Earlier this month at the Palais Royale in downtown Toronto, more than 150 people from across the country attended the 17th annual Canadian Printing Awards, organized by PrintAction and its parent company Annex Business Media. More than 45 trophies were presented to printers and technology suppliers. Congratulations to all award recipients!
See our complete photo gallery here!
ACHIEVEMENT WINNERS
John A. Young Lifetime Achievement Award: Nick Howard, CEA, Owner, Howard Graphic Equipment
With a lifetime spent in the printing and graphic arts industry, including 47 years of managing Howard Graphic Equipment, Nick Howard possesses an in-depth knowledge of and is fully qualified to offer technical and consultancy expertise on all facets of the printing industry. As president of Howard Graphic Equipment, Howard has been instrumental in most buying and selling decisions, which places his opinion of values in machinery valuations, technical merits, and condition in demand. He has also been involved in appraising graphic arts equipment since 1976. As a Certified Equipment Appraiser, he has been called upon to provide specialist appraisals for over 200 companies, institutions, and investors.
Community Leader of the Year: Nicole Morrison, Communications and Marketing Director, Connecting for Results
Nicole Morrison is an award-winning communications and marketing professional with 15 years of experience. She has a successful track record of raising her clients’ profiles across a local, national, and international stage. As the communications and marketing director for print management consulting firm, Connecting for Results, Morrison oversees all things marketing and helps to co-ordinate the company’s corporate social responsibility programs. She is a champion for the company’s student mentorship program, Print Wisdom, which helps Graphic Communications Management program students at the Toronto Metropolitan University transition from school to the workplace.
Emerging Leader of the Year: AJ Rai, Vice-President, Sales, Mitchell Press
In 2017, AJ Rai joined as Mitchell’s first digital media specialist to support the group’s new digital print division. Even though he had zero traditional print experience, AJ quickly picked up on the solutions he could provide. He understood immediately how to sell the value of the solution, rather than print by the kilogram. AJ was key to developing and launching Mitchell’s New Media services, now called Project 28, in 2018. In 2020, AJ’s continued successes resulted in a promotion to sales director. Drawing on his diverse background in the financial tech industry, his non-traditional (for print) sales methodology provided Mitchell’s sales team new tools.
In 2021, AJ was invited to join Mitchell’s executive leadership team as VP-sales. AJ’s leadership style, which is a blend of toughness and fairness, oversaw sales volumes increase back to pre-pandemic levels by early 2022. Under AJ’s leadership, Mitchell has become adept at bridging the gap between print manufacturing and the digital realm. Leveraging data metrics and technology, AJ’s vision to let data inform the marketing decisions of Mitchell’s clients is helping the company transform the industry, ensuring its prosperity for generations to come. By integrating print as a pivotal metric in the digital landscape, AJ is empowering organizations to thrive in their endeavours while embracing the legacy of print.
Printing Leader of the Year: Chad Friesen, CEO, Friesens Crop.
Chad Friesen is the CEO of Friesens Corporation, an employee-owned company (Altona, Man.) serving the trade book, yearbook, packaging, and self-publishing markets.
While he shares the namesake, Chad is not actually related to the original Friesen family. He started his career with Friesens in 1993, and in many ways, he is a product of the company, having worked on presses, binding lines, customer service, project management, marketing, sales management, and general management. In addition to being a board director and trustee for Friesens, he is also the board chair for Red River Mutual, a board director on the Manitoba Business Council, a steering committee member on the Canadian Employee-Ownership Coalition and was a founding Director of SEED, a regional economic development organization. Chad and his wife Gina live on an acreage outside of Altona where they raised their two daughters and numerous horses, dogs, and cats over the years. In his spare time, Chad enjoys travel, creating in his workshop, and is currently restoring an old pickup truck.
