Galleries West Wins AMPA Gold

Calgary, Mar 14—Winners of the Alberta Magazines Showcase Awards were announced and Achievement Awards recipients were acknowledged by the province’s magazine industry.

The gala evening, hosted by the Alberta Magazine Publishers Association at the Carriage House Inn on Thursday, March 14, was attended by magazine professionals from across the province. The event honours and celebrates the works of Alberta’s publishers, their editors, art directors, writers, photographers, illustrators, and freelance staff. Collectively these individuals bring passion and insight to our unique Alberta culture and ensure that Alberta voices and stories are shared and heard throughout the province and beyond our borders.

Among the 200 attendees were magazine professionals from across North America, including designer Thomas Porostocky, whose regular client list includes The New York Times, Wired and Esquire; Terry Sellwood, COO at Cottage Life; and Jennifer Keltner, crafts group executive editor at Meredith Corporation.

Awards were given for excellence in content published in 2012 in 14 Showcase categories: Alberta Story, Art Direction for a Single Issue, Cover, Digital Presence, Emerging Writer, Essay, Feature Design, Feature Writing, Fiction, Illustration, Poetry, Photograph, Profile and Service.

Galleries West was presented with GOLD in the category of Digital Presence. The nomination was for an online publication or magazine companion website that demonstrates high editorial standards and effective use of the digital medium to reach and engage the intended audience. Judging criteria included best practices in navigation and architecture; interactivity, including use of social media or mobile apps; excellent content and outstanding design; and, if applicable, integration with print publication.

Eighteen Bridges, a national-award winning magazine based in Edmonton, had a strong showing, taking Gold in Fiction, Poetry and Profile; and Silver awards in Alberta Story, Essay and Profile categories. Calgary’s creative UPPERCASE magazine won both Gold and Silver in the Art Direction for a Single Issue category. Alberta Views garnered Gold in the Essay category, and Alberta Oil won Gold in Illustration. Calgary’s Swerve magazine also had a strong showing with a Gold in the Alberta Story, Feature Design and Service categories, and Silver in Illustration.

Two Achievement Awards were also acknowledged at the gala. Mike Ganley received the Editor of the Year award for his accomplishments with Alberta Venture, the province's premiere business magazine published by Venture Publishing Inc.

A highlight of the evening featured a standing ovation for Calgary-based publisher Elaine Kupser as she received the career Achievement in Publishing Award. Kupser launched IMPACT magazine in 1991 with $5,000 seed money and a love of fitness. She has gone on to become a leader in both the fitness and publishing industries with offices in Calgary and Vancouver.

The magazine awards saw nearly 300 entries this year. ”The work of all our member magazines contributes to the province's cultural vibrancy, making all Albertans the true winners,” says AMPA’s Executive Director Suzanne Trudel.

A full list of Showcase Awards winners, including contributors and articles to download, can be found at http://www.albertamagazines.com/awards