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May 12, 2010
Ad Women of Toronto is proud to be collaborating with The Globe and Mail in supporting Yujia Wen when she represents Canada at the Roger Hatchuel Academy at the 56th Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival in June.
Yujia has just completed her first year of undergraduate studies at Queen’s School of Business. After having attended Advertising Week’s Next Generation Day Event, she felt her career aspirations were confirmed.
Yujia is one of our newest Ad Women of Toronto members, and has this to say:
The ICA provided an unparalled opportunity for more than 200 young people to spend a day working in one of the top 20 advertising agencies in Toronto. The Ad Women of Toronto also held a Fashion Show later that week, allowing attendees the ability to connect with the Who’s Who in communications while having the most fabulous time with all the high-class enjoyments.
Follow my blog at www.7daysatcannes.com as I saunter on the sandy red carpets of the beautiful Côte d’Azur and update you on the Oscars of advertising CANNES, with special mentions to the incredible talents, world-class workshops, extravagent galas….and the exquisite French culture!
April 19, 2010
CANADA ON CENTRE STAGE
Getting a big bang for our buck
by Ilona Kauremszky
13 APR 2010: While most viewers who sat transfixed in front of the TV last February watched the winter Olympic games, it turns out the Canadian Tourism Commission was watching them. “Our strategy was not to focus on spectators but the 3 billion viewers who watched The Games,” said Michele McKenzie, president and CEO of the Canadian Tourism Commission.
McKenzie shared insights on the Olympics at a new exciting speaker series for ad execs and media planners hosted by the Institute of Communication Agencies and Ad Women of Toronto, a new group worth checking out for those in sales and marketing.
So how do you get those clients?
Start with a five year plan.
McKenzie is no stranger to Canadian tourism. She’s lived from coast to coast, worked in top jobs like Nova Scotia’s deputy minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage, and in 2004 when she accepted the top position to steer Canada’s tourism office, one of her first tasks was to create a Winter Olympics media plan.
Read the entire article and interview at Travel Industry TODAY, an online travel news publication.
April 16, 2010
Bonnie Brooks
The ICA and The Globe and Mail are delighted to announce that Bonnie Brooks, President and CEO, the Hudson’s Bay Company will be an Extraordinary Stories speaker.
The Bay is the country’s oldest department store and operates 94 stores across Canada. Ms. Brooks has over two decades of extensive prestige brand and department store experience. Ms. Brooks has spent more than 25 years building prestige retail formats around the world, like Holt Renfrew, Lane Crawford, Harvey Nichols, and leading designer brand stand-alone stores in Asia.
In Canada, Ms. Brooks is best known for her roles at Holt Renfrew where she was Executive Vice President/General Merchandise Manager and Senior Vice President of Marketing. In these executive positions, she had complete responsibility for strategic planning, all marketing functions, all merchandise buying, designer brand acquisition, and more. She has also served as Editor-in-Chief of FLARE, Canada’s largest fashion and lifestyle magazine and has an MBA from the University of Western Ontario.
DATE: Thursday, May 27, 2010
March 19, 2010
March 19, 2010 – Toronto, Ontario – The Institute of Communication Agencies (ICA), Ad Women of Toronto and The Globe and Mail are pleased to announce that Michelle McKenzie, President and CEO of the Canadian Tourism Commission will be the second speaker in the Extraordinary Speaker series on Thursday, April 8th 2010 at Toronto’s Six Degrees Event Venue, 2335 Yonge Street, from 5:00 – 7:30 PM.
Michele McKenzie is the President and CEO of Canada’s national tourism marketing organization, the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC). The CTC markets and promotes Canada’s extra-ordinary travel experiences internationally to increase export revenues in Canada.
Michele joined CTC in 2004, leading the Crown Corporation to its new home on the west coast of Canada, Vancouver. Under her leadership, Canada’s new tourism marketing brand was developed and launched internationally. Canada’s country brand recognition and tourism appeal has since risen from 12th in the world, to 6th, to 2nd place.
In 2009, CTC was named “Marketer of the Year” in Canada, a first for a Crown Corporation, a first for a west coast corporation, and a great tribute to Michele’s vision.
Backed by the Government of Canada, Michele is leading her team to execute and deliver on an ambitious five-year strategy to help ensure that Canada’s visitor economy is the greatest beneficiary of the 2010 Winter Games.
Michele is Ontario born, grew up in Nova Scotia and is a graduate of Dalhousie University. Michele served as Deputy Minister for Nova Scotia Tourism, Culture and Heritage and has been an active Director on several Boards over the course of her career.
Tickets are $40 for Ad Women Members/$350 for 10 tickets, or $50 for non-members/$450 for 10 tickets. Tickets include appetizers and cocktails following the presentation.
March 15, 2010
ICA and Ad Women of Toronto present Marketing to the New Economic Powerhouse: Women - Presentation and networking evening features Juniper Park’s Jill Nykoliation-
March 2, 2010 – Toronto, Ontario – The Institute of Communication Agencies (ICA) and Ad Women of Toronto are pleased to announce that Jill Nykoliation, partner and lead strategist of Juniper Park — Toronto based advertising agency and recent CASSIES winner — will present Marketing to the New Economic Powerhouse: Women on Thursday, March 25th 2010 at Toronto’s Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen Street West, from 5:00 – 7:30 PM.
