Excellence in Communications Awards (Team awards)

Communications Awards of Excellence - Government of Canada / 2024

Excellence in Communications Awards (Team Awards)

Nominations for Excellence in Communications Awards (Team Awards) recognize excellence in communications initiatives and work that have made a significant impact in 2023. Any employee working in a communications branch may put forward the names of nominees for these awards, but all nominations must be endorsed by your Head of communications.

Awards categories

The seven (7) Excellence in Communications Awards (Team Awards) categories are:

Diamond Award of Communications Excellence

This award recognizes an outstanding advertising and/or marketing campaign* from a team or group of individuals directed towards the public that exemplifies an overall commitment to excellence in communications and service to Canadians. It celebrates exemplary work that led to remarkable results and impact.
*Advertising and/or marketing campaigns developed through an Agency of Record.

Evaluation criteria
  • Planning
    • Demonstration of a direct link to: Speech from the Throne; Budget; government priorities, Beyond 2020; and/or departmental/agency mandate.
    • Evidence that SMART and measurable goals/objectives were established in the planning phase.
    • Evidence of developing a long-term vision to address the challenge at hand.
  • Innovation
    • Demonstration of the successful implementation of an innovative/creative solution to a communications issue.
    • Evidence of the strategic use of new/different communications channels or tools.
    • Evidence of risk-taking, assessment and mitigation.
  • Results, impact and evaluation
    • Documented evidence that results were measured and that goals/objectives were reached or surpassed.
    • Demonstration of the achievement of results beyond expectations in proportion to the campaign's budget (if applicable) and in support to the priorities of the department/agency.
    • Metrics that demonstrate impact and engagement with audience(s).
    • Identification of lessons learned and best practices developed and shared.

Platinum Award of Communications Excellence

This award recognizes sound communications planning/advice and implementation. It celebrates an outstanding organic or grassroots, low- or no-budget* communications plan/approach, project, initiative or campaign from a team or group of individuals that really hit the mark. Focus is on communications directed towards internal or external audiences that exemplifies an overall commitment to excellence in communications. This Award celebrates exemplary work that achieved positive results or outcomes for targeted audiences based on sound communications advice, planning and implementation.
*low-budget is considered a plan/approach, project, initiative or campaign costing less than $25,000

Evaluation criteria
  • Planning
    • Demonstration of a direct link to: Speech from the Throne; Budget; government priorities, Beyond 2020; and/or departmental/agency mandate.
    • Evidence that SMART and measurable goals/objectives were established in the planning phase.
    • Evidence of research, strategic planning and advice to address the challenge at hand.
  • Innovation
    • Demonstration of solid, evidence-based communications planning through an organic approach, with a limited budget or resources.
    • Demonstration of evidence-based communications plans that effectively reach audiences.
    • Evidence of strategic thinking and planning or risk-taking, assessment and mitigation.
  • Results, impact and evaluation
    • Documented evidence that results were measured and that goals/objectives were reached or surpassed.
    • Metrics that demonstrate engagement and positive outcomes with audience(s).
    • Identification of lessons learned and best practices developed and shared.

Golden Alliance Award of Communications Excellence

This award recognizes outstanding achievements in horizontal collaboration and partnerships building by a team or group of individuals. It recognizes exemplary practices applied to a project, campaign or initiative that helped break down silos between teams, departments and/or the private sector that led to remarkable results. The award also acknowledges an overall commitment to excellence in communications and service to Canadians.

Evaluation criteria
  • Planning
    • Demonstration of a direct link to: Speech from the Throne; Budget; government priorities, Beyond 2020; and/or departmental/agency mandate.
    • Evidence that SMART and measurable goals/objectives were established in the planning phase.
    • Evidence of developing a common long-term vision to address the challenge at hand.
  • Horizontal collaboration
    • Evidence of the development and maintenance of strategic partnerships with stakeholders and other federal departments/agencies in the pursuit of shared objectives.
    • Evidence of coordinated efforts, joint contributions, and shared responsibilities and accountability between two or more departments/agencies, and/or with external partners.
  • Innovation
    • Demonstration of the successful implementation of an innovative/creative solution to a communications issue.
    • Evidence of the strategic use of new/different communications channels or tools.
    • Evidence of risk-taking, assessment and mitigation.
  • Results, impact and evaluation
    • Documented evidence that goals/objectives were measured and reached or surpassed.
    • Demonstration of the achievement of results beyond expectations which support the priorities of the department/agency.
    • Metrics that demonstrate impact and engagement with partners and audience(s).
    • Identification of lessons learned, and best practices developed and shared.

Lighthouse Award of Communications Excellence

This award recognizes innovation, insight and intelligent risk-taking of a team or group of individuals that led to the success of a project, campaign or initiative. Shining a light on best practices using emerging communications tools and tactics, the award also celebrates vision, creativity, boldness and the willingness to experiment and learn in order to achieve stronger and smarter results.

