competition

A capacity crowd of about 75 people gathered on February 24 at Macies Hotel on Carling to celebrate this year's Technical Publications and Online Communication awards.

Competition managers Gordon Brown and Tara Bourbeau

While enjoying refreshments, attendees viewed and discussed the winning entries with great interest. Once everyone was seated, the formal part of the evening got underway. Emcee Gordon Brown welcomed everyone and provided a summary of this year's competition. Chapter president John Holgate spoke next about the strength of our chapter and introduced the evening's guest speaker, Kitty Aughey.

Kitty Aughey, John Holgate

Kitty's natural speaking ability and her quick wit kept everyone's undivided attention. She spoke of her career as a technical communicator, her involvement with the STC, and about winning her first STC award. Especially interesting, was her insight into the importance of the competition and the recognition that winning an award carries within an organization.

Awards were then handed out by category. The evening capped off with the presentation of the Technical Publications Best of Show award to Jane Frarey Wark of Northwood Geoscience Ltd. for the company marketing newsletter, The View North.

Jane Frarey Wark accepts the Best of Show Cup

As well, Jane received the new Best of Show Cup. As part of a new tradition recognizing superb technical communication, this award will be presented each year to the Best of Show winner. The winning company will retain the trophy until the next year's competition, when it will return to STCEO for presentation to the next Best of Show winners.

Cup winners Jane Frarey Wark, Johannes Hill, and Jennifer McDonald
-Northwood Geoscience Ltd.

Overall, this year's competition attracted a total of 55 entries-42 print and 13 online. Of those, there were 39 winners as follows:

Distinguished: 5

Excellence: 13

Merit: 21

The entries were judged by 40 judges, who donated 10-15 hours each for review. Many thanks to all the entrants, volunteers and STC executive members who made the evening such a great success.

More photos:

All photos by Rick Lorenz