CPRS Honours Canada's Best At National Awards Gala

TORONTO, June 21, 2012 /CNW/ - The Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) celebrated and recognized outstanding public relations accomplishments within the profession at the awards gala during the CPRS national conference on June 12 in Victoria, B.C. CPRS presented a total of 35 awards of excellence this year. The awards include 10 gold, 15 silver and 10 bronze.

"Public relations practitioners from across Canada do tremendous work for their organizations each and every day," said Richard Truscott, APR, newly elected National President of CPRS. "Presenting the Awards of Excellence each year to deserving professionals is the Society's way of acknowledging the communications work they've done for a particular campaign or cause. It's great to see our members receive recognition for their contributions to the profession."

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 across the 14 Member Societies. The names of the winners were announced in May and last Tuesday the recipients were presented with gold, silver and bronze awards.

"Knowing that our responsible investing communications program helped our members understand a significant issue was important for our team," stated Deborah Allan, Director of Communications and Media Relations, Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan. "But receiving the CPRS Gold award means that our public relations peers agree that our program was a success - and that recognition truly is golden!"

The 2012 Awards of Excellence winners are:

Gold:

• Marketing Communications: SPIRE Public Relations - Vancouver, B.C.
• Community Relations: MT&L Public Relations - Halifax, N.S.
• Media Relations: Environics Communications - Toronto, ON
• Media Relations: GolinHarris - Toronto, ON
• Issues/Crisis Management: Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan - Toronto, ON
• Special Events: Argyle Communications - Toronto, ON
• Multimedia: Thornley Fallis - Toronto, ON
• Print: Ministry of Environment, Drinking Water Management Division - Toronto, ON
• Electronic and Social Media: Bombardier Aéronautique - Montreal, QC
• Writing: Broad Reach Communications - Toronto, ON

Silver:

• Communications Management: Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board - St. John's, N.L.
• Marketing Communications: Hamilton Health Sciences - Hamilton, ON
• Community Relations: Services de santé Royal Ottawa - Ottawa, ON
• Community Relations: GolinHarris - Toronto, ON
• Media Relations: NATIONAL Public Relations - Toronto, ON
• Media Relations: Vancouver Airport Authority - Richmond, B.C.
• Media Relations: GolinHarris - Toronto, ON
• Government Relations: Environics Communications - Toronto, ON
• Internal Communications: Kennedy Jones & Sweeney Inc. - Oakville, ON
• Special Events: Zeno Group - Toronto, ON
• Print: Barrick Gold Corporation (2 awards) - Toronto, ON
• Electronic and Social Media: Edelman Public Relations - Toronto, ON
• Electronic and Social Media: Vancouver Airport Authority - Richmond, B.C.
• Writing: Barrick Gold Corporation - Toronto, ON

Bronze:

• Marketing Communications: Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation - Surrey, B.C.
• Community Relations: MT&L Public Relations - Halifax, N.S.
• Community Relations: Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation - Surrey, B.C.
• Canadian Advocacy and Social Marketing: WorkSafeBC - Richmond, B.C.
• Media Relations: Broad Reach Communications - Toronto, ON
• Media Relations: Environics Communications- Toronto, ON
• Special Events: Edelman Public Relations - Toronto, ON
• Special Events: SNC-Lavalin Group Inc - Montreal, QC
• Electronic and Social Media: Citoyen Optimum - Montreal, QC
• Electronic and Social Media: High Road Communications - Toronto, ON

This year's generous awards sponsors include CNW Group, Marketwire, NATIONAL Public Relations, Infomart, Leger Marketing, News Canada and Business Wire.

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: "Chris Stannell, Regional Communications Manager, Western Canada, McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Ltd. (L). Adam Wall, Senior Vice-President, Brand Engagement, GolinHarris. Gold Award of Excellence winner in Media Relations. (CNW Group/Canadian Public Relations Society)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120621_C3214_PHOTO_EN_15421.jpg

Image with caption: "Karen Dalton, APR, Executive Director, CPRS (L). Nicola Lambrechts, Vice-President, NATIONAL Public Relations (Vancouver). Accepting Gold Award of Excellence in Community Relations on behalf of MT&L Public Relations. (CNW Group/Canadian Public Relations Society)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120621_C3214_PHOTO_EN_15422.jpg

Image with caption: "Silver and Bronze Award of Excellence winners. (CNW Group/Canadian Public Relations Society)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120621_C3214_PHOTO_EN_15427.jpg

Image with caption: "Victor Vrsnik, APR, Principal, SPIRE Public Relations. Gold Award of Excellence in Marketing Communications. (CNW Group/Canadian Public Relations Society)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120621_C3214_PHOTO_EN_15428.jpg

Image with caption: "Daniel Tisch, APR, FCPRS, President & CEO, Argyle Communications. Gold Award of Excellence in Special Events. Accepted Gold Award of Excellence in Media Relations on behalf of Environics Communications. (CNW Group/Canadian Public Relations Society)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120621_C3214_PHOTO_EN_15420.jpg

Image with caption: "Krys Potapczyk, APR, Assistant Director/Manager, Stakeholder Relations, Ministry of Environment, Drinking Water Management Division. Gold Award of Excellence in Print. (CNW Group/Canadian Public Relations Society)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120621_C3214_PHOTO_EN_15425.jpg

Image with caption: "Andrea Lekushoff, President, Broad Reach Communications. Gold Award of Excellence in Writing. (CNW Group/Canadian Public Relations Society)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120621_C3214_PHOTO_EN_15424.jpg

Image with caption: "Julie Charbonneau, Advisor, Internal Communications, Bombardier Aéronautique. Gold Award of Excellence in Electronic and Social Media. (CNW Group/Canadian Public Relations Society)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120621_C3214_PHOTO_EN_15423.jpg

Image with caption: "Deborah Allan, Director of Communications and Media Relations, Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, Gold Award of Excellence winner in the Issues/Crisis Management category. (CNW Group/Canadian Public Relations Society)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120621_C3214_PHOTO_EN_15426.jpg

For further information:

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Bryan Sparks
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416-239-7034
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