The web page (epl.ca/alberta-readers-choice) contains summaries of all the books and biographies of their authors. Also posted on the website are short video interviews with all of the writers. this year’s finalists — all from Edmonton with books all published by Alberta publishers.  One of the five, Lynn Coady, made the short list last year for Canada’s biggest book award, the $50,000 Scotiabank Giller Prize.

The Best Feature Award went to Mike Petersen for Lloyd the Conqueror, while the Best Dramatic Series went to Nomadic Pictures’ Hell on Wheels. Both awards were presented by our new Minister of Culture Heather Klimchuk. Edmonton’s Niobe Thompson won the most awards of the night with 5 for his documentary The Perfect Runner.

Host Steve Patterson once again had the audience in stitches, and we had a sell out crowd of over 700 people! All in all, it was a great night, and a testament to the talented people working in the Alberta media production industry.

The 2012 Alberta Film and Television Awards Winners List

CLASS CATEGORIES

Best Public Service Announcement
CAWST – “A Simple Solution”
Neil Devine, Producer
Freshwater Creative (‘C’)

Best Promotional Production
Greenlight – Ali
Steve Seeley, Robb Thompson & Shelley Cornies, Producers
Studio Dialog (‘C’)

Best Motivational Production
Warner
Simon Morgan & Neil Grahn, Producers
Lindisfarne Productions (‘E’)

Best Television Commercial
Coalition for a Safer Hwy 63/881 – “Home”
Hans J. Dys, Producer
FILMBratz Productions (‘E’)

Best Corporate Video
Corbis Corporate Holdings
Steve Seeley, Robb Thompson, Calvin Sun, Shelley Cornies & Darren Bierman, Producers
Studio Dialog (‘C’)

Best Student Production
Prisoner 7
Braden Brickner, Producer
SAIT Polytechnic Film and Video Production Program (‘C’)

Best Music Video
“Fight! Fight! Fight!” – Colleen Brown
Blake McWilliam & Mike McLaughlin, Producers
Back Road Productions (‘C’)

Best Educational Production
Calgary Military Museum-Pattison
Andrew Ferns, Producer
White Iron (‘C’)

Best Short
Wild Life
Bonnie Thompson & David Christensen, Producers
National Film Board of Canada (‘E’)

Best Production Reflecting Cultural Diversity
Blackstone Ron E. Scott & Jesse Szymanski, Producers
Prairie Dog Film & Television (‘E’)

Best Digital Program or Project
Health Warriors Network
Jaro Malanowski & Erin Stevenson, Producers
Avatar Media (‘St. Albert’)

Best Digital Cross-Platform Project
CAWST – “A Simple Solution” Web Video
Neil Devine, Producer
Freshwater Creative (‘C’)

Best News Feature
Alberta Primetime
Daniel Baldassarre, Producer
CTV Two (‘E’)

Best News Information Series
Breakfast Television – Edmonton
Claudette Germain & Colin McGarrigle, Producers
Citytv Edmonton (‘E’)

Best Documentary Under 30 Minutes
AUPE Slave Lake
Matt Gillespie & Missy Venaas, Producers
Joe Media Group (‘C’)

Best Light Information or Lifestyle Series
Puppy SOS Jean Merriman
Brad Pattison & Matthew Kershaw
Producers White Iron Pictures (‘C’)

Best Musical or Variety Special
Citytv New Year’s Bash 2012
Paula Davies, Producer
Citytv Calgary (‘C’)

Best Documentary Over 30 Minutes
The Perfect Runner
Niobe Thompson, Producer
Clearwater Documentary (‘E’)

Best Documentary Series
The Quon Dynasty
Helen Schmidt, Karen Redford & Keely Booth, Producers
Anaid Productions (‘E’)

Best Drama Made-for-TV Movie or Mini-Series
Hannah’s Law
Michael Frislev & Chad Oakes, Producers
Nomadic Pictures (‘C’)

Best Dramatic Feature
Lloyd The Conqueror
Brendan Hunter, Robert Peterson, Rob Ohlson & Matt Kelly, Producers
Fresh Dog Productions (‘C’)

