CPRS Honours the "Best of the Best" at National Awards Gala

REGINA, June 16 /CNW/ - The Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) celebrated and recognized outstanding public relations accomplishments within the profession at the CPRS national conference awards gala on June 15 at the Delta Regina in Regina, Sask. CPRS presented a total of 42 awards this year: 37 Awards of Excellence, one Special Award and four Major Awards.

"For a public relations practitioner, the Awards of Excellence can elevate your career, help you stand out amongst your peers and put your stamp on the public relations profession," said Dr. Terry Flynn APR, FCPRS, Past National President, CPRS. "The awards gala honours these recipients and brings together the 'best of the best' public relations professionals. This night is our chance to celebrate and recognize one another's efforts."

The Awards of Excellence recognize outstanding achievement in a comprehensive public relations project or program. Judging was performed by an expert panel of 43 leading public relations practitioners across the 16 Member Societies. The names of the winners were announced in May and last night the recipients were presented with Gold, Silver and Bronze awards. Gold winners produced submissions scoring above 85 per cent. Silver winners produced submissions with the second highest scoring above 75 per cent. Bronze winners produced submissions with the third highest scoring about 75 per cent. If an entry does not score 75 per cent or higher in a category, no award will be given.

The Major Awards recognize exceptional involvement in the public relations profession. Unlike the Awards of Excellence, where you submit your own work, Major Award candidates were nominated by peers. The Major Awards are judged by the Awards Committee Presiding Officers in consultation with the National President.

This year's generous sponsors include CNW Group, MARKETWIRE, FPinfomart.ca, NATIONAL, Leger Marketing, News Canada, and Cision.

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 over 1,800 members across 16 Member Societies based in major cities or organized province-wide. For more information, visit our website: www.cprs.ca.

    
    Awards of Excellence
    --------------------

    Communications Programs - External Communications

    Communications Management
    -------------------------

    Programs with budgets between $50,000 - $150,000

    GOLD
    ----
    The Regional Municipality of Halton: "Communicating Pandemic H1N1
    Influenza Immunization Clinics" (Oakville)

    SILVER
    ------
    Groupe Aeroplan/ Fleishman-Hillard Canada: "Groupe Aeroplan: Acquisition
    of Carlson Marketing" (Toronto)

    BRONZE
    ------
    Interior Health Authority/PRMedia Strategic Communications: "Building
    Patient Care in the Okanagan" (Kelowna)

    Programs with budgets over $150,000

    GOLD
    ----
    Avocados from Mexico/Faye Clack Communications: "Communication Tools
    Touting the Benefits of Avocados from Mexico" (Mississauga)

    SILVER
    ------
    Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games Bid Corporation/Devon Group:
    "Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games Bid" (Toronto)

    Marketing Communications
    ------------------------

    GOLD
    ----
    Avocados from Mexico/Faye Clack Communications: "Avocados from Mexico:
    Come to life with Miss Ava Cado" (Mississauga)

    SILVER
    ------
    The Regional Municipality of Halton: "Halton Region Physician Recruitment
    Campaign: The Best of Both Worlds" (Oakville)

    Community Relations
    -------------------

    SILVER
    ------
    Mackenzie Investments/Environics Communications Inc.: "Canada's Top Teen
    Philanthropist" (Toronto)

    Advocacy and Social Marketing
    -----------------------------

    GOLD
    ----
    White Ribbon Campaign/Environics Communications Inc.: "White Ribbon
    Campaign Challenges Men to Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" (Toronto)

    SILVER
    ------
    LoyaltyOne Inc./Environics Communications Inc.: "LoyaltyOne - A
    Commitment to our Planet" (Toronto)

    Media Relations
    ---------------

    Media relations campaign -government

    GOLD
    ----
    Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited: "Toronto Hydro Trades School for
    Media" (Toronto)

    Media relations campaign -conducted by an agency for a client

    GOLD
    ----
    Avocados from Mexico/Faye Clack Communications: ""Holy Guacamole!" Media
    Drive Ontarians to Try Avocados from Mexico" (Toronto)

    SILVER
    ------
    Canada Dry Mott's/Veritas Communications Inc.: "O'Clamato Claiming the
    Title of Canada's National Cocktail" (Toronto)

    BRONZE
    ------
    Aviva Canada/Fleishman-Hillard Canada: "Aviva Community Fund" (Toronto)
    Nestlé Canada/Argyle Communications: "Nestlé: Our Fav*rites" (Toronto)

