Prix d’Excellence

Recognizing outstanding achievements in alumni affairs, public affairs, communications, marketing, development, advancement services, stewardship and overall institutional advancement.

2023 Prix d’Excellence Celebration

Thank you to Tempo Framing Systems for their continued support of the Prix d’Excellence Award program for over 20 years!

2023 Emcee:

Ben Chapdelaine

Director, Advancement & Communications, Hillfield Strathallan College

2023 Prix d’Excellence Celebration & Results

Categories & Award Winners

Category Gold Silver Bronze
Category 1 Best Alumni Event Wilfrid Laurier University - Beyond the Book British Columbia Institute of Technology - BCIT Alumni Virtual Tea Tasting University of Guelph - #GuelphGradOnTour
Category 2 Best Development Event University of Guelph - A 'Drive-By' Gift Announcement Concordia University - A celebration of George Lengvari's gifts to his two alma maters Toronto Metropolitan University - Generous Futures: Power and Politics in Charitable Giving
Category 3 Best Special Event McMaster University - Nursing 75th Anniversary Queen's University - The Golden Ticket University of Guelph - OVC Legacy Medal
Category 4 Best Alumni Initiative University of Guelph - You Are Important to Us - Mac Ladies Alumni Survey SAIT Polytechnic - Level Up Alumni Awards Carleton University - The Thursday Night Live
Category 5 Best Fundraising Initiative McGill University - 200 for 200 Legacy Challenge Concordia University - Nadia Chaudhri Wingspan Award University of Waterloo - Varsity Giving Challenge
Category 6 Best Donor Relations Initiative University of Victoria - UVic's Impact Day University of Guelph - Recurring Donor Thanks University of Toronto - Landmark Project Donor Recognition App
Category 7 Best Community Outreach Initiative Dalhousie University - Atlantic Promise Scholars Initiative Trent University - Discover Peterborough Bingo University of Toronto - Online Playful Math
Category 8 Best Volunteer Initiative No Award No Award No Award
Category 9 Best Indigenous Relations Initiative Trent University - Trent Lands and Nature Areas Plan University of Calgary - National Day for Truth and Reconciliation/Orange Shirt Day University of Guelph - Nokom's House
Category 10 Best Marketing/Communications Initiative Toronto Metropolitan University - PSA Campaign to Stop Asian Hate University of Toronto - Insulin 100: Celebrating a Century of Health Innovation Cape Breton University - Capers Never Miss a Shot
Category 11 Best Student and/or Young Alumni Initiative University of Alberta - Life After University Conference University of Victoria - UVic students play it forward! McGill University - McGill World Restart a Heart (WRAH) Campaign 2021
Category 12 Best Annual Giving Initiative University of Victoria - Equity, Diversity, Inclusion: UVic's 2021 Comprehensive Fall Appeal Trent University - Trent Day Concordia University - Engaging Concordia's Former Student-Athletes Through Giving Tuesday
Category 13 Best Advancement Services Initiative University of Guelph - SharePoint Gift Agreement Intake & Workflow Queen's University - Special Email Acquisition Project University of British Columbia - Geo-Market Statistics Dashboards
Category 14 Best Use of Social Media Toronto Metropolitan University - International TikTok Campaign Concordia University - 2021 Black History Month social media campaign University of Toronto - Alumni Reunion – Home Edition Social Media Videos
Category 15 Creativity on a Shoestring University of Victoria - UVic: The Great Giving Gram-alanche University of British Columbia - alumni UBC Around the World Concordia University - Gina Cody School Day
Category 16 Best Website University of Toronto - Insulin 100: Celebrating a Century of Health Innovation McGill University - McGill Bicentennial Digital Time Capsule University of Guelph - Online Giving Experience
