In 2016, many London, Ontario companies were recognized locally, nationally and internationally for their business achievements and community impact. Local entrepreneurs took home Business London’s Top 20 Under 40 awards, while innovative programs, services, and leaders were recognized at Pillar Nonprofit Network’s Community Innovation Awards. Digital creative companies like Big Blue Bubble, Diply, and StarTech.com were recognized on national and global scales by groups like Profit500, EY Canada, and Deloitte. These awards and rankings have helped make some noise about London businesses and their products, and in turn, put our city on the map. The London Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) is committed to playing a part in sharing London’s business stories, successes, and milestones.
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London has a story to tell – many stories – but how do we tell and sell them to other people and businesses across Canada and the world? One way the LEDC is sharing London’s stories with the world in a unique way is with the London Magazine. The London Magazine was created as a free resource and promotional publication that showcases all London has to offer in one place. It informs, educates and inspires individuals to recognize London’s economic potential and celebrate business successes. The first version was launched in 2015 and the newest version, released April 2016, saw big changes – more original content and photography, eight diverse, sector-specific covers, and a digital version accessible to vast audiences. The magazine took home a 2015 Virtuoso Award of Merit from the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) for publication design in 2015, and received notable recognitions in 2016, including:
- Platinum award – MarCom Awards (International)
- The LEDC has received the highest-ranking platinum award for the London Magazine. MarCom Awards is an international creative competition that recognizes outstanding achievement by marketing and communication professionals. MarCom’s Platinum Award is presented to those entries judged to be among the most outstanding entries in the competition. Platinum winners are recognized for their excellence in terms of quality, creativity and resourcefulness. About 17% won this award. There were over 6,500 entries from throughout the United States, Canada and 17 other countries in the MarCom Awards 2016 competition. Click here to view the 2016 winners.
- Silver award – International Economic Development Council (IEDC) (International)
- IEDC’s Excellence in Economic Development Awards recognize the world’s best economic development programs and partnerships, marketing materials, and the year’s most influential leaders. These awards honor organizations and individuals for their efforts in creating positive change in urban, suburban, and rural communities.
- Finalist, ranking TBD – Economic Development Council of Ontario (EDCO) (Provincial)
- The EDCO Awards of Excellence is a well-established program available to communities that have their economic initiatives judged by industry leaders against their peers in communities of similar size. Award winners are viewed as leaders in economic development and often asked to speak to their efforts and accomplishments at future EDCO events. To learn more about the awards program, click here to visit the EDCO website.
From awards to sincere praise and excitement, the LEDC is pleased to have seen the London Magazine recognized and celebrated by those local and abroad. It was a collaborative project that brought businesses together to tell their stories and put a spotlight on the innovations, the people and the great things made here in London. If you haven’t had the chance to check it out yet, you can order it for free and browse a selection of content virtually at: http://magazine.ledc.com/.
Other LEDC projects and partner initiatives that were recognized in 2016 include:
MarCom Awards (international)
- Platinum award: Start London Canada (partnership promotional video)
- Start London Canada is a video and online resource guide which promotes the benefits for immigrant entrepreneurs to establish their businesses in London. The video was created by the LEDC in partnership by the City of London and features five entrepreneurs who share their visions and how they connected with London’s resources to grow their business. It is being used as a recruitment tool and is available in seven different languages.
- Gold award: A Sweet Deal for Everyone (promotional video)
- In part of promoting the profiled companies in the London Magazine, the LEDC created five short video clips that speak to how their company has found success in London. This particular video, called ‘A Sweet Deal for Everyone,’ features The Original Cakerie, one of 60 food and beverage companies in London’s food and beverage processing sector that has found sweet success in the city’s agricultural heartland.
Site Selection Magazine – Canada’s Best 2 Invest (national)
- Top 10: Canada’s Best Locations (Top Canadian Groups)
- The annual Canada’s Best Locations feature sheds additional light on Canada’s many location options for corporate site selectors. The Top Canadian Groups are local or regional economic development groups ranked based on project data, regional partnership, and proactive and innovative programming.
Pillar Community Innovation Awards (local)
- Finalist, Community Collaboration: London & Area Works (resource partnership)
- The Pillar Community Innovation Awards celebrate nonprofits and charities and the individuals, businesses and government sector organizations that work with them to make our community brighter. The London & Area Works partnership with representatives from the LEDC, the City of London, the London Small Business Centre, CTV London, Elgin Middlesex Oxford Workforce Planning and Development Board, Employment Sector Council, and the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities are pleased to have been selected as a finalist in the 2016 awards.
