Past Winners

Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Marketing Excellence in Ontario

Toronto Arts Foundation – “ArtworksTO” (2024)
Municipality of West Nipissing, “Land Use and Development Strategy”” (2023)
St. Thomas Economic Development Corporation, “Celebrating Public Art in the Railway City” (2022)
Municipality of Central Huron “Huron Student Honey” (2021)
PICNIC Smiths Falls, Town of Smiths Falls (2020)
Durham Region 2019 Ontario Parasport Games, Regional Municipality of Durham (2019)
Ottawa Valley Recreational Trail Partnership, Ottawa Valley Recreational Trail Partners (2018)
Bay of Quinte Discovery Guide 4th Edition, Bay of Quinte Regional Marketing Board (2017)
Make It Kitchener, City of Kitchener (2016)
“Today and Tonight in London Canada”, London Economic Development Corporations (2013)
Milton This Way Up Brand, Town of Milton (2013)

Joseph A. Montgomery Economic Development Achievement Award

Sean Dyke (2024)
Donna Gillespie (2023)
Meredith Forget (2022)
Janice Hawley (2019)
Belinda Wick-Graham (2017)

President’s Award

Cindy Hick (2024)
Aileen Murray (2024)
Gord Knowles (2023)
Woodstock Economic Development Team, Len Magyar & Brad Hammond (2023)
Heather Lalonde (2022)
Nour Mazloum (2021)
George Borovilos (2019)
Paul Parker (2018)
Lauren Millier (2017)
City of Toronto (2017)
Sharon Jones (2016)
Delia Reiche (2016)

Innovative Community of the Year

City of Owen Sound – Are You Most? Millenipreneur Recruitment Video (2018)
Town of Newmarket – Collaborative Community Ecosystem CCE (2015)

Digital Influencer of the Year

Yvonne Pilon (2018)
Michael Marini (2015)

Community Influencer of the Year

Mayor George Bridge, Town of Minto (2021)
Mayor David Bailey, The County of Brant (2020)
Town of Ajax Council (2019)
Mayor Tony Bynen, Newmarket (2018)
Mayor Jeff Lehman, City of Barrie (2017)
Warden Gerry Marshall, Simcoe County (2016)
Mayor George Bridge (2015)

Emerging Professional Influencer of the Year

Jason Schildroth, Town of Caledon (2022)
Elle Crevits, St. Thomas Economic Development Corporation (2021)
Darryl Julott, Digital Main Street (2020)
Rebecca Lamb, Prince Edward County (2019)
Catherine Oosterbaan, OMAFRA (2018)
Savanna Myers, Grey County (2017)
Becky Breedon, Simcoe County (2016)
Gord Knowles (2015)

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Influencer of the Year

Angela Smith (2023)
Nour Mazloum (2022)

Bright Ideas Competition

“Public Sector Best Practices for Encouraging Small Business Transitions” – Brenna Carroll & Brittany Wise (2023)
“Housing Readiness Assessment” – Elle Crevits, Lauren MacDermid, Harshit Sekhri (2022)
“Performance Measurement” – Alia Abbas, Amanda St. John, Brandon Webb (2020)
“Innovation in the Municipal Sector” – Laura Thompson, Jessica Linthorne (2019)

Innovation in Community Resiliency

“Open Fields Farm Tour: Building a Resilient Agricultural Industry in The Blue Mountains” – Town of Blue Mountains (2023)
“PEC Tourism Management Plan”, The County of Prince Edward (2021)
“Bay of Quinte Marketing Grants”, Bay of Quinte Regional Marketing Board (2021)
Railway City Recovery Plan”, St. Thomas Economic Development (2020)
“ShopHERE”, City of Toronto, Digital Main Street (2020)

Urban – Over 100,000 Population

““Rapid Skills Micro-credential Program – Skills Development Fund” – Invest Barrie – City of Barrie (2023)

Inclusive Community Based Initiatives & Programming

“Convergence Music and Art Festival”, Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce (2024)
“Sensory Friendly Zone”, Municipality of Central Huron (2023)
“The Shoppability Project”, Municipality of Central Huron (2022)
“Supporting 2LGBTQ+ People in the Workplace”, Municipality of Chatham-Kent (2022)

