Toronto, May 1, 2003 — 26-year-old Daniel Torchia of Torchia Communications has been named ‘Young PR Professional of the Year’ by the Canadian Public Relations Society of Toronto. The honor was announced at last night’s annual ACE Awards Dinner, where award-winning public relations professionals were recognized for outstanding achievement in thirty separate industry categories.

Torchia Communications also took away an ACE Award for ‘Multicultural Marketing Campaign of the Year’ for their awareness campaign aimed at increasing interest in motorsport among the Hispanic population in the U.S.

The prestigious ‘Young PR professional of the Year’ category was open only to public relations professionals under 30 years of age, who have been in the industry for less than three years. Nominations had to come from employers and include details of the nominee’s career history and professional qualifications. The panel of judges determining the winner sought evidence of outstanding achievement in handling clients or senior-level staff, development of PR strategy, business savvy, creativity, knowledge of PR tactics, and contribution to business objectives.

In nominating Daniel Torchia for the award, Toronto-based Vice President of Torchia Communications, Fay Olson wrote, “I can say without qualification that during the more than three decades I have been a practicing professional in the Canadian public relations industry, I have seldom encountered an individual I believe offers the impressive track record, the creative skills, strategic planning abilities, and the solid growth potential that Daniel possesses.

“He has consistently delivered exemplary performance in virtually all of the areas in which your criteria indicate you will seek demonstration of outstanding achievement.”

Announcing that Daniel Torchia had been chosen to receive the first-ever ‘Young PR Professional of the Year’ award, category sponsor Emmanuel Caisse of Bowdens said, “Our young PR professionals are the future of this industry, and if tonight’s winner is any indication, the future for public relations is very bright.”

The campaign that earned Torchia Communications the ACE Award for ‘Multicultural Marketing Campaign of the Year’ was a year-long public relations initiative for Team KOOL Green that transformed an unknown Colombian mechanic into one of the most familiar Hispanics in a major North American motor-racing series.

Spearheaded by Daniel Torchia under the direction of Sid Priddle, the campaign was conducted from Torchia Communications’ Canadian offices, and focused on Rolando Coronado, one of the only Hispanic mechanics in the CART racing series.

A key component of the campaign was wide dissemination of the Coronado success story to the Hispanic market, which numbers 37 million people in the United States. The campaign was also designed to position Coronado as a role model for fellow Hispanics in their career pursuits.

Throughout the public and media relations program, Torchia Communications drew on its solid multicultural background to generate coverage across the entire targeted media spectrum.

Torchia Communications is an established national leader in public and media relations, marketing PR, corporate and consumer relations, sponsorship and event marketing, promotions, strategic counsel, and issues management.

For information and/or comment: Aileen Le Breton Torchia Communications Phone: (416) 341-9929, Ext. 224 Fax: (416) 341-0129 Email: alb@torchiacom.com