Meet the 2023 Canadian Event Awards Finalists

We are thrilled to announce the finalists for the 2023 Canadian Event Awards! The Canadian Event Awards honours and celebrates the best in over 50 categories, from event design and production to marketing and sponsorship. This year’s list is a true testament to the talented and innovative people and companies that make up our amazing event industry in Canada and truly highlights their commitment to excellence and their resilience.

This year’s events are more significant than ever, more complex, and with tremendous outcomes. We are excited to see many new faces entering the awards this year, making it a well-rounded and genuinely national competition with entries from Victoria to Halifax.

The awards will be presented on May 3rd at the Canadian Event Awards Gala, proudly hosted by La Primavera Event Space and presented by Canadian Special Events Magazine and Chair-man Mills. The evening’s theme, BLOOM, is fitting for an industry now in full bloom after being dark for so long. It features great entertainment, a four-course gourmet dinner, a cocktail reception sponsored by Quebec City Business Destinations, and stunning design by Stardust Events and Seneca College.

Congratulations to all the finalists, and best of luck in the final rounds of judging. Be part of the most important industry celebration of the year as we honour the achievements of Canada’s top event professionals. Tickets can be purchased here.

The Canadian Event Awards gala guests are encouraged to stay at the brand-new Canopy by Hilton Hotel in trendy Yorkville. The special rate for CSE Live can be booked here

If you have questions about the Canadian Event Awards or Gala, email us today at cse@canadianspecialevents.com

Meet the Finalists

Best Event By An Association Board or Committee
♦ Kelowna General Hospital Foundation, Kelowna, BC, for Heart of Gold Gala
♦ Canadian Dam Association, Markham, ON, for 2022 Canadian Dam Association Annual Conference
♦ Canadian Home Builders’ Association of BC, Burnaby, BC, for Georgie Awards 2022
♦ MRG Events Ltd, & Translink, Vancouver, BC, for Car Free Day North Vancouver/Shipyards Festival
♦ TIAO – Tourism Industry Association of Ontario, Toronto, ON, for OTS22 – Ontario Tourism Summit

Best Conference
♦ Brandlive, Vancouver, BC, for External Development Summit (XDS) 2022
♦ e=mc² events, & Energy Disruptors, Calgary, AB, for Energy Disruptors Unite Summit 2022
♦ TK Events, Oakville, ON, for Loblaw HR Summit
♦ TIAO Tourism, Toronto, ON, for OTS22 Ontario Tourism Summit
♦ Moore Carlyle Consulting, Toronto, ON, for OAA Conference 2022
♦ Molson Coors Canada, Etobicoke, ON, for MCBC Canadian Conference

Best Brand or Product Launch
♦ Jet Entertainment, Toronto, ON, Horseshoe Residences Launch
♦ Citizen Experiential and Citizen Relations, Toronto, ON, VinFast US – Launch Event
♦ Citizen Experiential and Citizen Relations, Toronto, ON, Hop Valley Bubble Stash Smash

Best Experiential Marketing Event
♦ Azuridge Estate Hotel, Foothills, AB, for SPREAD LOVE, Azuridge & Partners Luxury Wedding Contest
♦ Citizen Experiential and Citizen Relations, Toronto, ON, for Hop Valley Bubble Stash Smash
♦ Citizen Experiential and Citizen Relations, Toronto, ON, for VinFast US – Launch Event
♦ OneWest Event Design, Calgary, AB for Pizza ATM
♦ Glam Cam, Edmonton, AB, for FIS Snowboard Big Air World Cup

Best Event for a Community-Based Charity
♦ Event Strategy Partners (ESP) Inc., Toronto, ON, for Angels & Heroes Love You to the Moon
♦ Solutions With Impact & Melanoma Canada, Toronto, ON, for 7 Summits Snowshoe Challenge for Skin Cancer
♦ Solutions With Impact, Toronto, ON, for 2022 Culinary Showdown
♦ The It Factor Ltd., Toronto, ON, for Sink the Stigma
♦ Cava Rose, Montreal, QC, for the Orchestre Métropolitain – Great Conductor, Great Chef

Best Event for a High Profile Charity
♦ BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, Vancouver, BC, for The Crystal Ball
♦ hala inc. Toronto, ON, for Ontario Science Centre’s RBC Innovators Ball
♦ hala Inc. Toronto, ON, for Right To Play 2022 Heroes Gala
♦ hala inc. Toronto, ON, for The Royal 100th Anniversary Gala
♦ Event Strategy Partners (ESP) Inc., Toronto, ON, for Shaw Boxing