BEST OF SHOW
The Hip Trip Kit
Mitchell Press
PRINT PRODUCTION
Self Promotion, Printing Company
Winner: 2022 Holiday Wrap
Hemlock Printers
Honourable Mention: The Hip Trip Kit
Mitchell Press
Self Promotion, Printing Industry Supplier
Winner: Inspire Konica Minolta Direct Mail
Print Panther Direct
Honourable Mention: Arizona Interior Decor Box
Canon Canada
Brochures & Booklets, Digital (Toner & Inkjet)
Winner: Mindham Fine Jewellery
CJ Graphics
Honourable Mention: Aga Khan Collection
CJ Graphics
Packaging Production
Winner: The Last Stop – KPU Design School 4th Year Graduating Class
Mitchell Press
Winner: Kallas Honey
MET Fine Printers
Honourable Mention: Courvoisier Cognac Limited Edition Case
CJ Graphics
Books, Softcover Offset
Winner: Impressions of Newfoundland
Marquis Book Printing
Honourable Mention: F1 Race Weekend 2023
Mi5 Print & Digital
Web Offset (Heat set)
Winner: Road 13 Select Harvest Sparkling Chenin Blanc 750 ml Face 2019
Multi-Color Corporation
Honourable Mention: Inniskillin Icewine Sparkling Cabernet Franc 375 ml Face
Multi-Color Corporation
Specialty Project
Winner: Samantha and Brendan
Hubbub Paper
Honourable Mention: University of Windsor Lets Go
Mi5 Print & Digital
Brochures & Booklets, Offset
Winner: South Yards Brochure
Hemlock Printers
Honourable Mention: Jaguar
CJ Graphics
Magazines, Web Offset
Winner: Taste Magazine Fall ’23
Mitchell Press
Honourable Mention: Yam Magazine
Mitchell Press
Flyers and Leaflets (All Applications)
Winner: Graphics Canada
CJ Graphics
Honourable Mention: Bell
CJ Graphics
Calendars, Sheetfed Offset
Winner: Mi5 Calendar 2023
Mi5 Print & Digital
Web, Digital
Winner: The Roost Frontenac-Siegerrebe
Multi-Color Corporation
Books, Hardcover Offset
Winner: Wetland Projects Artist Book
Hemlock Printers
Honourable Mention: Mother Earth – 2nd Edition
Friesens Corporation
Labels (Flexography, Web, or Gravure)
Winner: Left Field Squeeze Play Rainbow Sherbet
Lorpon Labels
Honourable Mention: Empyrus
Imprimerie Ste-Julie
Catalogues (All Applications)
Winner: Smythe Catalogue – CJ Graphics
Web Flexography
Winner: Armstrong Free – Royal Jubilee
Tempo Flexible Packaging
Honourable Mention: Gentle Giants Dog Food – Classic ‘Quality of Life’ Feast
Tempo Flexible Packaging
Packaging (Offset, Rigid or Digital)
Winner: Fielding Chill Box
Printing By Innovation
Honourable Mention: Crawlaway
CJ Graphics
Magazines, Sheetfed Offset
Winner: Nanilavut Project Magazine
Hemlock Printers
Honourable Mention: Lucky Daye – Candydrip
Hemlock Printers
Buisness Cards
Winner: Hubbub Paper Co. Business Cards
Hubbub Paper
Honourable Mention: The Ritz-Carlton Toca
CJ Graphics
Books, Digital (Toner or Inkjet)
Winner: The Wall
CJ Graphics
Honourable Mention: IVEY
CJ Graphics
Finishing – Deboss
Winner: Friesens 2023 Gift Journal
Friesens Corporation
Honourable Mention: Henson Shaving Standard Box
Printing By Innovation
Finishing – Embellishments
Winner: Print So Real You Can Feel It – Extreme Digital 3
Print Panther Direct
Honourable Mention: Brand Experience Invite
Print Panther Direct
Hybrid Project – Digital and Offset
Winner: NDL Agenda – Edition Repro
Stationery and Invitations
Winner: 10 Year Bash
Hubbub Paper
Finishing – Die cut
Winner: The Shot
CJ Graphics
Binding (Stitching, Perfect Binding, Coil, Wire, Case Binding)
Winner: Warehouse Journal Volume 31
Friesens Corporation
Honourable Mention: Timber House Brochure
Hemlock Printers
Specialty Effects
Winner: Freida – Giclee and Digital Embellishment on Fine Art Piece
Print Panther Direct
Honourable Mention: Florin Presentation Folder & Business Cards
Hemlock Printers
Best Print Production, Miscellaneous
Winner: The Hip Trip Kit
Mitchell Press
Honourable Mention: Khan Photography
CJ Graphics
Finishing – Emboss
Winner: Candace & Julian Save The Date
Hubbub Paper
Wide-Format
Winner: Molson Hop Valley T-Shirt Display
Hemlock Display Solutions
Honourable Mention: 30 Years of Red Carpet Style With George Pimentel
CJ Graphics
PRINTING
Best Public Service Print Production
Winner: Unmasked Fear
CJ Graphics
Best Student Project of the Year
Winner: TMU TAGA Student Journal
Toronto Metropolitan University
Honourable Mention: Halftone Hideaway
Toronto Metropolitan University
Honourable Mention: Wilson School of Design Grad Portfolios
Mitchell Press
Best Print Project, Quebec
Winner: La messagère
Marquis Book Printing
Best Print Project, Ontario
Winner: Khan Photography
CJ Graphics
Honourable Mention: Tim Hortons Tim Bits Float For Pride Toronto
CJ Graphics
Best Print Project, British Columbia
Winner: South Yards Brochure
Hemlock Printers
Honourable Mention: The Hip Trip Kit
Mitchell Press
Best Print Project, the Prairies (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta)
Winner: Inuit Sanaugangit Art Across Time
Friesens Corporation
TECHNOLOGY
Most Progressive Printing Process, Production Inkjet
Winner: HP PageWide Advantage 2200
HP
Honourable Mention: Canon varioPRINT iX-Series R.4.3
Canon Canada
Most Progressive Printing Process, Wide-Format Inkjet
Winner: Canon Colorado M Series
Canon Canada
Honourable Mention: Canon Arizona 1300 FLOW
Canon Canada
Most Progressive Printing Process, Software or IT
Winner: Canon-PRISMAguide XL
Canon Canada
Honourable Mention: HP PrintOS Site Flow
HP
ENVIRONMENTAL
Most Environmentally Progressive Printing Company
Winner: Lowe-Martin Company
Winner: Mitchell Press
Honourable Mention: Hemlock Printers
Most Environmentally Progressive Technology Company
Winner: Canon Canada
Honourable Mention: HP
Most Environmentally Progressive Printing Project
Winner: Kitselas First Nation Nii Magazine – Hemlock Printers
Winner: Tim Hortons Tim Bits Float For Pride Toronto – CJ Graphics
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