ICA launches creative power list 2023 showcasing leading Canadian agencies

- Ranking of 115 agencies provides "real barometer" of creative performance

- Rethink retains top spot, followed by Zula Alpha Kilo and Bensimon Byrne

The Institute of Canadian Agencies (ICA) has published its Creative Power List 2023, the definitive ranking of agencies in Canada based on their performance at major domestic and international creative awards last year.

For the second year running, independent agency Rethink tops the Creative Power List, a ranking of 115 agencies that was created in collaboration with auditing partner Grant Thornton LLP. The full Creative Power List 2023 is available here.

Rethink's award-winning highlights include work for Kraft Heinz, The National Magazine Award Foundation, Fondation Émergence, IKEA, and Érable du Québec.

Based on a strict methodology that covers awards success in only the most prestigious schemes, the Creative Power List 2023 reveals significant changes elsewhere in the top 10 ranking of agencies. Zulu Alpha Kilo rises nine places on its 2022 ranking to second, while Bensimon Byrne leaps an impressive 11 places to third.

Awarded work for Zulu Alpha Kilo included campaigns for Pfaff Harley-Davidson, Campbell’s, and Home Equity Bank. Bensimon Byrne's biggest awards success was for charitable movement White Ribbon.

Other strong improvements in the top 20 are shown by Sid Lee, climbing 11 places to eleventh, DDB and Intercept Group, both moving up 46 places to 14th and 15th respectively. Meanwhile, GUT leaps 79 places to number 17.

Performance Art is new to the Creative Power List and is ranked eighth. Narrative, DonerNorth, and Citizen Relations, are also among the agencies to feature in the 2023 rankings having not appeared in 2022's list.

The Creative Power List 2023 is based on a strong and transparent methodology, applied rigorously by auditors at Grant Thornton LLP, to arrive at a definitive ranking of the best-performing agencies in Canada. Its scoring system embraces success at four international awards that really count - Cannes Lions, CLIO, D&AD, and The One Show - alongside four prestigious national shows - ADCC Awards, CMA Awards, Effie Awards Canada, and Marketing Awards. Creative leads from ICA member agencies are due to review the current methodology on March 15th and set it for the 2024 Creative Power List.

Graham Lang, Chief Creative Officer at TAXI and Chair of the Creative Power List initiative, said: "The Creative Power List is a real barometer of how agencies in Canada are performing creatively, because it's based on the most transparent, inclusive and succinct list of awards shows, as chosen by agency peers. It's an important ranking as it offers a true capture of agencies that are performing best to help agencies and clients cut through the clutter of noise that surrounds awards."

Scott Knox, President and CEO of the ICA, said: "Congratulations to all the agencies that feature in the Creative Power List 2023, and that have performed so strongly in awards on both the national and international stages. The Creative Power List is evolving from strength to strength, with a methodology that's growing more robust by the year. It provides a vital view of how Canada's best agencies are tracking locally and globally, and a sophisticated gauge of the creative vibrancy of the cream of Canada's agencies."

About the Creative Power List

The ICA’s Creative Power Advisory Group, along with leading audit, tax, and consulting firm, Grant Thornton LLP, created the Creative Power List, a transparent ranking of Canada’s agency sector based on success at leading international and national awards shows. The Creative Power Group developed the mechanics of the first ever Creative Power List in 2020 – deciding which national and international awards should matter, what they are worth and how to create a transparent scoring system. Full details on this methodology and scoring system are available here. Each year the Creative Power List is based on the awards performance of the previous calendar year.

About the ICA

Founded in 1905, the ICA exists to positively shape the business environment for agencies to THRIVE.

Working to Amplify, Protect and Transform its members, their people, and the industry.

For more information

Scott Knox, President & CEO, ICA scott@theica.ca or +1 (437) 350-1436