Best Fundraising Event
♦ Kelowna General Hospital Foundation, Kelowna, BC, for Heart of Gold Gala
♦ Portage, Montreal, QC, for 19th Soirée des Grands Philanthropes – Tribute to Lino A. Saputo
♦ OneWest Event Design Calgary, AB, for Big Ball, Big Impact
♦ Event Strategy Partners, (ESP) Inc., Toronto, ON for The Here and Now 2022 Southlake Gala
♦ Solutions With Impact, Toronto, ON, 2022 Boat Rally for Cancer
♦ Jack.org, Toronto, ON, for Jack Ride
♦ Peace Arch Hospital Foundation, White Rock, BC, for La Dolce Vita
♦ The It Factor Ltd., Toronto, ON, for Marner All-Star Invitational

Best Market, Fair or Festival
♦ Brandlive Vancouver, BC, for Honda Celebration of Light 2022
♦ City of Surrey Surrey, BC, and MRG Events, Vancouver, BC, for Surrey Tree Lighting Festival & Holiday Market
♦ PM GIGS Inc. Calgary, AB, for Canada Day at St. Patrick’s Island
♦ The Rainbow Club of South Georgian Bay, Collingwood, ON, Pride Collingwood
♦ MRG Events Ltd, & Kitsilano West 4th Ave Business Improvement Association, Vancouver, BC, for Khatsahlano Street Party 2022

Most Creative Floral Design
♦ R5 Event Design Inc. Toronto, ON, & Fab Fete Events, Thornhill, ON for Christine’s Butterflies in Paris Bridal Shower
♦ Bespoke Blossoms, Victoria, BC, for Yellow and Blue Flowers for Hope
♦ Karma Design Studio Inc., Brampton, ON, for Peacock Fusion for A&A Wedding

Most Creative Table Design
♦ OneWest Event Design, Calgary, A, forB Fifty Years of Connecting
♦ R5 Event Design Inc. & Parléview, Toronto, ON, for Destination Canada Signature Event – Innovate Canada Oceans

Best Event Design/Decor Under $50,000
♦ Citizen Experiential and Citizen Relations, Toronto, ON, for Loblaws PC Holiday Preview
♦ Fab Fete Events, Thornhill, ON, & Rockpaper Events, North York, ON, for Hotel MIA-MI
♦ TK Events, Oakville, ON, for Wattpad Company Retreat 
♦ Nulink Events, Ancaster, ON, for Neon Girls Baby Shower
♦ Sandra Bettina, St. Albert, Alberta, for Walk the Runway-Real Wedding Edition
♦ Karma Design Studio, Brampton, ON, for An Indian Wedding for UHNs Diwali-A Night To Shine GALA
♦ Karma Design Studio Brampton, ON, for Night at Royal Garden for Oakville Hospital Foundation

Best Event Design/ Decor $50,000 – $150,000
♦ Bright Ideas Event Agency, Richmond, BC, for With Love From Paris
♦ OneWest Event Design, Calgary, AB, for Celebrating a Century
♦ OneWest Event Design, Calgary, AB, for Fifty Years of Connecting
♦ Canadian Home Builders’ Association of BC, Burnaby, BC, for Georgie Awards 2022
♦ Anna Lacivita Designs, Etobicoke, ON, for Carousel Dreams in the Clouds
♦ R5 Event Event Design, Toronto, ON, & Fab Fete, Thornhill, ON, for Aaron’s Jungle Bar-Mitzvah
♦ R5 Event Event Design, Toronto, ON, for Adrian’s OVO Bar-Mitzvah
♦ Moore Carlyle Consulting, Toronto, ON, for UNIFOR Constitutional 2022 Gala Night
♦TK Events Inc. Oakville, ON, for Vancouver Michelin Star Reveal

Best Event Photography
♦ Event Imaging, North York, ON, for National Mortgage Conference
♦ Photos With Finesse, Calgary, AB, for Hockey Marathon 2022

Best Corporate Event Under $150,000
♦ Manina World, Montreal, QC, for Secret Tulum
♦ Solutions With Impact, Toronto, ON, for Porsche Holiday & 5th Anniversary Party
♦ Cantrav Services, Vancouver, BC, for Ice Caves

Best Corporate Event $150,000 – $350,000
♦ Bright Ideas Event Agency, Richmond, BC, for With Love From Paris
♦ The Concierge Club, West Toronto, ON, for Corporate Conference

Best Corporate Event $350,000 +
♦ Lulu Events & Mirella DiBlasio, Montreal, QC, for UAE Reception at 41st General Assembly IACO
♦ Tycoon Events, Edmonton, AB, for Years of Service, Above & Beyond
♦ Canadian Tire Retail, Toronto, ON, for Celebration of a Century
♦ Citizen Experiential and Citizen Relations, Toronto, ON, for VinFast – US Launch Event
♦ Managing Matters & The Idea Hunter, Toronto, ON, for New Managers Conference Social
♦ TK Events, Toronto, ON, for Dell Technologies at Siggraph
♦ Burstyn Inc, Toronto, ON, for Burgundy Ball
♦ FREE PEOPLE, & Deloitte Canada, Halifax, NS, for Party in a Moonlit Park
♦ Cantrav Services, Vancouver, BC, for Become a Local