Evaluation criteria
  • Planning
    • Demonstration of a direct link to: Speech from the Throne; Budget; government priorities, Beyond 2020; and/or departmental/agency mandate.
    • Evidence that research, consultations and options analysis were conducted.
    • Evidence that SMART and measurable goals/objectives were established in the planning phase.
  • Innovation and experimentation
    • Evidence of the strategic use of new/different communications channels or tools or approaches (could include effective use of behavioural science to change attitudes or affect change, data visualization and data story-telling tools, approaches to combatting misinformation, or other emerging communications areas of expertise).
    • Demonstration of intelligent risk-taking behavior, courage to depart from the usual practice and willingness to experiment with the goal of achieving improvements.
    • Demonstration of change management skills, resourcefulness and adaptability when facing challenges.
    • Evidence of risk assessment and mitigation.
  • Results and evaluation
    • Demonstration of the successful implementation of an innovative/creative solution to a communications issue.
    • Documented evidence of success assessment and measured impact.
    • Identification of lessons learned, and best practices developed and shared.

Insider Award of Communications Excellence

This award recognizes outstanding achievements in internal or corporate communications. It acknowledges the exceptional contribution of a team or group of individuals who support excellence in communications to internal partners and employees within a communication branch or division.

Evaluation criteria
  • Excellence in communications advice
    • Demonstration of high quality communications advice and work that is beyond internal partners’ expectations.
    • Demonstration of strategic and innovative solutions to address the objectives of the internal partners.
  • Horizontal collaboration
    • Demonstration of horizontality and collaboration in the pursuit of shared objectives.
    • Evidence of coordinated efforts, joint contributions, and shared responsibilities with internal partners.
  • Innovation
    • Demonstration of the successful implementation of an innovative/creative initiative or communications solution.
    • Evidence of the strategic use new/different communications channels or tools.
  • Results and evaluation
    • Demonstration of the achievement of results beyond expectations which support the priorities of the internal partners and/or the department/agency.
    • Evidence that goals/objectives were measured and reached or surpassed.
    • Metrics that demonstrate improved awareness or engagement with internal audience(s), and/or savings to the department/agency.

Regional Powerhouse Award of Communications Excellence

This award acknowledges the exceptional contribution of a team or group of individuals working in communications outside of the National Capital Region who supports regional communications activities and excels in delivering superior advice and work that improves service to Canadians.

Evaluation criteria
  • Excellence in communications advice
    • Demonstration of high quality communications advice and work that exceeded partners’ expectations and lead to positive outcomes for the region and across Canada.
    • Demonstration of developing and implementing strategic solutions to address the challenges/objectives of the regional clients/partners and/or the department/agency, taking into account regional specificities.
  • Strategic partnerships
    • Evidence of the development and maintenance of strategic partnerships with stakeholders, other federal departments or organizations, other levels of government or private-sector organizations to more effectively communicate with Canadians and maximize the impact of projects/campaigns/programs.
  • Innovation and adaptability
    • Demonstration of the successful development and implementation of innovative communications solutions in order to improve access to services and the delivery of services to Canadians.
    • Demonstration of the ability to adapt to a changing digital communications environment and while continuing to meet the needs of Canadians.
  • Results and evaluation
    • Demonstration of the achievement of results beyond expectations which support the priorities of the regional clients/partners and/or the department/agency.
    • Evidence that goals/objectives were measured and reached or surpassed.
    • Metrics that demonstrate improved engagement with regional audience(s).

Mosaic Award of Communications Excellence

This award recognizes leadership in accessible and inclusive communications. It highlights the vision and insight of a team or group of individuals who applied an inclusive or accessible lens to a project, campaign, or initiative to successfully reach and respond to the needs of a particular target audience(s). It celebrates innovation and excellence in the Government of Canada’s commitments on accessibility, promoting equity and the equal participation of all members of society, and ensuring that all Canadians have equal access to information.

Evaluation criteria
  • Planning
    • Demonstration of a direct link to: Speech from the Throne; Budget; government priorities, Beyond 2020; and/or departmental/agency mandate.
    • Demonstration of alignment with principles of the Accessible Canada Act and the Directive on the Management of Communications policy requirement for accessible communications products and activities.
    • Evidence that research, consultations and options analysis were conducted.
    • Evidence that SMART and measurable goals/objectives were established in the planning phase.
  • Collaboration
    • Evidence of consultation, coordinated efforts, joint contributions, and shared responsibilities and accountability with stakeholders and/or other federal departments/agencies in the pursuit of shared objectives.
  • Innovation and experimentation
    • Demonstration of intelligent risk-taking behavior and willingness to experiment with the goal of achieving improvements.
    • Evidence of the strategic use of new/different communications channels or tools.
    • Demonstration of change management skills, resourcefulness and adaptability when facing challenges.
    • Evidence of risk assessment and mitigation.
  • Results and evaluation
    • Demonstration of the successful implementation of an innovative/creative solution that improved accessibility or fostered inclusion for targeted audiences.
    • Documented evidence of success assessment and measured impact.
    • Identification of lessons learned, and best practices.

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