IABC/Toronto OVATION award writing workshop

Get insight and tips from four expert speakers on how to position your IABC/Toronto OVATION for success!

A virtual professional development workshop on Wednesday, January 13, 2021, from 12 to 1:30 p.m.

In a year like no other, communicators worldwide are rising up to the challenges of 2020 with creativity, inclusivity and resilience. As the 2021 IABC/Toronto OVATION Awards approaches, how will you showcase your impact?

IABC/Toronto’s award writing workshop features expert communicators who are past winners or judges of the IABC/Toronto OVATION Awards. For those planning to submit work to the 2021 IABC/Toronto OVATION Awards, you’ll learn how to write and compile an outstanding award. Get tips from the speakers hailing from various backgrounds on how to position your application for success, gain insight into the adjudication process, and better communicate the effectiveness of your work. 

The writing workshop will cover a range of topics in submitting an entry, such as:

• • Understanding IABC global judging criteria 
• • Setting up your business need 
• • Setting SMART goals and objectives
• • Identifying common mistakes
• • Proactive planning to avoid late deadlines
• • Leveling up your submission, with ideas of how to enter the IABC Gold Quill Awards and IABC Canada Silver Leaf Awards.

The perfect opportunity to ask questions, gain insight and learn from the best!

Register now! 

Fees:

• • Free: IABC members
• • $15: Non-member rate ($16.95 with HST)

MEMBERS REGISTER HERE

NON-MEMBERS REGISTER HERE

Note: This is a Zoom meeting. A link will be sent to all registrants the morning of the event. We encourage all registrants to check their spam folder and test the link well in advance of the event start time.

Speakers: 

Cyrus Mavalwala, (ABC), (MC), Founding Partner, Advantis Communications Inc. 

Cyrus Mavalwala, ABC, MC is a sought-after digital communication strategist, trainer and keynote speaker who helps organizations achieve business results. He earned international accreditation as an IABC Accredited Business Communicator in 2009 and is one of 60 people in Canada who have been awarded IABC Canada’s highest honour and lifetime achievement designation, Master Communicator. 

After years at global PR agencies, Cyrus founded Advantis Communications in 2002 where he leads a team dedicated to building digital communication and marketing capacity for clients in Canada and the US. The Advantis team integrates social media, video and digital communication strategies and tactics that support communication objectives for municipalities, associations and corporations. 

Twitter: @CyrusMavalwala or on Advantis Communications’ website: www.advantiscomm.com 

Sylvia Link, (MC),(ABC), (APR)®, Director of Marketing and Communications, RTOERO

Sylvia Link, MC, ABC, APR is an award-winning accredited, senior communicator with experience in non-profit, government, education, child care and health care sectors. Sylvia is director of marketing and communications for RTOERO, a non-profit member organization of 81,000+ education sector workers and retirees across Canada. 

Sylvia holds professional accreditations through the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) and the Public Relations Universal Accreditation Board. In 2015, she received the lifetime professional designation of Master Communicator from IABC Canada. She is currently a member of the international IABC Awards Committee. 

Sylvia is the recipient of numerous professional awards, including: 

• • Gold Quill, Silver Leaf and OVATION Awards of Excellence, IABC
• • Non-Profit PR Department of the Year 2020, IABC/Toronto
• • Platinum PR Award, PR News
• • Gold Medallion, National School Public Relations Association 
• • Cicero Speechwriting Award for Best Public Policy Speech 
• • Bronze Anvil, Public Relations Society of America

Twitter: @SylviaLink

Crystal Moss, Manager, Communications and Special Projects, The Regional Municipality of York 

Crystal Moss is the Manager of Communications & Special Projects for The Regional Municipality of York, an upper tier municipality located just north of the City of Toronto and comprised of nearly 1.2 million residents. A seasoned communicator, Crystal has 18 years of experience leading the development and implementation of strategic communications plans. She is also an experienced communications advisor to senior public sector leaders within the municipal, regional and provincial governments.

Crystal has achieved a Masters Certificate in Municipal Management, a postgraduate Certificate in Corporate Communication and a Bachelor of Fine Arts Honours Degree. Her areas of specialty include strategic communications planning, branding, employee engagement, executive communications, corporate philanthropy, art direction and creative writing.

Together with her team, Crystal has been recognized with more than 10 local, national and global IABC awards, most often at the excellence level. In addition, York Region has been the year-after-year recipient of the distinguished IABC Communications Department of the Year award at both the local and global levels. An IABC member since 2002, Crystal has served as a judge for the IABC/Toronto OVATION Awards since 2018.

Twitter: @CrystalMoss