Citizen Wins 5 Awards at the ILEA Esprit Awards for Global Live Events

Citizen Relations
August 28, 2026
Woman on Bench

Citizens commanded the stage earlier this week at the ILEA Esprit Awards for Global Live Events in Chicago; taking home an impressive haul of five awards across multiple categories. The Esprit Awards recognize the most impactful and innovative live events and experiential marketing campaigns from around the world, and are judged by a panel of industry leaders.

The agency’s standout success of the night was the SickKids 150: #Balloonspotting campaign; taking home three wins for:

  • Best Overall NonProfit/Association Event
  • Best Makes and Impact/Gives Back
  • Best Marketing Campaign

Built to celebrate the hospital’s milestone 150th birthday, the campaign scattered balloon sculptures across 86,500km and launched a giant hot air balloon at the biggest birthday party ever in downtown Toronto.

“To see our events and experiential work recognized on a global stage is an incredibly proud moment for us,” said Kevin Wagman, Managing Director, Experiential at Citizen Relations, and recent winner of the ICON Award at the 2026 Canadian Event Awards. “These wins reflect the incredible dedication and care shown by every member of the Citizen Experiential team. No matter the industry, scale, or audience, we always build meaningful, unforgettable experiences.” 

SickKids was not the only Citizen campaign to shine. The agency also celebrated two major victories for Santa’s Workshop presented by Shoppers Drug Mart, a beautifully crafted and highly engaging consumer holiday activation. The project won:

  • Best Overall Public Event
  • Best Scenic Design, Installation, or Exhibit

“Our holiday work with Shoppers Drug Mart allowed us to design a truly magical, immersive environment for families,” added Wagman. “Both campaigns were highlights for our team to work on.” 

In 2026, the Citizen Experiential team was recognized for their work at the Canadian Event Awards and Drum Awards. These recent accolades highlight Citizen’s continued ability to turn cutting-edge ideas into high-impact events.