“Wellington Welcomes”, County of Wellington (2023)
“The Equity & Diversity Collaborative”, City of Mississauga (2023)
Digital Main Street “RAISE” Rural and Indigenous Supports for Entrepreneurs (2022)

Community Economic Development Awards

Rural – Under 100,000 Population

“Perth County Farms to Stratford Tables”, Perth County (2023)
“Random Acts of Downtown Shopping: Spreading out the Economic Impact of Major Filming Projects”, Town of Newmarket (2022)
“Taste Real Farmers’ Market Box Series”, County of Wellington (2021)
“Smiths Falls and District Chamber of Commerce Shop Local Campaign”, Town of Smiths Falls (2020)
“PICNIC Smiths Falls”, Town of Smiths Falls (2020)
“Northern Ontario Exports Program”, Ontario’s North Economic Development Corporation (2019)

Urban – Over 100,000 Population

“Mobility Demonstration Zone: City as a Testbed to Showcase Smart Mobility innovation in the City of Vaughan and Markham”, City of Vaughan (2023)
“Supporting Entrepreneurs with the In-Market Support Special Project Fund”, County of Simcoe Economic Development Office (2022)
“Industry 4.0: Automation Accelerator Program”, County of Simcoe (2021)
“Activate! Vaughan Smart City Challenge” City of Vaughan (2021)
“Spend it Here”, City of Hamilton (2020)
“The County Food Hub”, Corporation of the County of Prince Edward (2019)

Building Initiatives Awards

Rural – Under 100,000 Population

“Harrow Streetscape Project”, Town of Essex (2022)
“Searchmont Resort Retention Project”, Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation (2019)

Urban – Over 100,000 Population

“Grow with Vaughan Horticulture Sponsorship Program”, City of Vaughan (2023)
“Dunlop Streetscape Project”, City of Barrie (2020)

Planning & Strategic Development Awards

Rural – Under 100,000 Population

“Norfolk County Economic Development Strategy – Future Ready Norfolk”, Norfolk County (2024)
” Land Use and Development Strategy”, Municipality of West Nipissing (2023)
“Clean Energy Frontier”, Nuclear Innovation Institute (2022)
“Highway 404 Employment Corridor Strategic Secondary Plan”, Town of East Gwillimbury (2021)
“River District Action Plan”, City of Owen Sound
“County Wide Wayfinding Strategy”, Corporation of the County of Prince Edward (2019)

Urban – Over 100,000 Population

“Sport Tourism Strategy”, City of Barrie (2024)
“Grey’t Reset – Economic Development, Tourism & Culture Master Plan”, Grey County (2023)
“2023-2027 Ready Set Future A PLACE Blueprint for Durham”, Regional Municipality of Durham (2023)
“Hamilton Life Sciences Strategy”, City of Hamilton (2022)
“Make it Kitchener 2.0”, City of Kitchener (2021)
“Downtown Mitigation Strategy”, The Town of Oakville (2020)
“Growing Resilience: Durham Region Agriculture Sector Climate Adaptation Strategy”, Regional Municipality of Durham (2019)

Investment Attraction Awards

Rural – Under 100,000 Population

” Welcome Home”, The City of Kawartha Lakes (2023)
“”Why Stratford”, investStratford (2022)
“Outfitter Attraction”, Town of Gravenhurst (2021)
“DMZ Innisfil”, Town of Innisfil (2020)
“Make a Life, Make a Living – Video Series”, The Town of Gananoque (2019)

Urban – Over 100,000 Population

“This is How We Live promotional video”, City of St. Catharines (2023)
“Oxford Connection Fam Tour Re-Launch”, The Oxford Connection (2022)
“SMART Sarnia Lambton marketing Initiative”, Sarnia Lambton Economic Partnership (2021)
“Vaughan Rising Podcast – Season 1”, City of Vaughan (2020)
“Make a Move”, City of Hamilton (2019)
“VMC 360 Degree Virtual Tour”, City of Vaughn (2019)

