Concordia recognized nationally and globally with six awards
Concordia’s award-winning 50th-anniversary branding showcased on Loyola Campus.
Six Concordia projects were distinguished with gold, silver and bronze awards from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE) this summer.
CASE Circle of Excellence
A truly global awards program, the 2025 CASE Circle of Excellence received 4,460 entries from 640 institutions in 33 countries, spanning 93 award categories.
50 years: Forever Forward, Concordia’s 50th-anniversary celebration, won the CASE Circle of Excellence Silver in the Marketing – Branding Programs – Branding (Institution) category.
The submission focused on the development of a signature anniversary brand and visual identity, including logo, slogan, microsite, flagship video, signage, social media materials and more.
In their comments, judges lauded the entry for “thoughtful, in-house creativity that honors its 1970s roots and multicultural community” as well as “clear, impressive metrics that demonstrate real engagement and return on investment.
“This well-executed campaign not only celebrates the university’s history but sets a great standard for data-driven branding initiatives,” concluded the panel.
CCAE Prix d’excellence
The CCAE’s annual Prix d’excellence invites member institutions, including universities, colleges, polytechnics, independent schools and CEGEPs from across Canada, to submit their best work in 29 categories. Awards earned by Concordia submissions in the 2025 celebration included:
- Gold for Best Fundraising Event for the Concordia EPIC Used Book Fair(s), an annual fundraiser powered by student and staff volunteers that broke records in 2024.
- Gold for Best Social Media for #Concordia50: Community-driven social media campaign, featuring an array of creative content garnering broad engagement.
- Silver for Best Fundraising Initiative for Planned Giving Celebrates Concordia's 50th Anniversary, a direct mail appeal to Concordia alumni, friends and faculty, supported by a new brochure.
- Silver for Best Podcast for the Forever Forward Walking Tour Podcast, a five-part audio series narrated by alumni, celebrating Concordia past and present.
- Bronze for Best Donor Relations/Stewardship Initiative for Who Was Joyce H. Newton and Why Did She Give $316,000 to Concordia?, which included a video produced entirely from found materials that garnered more than 28,000 views.
This marked the first time Concordia won two gold and two silver from the CCAE in the same year.
“These awards are a testament to the creativity, innovation and impact that drive our initiatives,” says Sylvain-Jacques Desjardins, BA 97, director of Communications, University Advancement.
“My sincere thanks to the University Advancement, University Communications Services and Translation Services teams whose efforts and collaboration made these achievements possible.”
Concordia’s annual EPIC Used Book Fair is spearheaded by co-leads Jeanne Bisson and Luke Quin, BA 07, pictured third and fourth from left, respectively, along with student volunteers.