Category 17 Best Publication (Print or Online) University of Toronto - University of Toronto Magazine University of Manitoba - UM Today The Magazine Acadia University - Fall 2021 e-Bulletin magazine
Category 18 Best Use of Multi-Media Queen's University - Cause & Effect Podcast Université de Montréal - Balado - Ça a changé ma vie McGill University - Alumni webcast series: The Future Of…
Category 19 Best Use of Video/Film (1 Min or Less) British Columbia Institute of Technology - BCIT - Hands On Student Recruitment Video New Brunswick Community College - AT NBCC, YOU COULD BE Toronto Metropolitan University - The Chang School 2021 Repositioning Campaign
Category 20 Best Use of Video/Film (1-5 Min) University of Guelph - Fiscal Year End Thanks University of Manitoba - Fall Convocation Mini Doc McGill University - This is the year.
Category 21 Best Use of Video/Film (5 Min or More) University of Toronto - UofT Defy Gravity Campaign Launch Announcement Video Université Laval - Découvrez les trésors de l'Université Laval – Rendez-vous du Cercle de la rectrice University of Toronto - Sneak Peek of UC's Revitalization Project
Category 22 Best Report to Donors McMaster University - McCall MacBain Postdoctoral Fellows Teaching and Leadership Program Donor Report McGill University - Report on Giving 2020-21 University of Victoria - Your UVic, Your Impact: 2021 Report to Donors
Category 23 Best Print Brochure, Newsletter, or Flyer University of Guelph - Legacy Brochure University of Waterloo - 2022 National Viewbook McMaster University - McMaster Key Messages Pamphlet
Category 24 Best Feature Writing - English University of Toronto - “The miracle of insulin” University of Toronto Magazine University of Manitoba - Remember Me University of Toronto - “The Extremism Machine” University of Toronto Magazine
Category 25 Best Feature Writing - French Université de Moncton - Pleins feux sur Gene Cormier Université de Montréal - Des films de Noël féministes et queers, c'est possible? No Award
Category 26 Best Advertisement or Poster (Online & Print) University of Toronto - Insulin 100: Celebrating a Century of Health Innovation St. Francis Xavier University - ThanX British Columbia Institute of Technology - "Hands-On" Fall Recruitment Campaign
Category 27 Best Photograph Brock University - Campus Reawakening St. Andrew's College - Dem Rogers Photo Queen's University - Mission to Mars
Category 28 Best Fundraising Materials No Award No Award No Award
Category Gold Silver Bronze
CATEGORY 1: BEST ALUMNI EVENT Wilfrid Laurier University - Virtual #LaurierHomecoming 2020 McGill University - At-Home-Homecoming Queen's University - SmithConnect Live Goes Virtual
CATEGORY 2: BEST DEVELOPMENT EVENT University of Manitoba - Front & Centre Campaign Wrap Concordia University - Shuffle 31 Algonquin College - Ciena Lab Recognition Event
CATEGORY 3: BEST SPECIAL EVENT Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning - Virtual Convocation Wilfrid Laurier University - Black Women in Leadership Concordia University - Virtual launch of Applied Science Hub
CATEGORY 4: BEST ALUMNI INITIATIVE Concordia University - CU at Home St. Francis Xavier University - Alumni Chapter Challenge British Columbia Institute of Technology - BCIT Alumni Holiday Market
CATEGORY 5: BEST FUNDRAISING INITIATIVE St. Francis Xavier University - The Circle of Abundance - Coady Institute St. Francis Xavier University - Point After Club Northern Alberta Institute of Technology - NAIT COVID-19 Student Relief Fund
CATEGORY 6: BEST DONOR RELATIONS INITIATIVE No Award - No Award Queen's University - Mitchell Hall Anniversary Videos University of British Columbia - Holiday Extravaganza
CATEGORY 7: BEST COMMUNITY OUTREACH INITIATIVE Neighbours Helping Neighbours - St.Francis Xavier University Ask a Scientist - McMaster University CU Cares - Concordia University
CATEGORY 8: BEST VOLUNTEER INITIATIVE Dalhousie University - Dal Insight Circle Mount Allison University - AVATARS Queen's University - Arts & Science Student Outreach Initiative
