Canada’s digi media stars met in Toronto’s Distillery District last night as the finalists of the Canadian New Media Awards were announced.

The awards are handed out to Canada’s best new media companies, campaigns and projects, and this year there were more categories and more nominees than ever before, Jory Groberman, executive director, NextMedia, told MiC, adding that more categories give more nominees a chance to shine.

‘Any little bit you can use to promote the company is good,’ he says. ‘Anything that helps you cut through the noise helps; it’s not just them tooting their own horn.’

Proximity Canada received the most nominations with four, for best online portal, best use of social media, best online advertising and best branded entertainment.

For the company, it means recognition and motivation to continually build and improve, John Gagne, SVP, creative director, Proximity Canada, told MiC in an interview at the event.

‘It’s a validation of the thought-leadership we’ve taken,’ he says. ‘The stakes keep going up and [it can be] thrilling and terrifying.’

Company of the Year category nominees include: Frima Studio, I Love Rewards, Metroleap, Syncapse Corp. and Vision Critical. Promising New Company of the Year went to Bitstrips, Entrinsic, Polar Mobile and Trend Hunter.

Winners will be announced Dec. 1 as part of NextMedia Toronto.