Toronto’s 2009 IABC Ovation Awards: Word Gets Around

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Toronto’s 2009 IABC Ovation Awards: Word Gets Around

By Joanna Uzialko on May 29th, 2009

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Toronto’s chapter of the International Association Of Business Communications hosted its 2009 Ovation Awards gala on May 28th at the marvelous Liberty Grand. Elegant women and handsomely-suited gentlemen sipped on fancy drinks paired with tasteful hors d’oeuvres, the night began with the finest of mingling amongst Toronto’s crème de la crème in business communications. IABC/Toronto president, Leslie Hetherington, began the gala event with a introductory speech about this years results-oriented focus to “Be Heard” in wider circles and to ensure “Word Gets Around”.

Among the highlights of the evenings’ events included host Louise Karachi (BA, M.Ed., CPM) who spoke an inspiring motivational speech that was simple, clear and amplified. “This is not an era of directing and winning but of giving and connecting,” she declared while gallantly walking from table-to-table. “This is the innovations age, and you are its champions”, effectively engaged the crowd into a connecting social atmosphere. Presenter Eric Bergman (ABC, APR, MC and Principal of Bergman & Associates) spoke in a free-spirited tone, stating that “Our business is not about inputs, its about outcomes.” With that said, the awards were handed out (55 in total) including 17 Awards of Excellence, 32 Awards of Merit and six awards of distinction under three categories: Communication Management, Communication Skills, and Communication Creative.

Another evening highlight included The IABC/Toronto 2009 Awards Of Distinction:

The IBC/Toronto MAVERICK PR Student of the Year award went to Jess Bennett, in demonstrating excellence in communications and the greatest potential to be the best all-round future professional.

The Bobbie Resnick Philanthropy Award- Making A Difference, was presented by the lady of the gala, Roberta (Bobbie) Resnick (ABC, APR, MC, IABC Fellow), unabashedly stating that “This is not a memorial but a philanthropy award.” The award went to Apex Public Relations Inc. for its entry of “Charity Starts At The Office- Creating On Your Bike”.

For this year’s awards ceremony, three new categories took stage: The Independent Or Small Agency Of The Year (nine or less employees) went to Diana Robinson & Associates, Agency Of The Year (10 or more employees) was won by Strategic Objectives, and the Corporate Communications Department Of The Year went to the team at Barrick Gold Corporation. Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited took home this year’s People’s Choice Award.

For those of you who were not in attendance of this year’s IABC/Toronto Oviation Awards, a night of sociable face-to-face social media networking peppered with elegant dinning, door prizes and complimentary goodie-bags, is only a glimpse into what the evening had to offer to its excellent guests. More on this year’s winners here.