TORONTO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) Toronto chapter celebrated the best in public relations and communications this evening, at the annual Achieving Communications Excellence (ACE) Awards ceremony, virtually, for the second consecutive year. The awards highlight and honour the best in public relations and communications from the previous year. The chapter received a record number of entries with 188 submissions from agencies, corporations, individuals, and non-for-profits across the Greater Toronto Area.
“Congratulations to all of the winners and finalists. The caliber of work submitted was beyond impressive and I’m thrilled that the bar continues to be raised for our industry standards,” said Jenny Shin, President, CPRS Toronto. “Although we had to continue online this year, we were still able to celebrate the incredible level of talent within the industry at a time where communications and public relations have never been more crucial.”
The ACE Awards showcase skill, innovation and intelligence within the public relations and communications industry. The awards recognize excellence in communications in various categories including events, media relations, digital media, healthcare and diversity, equity and inclusion. This evening’s awards began with a brief digital presentation and ended with a video announcing the winners in each category. Winners’ video can be found here: youtube.com/user/CPRSToronto/.
The 2021 ACE Award recipients included:
Best Campaign of the Year
Covenant House and Weber Shandwick; Shoppable Girls Best Creative Campaign of the Year
Weber Shandwick Canada; Holiday Art Boxes Best “Pivot” Award
Gold – Agnostic PR – Metro; Metro’s Spotlight on Local at The Royal Silver – Pomp & Circumstance PR; #eBayEdits Silver – Kaiser & Partners / ADP Canada; Workplace Insight Studies: COVID-19 Silver – Moneris x Proof Strategies; Supporting Canada’s SMBs through COVID-19 Silver – RE/MAX Canada & APEX Public Relations/ruckus Digital; 2020 RE/MAX Liveability Report Silver – CO-OP; AutoTrader.ca: COVID-19 Pivot Silver – CO-OP; WeRPN Nursing Week Silver – Moneris; Supporting Canada’s SMBs through COVID-19 Bronze – Matte PR for Hania Kuzbari; Hania Kuzbari’s retail debut in Canada Bronze – Royal LePage; House Price Survey and Market Forecast Best Integrated Communications Campaign, COVID-related
Silver – Veritas / Microsoft Canada; Microsoft AI Country Plan: COVID Pivot Silver – GoodLife Fitness and Edelman Canada; GoodLife @ Home Silver – Argyle & National Association of Friendship Centres; #TakeCareInCOVID Best Use of Media Relations, COVID-related
Gold – CO-OP; WeRPN Nursing Week Gold – Morneau Shepell and Kaiser & Partners Inc.; Mental Health Index Launch Silver – APEX PR and Planet Fitness; Planet Fitness: United We Move Bronze – FP Canada and Provident Communications; Coping with COVID-19’s Financial Impact Bronze – Agnostic Team / Briar Wells; Cisco Canada Inclusive Future Bronze – CO-OP; AutoTrader.ca: COVID-19 Pivot Brand Development Campaign of the Year
Silver – Husqvarna and ruckus Digital; Husqvarna Automower Video Series Silver – McDonald’s Canada & Weber Shandwick Canada; McDelivery Moments Silver – Faulhaber Communications; Latitude Launch Silver – Weber Shandwick Canada & Mondelez Canada; Caramilk Unlock the Secret 2020 Bronze – APEX PR and Planet Fitness; Planet Fitness: United We Move Bronze – No Fixed Address Inc.; Lockdown Lovebaby Collection Bronze – GoodLife Fitness and Edelman Canada; GoodLife @ Home CSR or Cause-Related Campaign, Best
Gold – Covenant House and Weber Shandwick; Shoppable Girls Gold – Argyle & Indian Day School; Federal Indian Day School Class Action Gold – Kia Canada & Strategic Objectives; Kia Canada #PowerToGive Campaign Gold – RMHC Canada & Weber Shandwick Canada; RMHC National Cookie Day Silver – No Fixed Address Inc.; Twitter Birthday Plea Silver – McDonald’s Canada & Weber Shandwick Canada; Fries for Good Silver – BlackNorth Initiative in partnership with Hill+Knowlton Strategies; BlackNorth Initiative National Launch Silver – Jake’s House and Edelman Canada; ASD: Rockin’ the Spectrum Silver – Kraft Heinz Canada & Proof Strategies Inc.; Kraft Hockeyville 2020 Bronze – Craft Public Relations; Earth’s Own Plant Project Bronze – RBC and Paradigm; RBC Canada United Bronze – No Fixed Address Inc.; Fill Up With Love Community Relations Campaign of the Year
Bronze – Queen’s University; The Notebook Campaign Bronze – McDonald’s Canada & Weber Shandwick Canada; Community Connections Canadian Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Campaign of the Year