Best Dramatic Series
Hell On Wheels
Michael Frislev & Chad Oakes, Producers
Nomadic Pictures (‘C’)

CRAFT CATEGORIES

Best Screenwriter (Non-Fiction under 30 Minutes)
Dave Kelly
Calgary Reads Corporate
Kelly Brothers Productions (‘C’)

Best Screenwriter (Non-Fiction over 30 Minutes)
Niobe Thompson & Tom Radford
The Perfect Runner
Clearwater Documentary (‘E’)

Best Screenwriter (Drama under 30 Minutes)
Kyle Thomas
Not Far From The Abattoir
North Country Cinema (‘C’)

Best Screenwriter (Drama over 30 Minutes)
Ron E. Scott
Blackstone – “A Girl Walks into a Bar”
Prairie Dog Film & Television (‘E’)

Best Narrator
Gord Marriott
Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame
Aquila Productions (‘E’)

Best Television Host
Jennifer Martin
Alberta Primetime
CTV Two (‘E’)

Best Performance by an Alberta Actor
Duncan Ollerenshaw
Hell On Wheels – “Timshel”
Nomadic Pictures (‘C’)

Best Performance by an Alberta Actress
Michelle Thrush
Blackstone – “Forgiveness”
Prairie Dog Film & Television (‘E’)

Best Overall Sound Non-Fiction
Dan McManus & John Iaquinta
Wolves Unleashed
Scrunch Munch Films (‘O’)

Best Overall Sound Drama
Patrick Butler, Brent Planiden & David j. Taylor
Wild Life
National Film Board of Canada (‘E’)

Best Original Musical Score Non-Fiction
Mitch Lee
The Lamborghini
Redemption (‘C’)

Best Original Musical Score Drama
Donovan Seidle & Dave Pierce
Lloyd The Conqueror
Fresh Dog Productions (‘C’)

Best Editor (Non-Fiction under 30 Minutes)
Steve Katakami
Puppy SOS
White Iron Pictures (‘C’)

Best Editor (Non-Fiction over 30 Minutes)
Brenda Terning
The Perfect Runner
Clearwater Documentary (‘E’)

Best Editor (Drama under 30 Minutes)
Sarah Taylor
CAUTION: May Contain Nuts – “Delusions of Tatanka Trucks”
Mosaic Entertainment (‘E’)

Best Editor (Drama over 30 Minutes)
Bridget Durnford
The Truth Below
Nomadic Pictures (‘C’)

Best Costume Designer
Wendy Partridge
Hannah’s Law
Nomadic Pictures (‘C’)

Best Make-Up Artist
Prudence Olenik
CAUTION: May Contain Nuts – “Jesus and the Death of Puffy Greenscale”
Mosaic Entertainment (‘E’)

Best Production Designer/Art Director
Myron Hyrak
CAUTION: May Contain Nuts – “Telegraphed Basterds”
Mosaic Entertainment (‘E’)

Best Special Effects
Jeff August & David Sparrgrove
AXIA’s Supernet
Jump Studios (‘C’)

Best Animator (s) or Motion Graphic Artist (s)
Wendy Tilby, Amanda Forbis
Wild Life
National Film Board of Canada (‘E’)

Best Cinematographer (Non-Fiction under 30 Minutes)
Craig Wrobleski
Movie Magic
Bow River Productions and Alberta Film Entertainment (‘C’)

Best Cinematographer (Non-Fiction over 30 Minutes)
Daron Donahue & Mike McLaughlin
The Perfect Runner
Clearwater Documentary (‘E’)

Best Cinematographer (Drama under 30 Minutes)
Courtenay Forster & Sid Bailey
Gord Bamford: Hank Williams Lonesome
Crowsnest Films (‘C’)

Best Cinematographer (Drama over 30 Minutes)
Brett Manyluk
The Burlesque Assassins
Jonathan Joffe Pictures & Joe Media Group (‘C’)

Best Director (Non-Fiction under 30 minutes)
Neil Grahn
Warner
Lindisfarne Productions (‘E’)

Best Director (Non-Fiction over 30 Minutes)
Niobe Thompson
The Perfect Runner
Clearwater Documentary (‘E’)

Best Director (Drama under 30 Minutes)
Tyler MacIntyre
Secret Identity
Movie Brats Entertainment & Stebner Getting Hit by a Car Productions (‘O’)

Best Director (Drama over 30 minutes)
Dean Bennett
Heartland – “Fool’s Gold”
SEVEN24 Films (‘C’)

See review of 2012 AMPIA Awards in the Calgary Herald

See review of 2012 AMPIA Awards in the Edmonton Journal

She very topical right now,” says city archivist Kathryn Ivany. Walker is one of the subjects of the Art Gallery of Alberta’s Mistresses of the Modern exhibit.

