This year, we’re all Champions of the North

As the IABC/Toronto President during this year’s OVATION Awards, I count myself lucky to have been able to get involved at a high level and to have had the wonderful opportunity to learn from some exceptional communications campaigns.

This year has certainly not been without challenges and I’m proud of the work our team has put into celebrating the hard-working communications professionals who submitted, and won, an OVATION Award this year.

As a long-time IABC member and Board Member, I regret that I was not always as involved in our yearly awards program. This year forced me to roll up my sleeves and jump in with the other amazing volunteers and board members to adjust our recognition campaign.

I’m so glad I did, because I’ve learned a few things along the way.

1. We learn from one another: Very few Professional Development opportunities rival the opportunity to study award-winning campaigns. There is so much that we can learn from one another. By doing so, we elevate the entire profession.
2. We celebrate one another: The OVATION Awards are an important way for us to recognize each other for the great work we’re doing. No one can be a greater champion for us than our peers. Peer review, challenge and feedback are how we’ll all stay sharp. And experts in the field recognizing expertly crafted campaigns is the best compliment a professional can get!
3. We inspire creativity: The suggestions, input and hard work I’ve gotten from current and past board members, volunteers, judges, and award winners have truly helped shape this year’s celebration campaign. We came to celebrate the hard work of our MVP’s and Champions of the North, and these creative ideas have amplified our jubilation.
4. A global disaster is no match for a determined comms professional: This pandemic has taken the world, turned it upside down and inside out. But despite being over-worked, so many rallied and sacrificed sleep to judge, design, Tweet, create content, update digital assets, collect data, provide follow up material, film videos, and engage with us during our first ever Awards Month. This determination and drive have been inspiring to me.

As our Awards Month comes to a close, if you haven’t already done so, I encourage you to dig a little deeper into some of our award-winning campaigns. Our annual Winning Entries Booklet contains work plans from some of the best campaigns recognized by our awards program and I encourage everyone to glean what they can from the 2020 edition.

Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart, for such an educational and inspirational experience!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lindsay Grillet, MA (Comms)
President, IABC/Toronto

Lindsay Grillet is the current President and long-time board member of IABC/Toronto. She is passionate about communications and, as a board contributor and young professional liaison for Govern for Impact, continues to help advance effective governance. Throughout her career she has worked to amplify the young professional voice and is passionate about facilitating shared understanding. Her education in Psychology, Public Relations and Cross-Cultural Communications has helped shape a career focused on global collaboration and relationship building.