Scotiabank and PHD win big at the 2023 Sponsorship Marketing Awards

Meanwhile, Wasserman took home the Agency of the Year title at this year's SMAs.

The 2023 Sponsorship Marketing Awards were held last week, recognizing and rewarding the investment and work that brands and agencies put into their sponsorship marketing efforts across Canada in the past year.

Scotiabank’s “The Hockey Jersey” campaign, with media by PHD, took home the Best in Show, as well as several Gold across many categories.

Vancouver-based independent agency Wasserman took home the Agency of the Year title, with media agencies Essence (“OLG Game Plan,” “Practice with a Pro”), GroupM (“Practice with a Pro,” “OLG Game Plan”), PHD (“The Hockey Jersey”), and MKTG (Subway and Scottie Barnes) also recieving recognition for their work in the sponsorship space.

Below are this year’s winners.

ARTS & CULTURE   

Gold: The Hockey Jersey (Scotiabank, PHD, Rethink)  

Award of Distinction: Sprite FAM Zone (MLSE)

BEST NEW INITIATIVE   

Gold: Hilton on the Green (Golf Canada)  

Award of Distinction: Her Cheklist (Canadian Tire)  

BEST NEW INNOVATION   

Award of Distinction: OLG Game Plan (Essence, Group M Mediacom, and OLG)  

EVENTS & FESTIVALS   

Gold: Toronto Ultra Major III, Powered by Bell: Canada’s First Call of Duty League Event (Overactive Media) 

Award of Distinction: RBC Canadian Open (RBC and Golf Canada) 

MUSIC  

Gold: RBCxMusic – 2022 Music Festivals Activation (RBC)  

Award of Distinction: Kids Help Phone: Feel Out Loud (Kids Help Phone and Kids Help Phone and Paquin Entertainment)  

PURPOSE-LED SPONSORSHIP  

Gold: Tim Hortons and Special Olympics Donut Campaign (Special Olympics)  

Award of Distinction: Treat Accessibility (Canadian Tire)   

REGIONAL 

Gold: Giuseppe – Practice with a Pro (Essence / Group M) 

Award of Distinction: Au cœur de nos célébrations Program (CIBC and Montreal Canadians) 

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION  

Gold: The Hockey Jersey (Scotiabank, PHD, Rethink)  

Award of Distinction: NBA Creators presented by Microsoft (NBA Canada) 

SPORTS – BUDGET $500K and BELOW 

Gold: Au cœur de nos célébrations Program (CIBC and Montreal Canadians) 

Award of Distinction: Jumpstart Keep Her In Play Campaign (Canadian Tire) 

SPORTS – BUDGET OVER $501K 

Gold: Subway Canada x NBA Canada x Toronto Raptors x Scottie Barnes (MKTG, Subway, and NBA Canada) 

Award of Distinction: theScore Bet Skyline Seats – 2022 RBC Canadian Open (SDI Sports and theScore) 

SUSTAINED SUCCESS   

Gold: Air Canada Fan Flight (Wasserman) 

Award of Distinction: CPKC Women’s Open (Wasserman)  

TALENT OR AMBASSADOR  

Gold: Mitch’s Dishes (Skip the Dishes and Wasserman)  

Award of Distinction: Subway Canada x Scottie Barnes (MKTG and Subway) 

PROPERTY OF THE YEAR   

Gold: Golf Canada Professional Championships (Golf Canada) 

AGENCY OF THE YEAR   

Gold: Wasserman 

BEST IN SHOW  

Gold: The Hockey Jersey (Scotiabank, PHD, Rethink)