Eligibility
is this for you?
If your work lives anywhere in communications — PR, marketing, advertising, graphic design, photography, strategy — and you're based in Northern Alberta, this is for you. In-house, agency, independent, public sector: all welcome.
Your entry is eligible if:
- You had a direct, primary role in the work.
- It follows IABC's Code of Ethics.
- It mostly showcases original work, not syndicated, borrowed, reprinted, or stock material.
- It was planned and largely executed in 2025, and either:
- It ran in the real world — people could see it, use it, read it, or watch it — at some point between January 1, 2025 and the day you submit.
- Or it started before 2025, was still active in 2025 under a long-term strategy, and this is its first time in the Capital Awards.
- If it's client work, you have written permission to enter it and you'll note that on the form.
current student or new grad?
If you were enrolled in a post-secondary communications, public relations, marketing, or design program in the 2024–25 school year — and have yet to make the jump to professional practice — this is for you. The dedicated Student category in each division is open to work produced for:
- Educational course projects
- Club or volunteer association work
- Internships
- Commercial and non-commercial activities, including work for an IABC chapter or region
Your entry is eligible if:
- It follows IABC's Code of Ethics.
- Your submission was completed by you and/or your student group — not a professor, lecturer, or adviser.
Does this entry overlap with professional experience? If you have prior experience or are currently working in a communications role, your work is considered a professional entry. Please submit there instead.
DIVISIONS & CATEGORIES
where does your work belong?
Four divisions. Twenty-nine categories. There's a place for almost every communication project here. The Capital Awards divisions align directly with IABC's international awards — so the work you do here translates directly if you go further with Silver Leaf or Gold Quill.
| Division |
Your work probably fits here if… |
| 1. Communication Management |
You ran a campaign, program, or integrated initiative from strategy through execution |
| 2. Communication Research |
Your work was built on research, measurement, or data that shaped a communication strategy |
| 3. Communication Training & Education |
You designed or delivered something that built communication skills or knowledge |
| 4. Communication Skills |
You created a specific product or deliverable — a video, publication, speech, design, or similar execution |
View all divisions and categories on the Gold Quill site — just don't forget to come back to submit!
PREPARE YOUR ENTRY
do you have everything you need?
hese are the documents that make up your entry — what you build here is what gets evaluated. The requirements vary by division, but the logic is simple. Here's what you’ll need:
write to the standard
Your entry is evaluated by senior communications professionals from across Canada. They're not here to compare you to other entrants — they're here to assess your work against a clear standard. The only competition is with your own best work.
The single best thing you can do before you start: download the score sheet for your division. It's the actual criteria your evaluators will use. Knowing that standard before you start writing isn't cheating. It's the whole point.
Score sheets:
What evaluators are looking for:
- The strength of your strategy and the thinking behind your approach
- Creativity and resourcefulness in execution
- How well your work responded to a real organizational or community need
- Delivery of measurable outcomes
- Overall success — did it work, and can you show that it did?
How scoring works:
Evaluators score your entry section by section using the rubric — not as a single overall judgment. Each section gets its own score, and it’s common for an entry to be stronger in some areas than others.
For Divisions 1, 2, and 3, the Work Plan and Work Sample are each scored independently and carry equal weight in your final result. That means a strong work sample can’t rescue a weak work plan — both need to make the case. For Division 4, your score comes from the Work Sample evaluated against your Entry Form.
Every entry is scored twice, by two independent evaluators. Your final score is the average of both. If those scores differ by more than 3 points, a third evaluator is brought in and the final score averages all three.
IABC’s Global Seven-point Scale of Excellence
| 7 |
Outstanding: An extraordinary or insightful approach or result |
| 6 |
Significantly better than average: Demonstrates an innovative, strategic approach; takes all elements into account and delivers significant results |
| 5 |
Better than average: Demonstrates a strategic approach and aligns the communication solution with the business need to deliver meaningful results |
| 4 |
Average: Competent approach or results, professionally sound and appropriate |
| 3 |
Somewhat less than satisfactory: Several key elements that are critical to the strategy or execution are missing, incorrect or under-represented |
| 2 |
An inadequate approach or result: A significant number of critical elements are missing |
| 1 |
Poor: Work that is wrong or inappropriate |
Recognition thresholds:
Recognition is based on your score, not your ranking. A score of 5.0 or above is recognized at one of two levels:
- Award of Excellence: 5.25 and above
- Award of Merit: 5.0 – 5.24
All entries receive written evaluator feedback.
For division-specific resources, including award-winning entry examples, head to the Gold Quill Resources page.
SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY
ready to go?
Submitting is straightforward. Each entry is submitted and paid for individually — full payment must be received before the deadline for your entry to be eligible.
- Confirm document settings — maximum 4 pages, minimum 10pt font, minimum ½" margins.
- Convert your work plan and work sample to PDF.
- Select your entry type — professional or student.
- Complete the online entry form.
- Upload your documents.
- Pay your entry fee.
- Submit.
- Repeat for each additional entry.
If you run into any technical issues during the submission process, reach out to +Republic at hello@plusrepublic.com with the subject line IABC Edmonton Capital Awards — their team is ready to help.
WHAT’S NEXT?
The awards night
Winners are announced and celebrated at the Capital Awards & AGM on May 28, 2026 at Fu’s Repair Shop, 5:30–9:30 p.m. Tickets will be available soon.
The hardware
Every Capital Award winner receives one award at no charge. If you’d like additional awards, you can order duplicates after the ceremony — all winners will receive information on how to do that.
Recognition beyond the room
The spotlight won’t dim when the lights come up. Your work will be featured on the IABC Edmonton website, in the FYI newsletter, and across social channels — and throughout the year, recipients have opportunities to showcase their work and share their expertise with the Edmonton communications community.
Taking your work further
A Capital Award is the first step in IABC's global awards pathway. The written feedback you receive from your evaluators tells you exactly what to strengthen in your entry — so when you're ready to submit to Silver Leaf (national) or Gold Quill (international), you're already ahead.
The people behind the work
The Awards of Distinction celebrate the people who make that kind of work possible — the communicators, leaders, and members whose contributions shape and strengthen Northern Alberta’s communications community.
- Inspired Communicator of the Year
- Inspired Leader of the Year
- Inspired Member of the Year
Nominations open in April. You’ll receive more information directly to your inbox
