Public Relations and Communications Management Industry Recognizes Canadian Achievement with 2015 CPRS National Awards of Excellence

TORONTO, May 4, 2015 /CNW/ -  The Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) is proud to announce the winners of an industry-wide awards program recognizing outstanding public relations (PR) and communications management programs, the CPRS Awards of Excellence. Twenty-three organizations won 34 awards in 13 PR and communications categories. The 2015 award recipients span many sectors of the public relations and communications management field and represent PR agencies, corporate communicators, government communicators and non-for-profit PR and communications teams. Winners will be celebrated in Montreal, Quebec on Tuesday, June 2 as part of a joint Awards Gala with the local CPRS Quebec Society, La Société québécoise des professionnels en relations publiques (SQPRP).

"This year's winners of the CPRS Awards of Excellence represent outstanding achievement obtained in a tough peer-to-peer competition", says Pierrette Leonard, presiding officer for the CPRS Awards of Excellence.  "It gives me great pleasure to recognize their well-deserved success."

Of the 23 winners, eight organizations won multiple awards for work on a range of communications campaigns. Leading the way in 2015 with two gold, one silver and one bronze award in the Community Relations, Electronic and Social Media, Issues/Crisis Management and Special Events categories is NATIONAL Public Relations. North Strategic won a silver award and two bronze awards in the Government Relations, Electronic and Social Media and Issues/Crisis Management categories. Citizen Relations won a gold and silver award in the Multi-Media and Marketing Communications categories. The Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan won a gold and bronze award in the Internal Communications and Advocacy and Social Marketing categories.

Several organizations won multiple awards in the same category for separate campaigns. Edelman Public Relations swept the Media Relations category by winning the silver and bronze awards. Also sweeping an awards category is Fédération des médecins spécialistes du Québec with the silver and bronze awards in the Best Writing category. Paradigm Public Relations won a gold and silver award in the marketing communications category. The Canadian Patient Safety Institute won a gold and bronze award in the Print Projects category.

Fifteen organizations succeeded in winning the remaining 15 awards, including: Agence métropolitaine de transport (AMT), silver, Internal Communications; Alberta Energy Regulator, silver, Print Projects; Argyle Communications, gold, Advocacy and Social Marketing; ATCO Gas, gold, Issues/Crisis Management; 2015 Canada Winter Games, bronze, Electronic and Social Media; City of Guelph, silver, Community Relations; City of Vancouver, bronze, Marketing Communications; City of Vaughan, bronze, Internal Communications; DDB Public Relations, bronze, Marketing Communications; Manifest Communications, silver, Advocacy and Social Marketing; Manulife, bronze, Print Projects; Northern Health, gold, Special Events; Service de police de la Ville de Gatineau, silver, Electronic and Social Media; Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada, gold, Media Relations Non-Agency; and the University of Calgary, silver, Special Events.

View the 2015 winners per category here.

The Awards of Excellence recognize outstanding achievement in a comprehensive public relations and communications project or program. Judging was performed by expert panels of leading public relations and communications management practitioners from across the country. Winners will be presented with gold, silver and bronze award sculptures at the CPRS-SQPRP Awards Gala in Montreal on June 2 at Marché Bonsecours.

For more information on award winners, the awards program or to arrange an interview, please contact the Canadian Public Relations Society.  

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.

SOURCE Canadian Public Relations Society

For further information: MEDIA CONTACT: Bryan Sparks, Communications, 416-239-7034, [e-mail]