City public relations teams excel on national stage

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This article was published 16/06/2022 (1552 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Six years ago, Brandish had two staff members — its business owners.

Now, the growing company is among the local agencies recognized nationally for their work in the advertising and public relations sphere.

Brandish won the Agency Team of the Year — Medium gold award at the Canadian Public Relations Society’s awards gala last week, which was held in Winnipeg.

Argyle PR — a national firm with a Winnipeg location — won gold for Agency Team of the Year-Large.

Red River College Polytechnic students took home the gold medal for Student Communications Campaign of the Year.

“(It’s) not something you see here often — agencies like ours, from the Prairies, really breaking onto that national stage,” said Lee Waltham, co-founder of Brandish.

The goal has always been to expand nationally, Waltham said. It’s been happening: just this year, Brandish opened its Toronto office. It’s also keeping its Winnipeg space in the Scott Block building on Main Street.

However, workers aren’t expected to enter the office, which could be part of its success, Waltham said. Since the pandemic, employees can work (largely) wherever and whenever they want, as long as they meet their goals.

“We just try to focus on doing the best work possible,” Waltham said.

The company transitioned to a four-day work week around six months ago.

“It’s had nothing but a positive impact on the work,” Waltham said.

Brandish submitted case studies of its work, including a campaign for Wawanesa Insurance and one for Robertson College, in its bid for an award.

CPRS judges marked submissions on a demonstration to ethical communications and professionalism, recent achievements and creativity in campaigns, among other things.

“It’s our first national award, but definitely not our last,” Waltham said.

Brandish is working with a billion-dollar company on a national campaign — the agency’s biggest project yet, Waltham said. He wouldn’t divulge details but said the advertisements would be out this fall.

Argyle PR’s St. Boniface location had reason to celebrate last week. The Canadian company, which employs around 130 people, accepted four awards.

It was the second year in a row the company racked up trophies.

“We have an exceptional team,” said Correy Myco, Argyle PR’s executive vice-president.

He said the company was intentional about team check-ins throughout the pandemic.

“(It was) reaching out to people and saying, ‘Hey, are you OK?’ And it’s OK to not be OK.”

Argyle PR has worked with organizations such as SAFE Work Manitoba and UPS Canada.

Some of Red River College Polytechnic’s recent Creative Communications graduates were recognized for their SuperManitoba project.

The 11 public relations students organized an I Love to Read Month campaign in which kids submitted their ideas for a Manitoban superhero. Finalists had their drawings posted on Virgin Radio Winnipeg’s website.

Thousands of people voted for their favourite character, and the winner — The Northern Light — is set to appear in a book by Ace Burpee, a host at Virgin Radio Winnipeg.

“To get recognized for the hard work we put in, it was really great,” said Georgia Dalke, a graduate who managed the project.

The Canadian Public Relations Society received 138 submissions for this year’s ceremony. The organization presented 73 awards.

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com