Last evening, the Advertising Association of BC announced the winners of the 2007 Lotus Awards in Vancouver. Top honors for ‘Best of Show’ went to TBWAVancouver for its multimedia campaign for client Vancity. The initiative included television spots, print, outdoor and transit ads, plus non-traditional elements such as a community bike-sharing experiment and wild postings encouraging pedestrians to express their ideas. The campaign also won best ‘Best Multi-Media Campaign.’

For the first time, design and interactive specialists were brought to Vancouver to participate in the judging, along with creative leaders from top agencies across Canada and the US. ‘The advertising business is evolving and as it becomes harder to reach and engage consumers, agencies have to be more creative than ever,’ says Brett McIntosh, VP/managing partner of Publicis Vancouver and chair of this year’s awards.

Vancouver-based Rethink, which took top honours last year, had a strong showing at the ’07 awards, as did TBWAVancouver and DDB Canada, Vancouver. All three agencies won in multiple categories. Lotus Awards were also handed out to Hangar 18 Creative Group, Identica Branding & Design, Involver Interactive, smashLAB and Wasserman + Partners Advertising.

Merit awards went to other agencies including Y&R Vancouver, Elevator Strategy, KOKO Productions, Publicis Vancouver, Hot Tomali Communications, Taxi Vancouver, Suburbia Advertising, Emily Carr Institute, Burnkit, Cowie and Fox, Hans Sipma Photography and Redpath Studios.

A complete list of winners is available at: www.lotusawards.com.