    Media relations campaign -conducted by a private sector corporation

    SILVER
    ------
    American Express Canada: "American Express Canada" (Markham)

    Issues/Crisis Management
    ------------------------

    GOLD
    ----
    American Peanut Council/Argyle Communications: "Peanuts in Crisis: An
    industry responds to North America's largest food recall" (Toronto)

    SILVER
    ------
    Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited: "Get Smart Toronto" (Toronto)

    BRONZE
    ------
    Fédération des médecins spécialistes du Québec: "Euthanasie: Mourir dans
    la dignité" (Montréal)

    Government Relations
    --------------------

    SILVER
    ------
    Toronto Leaside Girls Hockey Association/ Argyle Communications:
    "Fairness for Girls' Hockey in Toronto" (Toronto)

    BRONZE
    ------
    British Columbia Medical Association: "Time to Hang Up - The BC Medical
    Association's Campaign to ban cell phone use while driving in British
    Columbia" (Vancouver)

    Internal Communications
    -----------------------

    GOLD
    ----
    Ubisoft Montréal: "Assemblée Annuelle 2009: Informer, mobiliser,
    inspirer" (Montréal)

    SILVER
    ------
    Barrick Gold Corporation: "Discover Barrick" (Toronto)

    Communications Projects - Internal and External Communications

    Special Events (External)
    -------------------------

    GOLD
    ----
    Avocados from Mexico/Faye Clack Communications: "Mexican Fiesta Promotes
    Avocados" (Toronto)

    SILVER
    ------
    Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited: ""Straight from the Fridge" - A
    Toronto Hydro Pop Up Gallery" (Toronto)

    Multi-Media Projects (Internal)

    SILVER
    ------
    The Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation: "Plight of the Reaper" (Halifax)
    Print Projects (Internal)

    SILVER
    ------
    Barrick Gold Corporation: "Barrick News Improvement Project" (Toronto)

    BRONZE
    ------
    SaskPower: "HiLines Fall 2009" (Regina)

    Print Projects (External)
    -------------------------

    GOLD
    ----
    SaskPower and Brown Communications Group: "SaskPower Career Fair
    Recruitment Brochures" (Regina)

    SILVER
    ------
    McMaster University, Faculty of Health Sciences: "MD Thank You Cards"
    (Hamilton)

    BRONZE
    ------
    The Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation: "NSLC Annual Report 2008/2009: The
    Faces of the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation" (Halifax)

    Electronic and Social Media (Internal)
    --------------------------------------

    SILVER
    ------
    Saskatchewan Gaming Corporation: "Employee Communication. It's our
    game." (Regina)

    Electronic and Social Media (External)
    --------------------------------------

    GOLD
    ----
    Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited: "Toronto Hydro Earth Hour 2009:
    How Low Can We Go T.O.?" (Toronto)

    SILVER
    ------
    Covenant House Vancouver: "On the House" (Vancouver)

    BRONZE
    ------
    Avocados from Mexico/Faye Clack Communications: "Avocados from Mexico:
    Spreading the Word" (Toronto)

    Writing (External)
    ------------------

    GOLD
    ----
    TD Bank Financial Group/Paradigm Public Relations: "TD RRSP Boot Camp"
    (Toronto)

    SILVER
    ------
    TD Bank Financial Group/Paradigm Public Relations: "Lucky in money, lucky
    in love? What your relationship says about your finances" (Toronto)

    SPECIAL AWARDS
    --------------

    CPRS/CNW Student Award of Excellence
    ------------------------------------
    Jolinne Kearns, Humber College

    MAJOR AWARDS
    ------------

    CPRS Award of Attainment
    ------------------------
    Jean Valin APR, FCPRS

    Outstanding Achievement Award
    -----------------------------
    John Kageorge

    Philip A. Novikoff Memorial Award
    ---------------------------------
    Blair Peberdy, APR

    Mentor of the Year Diamond Jubilee Award
    ----------------------------------------
    Kevin Brown, APR

    CN - Emery LeBlanc Award
    ------------------------
    -   Under 75 members
        Vancouver Island

    -   Over 75 Members
        Vancouver

    CPRS President's Award for Outstanding Public Relations and
    -----------------------------------------------------------
    Communications Management
    -------------------------
    Kellie Garret, ABC
    

For further information: MEDIA CONTACT: Karen Dalton, APR, Executive Director, 416-239-7034, [email protected]