TORONTO—C.J. Graphics in Toronto took home the largest share of awards from the International Association of Printing House Craftsmen (IAPHC) Toronto and International Gallery of Excellence awards last night during a dinner at the Duncan House in Toronto.

But Jay Mandarino, president of C.J. Graphics, was quick to give praise to the other printers in the dining room, while being humble about the number of awards his shop earned. "We win more because we enter more," he said.


Jay Mandarino of C.J. Graphics (left) with Bill Kidd of IAPHC Toronto

C.J. earned 24 gold awards in the Canadian category, with 47 more golds from the international gallery (judged in the U.S.). The Toronto printer also took Heidelberg's Best of Show 2011 award and J&P Steel Rule Die's Best Use of Bindery 2011 award.

Other printers earning awards included Colour Innovations with one domestic gold and one international gold. Colour Innovations also earned Taniguchi Ink's Best Use of Ink 2011 award.

Lowe Martin Group grabbed three golds in total (two of them international); Metro Label took two golds; Polytainers earned a total of six golds (including four internationals); and The AIIM Group left with five gold selections (three of them international wins). The printers also earned several silver, bronze and honourable mention selections.


Bill Kidd (right) with student award winners

But the printers weren't the only winners last night, as the Toronto chapter of the IAPHC handed out a number of student award/scholarships of $500 each. Recipients included Elina Shafigullina of Gordon Graydon Memorial Secondary School; Daria Shepelenko of George Brown College School of Design; Nasereen Ahmad of Humber College Advertising and Graphic Design; Katherine Pires of Ryerson University School of Graphic Management; Christopher Barry of Phoenix Print Shop Foundations of Print; and Olesya Milosevic of Centennial College's Centre for Creative Communication.

Graphic Challenge awards went to Lakia Won of George Brown College's School of Design, and runner-up Olesya Milosevic of Centennial. For those wins, the students received $500 and $250 scholarships respectively, said the Craftsmen's Bill Kidd. 

The Craftsmen also handed over $1,000 to support Ryerson's Technical Association of the Graphic Arts (TAGA) chapter, comprised of Ryerson Graphic Communications Management students. Each year, the students attend a technical conference which includes judging of TAGA student publications to determine who wins the Helmut Kipphan Cup.