Walker’s cyber profile invites users to read her biography, experience her art, download excerpts from her novels and read about her efforts to create a culture of historical preservation in Edmonton and see what the legacy of those efforts looks like now. The city’s move online is intended to give patrons faster access to the archives and to provide a narrative to the stories of Edmontonians that raw records couldn’t tell by themselves, Ivany says.

It’s a fun way for people to access information about Edmonton’s history,” she says. “The material is available for them whenever they want it.

The interactive features are expected to be permanent fixtures on the archives’ site. An online home means new content can be added to the exhibits as the city and its stories move forward.

Plans for future exhibits are in the works. Site visitors can expect the next big exhibit to be a guided look at the shanty town that sprung up in Grierson Dump, north of the North Saskatchewan River, during the Depression.

Reported by Shaamini Yogaretnam in the Edmonton Journal on April 26, 2012.

See more about the City of Edmonton’s First Online Exhibit.

This little anthology of their own work as Poets Laureate and of some of the work by others they admire and see as further expressing something about our city will, we hope, offer readers a sense of their commitment to the oddly public imaginative effort becoming Poet Laureate demands. “ ~ Douglas Barbour

Edmonton broke new ground in 2005 with City Council’s cultural initiative to appoint the city’s first Poet Laureate. Seven years and four Poets Laureate later, a rich legacy is unfolding as each ‘civic poet’ expresses a unique voice and way in which to represent the city back to its citizens.

The anthology debuted with readings by current poet laureate Anna Marie Sewell, editor Doug Barbour and other poets from Writing the City* during Edmonton Poetry Festival’s Poetry and Music for a Spring Afternoon on Saturday April 28, 3-5pm at the Artery (9535 Jasper Ave).

Writing the City is vailable for purchase at TIX on the Square store, and Audreys Books Ltd.

About the City of Edmonton Poet Laureate

Edmonton’s Poet Laureate program is supported jointly by The City of Edmonton, the Edmonton Public Library and the Edmonton Arts Council. The role of Edmonton’s Poet Laureate is to reflect the life of a city through readings of poetry. As an ambassador for the literary arts, the Laureate incorporates poetry into a range of official and informal city activities.

About the Edmonton Arts Council

The Edmonton Arts Council (EAC) is a not-for-profit society and charitable organization that supports and promotes the arts community in Edmonton. The EAC works to increase the profile and involvement of arts and culture in all aspects of our community life.

For additional information, contact:

Alexandra Truscott
Acting Communications Director
EAC, 780-424-2787 ext. 231
atruscott@edmontonarts.ca

Together with the journalistic experience and local expertise of HuffPost’s editorial teams, these stories, told in the voices of those who live and work in British Columbia and Alberta, will reflect the provinces’ vital issues across a range of subjects, from politics and lifestyle to business and sports.

More than one third of all Canadian traffic to Huffington Post sites is from Western Canada, so regional expansion is a natural progression,” said Graham Moysey, general manager, AOL Canada.

The site has seen tremendous success since its launch in May 2011; monthly unique visitors to Huffington Post sites have increased 80 per cent to 2.8 M UVs. HuffPost Canada was our first international edition and has always had a special place in the HuffPost family,” said Arianna Huffington, president and editor-in-chief of HPMG. “And I’m delighted that we’ll be welcoming even more voices to the conversation by expanding to British Columbia and Alberta, just as we expanded to Quebec in February. Since we’re already in a celebratory mood with HuffPost Canada approaching its first birthday, there’s no better time to enlarge the discussion with the unique perspectives of these vibrant provinces.”"

