Labatt Breweries of Canada took Best of Show at the 9th annual Sponsorship Marketing Awards (SMAs), winning for a fan-based sponsorship program involving Budweiser and the Winnipeg Jets that exceeded business objectives. The SMAs, presented April 25th at the Sponsorship Marketing Council of Canada’s annual conference in Toronto, recognize companies that maximize their investments in sponsorship marketing by developing innovative strategies that drive results. Other big winners were BMO and Scotiabank, which each won two awards. Click here for the media release.

The ACA has issued a call for nominations for the industry’s highest honour, the ACA Gold Medal Award. First presented in 1941, the Gold Medal is presented to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of marketing communications in Canada. The deadline for submitting nominations is April 5. The 2013 Gold Medal will be presented at the Marketing Awards gala, to be held May 30 at the Carlu in Toronto. Click here for more details.

ACA Gold Medal Award. Presented to Philip Donne, President of Campbell Company of Canada, at the Marketing Awards gala at The Carlu. Click here for more information.