Canadian agencies populated the 2023 Epica Awards shortlist more than any other country, with 98 nominations.
Voted on by journalists working in the global advertising and marketing trade press, including strategy, the Epica Awards are the only marketing creative prize judged by the press. Its jury includes more than 200 chief editors and senior reporters from more than 60 countries. Agencies, design studios, production houses, advertisers and digital marketers all compete for the honors.
Overall, 17 Canadian agencies saw their campaigns shortlisted in this year’s Epica Awards. Of those 17 agencies, Leo Burnett Toronto led the way with 23 nominations for its work with Kellogg’s, Proctor and Gamble, the Royal Ontario Museum, the Toronto Star, Yum! Brands, Lenczner Slaght, Melanin Gamers, Bell and Canadian Tire.
Just behind Leo Burnett was Rethink with 21 shortlist nominations of its own. The nominations were awarded for Rethink’s work with Kraft Heinz, IKEA, Nestle, Tangerine, the Association of Registered Graphic Designers, Maison Grise and the Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec.
Zulu Alpha Kilo also brought in 13 nominations for its work with Sephora, D2L, HomeEquity Bank and the Royal Canadian Legion, and the Vancouver Island Ferry Company.
LG2 picked up seven nominations of its own for its work with Canac, the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec, Community Music Schools of Toronto, Destination Québec Cité and Préma-Québec. Meanwhile, Cossette received six nominations for its work with McDonald’s and Cannabis Amnesty.
Shortlisted entries will next be evaluated by the awards’ jury, with voting running from Nov. 22 to Dec. 1. An in-person Grand Prix jury session will be held in Brussels. A special online ceremony on December 7 will screen the Gold and Grand Prix winners, with Silver and Bronze winners unveiled on the Epica Awards’ website the following day, on Dec. 8.
The Canadian shortlisted campaigns can be found below, with the full list available on the Epica website.
Leo Burnett Toronto
Bell Canada, “The Horror”
Copywriting & Storytelling
Humour
Canadian Tire, “Ad Flipper”
Homes, Furnishings & Appliances
Kellogg’s Canada Inc., “Leo-Kellogg 70”
Animation
Branded Content – Films & Series
Copywriting & Storytelling
Humour
Self-Promotion
Lenczner Slaght, “Legally-Binding New Year’s Resolution Contract”
Self-Promotion
Websites
Melanin Gamers, “The Watch”
Creative Technology
Public Interest – Social
N/A, “Irrefusable Invites”
Packaging Design
Self-Promotion
Proctor and Gamble, “Hair Hair Everywhere”
Media Innovation – Alternative Media
Mobile Campaigns
Online Ads
Royal Ontario Museum, “Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)”
Brand Identity
Graphic Design
Publication Design
Recreation & Leisure
Toronto Star, “Truth Boxes”
Direct Marketing
Media
Yum! Brands, “Pepperoni Hug Spot”
Creative Use of A.I.
Food
Rethink
Association of Registered Graphic Designers, “RGD Branding Awards”
Brand Identity
Graphic Design
Kraft Heinz, “Heinz Ketchup Fraud”
Advertising Photography
Food
Integrated Campaigns
Kraft Heinz, “Heinz Slow This Ad”
Media Innovation – Traditional Media
Sports-Related Advertising
Kraft Heinz, “LVII Meanz 57”
Food
Sports-Related Advertising
Kraft Heinz – “Philadelphia A Little Taste of Hell”
Packaging Design
Kraft Heinz, “Schmear Socks”
Food
Nestle, “KitKat Ramadan Iftar Bar”
Food
Packaging Design
IKEA Canada, “The Troll”
Post Production & Visual Effects
Retail Services
IKEA Canada, “Window Shopping”
Media Innovation – Alternative Media
Retail Services
Masion Grise, “Fear Windows”
Public Interest – Social
Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec, “Real Nurse Costume”
Public Interest – Gender Equity
Tangerine, “Jumping Through Hoops”
Best Use of Music
Financial Services
Zulu Alpha Kilo
D2L, “Unstandardized Desk”
Corporate Image
Online & Mobile Services
Professional Products & Services
Product Design
HomeEquity Bank / Royal Canadian Legion, “Letters Home”
Financial Services
Integrated Campaigns
Websites
Sephora, “Sephora Illumination”
Creative Use of Data
Experiential & Shopper Marketing
Health & Beauty
Vancouver Island Ferry Company, “hullo”
Brand Identity
Zulu Alpha Kilo, “Left-Handed Mango Chutney”
Humour
Self-Promotion
LG2
Canac, “Dignity Denim”
Humour
Product Design
Community Music Schools of Toronto, “Parkscapes Volume 3”
Graphic Design
Destination Québec Cité, “The Winter Lotus”
Transport & Tourism
Préma-Québec, “The 1.8-Pound Book”
Publication Design
Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec, “Safety Coaster”
Creative Technology
Direct Marketing
Cossette
Cannabis Amnesty, “Legalize Us”
Public Interest – Social
McDonald’s Canada, “Chris P”
Food
Promotions & Incentives
Social Networks
McDonald’s Canada, “Inspired by Big Mac”
Print Craft
Restaurants, Bars & Cafés
Citizen Relations
Elimin8hate, “ReclaimYourName.dic”
Branded Content – Films & Series
Creative Use of Data
Public Interest – Social
PepsiCo Foods Canada, “Cheetle in Cheadle”
Confectionery & Snacks
FCB
Adidas, “Runner 321”
Public Relations
Sports-Related Advertising
Ontario Gaming and Lottery Corporation, “Dream Bars”
Media Innovation – Traditional Media
Promotions & Incentives
McCann
Love & Nudes, “The Stage Zero Collection”
Product Design
Petro-Canada CareMakers Foundation, “24 Hours of Care”
Websites
Wendy’s Canada, “French Toast Guy”
Restaurants, Bars & Cafés
Sid Lee
Carrefour Solidaire Centre communautaire d’alimentation, “Serres de rue”
Public Interest – Environment
IGA (Sobey’s), “The Family Cookvault”
Retail Services
Léa Clermont-Dion, La Ruelle Films, “‘Janette & Daughters’ Documentary’
Graphic Design
Taxi
Canada Safety Council, “Sleep Tracks”
Best Use of Sound
Native Women’s Association of Canada, “Change the Bill”
Public Interest – Gender Equity (2)
Fuse Create
Hilton, “Hilton on the Green”
Public Relations
Transport & Tourism
No Fixed Address
The Terry Fox Foundation, “#DearTerry”
Public Interest – Health & Safety
Public Relations
DDB
Canadian Premature Babies Foundation, “PREEMI”
Public Interest – Health & Safety
DonerNorth
Interval House, “Too Many Candles”
Best Use of Music
Forsman & Bodenfors / Veritas Communications
Native Women’s Resource Centre of Toronto, “4000 Cover Stories”
Public Interest – Gender Equity
Havas Media
Valda, “Valda Heavy Metal Subway”
Prescription and OTC Products
The&Partnership
Canada Post, “Lighter on the Earth”
Communications & Public Services
