From a pool of countless Canadian finalists, work from domestic ad agencies and production shops earned a total of 11 awards – including four golds – at the New York Festivals 1997 International TV Advertising Awards show, held at the end of January in the town so nice they named it twice.

bbdo Toronto grabbed a gold in the Automotive category for Chrysler Canada’s ‘Moving Night,’ directed by Gary Johns, and ‘Bear,’ directed by Richard D’Alessio, out of Imported Artists. In the Foods category, bbdo took gold for Campbell’s Soup’s ‘Student Lone,’ directed by Mark Storey out of Avion Films.

Gold was also won in the Entertainment Promo category by Marshall Fenn’s ‘People Campaign’ for Casino Rama, directed by Larry August out of Maxx Productions.

Young & Rubicam also won gold in the retail (dealers, non-food) national campaign category for Radio Shack’s ‘Location is Everything’ and ‘Open Sesame,’ directed by Jim Lotter out of Cactus Productions.

Canadian creatives also captured five silvers: Leo Burnett’s Kellogg’s Special k’s ‘Designer’ and ‘Resolution’ spots, Mediabec’s Hot Paws Gloves’ ‘Best Friends’ spot, Saatchi & Saatchi’s ‘Dick’s Car’ psa for madd, the ‘Scout’ spot for at&t out of Y&R, and a spot called ‘Tulip Tribute’ out of the National Capital Commission in Ottawa.

In another nod to the Leo Burnett creative team of Elspeth Lynn and Lorraine Tao, the Special k ‘Resolution’ effort has resulted in an international glomming-on, with the work being picked up to run in England and, soon, the u.s. Denmark is the next market likely to adapt the spot, which has proven to inspire a multinational chuckle of recognition and appreciation of the absurdity of it all.