Palmer Jarvis DDB led all comers at this year’s Extra Awards, taking home 16 trophies in all, including the three golds and the best of show honours.

The Vancouver-based agency earned gold awards in the ‘Entertainment & Media Outlets,’ ‘Local Single’ and ‘Local Campaign’ categories, for its work on behalf of the Vancouver Aquarium. The best of show prize went to PJDDB for ‘Fingers,’ one of a series of ads promoting the aquarium’s Golden Crocodile exhibit.

The Extras, which are organized by the Canadian Newspaper Association, recognize excellence in newspaper advertising.

Bos of Montreal and The Crichton Kim-Kirkland Company of Toronto were also among the big winners at the Sept. 28 gala, claiming two gold awards apiece.

Other golds went to Toronto-based agencies BBDO, Ogilvy & Mather and Roche Macaulay & Partners, and to Vancouver shops Bryant, Fulton & Shee and Rethink.

In all, this year’s Extras competition generated approximately 800 submissions. The eight-member judging panel handed out a grand total of 60 gold, silver, bronze and merit awards.

The judging chair, Young & Rubicam president and chief creative officer John Farquhar, says the quality of the winning creative is on a par with the best work he saw at this year’s Cannes International Advertising Festival.

‘It’s as good as you’ll see anywhere in the world,’ he says.