NATIONAL CAPITAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZED WITH FOUR INTERNATIONAL AWARDS

October 7, 2009 · Filed Under Festival News, News

The National Capital Commission (NCC) has won four awards at the 54th annual International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA) Convention & Expo. Winners of the 2009 IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards were announced September 23rd in Indianapolis, Indiana. The prestigious awards recognize outstanding examples of quality and creativity in the promotional programs and materials produced by its 2,000 member festivals and events around the world.”The NCC is thrilled to see its productions, programs and events recognized by the International Festivals and Events Association,” said Marie Lemay, Chief Executive Officer of the National Capital Commission. “These projects allow Canadians to better understand the importance of their Capital as a gathering place for celebrations, commemorations and learning. Promoting public activities and events in the National Capital Region serves to enrich the cultural and social fabric of Canada, and fosters pride in Canadians.”

The following NCC productions, programs and events were honoured with IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards:

Silver- Grand Pinnacle
for UKiUK: Winterlude Sound & Light Show 2009

The 31st edition of Winterlude, in February 2009, featured an exciting new element never seen before at Canada’s winter celebration: an outdoor sound and light show. Presented in an extraordinary setting at the head of the Rideau Canal, UKiUK took spectators on an emotion-packed journey celebrating Canadian winter through giant images and spectacular lighting effects. The impressive display, projected on the former Union Station of the Grand Trunk Railway Company of Canada, explored all aspects of Canada’s winter culture, from our winter symbols, traditions and sports, to the ways that winter shapes the Canadian way of life. UKiUK captured the audience’s imagination and instilled a sense of pride in Canada by evoking what unites us as Canadians from coast to coast to coast.

Silver- Best Miscellaneous Multimedia
for “Canada’s Capital Salutes Winter”, Rideau Canal Skateway 2009

As part of the 2009-2010 Canada Pavilion, the NCC’s touring exhibit entitled “Canada’s Capital Salutes Winter” brought the Rideau Canal Skateway, a Capital icon, to Canadians across the country. In partnership with the Capital’s national museums and institutions, the exhibit proudly shared Canadian treasures and iconic sites as seen through a winter lens. Canadians of all ages discovered the Capital though a highly interactive, hands-on experience that allowed them to skate the entire length of the Rideau Canal Skateway in less than 2 minutes.

Showcased in major popular events across Canada since last April, the exhibit continues to delight and connect Canadians with dates announced for Winnipeg, Manitoba in the new year. Visitors to the Royal Winnipeg Winter Fair, can take in “Canada’s Capital Salutes Winter” from March 29th to April 3, 2010.
Silver- Best TV Promotion (ad spot or PSA)
for Genies 2009

For the first time in Genie history, Canada’s Capital was proud to be host region for the annual Genie Awards, recognizing the best in Canadian film. The 2009 awards program was located at the Canada Aviation Museum, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of flight. The National Capital Commission was able to promote Canadian culture in Canada’s Capital Region and showcase Canadian achievement. Being host region for the event provided an opportunity for the NCC not only to celebrate excellence in Canadian cinema, but to showcase the Capital as a national gathering place, and a source of pride and unity for all Canadians.

Bronze- Best Single Magazine Ad Display
for Winterlude 2009
What better place to celebrate winter than in the nation’s capital? Printed at over 500,000 copies, the Outaouais Tourism Brochure allowed the NCC to promote the winter experience in the Capital. The visual integration of NCC winter programs such as Winterlude, UKIUK – the new Sound and Light Show, and the Rideau Canal Skateway, targeted the Montreal and Toronto markets.

For more information about the NCC, members of the public may contact the NCC at 613-239-5000, 1-800-465-1867, 613-239-5090 (TTY) or 1 866 661-3530 (toll-free TTY), or visit the website at www.canadascapital.gc.ca.
About the International Festivals and Events Association (IFEA)
The IFEA is “the premiere association supporting and enabling festival and event professionals worldwide,” and has provided cutting-edge professional development and direction for the festivals and events industry since 1956. The organization officially represents industry-leading members, spanning 40 countries and five continents. They strive to create and maintain “a globally united industry that touches lives in a positive way through celebration”. For more information about the International Festivals and Events Association, visit the website at www.ifea.com.

Tags: Canada's Capital Region, National Capital Commission, National Capital Region, NCC, winterlude