The strong social DNA, vital to the HuffPost model, will extend to connect with the social communities of B.C. and Alberta. The Huffington Post Canada currently generates more than 2 million social actions a month through its commenting and sharing platforms and its social media channels including facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.*

HuffPost B.C. and HuffPost Alberta are scheduled to launch in Fall 2012.

Gazette publisher Brian Bachynski said everyone involved in the paper “takes great pride in producing a quality newspaper.

This award is a testament to the hard work of everyone at the Gazette – our newsroom, our advertising representatives, our creative services department, our front office, our administration, and the people who work in pre-press and press. It truly takes a team effort to win Canada’s top community newspaper award.

To be a good community newspaper, he added, you need to reflect the community and be a part of it.

The people who work at the Gazette believe in these values and it shows.

The Gazette also won top spot in two other categories: best sports coverage (sports editor Jeff Hansen) and best feature photo (photographer April Bartlett). Reporter Kevin Ma took second place in the environmental writing category for his story, Life in the golden waters.

Kevin … wrote a beautiful piece about the life forms found in what is considered a dead river in his community,” said Mazza. “You’d never look at the Sturgeon River in the same way again. The impact of the full-page story was enhanced by strong photos and layout.

Bartlett also took third place in the sports photo category.

The Gazette won second place in the special section category for its Celebrating 50 years of excellence in journalism package, and third place in the promotional campaign category for its Kettle Campaign project.

Other weekly newspapers in Alberta that won awards include:

Class 1011 – General Excellence, circulation up to 1249

Best All-Round Newspaper

1 – Nanton News, Nanton, AB

Best Front Page

1 – Nanton News, Nanton, AB

Blue Ribbon

Nanton News, Nanton, AB

Class 1012 – General Excellence, circulation 1250 to 1999

2 – The Hinton Voice, Hinton, AB

Best Front Page

1 – The Macleod Gazette, Fort Macleod, AB

Blue Ribbon

The Hinton Voice, Hinton, AB
The Macleod Gazette, Fort Macleod, AB

Class 1014 – General Excellence, circulation 3000 to 3999

Best All-Round Newspaper

2 – The Fitzhugh, Jasper, AB

Blue Ribbon

Bonnyville Nouvelle, Bonnyville, AB
The Fitzhugh, Jasper, AB

Class 1015 – General Excellence, circulation 4000 to 6499

Best All-Round Newspaper

1 – Mountaineer, Rocky Mountain House, AB

Blue Ribbon

Mountaineer, Rocky Mountain House, AB

Class 1016 – General Excellence, circulation 6500 to 12499

Best All-Round Newspaper

3 – Rocky Mountain Outlook, Canmore/Kananaskis/Banff/Lake Louise, AB

Class 1017 – General Excellence, circulation 12500 to 24999

Best All-Round Newspaper

1 – St. Albert Gazette, St. Albert, AB

Best Editorial Page

3 – Western Wheel, Okotoks, AB

Blue Ribbon

St. Albert Gazette, St. Albert, AB
Western Wheel, Okotoks, AB

Class 1018 – General Excellence, circulation 25,000 and over

Blue Ribbon

Red Deer Express, Red Deer, AB

Class 2011 – Best News Story, circulation up to 3,999

3 – Tyler Waugh, The Hinton Voice, Hinton, AB

Class 2031 – Best Feature Series, circulation up to 3,999

1 – Doug Neuman and Tim Bryant, The Westlock News, Westlock, AB
3 – Tyler Waugh, The Hinton Voice, Hinton, AB

Class 2061 – Best National Editorial, circulation up to 9,999

2 – George Brown, Ponoka News, Ponoka, AB

Class 2071 – Best Local Editorial, circulation up to 3999

3 – Robson Fletcher, The Fitzhugh, Jasper, AB

Class 2083 – Best Historical Story, circulation 12,500 and over

1 – Juanita Krause, Farm ‘n’ Friends, Lamont, AB

Class 2101 – Best Local Cartoon, circulation up to 9,999

2 – Patrick LaMontagne, Rocky Mountain Outlook, Canmore/Kananaskis/Banff/Lake Louise, AB

