TOA recognized for innovative website design, digital recreation resources and community engagement initiatives
The Town of Ajax has been recognized for three projects and initiatives under five categories at the 2026 MarCom Awards. The Town’s Communications & Engagement and Recreation & Culture teams received four Gold Awards and one Honourable Mention for initiatives that enhance access to information, promote recreation opportunities and strengthen community connection.
MarCom Awards is an international creative competition that recognizes outstanding achievement by marketing and communication professionals whose work exceeds a high standard of excellence and serves as a benchmark for the industry.
The Town of Ajax received recognition for the following entries:
- Town of Ajax Website Redesign (Two Gold Awards) – Communications & Engagement: Recognized in both Government and Redesign categories, the Town’s new website received two Gold Awards for its modern design, improved navigation and enhanced user experience. The updated website makes it easier for residents, businesses and visitors to access information, programs and services, reflecting the Town’s commitment to accessibility, digital innovation and effective communication. Visit the Town’s digital front door at ajax.ca.
- Digital Recreation Guide (Two Gold Awards) – Recreation & Culture: Recognized in both the Guide and Portal categories, the Town’s Digital Recreation Guide provides residents with a personalized, interactive, online resource to plan recreation programs and activities featuring integrated location mapping, filters and seamless registration integration. The guide supports an improved user experience by making it easier for residents to discover programs and prepare for registration — all in one place.
- Elevate Girls: International Day of the Girl Video Series (Honourable Mention) – Recreation & Culture: Recognized in the series category for its creative storytelling and meaningful engagement, the video series celebrated International Day of the Girl by highlighting the importance of empowering girls, promoting inclusivity and encouraging participation in recreation and community activities.
The full list of winners can be found at marcomawards.com.
QUOTE
“Receiving this international recognition is an amazing achievement and a reflection of the creativity, dedication and collaboration across our organization. From enhancing our digital platforms to developing engaging and accessible resources, these initiatives demonstrate our teams’ commitment to finding innovative ways to connect with residents and improve access to Town services. Congratulations to our Communications & Engagement and Recreation & Culture teams on this well-deserved recognition and thank you for your continued efforts to create meaningful experiences for our community.” – Shane Baker, CAO, Town of Ajax
QUICK FACTS
- The Town of Ajax received four Gold Awards and an Honourable Mention at the 2026 MarCom Awards, including two Gold Awards for the Town’s digital front door, ajax.ca.
- MarCom Awards is administered and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals.
- Since its inception in 2004, MarCom has evolved into one of the largest, most-respected creative competitions in the world.
- The Gold Award is presented to entries judged to exceed the high standards of the industry norm.
- The Town of Ajax launched its newly redesigned municipal website on June 25, 2026, providing residents, businesses and visitors with a faster, more efficient and accessible way to connect with Town information and services online.
- Designed for mobile use – the website works smoothly on phones, tablets and computers, making it easy and intuitive to access information anywhere. Translation is also available in 20 languages to better support Ajax’s diverse community. Explore the Town’s digital front door, ajax.ca.
- The Town’s Digital Recreation Guide is an interactive online resource that launched on August 6, 2026. It was designed to help users browse and plan recreation programs, activities and services. The Digital Recreation Guide is a planning tool that offers a personalized experience, allowing users to filter programs by category, location, age group and day or time, then create a customized PDF guide of preferred programs.
- The Digital Recreation Guide features a mobile-responsive design, allowing residents to browse recreation programs on their own devices or through accessible, community-based kiosks located at each of the Town’s community recreation centres. Residents can customize their guide based on individual interests and have it emailed for easy reference. Explore the Guide.
- In recognition of International Day of the Girl in October, the Town celebrated girls in sport and the importance of creating spaces where everyone feels welcome, included and supported. In addition to in-person activations and an Elevate Girls contest (now closed), videos were shared, which showcased the diverse perspectives of local females in sport. Learn more about the initiative and check out the video series at ajax.ca/ElevateGirls.
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