Vickers & Benson Advertising of Toronto has been awarded the Ontario Ministry of Health business, estimated at $6 million, for a three-year term.

Also on the short-list were Toronto agencies Axmith McIntyre Wicht, The Communique Group and incumbent Ellis Teichman Communications.

v&b has been handling the ministry’s Tobacco Strategy assignment since 1992, and retained it for a second term in a competition this past June.