Best Wedding Creative
♦ Azuridge Estate Hotel Foothills, AB, for Jonathan & Jessica’s Wanderlust Wedding
♦ Lynn Fletcher Weddings Calgary, AB for My Way
♦ R5 Event Design Inc. Toronto, ON, Fab Fete Events, Thornhill, ON, for Christine & Michael’s Black and White Wedding
♦ Threshold Edmonton, AB, for The Night Circus Aerial Cabaret & Dance Party
♦ Karma Design Studio Inc. Brampton, ON, for Anjali & Ashwin’s Dream Wedding

Best Wedding Under $100,000
♦ Azuridge Estate Hotel, Foothills, AB, for Jonathan & Jessica’s Winter Wanderlust Wedding
♦ Lynn Fletcher Weddings, Calgary, AB, for The Chaos of Stars
♦The Good Party Victoria, BC, for Forty Forty White Rock // The West Coast’s Eleven Madison Park

Best Wedding $100,000 to $250,000
♦ R5 Event Design Inc., Toronto, ON, Fab Fete Events, Thornhill, ON, for Christine & Michael’s Black & White Wedding
♦ Lynn Fletcher Weddings, Calgary, AB, for My Way
♦ Sandra Bettina Weddings & Events, St.Albert, AB, for I love you so bad – Edgy Romance in the Mountains
♦ The Good Party Victoria, BC, for Indian Persian Fusion Wedding Weekend Celebration

Best Wedding $250,000 +
♦ Julianne Young Weddings Inc., Calgary, AB, for Meredith & Shawn’s Tented Wedding in Banff
♦ Anna Lacivita Designs Etobicoke, ON, for Dusted in Snow
♦ Liberty Entertainment Group Toronto, ON, for Simone + Di Donato Wedding

Best Virtual Corporate Event 
♦ TK Events Inc. Oakville, ON, for Dell Technologies Client Peripherals, Displays, and Imaging Expo
♦ bb Blanc Inc., Vaughan, ON, for TTi Canada 2022 Virtual National Sales Meeting

Best Virtual Non-Profit/Fundraising Event 
♦ Lincoln Alexander School of Law, Toronto Metropolitan University Toronto, ON Lincoln100: Celebrating Lincoln Alexander’s Legacy
♦ Solutions With Impact Toronto, ON, for Bungie Game2Give 2022
♦ Solutions With Impact, Toronto, ON, for the 2022 Bungie Day Giving Festival
♦ TIAO – Tourism Industry Association of Ontario, Toronto, ON, for OTS22 – Ontario Tourism Summit

Best Entertainment Production
♦ The Idea Hunter, Toronto, ON, for BMO | Virtually There
♦ PM Gigs Inc., Calgary, AB, for Splendour
♦ Hala Inc., Toronto, ON, for the Royal 100th Anniversary Gala

Best Video or Filmmaking for an Event
♦ Event Imaging, North York, ON, Ignat Kaneff Charitable Foundation 50th Annual 
♦ Jet Entertainment, Toronto, ON, for The Horseshoe Residence, Platinum Agent Video
♦ The Taurus Group, Toronto, ON, for MPI The Event 2022

Outstanding Logistical Achievement 
♦ hala inc. Toronto, ON, for The Royal 100th Anniversary Gala
♦ Tycoon Events, Edmonton, AB, for Years of Service: “Above and Beyond.”
♦ Tycoon Events, Edmonton, AB, for $18 Billion Asset Milestone Celebration
♦ Event Strategy Partners (ESP) Inc., Toronto, ON, for Bloor Street Entertains
♦ Agri-Trade Equipment Expo Ltd., Red Deer, AB, for Agri-Trade Equipment Expo
♦ Greenscape Design & Decor Inc., Burnaby, BC, for A Starry Night
♦ Calgary Sports & Entertainment Corporation, Calgary, AB, for RED Lot Community Viewing Party
♦ The Glencoe Club, & OneWest Event Design & Logistics & PM Gigs Inc., Calgary, AB, for Splendour – A Celebration of Celebrations
♦ FREE PEOPLE Marketing, Projects and Events Inc., & Deloitte Canada, Halifax, NS, for Fortified Kitchen Party
♦ Cantrav Services Vancouver, BC Ice Caves

Best Audio Visual for an Event 
♦ bb Blanc Inc., Vaughan, ON, for the 2022 Honda CRV Hybrid Line-Off Ceremony
♦ Quest Audio Visual, Toronto, ON, for Royal LePage National Sales Conference 