Gold – Unilever with Edelman Canada; Dove Hair presents: The D Cut Gold – Centennial College & CCPRF – Charmaine Blair, Sarah Heiman, Rebecca Moe and Daisy Johanna Uy; The Future of PR Looks Like Us Bronze – BlueSky Communications; RBC Indigenous Bronze – double shot – Agents of Change Bronze – Ingram Micro – Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Strategy Digital Communications Campaign of the Year, COVID-related
Silver – Playtex Baby and Paradigm; Playtex Baby Virtual Baby Shower Digital Communications Campaign of the Year
Gold – Unilever with Edelman Canada; AXE Project Wild Silver – Insurance Bureau of Canada, Paradigm, True Media and VMG; Alberta Auto Insurance Reform Silver – RE/MAX Canada & APEX Public Relations/ruckus Digital; 2020 RE/MAX Global Outlook Report Silver – Heineken Canada with Citizen Relations Canada; #TheBestieGiftEver Bronze – No Fixed Address Inc.; Lockdown Lovebaby Collection Bronze – BlueSky Communications; RBC Future Launch Employee Engagement / Internal Communications Campaign of the Year, COVID-related
Silver – CCRM; Employee communications during COVID-19 Silver – Rogers Internal Communications Team; Building culture in a global pandemic Bronze – Ingram Micro; COVID-19 Communications Strategy Employee Engagement / Internal Communications Campaign Of the Year
Silver – Moneris; My Moneris / Moneris et Moi Bronze – McDonald’s Canada; Reimagining the future of McDonald’s Government Relations / Public Affairs Campaign of the Year
Gold – Argyle & Ontario Association of Optometrists; Save Eye Care Silver – Insurance Bureau of Canada, Paradigm, True Media and VMG; Alberta Auto Insurance Reform Healthcare Campaign of the Year, COVID-related
Bronze – CO-OP; WeRPN Nursing Week Healthcare Campaign of the Year
Gold – Lung Health Foundation with Edelman Canada; The Toker Silver – Narrative, Casey House; Untold Stories of Stigma Silver – CO-OP; WeRPN Nursing Week Bronze – Argyle & Talk over RA; Talk over RA Campaign Bronze – Argyle & Talk over RA; Talk over RA Campaign Investor / Financial Relations Campaign of the Year
Gold – Kaiser & Partners and Picton Mahoney Asset Management; Building Awareness with Advisors Silver – Argyle & Desjardins; FinTalk Personal Finance Campaign Issues or Crisis Management Campaign of the Year, COVID-related
Bronze – McDonald’s Canada & Weber Shandwick Canada; COVID-19 Bronze – Canadian Tire Corporation; Communications Response to COVID-19 Leadership Awards
Lois Marsh Award; Bruce MacLellan APR FCPRS, CEO, Proof Strategies PR Professional of the Year; Jenny Shin CPRS Toronto Mentor of the Year; Michelle Dias Educator of the Year; Heath Applebaum Young PR Professional of the Year; James King PR Student of the Year; Laik Sweeney Media Relations, Best Use of (Under $50,000)
Gold – Covenant House and Weber Shandwick; Shoppable Girls Gold – Lisa Pasquin, Ali Azzopardi, Duncan Peng, Megan Ruhig; Royal Agricultural Virtual Experience Gold – Insurance Bureau of Canada, Paradigm, True Media Canada; Putting The Brakes On Auto Theft Silver – FP Canada and Provident Communications; Doing More With Data – 2020 Fall Reports Silver – Royal LePage; Recreational Property Campaign Silver – Kaiser & Partners and Picton Mahoney Asset Management; Brand Awareness Campaign Silver – Argyle & Earth Rangers; Earth Rangers Campaign Silver – Andrea Chrysanthou; “Raising Canada” Media Relations C Bronze – Royal LePage; House Price Survey and Market Forecast Bronze – APEX PR and Planet Fitness; Planet Fitness: United We Move Bronze – Kaiser & Partners / Canadian Payroll Association; National Payroll Week Media Relations Bronze – Amanda Alvaro; Dermalogica Canada Media Relations Media Relations, Best Use of (Over $50,000)
Gold – Weber Shandwick Canada; Holiday Art Boxes Gold – Craft Public Relations; Mott’s Fruitsations Buy a Cup Give a Cup Gold – RE/MAX Canada & APEX Public Relations/ruckus Digital; RE/MAX Canada 2020 Media Relations Gold – Morneau Shepell and Kaiser & Partners Inc.; Mental Health Index Launch Gold – Weber Shandwick Canada and Mondelez Canada; Caramilk Unlock the Secret 2020 Silver – McDonald’s Canada & Weber Shandwick Canada; Community Connections Silver – Club House and North Strategic; Club House Marks Thanksgiving Diversity Silver – McDonald’s Canada & Weber Shandwick Canada; Fries for Good Silver – CO-OP; AutoTrader.ca: COVID-19 Pivot Silver – Lisa Pasquin, Melissa Retty, Brontë Wright; National Newspaper Week 2020 Silver – Chevrolet Canada and Weber Shandwick; 2019-20 Chevrolet Good Deeds Cup Silver – PRAXIS PR; bubly pineapplebubly & peachbubly launch Silver – Weber Shandwick Canada and Mondelez Canada; OREO What’s Your Stuf? – The Stuf Shoppe Bronze – Air Canada & Weber Shandwick Canada; Air Canada Fan Flight Bronze – CO-OP; WeRPN Nursing Week Bronze – Zeno Group; Think Turkey Marketing Communications Campaign of the Year