Class 2111 – Best Spot News Photo Coverage, circulation up to 3,999

1 – Sarah Burns, The Hinton Voice, Hinton, AB

Class 2112 – Best Spot News Photo Coverage, circulation 4,000 to 12,499

3 – Craig Douce, Rocky Mountain Outlook, Canmore/Kananaskis/Banff/Lake Louise, AB

Class 2121 – Best Feature Photo, circulation up to 3,999

1 – Sarah Burns, The Hinton Voice, Hinton, AB
2 – Noel West, Courier, Carstairs, AB

Class 2122 – Best Feature Photo, circulation 4,000 to 12,499

1 – Kelly Clemmer, Edge, Wainwright, AB
3 – Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye, Ponoka News, Ponoka, AB

Class 2123 – Best Feature Photo, circulation 12,500 and over

1 – April Bartlett, St. Albert Gazette, St. Albert, AB

Class 2131 – Best Sports Photo, circulation up to 3,999

1 – Tyler Waugh, The Hinton Voice, Hinton, AB

Class 2132 – Best Sports Photo, circulation 4,000 to 12,499

1 – Adam Jackson, Ponoka News, Ponoka, AB
2 – Noel West, Innisfail Province, Innisfail, AB
3 – Jerold LeBlanc, Times Advertiser, Wetaskiwin, AB

Class 2133 – Best Sports Photo, circulation 12,500 and over

3 – April Bartlett, St. Albert Gazette, St. Albert, AB

Class 2141 – Best Photo Essay, circulation up to 3,999

2 – Robson Fletcher, The Fitzhugh, Jasper, AB
3 – Rich Holmes, The Provost News, Provost, AB

Class 2142 – Best Photo Essay, circulation 4,000 to 12,499

2 – George Brown and Charles Tweed, Ponoka News, Ponoka, AB

Class 2221 – Best Holiday Edition, circulation up to 3,999

2 – South Peace News, High Prairie, AB

Class 2222 – Best Holiday Edition, circulation 4000 to 12499

1 – Mountaineer, Rocky Mountain House, AB

Class 2231 – Best Coverage of the Arts, circulation up to 9,999

3 – Rocky Mountain Outlook, Canmore/Kananaskis/Banff/Lake Louise, AB

Class 2241 – Best Sports Coverage, circulation up to 3,999

1 – The Hinton Voice, Hinton, AB

Class 2242 – Best Sports Coverage, circulation 4,000 to 12,499

1 – Rocky Mountain Outlook, Canmore/Kananaskis/Banff/Lake Louise, AB

Class 2243 – Best Sports Coverage, circulation 12,500 and over

1 – St. Albert Gazette, St. Albert, AB

Class 3012 – Best Environmental Writing, circulation 10,000 and over

2 – Kevin Ma, St. Albert Gazette, St. Albert, AB

Class 3031 – Best Business Writing Award, circulation up to 9,999

1 – Lisa Joy, Globe, Lacombe, AB

Class 4011 – Outstanding Campus Newspaper, circulation open

3 – The Reflector, Mount Royal College, AB

Class 4021 – Best Campus News Story, circulation open

2 – Alexandria Eldridge, The Gateway, University of Alberta, AB

See complete list of winners at www.newspaperscanada.ca

New Award: Best Campaign by a Media Outlet

This category recognizes excellence in an interactive, innovative website or online campaign by a traditional media outlet (Newspapers, Broadcast Television, Radio and/or Magazines) on digital platforms, including mobile. Eligible projects could include websites, social media tools and/or mobile applications associated with the media outlet. Entrants should demonstrate a successful overall campaign through convergence (with ROI), as well as increased connections between outlet and consumer. The content should be of a high standard, originality and innovation. The design and usability of the website or campaign needs to be of a high standard and examples of user feedback or results generated must be included in submission.

