Communicator of the Year Award

Criteria:

The Communicator of the Year (COTY) award annually recognizes a greater Toronto area-based leader who strategically demonstrates excellence in communication. Entries are evaluated according to the following criteria with equal weight given to each area

• Demonstrates exceptional leadership, management and communications skills
  • The COTY has defined vision, objectives, expectations and strategic priorities in conjunction with leadership of the organization. The COTY recognizes the significance of the communications function and includes key communicators in the development of the organization’s strategic plan in order to demonstrate a commitment to engaging key stakeholders. In addition, the COTY embraces a leading role in the delivery of the communications program to entrench a position as the definitive leader of the organization and all that it represents.
  • The COTY encourages a defined process to measure the impact and effectiveness of the organization’s communications programs.
• Develops communication strategies that contribute to the ongoing success of the organization
  • The COTY has encouraged and endorsed the development of a strategic communication plan identifying core values, key messages, delivery channels, key milestones and measurements of success.
• Uses effective internal and external communications
  • The COTY has endorsed a formal and informal detailed strategic plan to communicate to all internal and external stakeholders in both traditional and non-traditional formats the vision, objectives and priorities of the organization.
  • The COTY views communications as a tool to gain greater understanding (and support) among key stakeholders of the challenges and successes of the organization. On an on-going basis the COTY encourages and participates in evolving new and innovative methods of communication.
• Communicates to diverse audiences
  • The COTY takes an active role in multi-faceted, multi-stakeholder communications demonstrating openness and encouraging support for the achievement of the organization’s objectives. The COTY will encourage programs to measure the impact of these efforts and adapt accordingly to achieve the desired communications results.
• Exemplifies the role of leader in communications
  • The COTY will have a demonstrated track record and commitment to both corporate and community citizenship.

Eligibility:

• The organization must be Greater Toronto Area-based. See map for area clarification
• The nominee must have at least one year tenure in their current position as of November 1, 2011
• The nominee must have the official title of Chairman, CEO, COO/President or equivalent paid position in a charity, association, private or public sector

Nomination information:

The call for nominations is designed to create dialogue in the Greater Toronto Area communications community. Members and non-members may submit a nomination. Nominations do not have to be for a leader within your own organization – nomination of communications excellence wherever it might be is encouraged. Members of the judging committee (a panel of several Past IABC/Toronto Presidents) may also submit nominations.

To nominate a candidate for IABC/Toronto’s 2011 Communicator of the Year, simply submit a short rationale about the individual, touching on the criteria listed above, and email it to toronto-pastpresident@iabc.com.

Key Dates:

The deadline for COTY nominations is November 18, 2011. Nominations must be received by the Immediate Past President by end of day on November 18.

2011 IABC/Toronto Communicator of the Year award ceremony will be announced at a later date.

Past COTY Award winners

• Peter Aceto, President and Chief Executive Officer of ING Direct (2010)
• Rob Devitt, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Toronto East General Hospital (2009)
• Philip Blake, President and CEO of Bayer Inc. (2008)
• Annette Verschuren, President of Home Depot Canada (2007)
• Mayor Hazel McCallion, City of Mississauga (2006)
• Malcolm Heins of Law Society of Upper Canada (2005)
• D. Wayne Fyffe of Credit Valley Hospital (2004)
• Edward Marra of Nestlé Canada (2003)
• David Booth of Compaq Canada Corp. (2002)
• Paul Tsaparis of Hewlett-Packard Canada (2001)
• Marguerite Jackson of the Toronto District School Board (2000)
• Rudy Riedl of Enbridge Consumers Gas (1999)
• Jeff Lozon of St. Michael’s Hospital (1998)
• Paul Lucas of Glaxo Wellcome Inc. (1997)