The 2001 Bessie Awards will be handed out May 24 at the Sheridan Hotel in Toronto. Among Canada’s top prizes for commercial production, Bessie is celebrating its 38th year after a huge show last year that saw ads for Lever Pond’s and St. John Ambulance come away the big winners.

This year’s judging panel, put together by judging chair Robin Heisey, includes Rick Kemp (senior vp, executive creative director, jwt, Toronto), David Chiavegato (associate creative director at Palmer Jarvis ddb, Toronto), Ian Grais (Rethink Communications, Vancouver), Cynthia Heyd (vp of broadcast production at bbdo, Toronto), Richard Nadeau (Bos, Montreal), Jamie Way (Angel Films, Toronto), Bronwen Hughes (Independent/RSA/Palomar, New York) and Edie Weiss (Radke Films, Toronto).

Submissions to the awards are being accepted until Feb. 23. •

-www.tvb.ca