The Canadian Online Publishing Awards (COPAs) is an industry showcase of Canadian talent in the digital publishing industry. Established in 2009, the COPAs have been the industry benchmark for digital excellence in Canada. Every year, 15 awards are given out in three divisions (B2B, B2C and News) as well as a Best of Canada award. The competition is open for all types of organizations that produce content for the digital medium in words, pictures, animation, audio and video.

The Best of Canada winners in 2015 were the Globe and Mail for Best Content, CTV News for Best solution for their news website and YummyMummyClub.ca winning the Independent publisher of the year award. In 2016, regional winners/national finalists will be recognized for the Best of Canada Awards for the West, Ontario, Quebec and Maritime regions.

Martin Seto, the producer of the COPA Awards states “The awards are not just restricted to media organizations as there are awards for branded content, social media and online campaign for corporations and their ad agencies to enter.”

New awards for 2016 in the best website category, which will include one for Trade Media, Associations, Women’s Service, Men’s Service, Niche publications, Community News and Radio stations. There will also be a podcast award for the growing use of audio by content creators. There will be a special award for the Best Academic Project for schools across Canada to have more students participate in this national competition. Television stations can enter in the best multiplatform solution category, as they will be eligible this year.

The broadening of the awards program opens the door to new industry participation as part of the COPA mandate to promote all the great content in the evolving digital landscape with a level playing field for all entrants, and be as inclusive whenever possible. Today’s landscape has various forms of media crisscrossing each other on a wide range of platforms that include TV, radio, newspaper, magazine, computer, video games, tablet, and smartphones—and the 2016 COPAs will be a reflection of that. 

The call for entries begin May 2 and the 2016 Competition Rules and Categories have now been posted on the COPA website.  The COPAs always needs volunteers for judges and sponsors to make it happen each year, so if you or your company can help please let them know. You can follow the COPA awards on Twitter # COPAwards or Linkedin

Visit the website for judging info.