The CPRS Hamilton Chapter recognizes the exceptional talent of its members and PR industry professionals.
The awards are open to members and non-members within the greater Toronto, Hamilton and Southwestern Ontario area.

Submissions
Submissions are now open and close on November 29, 2019 at 11:50 p.m. LATE ENTRIES will be accepted until Monday, December 9, 2019 at 5 p.m. ET ($75 late fee will apply). Note: Only online submissions will be accepted.

Look back at the communications campaigns or projects that you and your team have executed within the last two years* and consider entering them in this year's awards program.

*Each submission must have been planned, produced and completed within a period of two years prior to the entry deadline. A project may have been started prior to the previous two years, however, the evaluation/completion of the project must have been within the last two years

Our awards include the same award categories as the CPRS National Awards of Excellence to streamline your award journey to success. Winning entries from CPRS Hamilton members will be receive additional feedback from our coaches on recommended enhancements.

By entering the Pinnacle Awards, all submitters confirm that their programs and projects meet any standards set out in the CPRS Code of Professional Standards. All entries become the property of CPRS Hamilton. The decision of the judges are final.

Pinnacle Awards Gala Event
The Pinnacle Awards Gala event will be held at the Oakville Golf Club on Thursday, February 6, 2020. Ticket information will be releaseed in December.

Questions?
Contact the CPRS Hamilton Pinnacle Awards Co-Chairs

Janine Ivings, APR
905-845-6601, ext. 3080
pinnacleshamilton@gmail.com

Mary Jo Milhomens, APR
519-822-1260, ext. 3323
pinnacleshamilton@gmail.com

Communications Programs

Awards within this category are presented to honour excellence in overall public relations programs within the profession. All submissions must adhere to the R-A-C-E formula. A communication program can be entered in a maximum of two of the following categories:

1. External Communications Campaign of the Year
Programs geared to improve relationships with the community, influence public attitude and behaviour, to generate greater public understanding of the organization, and/or increase corporate or organizational identity with various audiences. The External Communications categories include:

a) Marketing Communications Campaign of the Year
Programs that integrate public relations, marketing and advertising strategies to help market products, services or places to external audiences.

b) Community Relations Campaign of the Year
Community programs (such as philanthropy, volunteerism, partnerships) that enable an organization to build and maintain positive and sustainable relationships with key individuals, groups or organizations within its communities.

c) Advocacy and Social Marketing Campaign of the Year
Advocacy-based communication programs targeted to multiple audiences that focus on sustainable development and economic, social and environmental issues. May include programs where the primary objective is to address and enhance the long-term well-being of specific communities/and or the environment. Entries may include economic revitalization projects and cause-related issues in cultural preservation, education, literacy, health, poverty reduction, employment and the environment.

d) Media Relations Agency Campaign of the Year
Media relations programs should exhibit improvement of an organization’s media profile measured against desired objectives, or the adept management of issues involving media coverage, or the development of a successful media relations campaign created by an agency.

e) Media Relations Non-Agency Campaign of the Year (government, not-for-profit/non-governmental or private sector corporation)
Media relations programs should exhibit improvement of an organization’s media profile measured against desired objectives, or the adept management of issues involving media coverage, or the development of a successful media relations campaign created by a non-agency.

f) Issues/Crisis Management Campaign of the Year
Communication programs that demonstrate proactive planning and preventative action during an extraordinary event. Also, communication programs that show actions taken to address trends, issues and interest group attitudes with major impact on an organization.

g) Government Relations Campaign of the Year
Programs targeted at government bodies and government agencies or programs that recognize the effective use of public affairs to change/enlist public opinion in order to influence government policy and/or regulations.

h) Health Care Campaign of the Year
In complex health care environments, effective communications initiatives can impact patient safety, quality of care and patient satisfaction. This award recognizes excellence in health communications, public relations and engagement. The Campaign must demonstrate a connection to a health care issue or communication need. The award is open to CPRS Health Care Academy members working in, or for, organizations that deliver direct care or health planning services across Canada.

i) Digital Communications Campaign of the Year
A digital communications program that successfully engages with target audiences to create engaged communities, launch/raise awareness of products or manage issues and/or crisis communications.

2) Internal Communications Campaign of the Year
Programs focusing on internal audiences, such as employees, members, volunteers or franchisees. Such programs should aim at improving relationships between employees and management; a better understanding of the organization’s strategic plan and the importance of their role therein, or both. Such programs can also aim at rallying personnel around the strategic planning or improving employee/management morale, motivation and interest towards the organization. Finally, these programs should focus on explaining new policies or new projects.