Best Technical Support for an Event
♦ MKEM North York, ON, for the 2023 CRA & AHPA Annual Scientific Meeting
♦ bb Blanc Inc., Vaughan, ON, for 2022 OHBA Annual Conference and Awards of Distinction
♦ Quest Audio Visual, Toronto, ON, for TPM22 & TPMTech
♦ Soundbox Productions, Stoney Creek, ON, for YWCA Hamilton: Women of Distinction Awards 2022

Big Idea of the Year
♦ Jet Entertainment, Toronto, ON, for The Immersive Theatre
♦ Cirque Revolution Events Inc., Smithville, ON, for Cirque Orchestra

Most Outstanding Event $150,000 – $350,000
♦ Bright Ideas Event Agency Richmond, BC, for With Love From Paris
♦ hala inc. Toronto, ON, for Ontario Science Centre’s RBC Innovators Ball
♦ hala Inc. Toronto, ON, for Right To Play 2022 Heroes Gala
♦ hala inc. Toronto, ON, for Princess Margaret Cancer Centre’s One Life Gala
♦ MKEM North York, ON, for The Sports Card Expo Toronto
♦ Altitude C Montréal, QC, for IDÉA 2022
♦ The Glencoe Club, OneWest Event Design & Logistics & PM Gigs Inc., Calgary, AB, Splendour – A Celebration of Celebrations
♦ TIAO – Tourism Industry Association of Ontario, Toronto, ON, OTS22 – Ontario Tourism Summit

Most Outstanding Event $350,000 +
♦ Lulu Events Montréal, QC, for UAE Reception at 41st General Assembly ICAO Council
♦ hala inc. Toronto, ON, for The Royal 100th Anniversary Gala
♦ City of Surrey, Surrey, BC., and MRG Events Ltd., Vancouver, BC, for  Surrey Canada Day 2022
♦ Canadian Tire Retail, Toronto, ON, for Celebration of a Century
♦Citizen Experiential and Citizen Relations, Toronto, ON, for VinFast – US Launch Event
♦ Event Strategy Partners (ESP) Inc., Toronto, ON, for Heart of Fashion
♦ Canada Place Vancouver, BC, Canada Together
♦ TK Events Inc., Oakville, ON Dell Precision 25th Anniversary at Siggraph
♦ R5 Event Design Inc., Toronto, ON & Gloria Benaim Events, Thornhill, ON, for Adrian’s OVO Bar-Mitzvah

Event Industry Volunteer of the Year
Announced live at the 2023 Gala 

Emerging Leader Award
♦ James Bonaparte, BMO Centre at Stampede Park Calgary, AB
♦ Spencer Croft, MKEM North York, ON
♦ Marshall Heritage, Greenscape Design & Decor Inc. Burnaby, BC
♦ Michelle Palmer, City of Nanaimo Nanaimo, BC
♦ Reegan Evans, EWS Events Vancouver, BC

Leslee Bell Spirit of the Industry Award
Announced live at the 2023 Gala  

Entertainer of the Year
♦ Olga Pankova, Markham, ON,
♦ Dueling Piano Kings, Calgary, AB 
♦ uRequest Live., Toronto, ON 
♦ DeAngelis Entertainment Inc, Toronto, ON
♦ Motivational Hypnotist, The Incredible Boris, Thornhill, ON 

Wedding Professional of the Year
♦ Julianne Young, Julianne Young Weddings Inc, Calgary, AB
♦ Michelle LeManne Lamb, Azuridge Estate Hotel, Foothills, AB

Event Professional of the Year
♦ Sharon Bonner, Bright Ideas Event Agency, Richmond, BC 
♦ Hailey Dawood, The Idea Hunter Toronto, ON 
♦ Janel Snider, e=mc² events, Calgary, AB 
♦ Mikey Singer, MKEM, North York, ON

Congratulations to the Following Companies Awarded Best in Their Respective Categories:

Best Multiple-Day Incentive 
Cantrav Services, Vancouver, BC, for From Sea to Sky

Best Corporate Team Building Event
The Idea Hunter, Toronto, ON, for Sunny Summer Games

Best Event for a Private Individual/Group Cause
R5 Event Design and Gloria Benaim Events, Toronto, ON, for Adrian’s OVO Bar-Mitzvah

Best Virtual Conference
Impact AV Solutions, Etobicoke, ON, for Global Student Leadership Day

Most Outstanding Event Under $150,000
MRG Events & Translink, Vancouver, BC for Car Free Day New Westminister

Best Cultural Event
City of Surrey, Surrey, BC, & MRG Events, Vancouver, BC, for the 2022 Surrey Fusion Festival

Best Trade Show Booth, Display or Pavillion Design
TK Events, Toronto, ON, for Dell Technologies at Siggraph