52nd annual PEI AMATEUR SPORT AWARDS
In 2025, I was tasked as de facto Executive Producer of the Annual PEI Amateur Sport Awards for the second consecutive year, leading all communications strategy and content production as well as facilitating the award selection process itself. In addition to producing all content for social media, print program, website, and awards presentation/finalist introduction, I challenged myself to upgrade the quality of production and event-night experience in particular by including video highlights into the live slideshows, which received unanimous praise.
Timeline
Nomination Solicitation and Promotion Oct. 18-Nov. 18
Promoting via social media, website, newsletter, and on-site for award nominations in 16 different categories over a month period.
Finalist and Winner Selections Nov. 24
After initial ballots are submitted, voting is reviewed and presented to voting committee in live meeting along with additional details regarding nominees in categories where initial voting did not indicate clear winners/finalists. Further discussion is facilitated for closely voted categories. Voters have the opportunity to ask questions and make arguments on behalf of nominees and re-vote as needed.
Voice Over Scripts Nov. 28
Sport PEI has a long-time agreement with CBC PEI to lend for their radio personalities and recording equipment to produce the voice over tracks used in the slideshow videos introducing finalists and winners on the night of the event. To give them enough time for the voice over tracks to be returned in accordance with the timeline, scripts must be drafted and finalized within days of selections.
Event Promotion Dec. 1-18
The social media schedule will include posts promoting the date of the vent and how to purchase tickets with an uptick in focus during the second week of December after all finalists and winners announcements have been circulated. This year’s event was sold out for the first time since pre-Covid.
Print Program Dec. 11
Printed programs are offered to event attendees on awards night that include descriptions of the winners’ and finalists’ achievements and accolades as well as advertisements, which are managed and designed by other staff. Designs and copy must be finalized in time to be reviewed and approved by executive director then printed.
Nominee Evaluations Nov. 18-19
As deadline passes, summaries are created nominations highlighting most relevant information and tiering nominees based on comparisons to past winners and finalists. Summaries are distributed to voters along survey link to submit initial ballots.
Communications Strategy Nov. 26
After winners and finalists are selected by voting committee, information is analyzed for patterns, themes, and storylines to create a communications strategy proposal to be reviewed and approved by executive director. This year’s strategy included highlighting unprecedented excellence in the senior athlete, junior female athlete, and team categories as well as a variety of sports represented for the first time and patterns of community involvement & high character among the junior athlete finalists.
Finalist and Winner Initial Announcements Dec. 1-5
Finalists for the Team, Coach, and Athlete categories and Winners of the other categories are announced through the first week of December via social media (Facebook & Instagram), CBC Radio, website posts, and press release.
Finalist and Winner Promotion Dec. 1-16
Finalists and Winners will be announced during the first week of December followed by a spotlight campaign to highlight finalists via social media. This year’s promotion campaign included partnership with another organization program - True Sport Lives Here PEI - to highlight the strong character and leadership qualities of the junior athlete of the year finalists.
Event Night Dec. 18
Concluding two months of work, the event night is a showcase of content celebrating the year of amateur sport excellence in PEI. The “slideshow videos” using photos and video are edited with the voiceover tracks and background music to introduce the finalists and winners of each award; this was the first time the “slideshow videos” used predominantly video content edited together to resemble a highlight package. The videos are arranged in accordance with program schedule and organized into a slideshow with placeholder slides to be displayed while awards are being presented by hosts and accepted by winners. Social content for the evening announcing winners is drafted and waiting to be published as hosts reveal the results to the audience. Video and photo content is shot during the event for later social use and documentation. Conversational public feedback about award experience and content is gathered by Sport PEI staff and board during post-event reception.
Post Event Dec. 19-23
Candid event photos are shared the day following the event while video content is edited and shared the following week as well as studio photos of award winners taken by professional photographer during event night. Meeting is held with Sport PEI senior staff to review feedback and experience as well as to reflect on strategy and adjustments for following year.
Finalist and Winner Announcement Samples
Junior Athlete of the Year - Spotlight Strategy
The nomination classes for the Junior Athlete award were particularly strong in this year, leading the selection committee to name four finalists for male & female categories - one more than the traditional trio of athletes. One of the organization’s initiatives - True Sport Lives Here PEI - is to promote well-roundness and high character in athletes as being just as important to high performance as skill and athleticism. To spotlight to these athletes and promote the True Sport initiative, excerpts were taken from their nomination submissions that matched with the initiatives messaging to highlight their character and leadership contributions.
Print program Content
Finalists and Winners Layout Design & Copy
INTRO VIDEO
Event Night Video Content
JR. MALE ATHLETE FINALISTS
Winner Announcements
TRUE SPORT AWARD