Visitor Attraction & Tourism Product Development Awards

Rural – Under 100,000 Population

“Emerging Aurora’s Cybersecurity Escape Room” – Town of Aurora (2024)
“Destination Northern Ontario-Blind River Tourism & Recreation CED”, Destination Northern Ontario & Blind River (2023)
“Celebrating Public Art in the Railway City”, St. Thomas Economic Development Corporation (2022)
“Patiolicious -Taste and Toast to Collingwood’s Great Outdoors”, Town of Collingwood & Downtown Collingwood BIA (2021)
“Middlesex County Culinary Guide”, Middlesex County (2020)
“Perth County Farm Gate Map”, Perth County (2019)

Urban – Over 100,000 Population

“2024 Barrie Airshow”, City of Barrie (2024)
“Kingstonlicious”, Tourism Kingston (2023)
“Northern Ontario Cycling Route/Trail Expansion Initiative”, Destination Northern Ontario in partnership with Waterfront Regeneration Trust (2022)
“Fav Spot Vaughan Campaign”, Tourism Vaughan, City of Vaughan, Economic and Cultural Development (2021)
“Take a Drive, Meet Us Here (Safely) in Bay of Quinte”, Bay of Quinte Regional Marketing Board (2020)
“Durham Region 2019 Ontario Parasport Games”, Regional Municipality of Durham (2019)

Workforce Development & Resident Attraction Awards

Rural – Under 100,000 Population

“Land in Lanark”, County of Lanark (2024)
“Perth County Full House Tour”, Perth County (2023)
“Move to Minto”, Town of Minto (2022)
“Work from Home Capital of Canada”, City of Owen Sound (2021)
“Feeding Your Future: Connecting Ontario’s Agri-Food Workforce”, Ontario Federation of Agriculture (2020)
“Successful Careers Video Series”, Corporation of the County of Prince Edward (2019)

Urban – Over 100,000 Population

“ArtworksTO”, Toronto Arts Foundation (2024)
“Learning, Earning, Living CK Career Expo and Job Fair Project”, Municipality of Chatham-Kent, Community Attraction and Promotion (2023)
“Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership”, Sarnia Lambton Economic Partnership (2022)
“Work in Simcoe County”, The Corporation of the County of Simcoe (2021)
“A Place to Call Home”, Bay of Quinte Regional Marketing Board (2020)
“Possible Made Here Talent Attraction Portal”, City of Kingston (2019)

Excellence in Rural Economic Development Award

“Lake Huron North Shore Tourism and Recreation CED Initiative” – Destination Northern Ontario – Mississauga First Nation – Blind River (2024)
“Experimental Acres: A regenerative Agriculture Programme”, County of Wellington (2024)
“Student Sculpture Garden”, Municipality of Central Huron (2023)
“Small but Mighty Huron-Kinloss”, Township of Huron-Kinloss (2022)
“Huron Student Honey”, Municipality of Central Huron (2021)
“Downtown Seaforth’s Back Alley Initiative – Looking Out My Back Door”, Municipality of Huron East (2020)
“Downtown – The Making of Seaforth is Welcoming You”, Municipality of Huron East, Seaforth BIA & Edifice Studios (2019)

Excellence in City Building Award

“SDG Idea Factory”, City of Kitchener (2024)

Promotional Awards

Publications

2018

Tourism Investment Booklet, Town of Gananoque
Bay of Quinte Discovery Guide 5th Edition, Bay of Quinte Regional Marketing Board
Success Makers, City of Hamilton

2017

Glengarry Routes Heritage Brochure, Townships of North Glengarry and South Glengarry
Harvests of Haldimand – Culinary Adventure Guide, Haldimand County Economic Development and Tourism
Headwaters 2017 Four-Season Visitors’ Guide, Headwaters Tourism
Bay of Quinte Discovery Guide 4th Edition, Bay of Quinte Regional Marketing Board

2016

Prince Edward County Community Profile, Prince Edward County
Headwaters 2016 Four-Season Visitors’ Guide, Headwaters Tourism
Make It Kitchener, City of Kitchener
London Magazine, London Economic Development Corporation

2015

Prince Edward County Promotional Publication, Prince Edward County
Headwaters 2015 Four-Season Visitor’s Guide, Headwaters Tourism
Brampton Investment Map, City of Brampton Economic Development & Tourism Office

2014

Flora Art Walk, Flora Centre For The Arts
25 Things to Know About Prince Edward County, Prince Edward County
The START OF AWESOME, City of Kitchener
VOTE – City of Waterloo, City of Waterloo
City of Toronto Signatures Sites Collection 2014, City of Toronto Economic Development and Culture Division

