2018 Hashtag Award Winners Announced as part of SocialWest Kickoff

2^nd Annual #HashtagAwards were presented to celebrate accomplishments in digital media excellence

CALGARY, June 14, 2018 /CNW/ - Winners of the 2^nd Annual Hashtag Awards (#HashtagAwards) were named tonight as part of the SocialWest Opening Bash, which took place at Hudson in downtown Calgary.

The Awards celebrate individuals and organizations who excel in digital marketing and social media across Western Canada and the territories. Winners were revealed to a crowd of close to 400 people.

SocialWest Founder Mike Morrison addresses crowd at 2018 Hashtag Awards in Calgary. (Photo credit: Neil Zeller) (CNW Group/Social West)

Hashtag Award winners from five categories celebrate their achievements at the 2018 Hashtag Awards in Calgary. (Photo credit: Neil Zeller) (CNW Group/Social West)

Award winners, honourable mentions and finalists included:

Best Use of Social Media: Non-Profit

Tourism Calgary with Destination Think! - WINNER 
Agriculture More Than Ever - HONOURABLE MENTION
CBC Manitoba & CBC Saskatchewan
University of Calgary Alumni
YWCA of Calgary 

Best Use of Social Media: Business

DDB Edmonton, for Champion Pet Foods - WINNER 
Blanco Cantina - HONOURABLE MENTION 
SkiBig3 - HONOURABLE MENTION 
Farmers Edge
Patio, for Saucony

Best Social Media Campaign

"IBS Clinical Trial Recruitment Campaign" by Habit, for Northern Alberta Clinical Trials + Research Centre - WINNER 
"No more ***king at credit unions" by CUmark for Luminus Financial - HONOURABLE MENTION
"Life's Simple Ingredient" by AdFarm for Alberta Wheat Commission
"READ150" by Calgary Public Library
"Giving Day" by University of Calgary Alumni 

Social Agency of the Year

DDB Edmonton  - WINNER 
HMI
Patio
Vovia 

Community Manager of the Year

Sarah Lamoureux, Theatre Calgary - WINNER 
Tyler Butler, ATB Financial 
Jenna Stothers, Calgary Airport Authority
Gagan Sidhu, Calgary Public Library 
Courtney Higgins, Edmonton Tourism 
Keisha Russell, Tourism Calgary

The nomination process started in April this year. There was no cost for applicants to participate in the awards, and nominations were open for companies and individuals from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, as well as the territories of Yukon, NWT and Nunavut.

The Awards were part of the kickoff for the 2018 SocialWest conference, taking place June 14 and 15 at Cineplex Odeon Eau Claire Theatres in downtown Calgary.

Key sponsors of SocialWest 2018 include ATB, Vog App Developers, Bow Valley College, Calgary Public Library, Calgary Foundation, CISION, Northweather, Full Swing Productions, Four20 Premium Market, In Front Marketing, Truebüch Kombucha, The Promo Addict, Big Rock Brewery, Fiasco, Boom Goes the Drum, SOS Charging Solutions, Red Arrow, Shareworthy Content Lab, Proshow Audiovisual, Neil Zeller Photography, Sheraton Suites Calgary, Openhwy and car2go.

For more information, please visit www.hashtagawards.ca and www.socialwest.ca.   

About SocialWest and the Hashtag Awards
SocialWest is the largest social media and digital marketing conference on the Prairies, providing a multi-day conference experience for those working in communications, marketing and social media. Attendees experience sessions, panels and workshops lead by the industry's foremost experts. The Hashtag Awards (#HashtagAwards) honour and celebrate those working in the worlds of digital marketing and social media across Western Canada.

SOURCE Social West

Please contact Paula Worthington, On behalf of the Hashtag Awards and SocialWest, [email protected], [phone]