Cannes Lions 2025: Print, Outdoor and Health drive Canada’s shortlist nods

While Friday afternoon travellers to Cannes had a rough start with flight delays, missed connections and lost baggage (including this writer), at least the first wave of shortlists arrived intact. And with a bit of good news too.

Canada has been given 20 shots at a Lion, with the country’s agency and brand teams given the nod twice in Print & Publishing, six times in Outdoor and a whopping 12 nominations in Health & Wellness. Alas, the country was shut out of the Audio & Radio and the Pharma categories this morning in Cannes.

Kudos goes to agencies FCB, Klick Health, VML, Rethink, Ogilvy, McCann, Courage, Edelman and IPG Health (who shares the nomination with its U.S. agency partner Area 23) for landing early shortlist honours and setting the tone for Canada’s creative showing this year.

These Canadian agencies join Publicis, which received a nod in Innovation last week.

Check back every day this week for the shortlists and Lion wins. The next batch of shortlists will include the Entertainment Lions, Design, Digital Craft, Film Craft and Industry Craft. Winners from today’s shortlist will hit the stage Monday evening in the Palais, with strategy breaking the news at 9:30pm (CEST) / 3:30pm (EST).

Print & Publishing (2)

“Peanuts”
KIND
McCann Toronto
Consumer Goods

“See the person. Not the label.”
EGALE Canada
VML Toronto
Social Behaviour

Outdoor (6)

“Balikbayan Magic: Philippine Oriental Food Market”
Coca-Cola
VML Toronto
Social Behaviour
Cultural Engagement

“See My Name”
Molson Coors
Rethink Toronto
Corporate Purpose and Social Responsibility
Cultural Engagement

“Trollboards”
Skyscanner
Courage Toronto
Breakthrough on a Budget

“Coors Light Coors Light”
Molson Coors
Rethink Toronto / Droga5 New York
Social Behaviour

Health & Wellness (12)

“Advil Head Settings”
Advil
Edelman Toronto
Oral Medicines

“Most Likely To”
Dove
Ogilvy Toronto
Brand-Led Education and Awareness x2

“Telus GamerX”
Telus
Rethink Toronto
Brand-Led Education and Awareness

“18 Months”
Second Nurture
Klick Health Toronto
Non-profit/Foundation-led Education & Awareness

“The Count”
SickKids Foundatioon
FCB Toronto
Fundraising & Advocacy x4

“The Trial (Film)”
All In Action Fund
Klick Health Toronto
Fundraising & Advocacy x2

“The Earlishow”
Earlitec Diagnostics
IPG Health Toronto / Area23
Health Services & Facilities

Correction: Rethink Toronto was previously omitted as a co-agency on the Molson Coors “Coors Light Coors Light” campaign in the official Cannes Lions shortlist and winner lists. All related articles and award tallies have now been updated to accurately reflect Rethink’s contribution and Canada’s total.