It’s a classic affliction of young adults in the late ’90s: nostalgia for things that happened too few years ago and which are perhaps unworthy of the sentiment. However, the collective harking-back at this year’s Bessies was palpable, rising like prickly heat from adults of all ages milling about the expanses of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The nostalgia was for last year’s Bessies show – and those of the previous several years – at the comparatively civilized Sheraton location.

It was a lean show, with a pared-down winners lineup, and, with less opportunity for convivial alcohol consumption, periodical fat-burning walkabouts and post-show installation in some sort of harshly lit, less comfortable interpretation of a sweat lodge, attendees likely emerged leaner as well. (Some of the credit listings were leaner too. Many wondered: Had ‘The Colorist Formerly Known as Billy’ cited for craft honors on 7Up abandoned his name in a fit of hubris a la ‘The Artist?’ Would he soon be represented merely by some sort of arcane da Vinci keyboard symbol? Nope, he’s still dave’s unpretentious Bill Ferwerda).

The Best of Show Campaign and a Gold Spot campaign went to bbdo’s 7Up ‘Beach/Tribe’ effort, directed by South Africa’s Keith Rose out of Radke and Velocity. The ‘Tribe’ spot captured Best of Show single as well as a Gold Spot single, with ‘Beach’ also winning a Gold Spot single.

The ‘Diner’ and ‘Bus’ spots for Telus out of Ogilvy & Mather, Calgary also grabbed a Gold Spot Campaign. The spots were directed by Partners’ Eric Yealland through Partners’ and Calgary’s White Iron.

Other Gold Spot winners: ‘We the Children’ for Kellogg’s out of Leo Burnett, directed by Avion’s Ray Dillman; Labatt Blue ‘Cart Chase’ and ‘Road Trip’ out of Ammirati Puris Lintas, directed by Radke’s Mike Bigelow; icbc ‘Walking,’ created by Palmer Jarvis ddb, Vancouver and directed by Circle’s Rob Turner; ‘Numbers in Your Face’ for H&R Block from Young & Rubicam, directed by Bigelow; ‘Web of Golf’ for AGF Mutual Funds out of y&r, directed by David McNally out of Players; and ‘Judgement Day’ for Peoples Jewellers, created by Gee Jeffery & Partners. The writer on the latter spot was incorrectly credited in the official listing; the right writer is Angus Tucker, and though no production company was mentioned, the spot was directed by Sam Welch of Blink.

In the newly created Best of Series awards, Barry Peterson got the nod for cinematography for Molson Ex’s ‘Judith’ out of MacLaren McCann, Bigelow received the directing award, and Flashcut’s Mick Griffin was cited for editorial on ‘Cart Chase.’ Great Big Music won for sound on ‘Beach’ and Axyz’s John Coldrick and Mario Marengo got special effects kudos for ‘We the Children.’

Axyz also produced the Bob Mann post-production award winner, with this year’s honor going to Dave Giles. An emotional Simon Mestel accepted the Spiess Award on behalf of father Stanley.