Australian submissions for Destination Canada's 2019 Explore Canada Awards of Excellence are now open, with winners to be announced prior to GoMedia Canada, taking place in Ottawa from 11 – 15 August.

This annual celebration of excellence in travel writing honours outstanding pieces of content and the efforts made to bring them to life in the mediums of print, broadcast, online, and social media. 

Australian media who have attended either GoMedia Canada, Canada Corroboree, or a Canada Day event between 2016 - 2019, who produced travel content about Canada as a result, are eligible to enter. Only editors, journalists, photographers and videographers producing for an Australian-based publication or outlet may submit an entry. 

“I'm looking forward to receiving some outstanding submissions for this year's Explore Canada Awards of Excellence,” said Pip Macken, Media Director, Destination Canada GSA. 

“So many Australian travel writers, photographers, and producers, have visited Canada recently and produced emotive first-hand accounts that reflect their passion for this diverse, naturally beautiful country.” 

This year, 11 media awards will be granted to recognise the very best Canadian travel storytelling published in Destination Canada's international markets (one award per country): Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States.

New for this year, a media-nominated Industry Excellence Award will be presented to a Canadian-based tourism industry professional. Media are invited to nominate a media relations professional who assisted a media outlet or journalist in producing exceptional Canadian travel content. 

Industry Excellence Award nominees are limited to Canadian tourism industry media relations professionals only (includes provincial, territorial and destination marketing organisations). Destination Canada staff and GSAs (such as Donna Campbell and Pip Macken) are excluded. 

“From urban adventures in cities like Ottawa and St John's, to flight-seeing over glaciers in Yukon, and culinary adventures in Nova Scotia, we've seen an abundance of published stories, videos, and images generated by inspired Aussie travel journalists,” said Pip.

“The Explore Canada Awards of Excellence provides a wonderful opportunity to recognise our local talent.” 

The winner from each international market will be announced in the lead-up to this year's GoMedia Canada, taking place in Ottawa in from 11 – 15 August. 

For information on eligibility, submission criteria and how to submit your entry, please click HERE.