2013

Elgin County 2012 Year in Review, Elgin County
2012/2013 Community Report, Town of Newmarket
Ontario’s Southwest Culinary Magazine, Southwest Ontario Tourism Corporation

Technology & New Media

2018

Oakville Opportunities and Investments Virtual Tour, Town of Oakville
York Link, York Region Economic Development

2017

See Your Future from THE BRIDGE, Town of Bracebridge
Story Mapping for Film, City of Cambridge
Plenty of Reasons Video Project, Tourism Windsor-Essex Pelee Island

2016

Visit Atikokan.ca, Atikokan Economic Development Corporation
Ambassador Program Booklets, Prince Edward County
Invest in Middlesex Website, Middlesex County
StartUp HERE Toronto Website, City of Toronto

2015

#stthomasproud, St. Thomas Economic Development Corporation
Norfolk County Blogger Outreach, Norfolk County
Bestbeachesontario.com Website, Southwest Ontario Tourism Corporation
Hamilton Investment Ontario Microsite, City of Hamilton

2014

1000 Reasons to do Business in Gananoque, Town of Gananoque
Perth Cultivating Video, County of Perth
YYB.ca Video, City of North Bay
Lifestyle Video, City of North Bay
Industrial Video, City of North Bay
Kawarthas Northumberland Butter Tart Tour Awareness Campaign, Regional Tourism Organization 8

2013

Come to the Crossroads Website, City of Woodstock Economic Development
Norfolk County Video Library, Norfolk County Tourism
Ambitious Hamilton, City of Hamilton
Hamilton Site Selector App, City of Hamilton

Branding & Advertising (Category combined in 2018)

2018

#ProsperInPerthCounty, Perth County
That’s LivingCK, Municipality of Chatham-Kent Community Attraction and Promotion
Sounds of Guelph, City of Guelph – Tourism Services

2017

Fort Frances Boundless, Town of Fort Frances
Business to Bruce Design and Communications Style Guide, Corporation of the County of Bruce

2016

New Tillsonburg Branding – Connected. Enriched. Inspired., Town of Tillsonburg
Make It Kitchener, City of Kitchener

2015

Gravenhurst365 Former Residents Campaign, Town of Gravenhurst

2014

Southhampton Community Design Toolkit, County of Bruce
Port Elgin Community Design Toolkit, County of Bruce
Prince Edward County Community Brand, Prince Edward County
Hamilton Harbour, City of Hamilton

2013

Colour It Your Way, Grey County
Ambitious Hamilton, City of Hamilton

Advertising

2017

Go to Thunder Bay – TTC Ads, Thunder Bay Community Economic Development
Film Durham Promotional Video, The Regional Municipality of Durham

2016

Build a New Life Campaign, Prince Edward County
From the Farm to Our Table: Shining the Spotlight on Food & Agriculture, Peterborough Economic Development
#ColourItYourWay – Fall Campaign 2016, Grey County Tourism
Next Stop: Taste Video Series, Southwest Ontario Tourism Corporation

2015

Progress Redefined, Prince Edward County
#HamOntFT (Hamilton Ontario Food Tour), City of Hamilton
Reasons Campaign, Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island

2014

Savour Elgin/Elgin Arts Trail Discovery Guide Insert, Elgin County
Explore the Bruce Adventure Passport, County of Bruce
Land of 1000 Perfect Butter Tarts, Regional Tourism Organization 8

2013

Artastic Elgin Campaign, Elgin County
Footsteps of Rock Legends, Norfolk County Tourism/Simcoe
Urban Space Hamilton, City of Hamilton

Special Events

2018

2018 Tourism Familiarization Tour, Perth County
Experience North Bay, Investment and Awareness Events, 2018 Ford Women’s Curling Championship, The City of North Bay Economic Development
2018 Canadian Country Music Awards: Host City Initiatives, Tourism Hamilton, City of Hamilton

2017

NOSH, City of Hamilton

Collaboration and Partnership Awards

Public Private Partnerships

2017

Go Local Fort Frances, Rainy River Future Development Corporation
South Dundas Student Technology Partnership, Municipality of South Dundas
Millworks – Centre for Entrepreneurship, Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation

