The CCBCAA (Canadian Comic Book Creator Awards Association) maintains a database of Canadian creators and review distributor catalogues and publisher websites for identifying eligible releases as well as use online resources for checking publication dates. We also work with retailers across the country who provide information and feedback.

For the categories of Writer, Artist, Cartoonist, Cover Artist, and the Dragon Award (comics for younger readers), eligible creators are Canadian (by citizenship or residency status). Their work had to have been professionally distributed – this includes direct market and/or book distribution – national and/or international. In most categories there are creators whose work was published in English or French, as Canada has two official languages. Technically though, as long as it is first publication, it could be in any language including pantomime.

Webcomics eligibility have the same nationality requirements but have to have an archive or dating system for when the new comics are posted. All require a posting date during the previous calendar year (Jan. 1 to Dec. 31). The current market sees most comic publications see a concurrent digital release, the Webcomic creator/creative team award recognizes those who created content exclusively for an online audience with no concurrent print release (although the comics may eventually be collected for print). Ease of access and originality of presentation (use of the platform – scrolling, clicking, limited animation) are considered in addition to quality of content.

Now we are nearing the end of the nominating period, the CCBCAA needs to start assembling our juries for 2017 and assemble the nominated work for them to review. Once the list goes live next week, we will start assembling review copies for the jury members. Once that process begins we can begin to estimate and establish a deadline for the jury’s decision. We learned the hard way that public vote is manipulative, which is why the system is committee selected, jury voted. It gives each jury member the opportunity to review each work individually and give nominees equal footing. In our earliest years we had nominating committee followed by public vote on select categories and it was a perfect storm of problems because it leads to campaigning. Campaigning, we feel, is not conducive to the process of selecting the most outstanding work.