CATEGORY 9: BEST INDIGENOUS RELATIONS INITIATIVE Cape Breton University - Learning About the L'nu Way University of Saskatchewan - māmowi āsohtētān Internal Truth and Reconciliation Forum University of Manitoba - Indigenous Scholar Profile and Speaker Series
CATEGORY 10: BEST MEDIA RELATIONS INITIATIVE No Award - No Award St. Francis Xavier University - CJFX Radio Interviews with StFX President No Award - No Award
CATEGORY 11: BEST PUBLIC RELATIONS/MARKETING/COMMUNICATIONS INITIATIVE University of Manitoba - Spring Convocation 2020 University of Waterloo - Pharmacy on the Frontlines Université de Montréal - #RestonsChezNous
CATEGORY 12: BEST STUDENT AND/OR YOUNG ALUMNI INITIATIVE Wilfrid Laurier University - Laurier welcomes first-year students virtually McMaster University - Creating Class to Class Connections McGill University - Welcome Class of 2020 Campaign
CATEGORY 13: BEST ANNUAL GIVING INITIATIVE University of British Columbia - We are at a turning point in history - Annual Alumni Appeal Dalhousie University - Giving Tuesday: Increasing food security for Dalhousie students Wilfrid Laurier University - Our Laurier Campaign 2020
CATEGORY 14: BEST ADVANCEMENT SERVICES INITIATIVE McGill University - Advancement U: Fundraiser's Core Bootcamp Queen's University - Briefcase Report Initiative Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning - Implementation of Blackbaud Award Management
CATEGORY 15: BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA Algonquin College - Algonquin College Convocation Ceremonies Cape Breton University - A Life of His Own - CBU Caper University of Toronto - Stay At Home Club
CATEGORY 16: BEST NEW IDEA: CREATIVITY ON A SHOESTRING University of Victoria - UVic: Engaging students in philanthropy in a virtual world. University of Toronto - Back to Skule Wilfrid Laurier University - Laurier Rezoomions – a reunion, on zoom!
CATEGORY: 17 BEST WEBSITE McGill University - Made by McGill microsite University of Victoria - UVic Website Redesign McMaster University - Digital Delight: Re-imagining the Online Student Experience in a Pandemic
CATEGORY 18: BEST ONLINE PUBLICATION Wilfrid Laurier University - Laurier Campus Magazine University of Toronto - University of Toronto Magazine (online) Northern Alberta Institute of Technology - NAIT - Techlifetoday.ca
CATEGORY 19: BEST USE OF MULTI-MEDIA Western University - Western University Virtual Tour McGill University - Made by McGill Alumni Webcasts Ryerson University - The Forefront: Ideas for Cities
CATEGORY 20: BEST USE OF VIDEO/FILM (5 mins or less) University of Victoria - UVic: A cookie recipe - the university budget and why donations matter University of Toronto - The Twelve Days of Skule University of Waterloo - The Arts First program at University of Waterloo's Faculty of Arts
CATEGORY 21: BEST USE OF VIDEO/FILM (5-45 mins) University of Alberta - Let’s Powwow with the Faculty of Native Studies! University of Waterloo - Campus Tour McGill University - Marc Bieler: Portrait of a Donor
CATEGORY 22: BEST PRINT MAGAZINE University of Toronto - University of Toronto Magazine Université de Montréal - Tous contre la COVID-19, une mobilisation sans précédent University of Manitoba - UM Today The Magazine, Spring 2020
CATEGORY 23: BEST REPORT TO DONORS McGill University - McGill University Report on Giving 2019 University of Toronto - Fletcher-Clark Scholarships in Science and Economics "Thank You" Report Queen's University - 2020 Fund Reporting
CATEGORY 24: BEST PRINT BROCHURE, NEWSLETTER, OR FLYER Ryerson University - Elevation Concordia University - Momentum Dalhousie University - Better Together
CATEGORY 25: BEST FEATURE WRITING - ENGLISH University of Toronto - "The Truth Saved My Life," University of Toronto Magazine Queen's University - This is what nurses do Western University - The Forgotten Ones: Untold and unseen consequences of COVID-19
