR, Shirley McLean, Halton Region: "More Blue and Green for a Better
    Planet"

    Internal Communications: Marina Grassi, The City of Guelph:
    "Communicating Corporate Values for an Effective Corporate Culture"

    Audio Visual: Mary Siegner, Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant CCAC; Tricia
    Hellingman, APR, Cynthia Janzen, APR, Megan Bidwell, Hellingman
    Communications Inc.: "The CCAC & You: A Relationship You Can Trust"

    Print Projects: Sheri Ojero, Horizon Utilities Corporation; Perry
    Bisutti, Palmese PhotoDesign Group Inc.: "Current Newsletter"

    Awards of Merit were awarded as follows:

    Marketing Communications: Gisele Shaw, Mary Jo Milhomens, Jeff Smalley,
    Town of Oakville: "Clearing Windrows - Fulfilling Needs"

    Community Relations: Sandy Manners, APR, Horizon Utilities Corporation;
    Marcia Cunningham, John Gregory, CGC Educational Communications; Karen
    Satok, Sputnik Design Partners Inc.: "Generation Conservation - Energy
    Conservation Educational Program"

    Corporate Identity: Sandy Manners, APR, Horizon Utilities Corporation;
    Robert Palmese, Palmese PhotoDesign Group: "Rebranding of Horizon
    Utilities Corporation"

    Internal Communications: Gisele Shaw, Jeff Smalley, Mary Jo Milhomens,
    Town of Oakville: "Make it Matter! Not just another survey"

    Print Projects: Laurie Watson, The City of Guelph: "09 Conservation
    Calendar"

    Writing: Carleen Carroll, APR, Halton Region: "Trust: Positioning Halton
    Region as a Trustworthy Brand"

    Student Project Award: Rosanna Armata, Candice Bromfield, Lakshita
    Chohan, Lesley Patel, Becky Thomas, Sheridan Institute of Technology &
    Advanced Learning: "Impact Communications"

    The Special Awards were also presented at follows:

    Bill Cockman Memorial Award of Excellence in PR: Jane Allison, APR,
    Hamilton Spectator

    Student Award of Excellence: Elise Auger, Niagara College

    CPRS Hamilton PR Professional of the Year: Tim Dobbie, Tim L. Dobbie
    Consulting Ltd.

    CPRS Hamilton Mentorship Award: Heather Pullen, APR, Hamilton Health
    Sciences

    Dr. Louis J. Cahill Distinguished Service Award: T.A.G. Watson, APR, TAG
    Watson + Associates

    Lorelei Kilgour Memorial Outstanding Practitioner Award: Joanne Emerson,
    APR, JEM CommunicationsThe Canadian Public Relations Society is the only Canadian professional
association representing more than 2,000 public relations practitioners in 16
Member Societies across Canada who commit to following a Code of Professional
Standards. The Society offers a program of professional accreditation in
public relations (APR), professional development and education programs
affiliated with various colleges and universities, a job registry, networking
opportunities, annual national conference, a directory of all members and a
forum for information sharing. For more information, visit www.cprs.ca.

    The Hamilton Society represents more than 70 full-time practitioners in
southwestern Ontario. For more information about the Hamilton Society, please
visit www.cprs-hamilton.ca.

For further information: Liliana Busnello, President, CPRS Hamilton,
[phone] ext. 2154, [e-mail]