About Us

The Advertising Association of Winnipeg (AAW) is a member-based community connecting professionals across advertising, marketing, graphic design, communications, media, and creative services. Our role is to support, celebrate, and strengthen Manitoba’s creative industry through meaningful connection, professional development, recognition, and shared inspiration.

AAW is best known for its flagship events, including the Signature Awards, which honour excellence in our industry; Digital Marketing Day (now evolving into Marketing Forward by AAW), which brings thought-leading insights to the local marketing community; and the annual Cannes Lions Screening, connecting Winnipeg to international creative excellence. Through regular LinkUp networking events, speaker sessions, scholarships, and industry partnerships, we offer platforms for learning, mentorship, and collaboration at every stage of the creative journey.

At our core, AAW exists to champion our people — the strategists, designers, storytellers, marketers, media planners, account leaders, and entrepreneurs who shape culture, grow businesses, and bring ideas to life in our province.

Our History

AAW’s roots stretch back to 1944, when a small group of professionals came together as the Winnipeg Sales and Ad Club. Their goal was simple but powerful: to build camaraderie and create opportunities for professional growth among Winnipeg’s sales and advertising community.

As the industry evolved, so did the organization. In 1980, the group rebranded as the Advertising Club of Winnipeg, reflecting a stronger and more focused alignment with the growing advertising profession.

In 1988, the organization adopted its current name, the Advertising Association of Winnipeg (AAW), reinforcing its role not just as a club, but as an inclusive, forward-thinking association dedicated to advancing creativity, innovation, and connection across Winnipeg’s expanding advertising and marketing landscape.

More than 80 years later, AAW continues to evolve — driven by the same founding principles of community, professional excellence, and shared success — while embracing the future of marketing, advertising, and design in a rapidly changing world.