Communications Projects
Awards within this category honour excellence in the strategic development of materials and individual public relations products that advance the goals and objectives of an overall public relations program. Special emphasis should be placed on the relevance of the initiative to the public relations objectives. A communication project can be entered in a maximum of two of the following categories:

a) Best Special Events Project
A public relations program for openings, anniversaries and other ceremonies commemorating a one-time event or series of special events or occasions.

b) Best Multi-Media Project
Communications projects that utilize a range of one or more multi-media tactics to achieve an organizations communication objectives including but not limited to video, video news releases, audio only, podcasting, CD ROMs, or computer generated slide presentations developed for internal or external target audiences.

c) Best Digital and Social Media Project
A communications project using digital and social media to achieve an organizations communications objectives including but not limited to websites, intranet sites, blogs, webcasts, on-line productions, discussion boards, Facebook and Twitter. The summary should include a rationale for the use of digital and social media, targeted audiences and statistics or other means of quantifiable measurement that meet stated objectives. Screen downloads of the medium being entered as well as the URL must be submitted as part of the entry.

d) Best Writing Project
This category encompasses original material written for a communications project including: personality profiles, speeches, recurring features or columns, other features such as magazine articles, editorials, advertorials, news articles or news releases. Each award will be judged based on the quality of writing as well as creativity and strategic alignment with their organization’s business goals.

e) Best Internal Publication (print or electronic)
For audiences in-house: staff, executives, volunteers. Submit three consecutive issues of your high frequency, low cost, primarily text-oriented publication. Judges will look for clear, concise, readable copy that exhibits high editorial standards; effective use of colour or graphics; and an overall creative presentation.

f) Best External Publication (print or electronic)
Printed or electronic material developed for external target audiences, such as newspaper inserts, brochures, promotional campaigns, posters, or magazines. Judges will look for clear, concise, readable copy that exhibits high editorial standards; effective use of colour or graphics; and an overall creative presentation.

g) Best Annual Report (print or electronic)
Judges will look for clear, concise and imaginative writing, and creative graphics. Judges will consider suitability of photographs or illustration to overall presentation, clarity of presentation for financial and statistical materials, and effective use of colour.

Student Award Program/Project

The Student Award is open to any full- or part-time student enrolled in a public relations/corporate communications program at a college or university. Student submissions can be entered for any program or project completed within a period of two years prior to the entry deadline. All submissions must adhere to the R-A-C-E formula, regardless of whether the project/program's communication plan has been implemented. A cover page including the name of the Student/Student Team (and client if applicable), campaign title and award type is required in addition to the three-page summary.

Eligibility
CPRS Hamilton members and non-members are eligible to enter the CPRS Hamilton Pinnacle Awards. Each submission must have been completed within a period of two years prior to the entry deadline. A project may have been started prior to the previous two years, however, the evaluation/completion of the project must have been within the last two years.

Pinnacle Awards Entry Guidelines PDF

Tips for a Successful Submission PDF

Judge Scoresheet Communications Program PDF

Judge Scoresheet Communications Project PDF

What Makes a Submission Stand Out PDF

Judging Criteria
The entries received will be sent to the judges to review. All submission will be kept confidential. Judging is done by an expert panel of leading public relations and communications practitioners from across Canada. Judges score each submission and evaluate the entry based on the three page executive summary and review all supporting documents. A cover page including the name of the organization (and client if applicable), campaign title and award category is required in addition to the three-page summary), Winners will be determined by the highest total scoring.

The awards system includes three award levels: Gold (85%+), Silver (76-84%) and Bronze (75%). Judges will present one Gold level award per category for the highest scoring submission over 85 per cent. In the case of more than one entry exceeding the 85 per cent mark, the highest scoring entry will be deemed the winner. A Silver level award will go to the second highest scoring submission above 75 per cent in each category. A Bronze level award will be awarded to the third highest scoring submission above 75. If no entry scores 75 per cent or above in a category, no award will be given in that category. Please note judges may reserve the right to withhold an award in a category should they determine no submission qualifies for a Gold level award.

Entry Fees
Each award submission must be accompanied by a non-refundable $75 entry fee + HST for members and $150 + HST for non-members. The Student fee is $25 + HST for members and $65 + HST for non-members. Payment should be made online when you submit your submission. Note: Fees are used to administer the program.

Note: If you experience trouble with the online submission form, please email pinnacleshamilton@gmail.com

Entry Deadline
The entry deadline is November 29, 2019 at 11:59 p..m. LATE ENTRIES will be accepted until Monday, December 9, 2019 at 5 p.m. ET ($75 late fee will apply).

Check out our Pinnacle Awards Tips and Guidelines PDF presentation to learn how to make your submission award-winning! Learn from past Pinnacle Award winners and judges on what to do, and what not to do, as you plan your award submission.