The Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) team won gold at the 2021 PRestige Awards for their “Internal Communication Campaign” during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
I had the pleasure of asking Caeli Murray, Senior Director of Communications and Content Services, a few questions about her team’s submission:
How did the idea to apply for the PRestige Awards come to you?
Once I saw the award categories for the inaugural PRestige Awards for our local CPRS chapter here in Vancouver, I just knew we should apply. I, and the other senior leaders on our team, thought this would be a great opportunity to recognize the team’s collective efforts.
Could you walk me through the process of getting your submission prepared to submit to the awards?
The process was quite simple, as we were able to gather up the details from our original strategy and some supporting materials. But beyond ease, the process was actually really enjoyable. It offered a great opportunity to reflect on the hard work and challenges we faced, and tackled together as a team, during an incredibly tumultuous time.
On your team, how many people were involved in creating the submission?
A few of us worked together on the submission, but the work and the submission itself is reflective of the efforts of a team of approximately30 professional communicators.
What does winning for ”Internal Communication Strategies” at the PRestige Awards mean for the PHSA?
During the early stages of the pandemic, the work our communications team did to keep our workforce informed and engaged – thereby helping to keep our employees and the patients/clients we serve safe – was incredibly challenging, but imperative. Winning a PRestige award for this work was a nice way to feel recognized for our commitment to following best practices, even on the longest and hardest of days.
After your experience creating a submission for the PRestige Awards, are you considering applying in the forthcoming years?
Of course. There is incredible work being done across our team and applying for awards from credible associations such as CPRS is one way that we can ensure our teammates are recognized for their efforts.
Don’t miss your chance to shine
Do you and your team have a project you think deserves recognition? Entries are now being accepted for the 2022 PRestige Awards. To enter,
visit the CPRS Vancouver website.
About the Author 
Jessy is a third-year student at Simon Fraser University, pursuing a degree in English. In addition to being a copywriter at the Vancouver Canadian Public Relations Society, she spends her time volunteering at her local parks department, painting, and hanging out with her dog.