CATEGORY 26: BEST FEATURE WRITING - FRENCH McGill University - L'humour, c'est du sérieux! No Award - No Award No Award - No Award
CATEGORY 27: BEST ADVERTISEMENT OR POSTER No Award - No Award University of Saskatchewan - Maclean's University Rankings Discoverers Ad Fall 2020 University of Windsor - University of Windsor "Made in Windsor Maclean's Magazine Ad"
CATEGORY 28: BEST PHOTOGRAPH Saint Mary's University - Introducing Charisma Grace, SMU's first African Nova Scotian/Black Student and Community Liaison Acadia University - Bulletin cover "Five Deans" No Award - No Award
CATEGORY 29: BEST FUNDRAISING MATERIALS Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning - The Canadian Music Theatre Project: The Next 10 Years Concordia University - Canada's Next-Gen Hub of Interdisciplinarity Queen's University - Isabel Bader Chair in Art Conservation Pro
Category 30 : Best Fundraising Materials No Gold Awarded -  Campaign for Acadia - Acadia University Landmark Paver Mailing - University of Toronto
Category Gold Silver Bronze
Category 1 : Best Alumni Event Wilfrid Laurier University - 15th Anniversary Criminology Dinner Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning - Humber Film at 50 St. Francis Xavier University - Homecoming 2019
Category 2 : Best Development Event McMaster University - Juravinski Gala: Celebrating a Philanthropic Journey & Lasting Legacy McGill University - Made by McGill Campaign Launch University of Saskatchewan - RBC Learn to Work, Work to Learn Program Gift Announcement
Category 3 : Best Special Event Trent University - Celebrating 90 Years Carleton University - Welcome Home Dominion-Chalmers Pipe Organ Event Queen's University - Bader International Study Centre 25th Anniversary
Category 4 : Best Alumni Initiative St. Francis Xavier University - Celebrating 50 years of Women Athletics McMaster University - How a Free Trial Led to a Big Welcome Queen's University - Queen's Venture Network & Supporting the Ecosytem for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Category 5 : Best Fundraising Initiative University of Saskatchewan - One Day for Students University of Toronto - FY20 ALG Fall Campaign Queen's University - MBA Legacy Fund
Category 6 : Best Donor Relations Initiative St. Francis Xavier University - Mulroney Liaison Officers McGill University - Centralized Annual Fund Stewardship Dalhousie University - 2019 Thankathon
Category 7 : Best Community Outreach Initiative University of Saskatchewan - Food For Thought Film Screening and Forum Algonquin College - Estetics Program for Syrian Refugees Queen's University - Queen's University Canada Day Celebration in England
Category 8 : Best Volunteer Initiative University of Alberta - Alumni Student Support & Engagement Team (ASSET) McGill University - Leaders Alliance Lunch and Workshop No Recipient
Category 9 : Best Indigenous Relations Initiative St. Francis Xavier University - Indigenous Women in Community Leadership Alumni Gathering Trent University - Michi Saagiig Protocol Guide Book Université de Montréal - Cérémonie des réussites autochtones
Category 10 : Best Media Relations Initiative Perimeter Institute of Theoretical Physics - Black hole breakthrough St. Francis Xavier University - Mulroney Institute and Mulroney Hall Grand Opening Leaving a legacy: $100 million research gift for three institutions
Category 11 : Best Public Relations/Marketing/Communications Initiative Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning - Blown Away - Partnering on a Netflix Reality Show to Highlight Sheridan's Expertise in Glass Education University of Saskatchewan - Saskatchewan Rush Fan Appreciation Night Honouring U of S Alumni University of Manitoba - Peebles - Our Nobel Laureate
Category 12 : Best Student and/or Young Alumni Initiative No Recipient Holland College - Earn a Car Lakehead University - LUSAA is Born - The building of a team
