Top 40 Under 40 | Vote | Categories | Criteria | FAQ | Previous Winners | Get Involved


Top 40 Under 40

Each year we award 40 individuals from across Canada.
Along with the 40 individuals from across Canada that we will honor as part of our Top 40 Under 40.

Specialty Award Categories

  • Account Director or Supervisor of the Year: Superior rapport with clients; developed unique programs whose success should be supported with data. Testimonials from clients will factor into the judging.
  • Agency Account Manager of the Year: Strong planning skills and vision for PR strategy for a single account or multiple accounts. Demonstrated leadership with clients and team members.
  • Community Relations Professional of the Year: Either launched a new and successful community outreach program or took an existing program to new heights. Showed leadership in inspiring internal stakeholder engagement with an organization’s community. (Client-side only)
  • Corporate Social Responsibility Leader: Either launched a new and successful sustainability program or took an existing program to new heights. Goals of sustainability program(s) should be stated clearly, and metrics showing success should be evident. (Client-side only)
  • Crisis Manager of the Year: Led overall communications efforts during an organizational crisis; proven ability to protect an organization’s reputation and stay on message during a crisis. (Client-side only)
  • Digital Communications Leader of the Year: Led a communications team to innovate across multiple digital platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter. Results should be measured in number of Twitter followers for a brand or organization, Facebook likes, increase in Web traffic, etc.
  • Financial Communications Professional of the Year: Led outreach to investors and analysts during a challenging or notable period for an organization, and succeeded in having the core message resonate with stakeholders and the media. May also have advised on or led communications during a strategic shift for an organization.
  • Government Communicator of the Year: Led successful communications efforts for a local, provincial or federal agency or department. Communications challenges for the agency or department should be stated clearly, as well as evidence of success.
  • Internal Communicator of the Year: Successfully led an organization’s internal communications efforts during a major organizational change such as a merger, acquisition, CEO change, product launch or rebranding, or has established a successful intranet or social media policy.
  • Media Relations Professional of the Year: Surpassed target goals of media impressions and awareness of a brand, product, service or organization. Demonstrated strong relationships with journalists and bloggers through all channels, including social media, or succeeded at repositioning a brand through media outreach.
  • Public Relations Professional of the Year: Corporate: Demonstrated success at repositioning an organization or brand; led programs that resulted in significant revenue increases; produced unique PR campaigns that led to increased budgets for PR activity within a company; successfully built external programs and partnerships.
  • Public Relations Professional of the Year: Nonprofit/Association: Oversaw communications efforts that led to increased donations or membership, or secured major media coverage that led to increase in awareness of goals of nonprofit organization or association.
  • Public Relations Professional of the Year: Agency: Helped lead a public relations agency to growth in client base and/or revenue; expanded scope of agency’s offerings; spearheaded winning campaign (s) on behalf of a client.
  • Public Relations Team Leader: Led a public relations team that demonstrated consistent success over the past year; established herself/himself as a mentor and expanded skill sets of teammates.
  • Publicist of the Year: Excelled as a brand advocate and at leading media tours, crafting sound bites, writing press releases, pitching the media and securing positive media coverage.
  • Public Affairs Professional of the Year: A leader in political and public affairs who has successfully spearheaded advocacy initiatives and influenced policy and public opinion.
  • PR Person of the Year: You have had a stellar career so far, and continue to deliver results for your agency or brand, must have been working in the public relations industry for 10+ years
  • Executive or Manager: As a senior industry professional, you have been in management roles for 7+ years and continue to deliver game changing results
  • Founder: – Coming into the industry you wanted to make big changes, now you run a leading Canadian marketing agency that is having a strong impact on the business world, must have been working in the public relations industry for 10+ years
    ​
  • Internal Communications – We are looking for exceptional internal communication efforts from this past year.   Newsletters, magazines, articles, videos, intranets, and more.
  • Investor Relations â€“ In the area of investor relations, you have been a rock star over the last year within the financial community
  • Government Relations – Within the government sector, this individual knows how to craft a story that helps balance your client’s needs while upholding the truth to the public.
  • Media Relations – Once you have completed a press release, the ability to pitch it to bloggers and media can make the biggest difference in your success.
  • Rookie of The Year – As one of the newest members of the Canadian public relations industry, you have demonstrated an exceptional ability in your first year.
  • Social Media – As a public relations professional, you have also embraced social media both for your clients as well to build your own brand.- We are looking for exceptional internal communication efforts from this past year. Newsletters, magazines, articles, videos, intranets, and more.

 

>