The Ottawa Catholic School Board's communications team has been recognized with seven national honours at the 2026 Canadian Association of Communicators in Education (CACE) BRAVO Awards.
The team received an Award of Distinction and six Coup de Cœur recognitions, according to a post on the Ottawa Catholic School Board website.
Award-winning skilled trades campaign
The Award of Distinction went to Rebuilding Wheels, Rebuilding Lives: Launching a New Skilled Trades Pathway Through Storytelling, a nine-month campaign that introduced the board's new Automotive Service Technician pathway through the Elite Skilled Trades Academy (ESTA).
The board had no graduates or success stories to draw on for the new program, so the communications team built the campaign from the ground up. They created an original brand with a distinct visual identity and consistent messaging across promotional materials, feature stories, photography, video and social media.
At the centre of the campaign was the story of students restoring a donated vehicle for a local family facing transportation challenges — a project the board said showed what students were learning and how their skills could make a difference in someone's life.
Every element, from graphic design to photography and video production, was handled in-house, with no paid advertising or outside agencies involved.
The campaign appeared to pay off. Applications to the program grew from 15 in the initial recruitment period to 65 in the following period, and the campaign's feature story and video drew more than 37,000 combined views. The board said the materials continue to be used for student recruitment.
Six more projects recognized
Six additional board projects earned Coup de Cœur recognition at the awards, spanning original branding and graphic design, video production, accessibility and storytelling.
The board said the six projects required extensive planning and creative work, and that having them recognized alongside the Award of Distinction reflects the range of work the team takes on for students, staff, families and schools.
The board credited the team's relationships with students, staff, schools, departments and community partners as a factor in the recognized work.
Tied to board's strategic commitments
The board said the winning projects reflect its strategic commitments to Be Community, Be Well and Be Innovative, whether by making information more accessible, creating a new brand, or sharing stories of student learning and community service.
The seven honours were described by the board as a remarkable achievement and a reason for the school community to celebrate.