Community and Education Category

1. Best in Student Interactive Digital Media and Creative Design

This award recognizes the best and brightest in student projects that will chart a course for the future of innovation and entrepreneurial spirit in digital technologies in Alberta. Applicants must be registered as full-time students at a recognized Albertan post-secondary institution in 2010-2011 academic year. Projects may incorporate any medium or combinations of media or digital technologies. Entries will be assessed on their innovative use of technology, an inspired presentation of content and unique/memorable user/audience experience, the ability to solve a problem or fulfill a targeted market niche, and the overall potential contribution to the digital content and technology industries in the province. Entrants must submit concise documentation of the project, which may include text descriptions, photographs, videos, audio clips, audience descriptions and testimonials.

 2. Best in E-learning  

This category recognizes unique interactive learning experiences. Entries should demonstrate innovation or excellence in the use of digital technology to deliver e-Learning or training. Judges will be looking for excellence in e-Learning and how courses and digital courses or applications derived real benefits for organizations and/or individuals.

3. Best Digital Media Leader – Community Leader, Educator, Program Leader, or Department Head

This award recognizes achievements in educational institutions, community programs and educational leaders who have demonstrated a comprehensive and rewarding curriculum to teach new media in a recognized accredited educational institution. Submissions should demonstrate an overview of the curriculum, evaluation process, and how innovation and creativity are augmented and managed within the program.  An example of at least one project lead by students during the 2010-2011 academic year should be included with submission. Judges will consider an overview of leadership qualities and experience, unique skills and program delivery methods as well as project viability for commercialization or cultural impact.

Philanthropy Category

4. Best Digital Philanthropy Innovation

Entrants should demonstrate the success of a website or online campaign in achieving a positive social impact, or in improving the ability of a third party project or organization to achieve its objectives of achieving measurable social good.. This category is open to all non-commercial websites and online campaigns (charity, state agencies, social enterprise, and not-for-profit organizations). The content should be of a high standard, originality and innovation. The design and usability of the website or campaign needs to be of a high standard and examples of user feedback or results generated must be included in submission. Judges will need to know overall budget and resources but such information will be treated confidential.

Film, Television and Gaming Category

5. Best in Cross-platform Content

This category recognizes excellence in interactive digital enhancement of a television, film, book or gaming property on digital platforms, including mobile. Eligible projects could include games, websites and/or mobile applications associated with a television, games, books or film program.

6. Best Use of Film, Animation or Special FX

This category is open to any film or animated film or game created using digital techniques and delivered via a digital medium. This award considers narrative and character development as well as technical ability, innovation and overall aesthetic. Entries should demonstrate exceptional creativity and originality, whether 2D or 3D, computer animation or flash animation, for games, for web or mobile platforms.

7. Best in Gaming

Any program using online gaming (online, mobile, casual, social etc.) to create an engaging experience for the target audience and achieve the marketers objectives. Entrants should demonstrate exceptional innovation and an overall individuality in this field, as well as deployment strategy. Submissions must indicate if the game has been commercialized or is tied into a broader production project and timelines for deployments. Judges will be looking at user experience, compelling case for story, originality and innovation.

Software, Mobile and StartUps Category

8. Combined Hardware & Software Experience

This award recognizes the ability to create a unique user experience by integrating technology such as multi-touch screens, gesture based user interfaces, or custom hardware in a commercial or conceptual application. Entrants should demonstrate the ability to combine hardware and software or web applications into experiences like digital point of sale tools, storefront displays, gaming peripherals, art instillations or educational tools. The most innovative, intuitive, and well-designed interface will be selected as the winner of this category.

9. Mobile Entertainment

This award recognizes individuals and companies who are excelling within creating and delivering entertainment content in the mobile space. Entries should demonstrate how they used this platform most effectively, through offering innovative, useful or engaging entertainment content, applications, services or utilities including music, games, movies, television or digital publications. Submissions will need to demonstrate examples of user uptake, platforms (including HTML 5) or devices the app is available for, whether or not the app has been commercialized. As well, applicants will need to provide an overview of the business model.

10. Mobile Applications

This award recognizes individuals, organizations, companies and institutions who are excelling within the mobile space. Entries should demonstrate how they used this platform most effectively, through offering innovative, useful or engaging mobile content, applications, services or utilities. Submissions will need to demonstrate examples of user uptake, platforms (including HTML 5) or devices the app is available for, whether or not the app has been commercialized. As well, applicants will need to provide an overview of the business model.