Gold – Craft Public Relations; Bringing Nintendo to Canadian Women Gold – RMHC Canada & Weber Shandwick Canada; RMHC Giving Tuesday Gold – RMHC Canada & Weber Shandwick Canada; RMHC National Cookie Day Silver – Molson Canada with Citizen Relations Canada; Make It Canadian Silver – Air Canada & Weber Shandwick Canada; Air Canada Fan Flight Silver – FP Canada and Provident Communications; FP Canada’s Media Ambassador Program Silver – McDonald’s Canada & Weber Shandwick Canada; World Teachers’ Day Silver – Kraft Heinz Canada & Proof Strategies Inc.; Kraft Hockeyville 2020 Silver – McDonald’s Canada & Weber Shandwick Canada; Fries for Good Bronze – Think Turkey/Zeno Group; Think Turkey Bronze – DoorDash Canada; Courageous Conversations Bronze – Narrative, Salesforce; Path to Growth Bronze – Weber Shandwick Canada; Holiday Art Boxes Bronze – McDonald’s Canada & Weber Shandwick Canada; Beef Marketing Communications Campaign of the Year, COVID-related
Bronze – Veritas / Labatt Breweries of Canada; Stella Artois: Rally for Restaurants Bronze – RBC and Paradigm; RBC Canada United New Product or Service Launch Campaign of the Year
Gold – Craft Public Relations; Snoop Uncorked: The Launch of 19 Crimes Gold – APEX PR, ruckus Digital and Duo Bank; Walmart Rewards Mastercard World Card Gold – Agnostic & Truss Beverage Co.; Truss Beverage Co. Portfolio Launch Bronze – Veritas / Subway Canada; Meatballs Grow on Trees Bronze – Unilever with Edelman Canada; AXE Sneakers & Cookies: WTFred Bronze – Heidi Ruggier; nixit’s Canadian Launch Student Public Relations Campaign or Event of the Year, Executed
Gold – Centennial College & CCPRF – Charmaine Blair, Sarah Heiman, Rebecca Moe and Daisy Johanna Uy; The Future of PR Looks Like Us Silver – Janielle Downer, Halli Gallo, Nathaniel Glassman & Vanessa Tolentino; COVID Conversations Student Public Relations Communications Plan of the Year, Not Executed
Silver – Luxshana Sivaneswaran and Gustavo Lopes; Madawaska Internal Communications Plan Silver – Chloe Villeneuve, Ross Lopes, Michael Jenkins & Braden Noxon; Madawaska Internal Communications Plan Special Events or Experiential Marketing, Best Use of
Gold – Jake’s House and Edelman Canada; ASD: Rockin’ the Spectrum Silver – Unilever with Edelman Canada; AXE Project Wild Silver – Weber Shandwick Canada and Mondelez Canada; OREO What’s Your Stuf? – The Stuf Shoppe Silver – No Fixed Address Inc.; Fill Up With Love Bronze – Pomp & Circumstance PR; Mercedes-Benz #MBGLAmping Bronze – Nicole Woodall; Virtual Convocation: Fall 2020 Bronze – IKEA Canada in partnership with Hill+Knowlton Strategies; 2021 IKEA Catalogue Virtual Launch Social Media Campaign, Best, and/or Influencers, Best Use of
Gold – PRAXIS PR; Courvoisier: Honour Your Community Silver – McDonald’s Canada & Weber Shandwick Canada; Beef Silver – Groupe Marcelle Inc. & Strategic Objectives; Lise Watier Revamped PPC Launch Silver – PRAXIS PR; #TrueNorthern Influencer Program Silver – McDonald’s Canada & Weber Shandwick Canada; McDelivery Moments Silver – McDonald’s Canada & Weber Shandwick Canada; Fries for Good Silver – McDonald’s Canada & Weber Shandwick Canada; World Teachers’ Day Silver – Kia Canada & Strategic Objectives; Kia Canada Ambassador Program Silver – No Fixed Address Inc.; Twitter Birthday Plea Bronze – Tracey Bochner; Playtex Baby and Paradigm Bronze – PRAXIS PR; Pepsi Canada #ReadyForHockey Bronze – Argyle & Talk over RA; Talk over RA Bronze – Groupe Marcelle Inc. & Strategic Objectives; Lise Watier Holiday 2020 Campaign Bronze – Barilla Canada and Zeno Group Canada; Home with Barilla Canada Campaign Bronze – Argyle & Lighthouse; Kitchen Memories Project Campaign About CPRS
Founded in 1948, the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) Toronto Local Society is a not-for-profit association of professionals dedicated to the practice, management and teaching of public relations and communications. Comprising 134 local societies, CPRS’ mission is to build a national public relations and communications management community through professional development and accreditation, collaboration with thought leaders, a commitment to ethics and a code of professional standards, advocacy for the profession, and support to members at every stage of their careers.