ICBA wins North American Trade Association of the Year
Chris Gardner, ICBA president, shows off six prestigious Reed Awards. — Photo courtesy Jordan Bateman
VANCOUVER – The Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA) has won six prestigious Reed Awards, including being named the 2019 North American Trade Association of the Year, at a ceremony last week in Austin, Texas.
“This is a tremendous honour and reflects the caliber of work being undertaken by the ICBA team in workforce development, public policy advocacy and communications and marketing,” said Chris Gardner, ICBA President. “It also highlights ICBA’s willingness to fearlessly speak out on policy issues consistently. Winning North American Trade Association of the Year is external recognition of the team we have built at ICBA and all of the hard work they do every day on behalf of our members.”
ICBA also won Overall Best Web Video – Public Affairs for its Big Gas ad, which has been watched more than 400,000 times on social media. Said Shane Greer, co-publisher of Campaigns & Elections and host of the Reed Awards dinner, “Oh Canada: the Overall Best Web Video - Public Affairs went to the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association for their 'Get Canada’s Big Gas Moving' ad… We've seen it many times now and still laugh every time.”
ICBA’s Big Gas campaign also won:
- Best International Web Video
- Best Canadian Web Video
- Best International Outdoor Advertising
- Best Canadian Outdoor Advertising
“Our Big Gas campaign caught lightning in a bottle and we’re very proud to see it recognized with these awards,” said Jordan Bateman, ICBA VP-Communications. “Our communications and advocacy work stands with the best in North America and we will continue to strongly, articulately, creatively and passionately make the case for a strong economy and our members’ issues.”
The Reed Awards, named after Campaigns & Elections founder and marketing pioneer Stanley Foster Reed, embody excellence in campaigning, political consulting, and public policy advocacy. Reed Award winners represent the very best the political campaign/policy advocacy industry has to offer. ICBA’s work was competing against the best in the business among American trade associations and all of the creative material put out by the Democratic and Republican parties.
“The Reeds are the most exacting award in political campaigns and grassroots advocacy,” said Campaigns & Elections’ Greer. “Winning one is exceptionally difficult, and those who have won the honor stand head and shoulders above the competition, producing world class work that is second to none.”
In 2018, ICBA won three Reed Awards for its Site C pink slip campaign, which successfully pushed the NDP Government to continue a construction project they campaigned against.
For a full list of 2019 Reed Award winners, click here. To view ICBA’s winning Big Gas ad, click here.
