Prince George, B.C. – The  Canadian Public Relations Society has given the  2015 Canada Winter Games  two National Awards of Excellence for  its communications efforts.

The CPRS awards salute outstanding public relations campaigns, internal and external programs and tactics, and the dedication and contribution of public relations professionals.

The CPRS  awarded  Gold to the 2015 Canada Winter Games  in the category of best special events project for their Northern Health Preparedness initiative. In the lead up to the Games, Northern Health worked  with the 2015 Canada Games Host Society to ensure the best medical services would be available for athletes, visitors, and residents of Prince George attending the Games. Examples of initiatives included:

• The IMAGINE Legacy Grants that placed special attention on projects promoting physical activity,
• A Smoke-Free Games Proclamation that supported a smoke-free environment for all athletes and spectators taking in the Games,
• A Northern Safe Sport Tour that delivered 15 sport injury prevention and concussion management workshops to coaches, teachers and parents throughout Northern BC.

“The Canada Games leave a myriad of legacies to a Host Community and none are more important than the health legacy,” says Tom Quinn, Canada Games Council Chairman. “Northern Health and the 2015 Host Society truly leveraged the spirit of the Games in order to enhance health and wellness throughout Northern BC.”

The 2015 Canada Winter Games were also recognized in the category of Best Electronic and Social Media Project where they won Bronze for their 2015 Canada Winter Games website.

“The 2015 Canada Winter Games’ website and mobile site were information hubs where fans could quickly and efficiently get the information they needed about the Games,” says Quinn. “We commend the 2015 Host Society staff for their hard work in this regard and know they truly merit all the accolades they receive.”

Winners will be recognized at CPRS Awards Gala dinner on June 2, at the CPRS National Conference in Montreal.