11. Best In E-Commerce Solutions

This category recognizes excellence in the use of e-commerce solutions as part of a digital media property within any sector. This category is open to any business, organization or institution website that facilitates a financial transaction. Including commercial websites/applications, online banking, shares & securities trading website/mobile applications, insurance, loans, payments and cards and other finance related websites/ applications. It also covers interactive financial services created for new and emerging platforms including mobile transactions. The website, application service or product should be easy to use and judges will be looking for creative delivery of financial or other transactional solutions, business processes and educational resources.

12. Best Digital Startup 

This category is open to any individual, freelancer or enterprise that has been in business since January 2010 and is based in Alberta. The award recognizes enterprises that show particular promise of becoming successful, have shown innovation in achieving national and/or international success by completing a cross-country or international transaction, achieved global growth or demonstrated the potential for further growth. Entries are invited from Alberta/Canadian incorporated companies providing digital content, services and technology.

Design and Creative Category

13. Best Digital Design  

This award recognizes the importance of design in achieving successful and engaging user interface for a business, organization or an institution’s objectives. Creating visuals that are successful, have high impact and engaging design in the digital space. This includes design that works well across multiple digital platforms (including mobile), or is especially effective at just one particular media. Entries should demonstrate how visual creativity has enhanced the appeal, effectiveness or usability of a product, project or service in any digital medium.

Marketing and Social Media Category

14. Best In Social Media

This category is open to all social media campaigns. Entries can be for advertising, PR and advocacy campaigns, provision of entertainment, cultural, customer services or other services, or for how social media was used for market research, news and communication. Judges will be looking for the most creative, innovative and effective use of social media that delivered business benefits to clients. Submissions should demonstrate the viral nature of the campaign; earned vs. purchased impressions; analytics and SEO strategies will also be considered to measure success of campaign.

15. B2C Innovation

This award aims to reward excellence in a digital media product, service, website or mobile website that has encouraged consumers to embrace digital media technology, or has allowed consumers easier access to digital media. Entrants should demonstrate how they developed a new technology, new use of existing technology or delivered content in an innovative and engaging manner. Judges will review data demonstrating usage and retention and how interactive the product.

16. Best Digital Advertising/Marketing Campaign

Judges will be assessing the strategic, creative and technical talents of the interactive multimedia sector in Alberta. Based on an evaluation of a portfolio of three (client) campaigns, the judges will be reviewing the overall quality of the work, the technologies deployed, development, the standard of design, measurement criteria and results generated. Both agencies  and independent contractors which provide clients with excellent strategic direction, strong visual and interactive design, innovative interfaces, powerful and original creative concepts will be rewarded in this category.

Submission deadline is May 14, 2012

See more about Submission Requirements

See more about the Digital Arts Awards

Register for the Awards at the Hotel Arts in Calgary on June 4, 2012.

The workshop ends with a discussion of 25 blog content ideas so you’ll never suffer from writer’s block, thus enabling you to maintain a consistent and effective blog for your nonprofit. You’ll also leave the workshop with a wealth of resources to help you keep your donors, funders, volunteers and members of your nonprofit informed, aligned and engaged with your blog and your organization.

You’ll learn about:

Setting Up a WordPress.com Account and Tour

• Setting up your WordPress.com account and touring its Dashboard. Highlights on differences between WP.com and DIY.

Choosing Between WordPress.com and DIY WordPress

• How to decide between using WordPress.com and installing WordPress yourself.

Managing Comments and Comment Spam

• How to manage comments and comment spam in WordPress.

Finding and Installing WordPress Plugins

• How to find, choose, and install the right plugins for your WordPress site.

Finding and Installing WordPress Themes

• How to find, choose, and install the right theme for your WordPress site.

Simple Theme Customizations

• Simple customizations to your WordPress theme with menus, headers, backgrounds, and widgets.

Organizing your Content with Tags and Categories

• How to use tags and categories to organize your content and help search engines find your content.

Creating Posts and Pages
How to create content using the Post and Page editors in WordPress.

Using the WordPress Image Editor

• How to use the built-in image editor within WordPress.