Category 13 : Best Annual Giving Initiative Wilfrid Laurier University - Making Space for Music Giving Day University of Waterloo - Calendar Year-End Appeal 2019 University of Victoria - Giving Tuesday - Add Sprinkles UVic
Category 14 : Best Advancement Services Initiative No Recipient University of Toronto - ALG Campaign CUBE Carleton University - Behind the Scenes on Giving Tuesday
Category 15 : Best Use of Social Media Perimeter Institute of Theoretical Physics - Science trip contests McMaster University - Encouraging Students to Think Global University of Manitoba - @umstudent
Category 16 : Best New Idea: Creativity on a Shoestring Wilfrid Laurier University - Our Contest Doesn't Suck University of British Columbia - Alumni UBC Career Development Webinar Series - Career Planning for UBC Alumni, By UBC Alumni Perimeter Institute of Theoretical Physics - Physics wallpapers
Category 17 : Best Website McGill University - Giving website McMaster University - Discover McMaster website University of Waterloo - Waterloo-Connecting imagination with impact
Category 18 : Best Online Publication Université de Moncton - ALLUMEZ - votre magazine web St. Mary's University - 2019 Report to the Community University of Alberta - Folio: Building a better brand journalism platform
Category 19 : Best Use of Multi-Media University of British Columbia - alumni UBC VR video Dalhousie University - Sciographies University of Guelph - The Why & How Podcast
Category 20 : Best Use of Video/Film McGill University - Made by McGill in Motion Picture University of Guelph - The Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics Announcement Concordia University - "Concordians: take pride in your alma mater" - video
Category 21 : Best Print Magazine University of Toronto - UofTMed Magazine - The Art of Dying Issue (Winter 2019) University of Manitoba - UM Today The Magazine St. Francis Xavier University - 2018-2019 Donor Impact Report
Category 22 : Best Report to Donors University of Waterloo - 2018-19 Report on Giving University of Toronto - Boundless: Final Campaign Report - University of Toronto Acadia University - The Giving Report
Category 23 : Best Print Brochure, Newsletter, or Flyer Queen's University - Gift Planning Flyer for the Isabel Bader Centre McGill University - Legacy Giving Newsletter 2019 McMaster University - Brighter World: Research Excellence Brochure, Times Higher Education 8-Page Insert
Category 24 : Best Feature Writing - English Queen's University - A decade at the helm University of Saskatchewan - Truth and doubt Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning - Fifty Years at the Forefront of Teaching Art in Motion
Category 25 : Best Feature Writing - French Université de Montréal - Pas de vacances pour la recherche! McGill University - Cinéma québécois : Le vent dans les voiles (McGill News) Université Laval - Stéphan La Roche Un homme et son musée
Category 26 : Best Advertisement or Poster Perimeter Institute of Theoretical Physics - Black hole posters University of Waterloo - Waterloo Innovation Summit University of Manitoba - Peebles Airport Execution
Category 27 : Best Photograph University of Manitoba - Dorthe Dahl-Jensen: Below the Surface Branksome Hall School - On the Frontlines Acadia University - The Giving Report
Category 28 : Best Fundraising Materials McGill University - Made by McGill Campaign Materials McGill University - The McGill Interdisciplinary Initiative in Infection & Immunity: Solving Humanity's Deadliest Puzzles Mohawk College - Giving The Gift of Education - How the gift catalogue
Category 29 : Best Photograph Momentum - Mount Allison University Skule Bnad Pride - University of Toronto University of Toronto Magazine - University of Toronto
Category 30 : Best Fundraising Materials No Gold Awarded -  Campaign for Acadia - Acadia University Landmark Paver Mailing - University of Toronto