Media Advisory - Argyle Communications wins People's Choice Award at
IABC/Toronto's 25th annual OVATION gala

TORONTO, May 7 /CNW/ - Celebrating 25 years of communications excellence, the Toronto Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) announced Argyle Communications as the winner of the 2010 People's Choice Award for its campaign entitled "Fairness for Girls' Hockey in Toronto". The People's Choice Award is handed out annually in recognition of the best communications campaign of the year, as voted on by IABC/Toronto members.

The People's Choice Award-winning program "Fairness For Girls' Hockey in Toronto" was started in November 2009 when Argyle Communications launched an aggressive campaign in partnership with the Toronto Leaside Girls Hockey Association (TLGHA) to push Toronto City Council to enforce its existing policy and give girls their fair share of ice time. Using media relations, social media, grassroots communications, and meetings with public officials, the campaign drove Toronto City Council to enforce its policy and oversee ice allocation in Toronto - ensuring priority access for both boys and girls.

The award was presented, amongst 74 others, at IABC/Toronto's annual OVATION Awards Gala last night at the Liberty Grand in Toronto. Some of the other awards included 29 Awards of Excellence, 39 Awards of Merit and six Awards of Distinction. The awards program broke all its previous records with more than 156 entries submitted this year.

"The quality of the submissions this year was among the best in recent recollection - creating a welcome challenge for our team of accomplished judges," said Brent Carey, IABC/Toronto President. "In addition, we received a record-breaking number of entries for the OVATION Awards which demonstrates the drive to excel by communicators within the GTA."

Awards of Distinction winners included:

    
    -   Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited for the IABC/Toronto Corporate
        Communications Department of the Year.
    -   Diana Robinson & Associates for the IABC/Toronto Independent or Small
        Agency of the Year 2010;
    -   Argyle Communications for the IABC/Toronto Mid-Sized Agency of the
        Year;
    -   Environics Communications Inc. for the IABC/Toronto Large Agency of
        the Year
    

The IABC/Toronto Student of the Year Award went to Sheridan College student Matthew J. Dudman for his news release entitled "Bridging the gap: PR student looks to make transition." IABC/Toronto presents the Student of the Year Award to an emerging communicator with a bright future.

The Bobbie Resnick Philanthropy Award is handed out annually to professional communicators who demonstrate leadership and dedication, while making a positive contribution to the profession and community. This year, Environics Communications received the award for their entry "Walk A Mile In Her Shoes." The company partnered with the White Ribbon Campaign (WRC) in a pro-bono capacity, donating a large amount of professional services for Toronto's first Walk A Mile In Her Shoes Campaign (WAMIHS).

The OVATION Awards recognize the best the communications industry has to offer in the Greater Toronto Area. Judging was performed by a panel of senior communications professionals, accredited practitioners and technical specialists. Two separate judges carefully reviewed each entry independently and then jointly reviewed the submissions and results. A full list of winners can be found at:

http://toronto.iabc.com/wp-content/uploads/2010OVATIONAwardWinners.pdf

The OVATION Awards Gala was graciously sponsored by Translate This Now, News Canada, CNW Group, the Canadian Press Images and Fusion Design Group.

About IABC/Toronto

With more than 1,600 members, IABC/Toronto is the largest IABC chapter in the world. The organization provides these members with multidisciplinary resources and a global network of more than 16,000 communicators, in 70 countries, working in diverse industries and disciplines to identify, share and apply the world's most effective communications practices. Website: http://toronto.iabc.com

/NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited members of the media/

For further information: Christine Andrew, VP Marketing Communications, IABC/Toronto, [phone], [email protected]