2016

Meaford Big Red Chairs, Municipality of Meaford
SSUP- Student Start Up Norfolk, Norfolk County
2016 Simcoe Muskoka Skilled Trades Expo, County of Simcoe

2015

Harriston….We’re Diggin’ It, Town of Minto
Peterborough & the Kawarthas Classics Road Cycling Routes, Peterborough Economic Development Corporation

2014

Downtown Revitalization – Façade Incentive Program, Town of Hanover
Grow Guelph Business Retention and Expansion Program, City of Guelph
Scotiabank Nuit Blanche, City of Toronto, Economic Development and Culture

2013

Gentlemen of the Road Simcoe Stopover – Mumford & Sons, Mumford & Sons/Live Nation/Norfolk County Fair & Horse Show/Norfolk County/Downtown Simcoe BIA
Academic Sector – 2013 Vaughan Business Mission, City of Vaughan

Local Collaboration & Partnership Award

2018

Cool Cones Crawl, Town of Minto
Nuclear Economic Development and Innovation Initiative, Corporation of the County of Bruce and Bruce Power
EPIC 1867 – Celebrating 150 Years of Winemaking in Essex County, Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island and Essex Pelee Island Coast Winegrowers Association

2017

Canada’s First Railway Tunnel Revitalization, City of Brockville
London and Area Works, London Economic Development Corporation

Regional & Cross-Border Collaboration & Partnership Award

2018

Ottawa Valley Recreational Trail Partnership, Ottawa Valley Recreational Trail Partners Group
StudentBiz – Developing High School Entrepreneurs, Brantford-Brant Business Resource Enterprise Centre
Knowledge Management System, Workforce Development Board

2017

Cross-Border Partnership Program, Tri Chamber Alliance
Eastern Ontario Leadership Council, Eastern Ontario Leadership Council

2016

Tourism Atikokan, Atikokan Economic Development Corporation
Headwaters: Evolution of a Centre of Equine Excellence Through Regional Collaboration, Headwaters Tourism

2015

Finger Lakes Business Study Tour, Norfolk County
2015 Festival of Birds, Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island

2014

Heart of the Continent Partnership, Heart of the Continent Geotourism Project/Atikokan Economic Development Corporation
Ontario Auto Mayors Event Series, Town of Oakville Economic Development Department/Automotive Policy Research Centre
Henry Ford 150 Driving Tours, Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island

2013

MedEdge Summit, Town of Richmond Hill/ventureLAB/York Region

Planning and Building Initiatives Awards

Physical Infrastructure & Redevelopment Initiatives

2018

Elgincentives Community Improvement Plan, County of Elgin
Paisley – The Artistic River Village, Bruce County

2017

Rainy Lake Square, Town of Fort Frances
Canada’s First Railway Tunnel Revitalization, City of Brockville
Raise the Barn, Peterborough County & Lang Pioneer Village Museum

2015

LaunchPadYouth Activity & Technology Centre, Town of Hanover
Resident Attraction Program Strategic Plans and Initiatives, Town of Gravenhurst
Brampton International Business Development and Marketing Strategic Plan 2015-2018, City of Brampton Economic Development and Tourism Office

2014

Uxbridge Win This Space, The Regional Municipality of Durham

2013

CORE 21, City of Oshawa

Strategic Plans & Initiatives

2018

Labour Force-Based Investment Attraction, Town of Innisfil
Project Innovate: Driving Innovation in Bruce County, The Corporation of the County of Bruce
2018 Progress Report, Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Task Force on Workforce Development

2017

Community Improvement Plan/Main Street Renewal, Township of North Glengarry
Downtown Orillia Investment Attraction Project, City of Orillia Economic Development Department
“Find Yourself in Bruce County” Bruce County Economic Development Plan, Corporation of the County of Bruce
Economic Development Action Plan, City of Hamilton

2016

What’s Old is New Again – Bracebridge Community Improvement Plan, Town of Bracebridge
Grey County Tourism Destination Development Action Plan, Grey County Tourism

2014

Creation of the Kemptville Centre for Rural Advancement, Municipality of North Grenville/McSweeney & Associates
PriorityPathTM, Town of Ajax

2013

Strategic Plans and Initiatives, The Best Defence II Conference 2013, London Economic Development Corporation