Using WordPress to Create a Website

• How to use WordPress to create a traditional website.

Adding Audio and Video to Your Posts in WordPress

• How to add videos and audio podcasts to your WordPress posts.

SEO for WordPress Sites

• Basic Search Engine Optimization settings and tips for your WordPress site.

Website Analytics on WordPress with Google Analytics

• Measuring your traffic with WordPress Stats and Google Analytics.

Updating WordPress, Themes, and Plugins

• How to keep your WordPress site, plugins, and themes updated with automatic and manual updates.

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Edmonton – Wednesday, May 23 from 1:30 to 4:30pm at CINE Audio Visual at 10251 – 106 Street

Calgary – Thursday, June 7 from 1:30 to 4:30pm at Kahanoff Centre at 200 – 12 Avenue SE

Fee $175 per person until Friday, May 4, 2012, $195 thereafter.  

====================================

This is a hands-on computer workshop in front of a smartboard and limited to six participants. Please bring a laptop with a wireless connection. After you register, you’ll be asked to do some preliminary homework before the workshop and to bring specific information about your organization to the workshop.

• Register online for the Blogging for NonProfit Organizations workshop in Edmonton
• Register online for the Blogging for NonProfit Organizations workshop in Calgary
• Ask questions and register over the phone by calling 780-695-5675.

 Breakout Session Topics Include:

• Connecting to a Brand – Focus Communications
• The World of SEO – Top Draw
• Attention Grabbing Pitches – Dynamite PR
• Inspirational Blogging – Bikini or Bust
• Sports Blogging – Edmonton Oilers
• Not for Profit Blogging & Social Media Impact – Edmonton Food Bank & Junior Achievement
• Creating Personality on a business Blog  – Fused Logic Inc.

 Awesome Keynote Speakers

#yeg iMedia-lite Panelists

• Kathleen Smith @kikkiplanet – She’s all about getting involved, giving back, celebrating who you are and the city you live in.
• Mack D. Male @mastermaq – Top Blogger and Passionate about all things #YEG
• Kendall Barber @kendallbarber – Marketer by day, Blogger by night. Co-Owner of Eye Bar Optical
• Ryan Jespersen @ryanjespersen – Host, Breakfast Television, Citytv Edmonton

WordPress Help Desk Experts

• Gabrielle Fitzgerald – 12 Strong gabrielle@12strong.com @12strong
• Kory Mathewson – Flagship korymath@gmail.com @korymath
• John Bollwitt – sixty4media JohnBollwitt@Gmail.com @johnbollwitt

iMedia Conference Registration Fee  – $149

The iMedia conference will be held at the world famous West Edmonton Mall.  The Fastasyland Hotel is in Phase 3 of the mall and has conference rooms on the second floor.  Parking can be found off of 87 Avenue and 178 Street.

See more information about the iMedia Conference and register www.imediaconference.ca/register.html

Lees got his start in journalism on London’s Fleet Street, where he worked for a news agency and then several British newspapers. In 1967 he hopped onto a cargo boat and came to Canada, where he did a short stint at the Edmonton Journal. He left to roam the globe, but eventually returned to Canada. The Journal invited him back. That was in the early 80s, and three decades later he’s still pumping out stories that readers love, and he has no intention of stopping.

Keeping up with changes in technology is something Lees has taken in stride. He posts his own pieces on the Journal’s website and filters through 100s of e-mails that he receives daily. In fact, many of his stories come to him through e-mail. He applauds the power of social media to keep people in touch with what’s happening around the world, and admits he should be “tweeting” more; it’s on his agenda to speak to his bosses at the Journal about upgrading his museum-piece cell phone.

A glass of wine at the end of the day, good food . . . Lees says he loves life and derives fulfillment from helping others. A perfect balance for this “man of a certain age.”

Cynthia Dusseault is an Edmonton-based freelance writer and editor who specializes in crafting material that informs, compels, excites, and moves. Profiles on media personalities, a print or online article, web copy, a report, a newsletter . . . whatever you need, you can trust Cynthia to put the right words together in the right way to reach your audience and convey the message you want to deliver. See more about Cythnia at www.cynthiadusseault.ca