Forget the term “gatekeeper” - women are much more powerful today when it comes to consumption. Women now account for more than over 50 per cent of jobs and dominate the purchase influence and decision in nearly every single category. Yet, most women still feel their needs have gone unmet by the majority of marketers. At this must-attend presentation, Jill will go past well-trodden insights to share new learnings on how women communicate, and how marketers can use the knowledge to better connect with this invaluable consumer.
In three years, Jill and her firm Juniper Park (www.juniperpark.com) have achieved unprecedented growth. Recognized as a finalist for Agency of the Year by Marketing magazine in both 2008 and 2009, Jill was named to Ad Age’s 2009 Women to Watch list, and the company swept the 2010 CASSIES, winning the Grand Prix and two Golds. Juniper Park is an agency that brings the disciplines of strategy, design and advertising together for its enviable North American client roster, which includes Frito Lay US, Quaker US, Virgin Mobile, Chicago Tribune, Astral Media and EOS. Jill’s passion for creating brand platforms was cemented through her work at Kraft Foods as co-creator of Kraft’s award-winning CRM initiative, in addition to other brand management roles. Jill is a graduate of Queen’s Business School.
Tickets for this must-attend event are on sale now and are $40 for Ad Women Members/$350 for 10 tickets, or $50 for non-members/$450 for 10 tickets. Tickets include appetizers and cocktails following the presentation.
About Ad Women of Toronto
Launched by the Institute of Communication Agencies (ICA) in January 2009, Ad Women of Toronto is a unique initiative that enables women of all career stages to participate in, and contribute to, the marketing communications industry in a completely new way. Linking women through mentorship, education and entertainment, members include a diverse group of leading women in communications, advertising, and media. By facilitating diversity and debate, Ad Women of Toronto encourages various points of view, shared experiences and knowledge, and the promotion of unique talents and skills to propel future leaders to the top. For more information please visit www.adwomentoronto.ca.
About the ICA
The Institute of Communication Agencies (ICA) represents Canada’s communications and advertising agencies. ICA members collectively account for over 80 per cent of all national advertising in Canada, with an economic impact worth more than $20 billion annually. ICA serves as a leading source of information, advice and industry education, promoting thought leadership, best practices and the elevation of professional standards. ICA-led initiatives include thought leadership events, such as FutureFlash and Advertising Week, professional development forums such as Ad Women of Toronto and certification programs, such as the CAAP accreditation and the Master’s Certificate in Brand Communications. More information about the ICA and its initiatives can be found at www.icacanada.ca.
MEDIA: To RSVP, for more information or to arrange an interview with an ICA or Ad Women of Toronto spokeswoman, please contact Susan Willemsen, Renee Lalonde or Danika Lochhead at The Siren Group Inc.
Tel: 416-461-5270. Fax: 416-778-9047.
E-mail: info@thesirengroup.com or www.thesirengroup.com.
March 12, 2010
The National Post’s City Life profile of Ad Women of Toronto’s AdBall.
February 19, 2010
Thank you to all who attended and/or sponsored Ad Ball: A Fashion Fetish!
With the help of your support, Advertising Week 2010 ended on a very high note!
Congratulations to Amanda Alvaro of the Narrative Advocacy group at Bensimon Byrne for her leadership, and for the hard working and engaged committee of volunteers who oversaw the myriad of details around the event. Post event attendee surveys have expressed high levels of satisfaction with the inaugural Ad Ball.
We are delighted that the proceeds from the event are supporting Ad Women of Toronto mentoring programs and Dress for Success Toronto. Special thanks to lead sponsors CTV and Wind Mobile.
The ICA Advertising Week team is already planning Ad Ball 2011. If you want to sponsor or lend your support, please contact Stacey Farber at
sfarber@icacanada.ca or 416-482-1396 ext. 223.
November 16, 2009
First-ever communications industry gala hosted by Ad Women of Toronto, will be the finale event of AdWeek 2010
TORONTO, ON – November 16, 2009 – The inaugural ‘AdBall’, hosted by the ICA’s Ad Women of Toronto, will bring together over 500 of Canada’s most influential leaders, innovators and trendsetters for a swanky celebration of creativity and communications. In support of Dress for Success Toronto and Ad Women’s mentorship programs, AdBall: A Fashion Fetish will take place on January 29, 2010 and is the closing event of Advertising Week 2010.
Read more
October 25, 2009
On October 21st, we presented our first ICA/Globe and Mail Extraordinary Stories Speaker Series event, featuring Christie Blatchford, columnist at the Globe and Mail.
The event was a resounding succes. Here is some early feedback on Christie’s moving Extraordinary Story:
Christie Blatchford indeed meets the definition of an extraordinary woman - she was a terrfic choice to kicke-off this series.
Linda Nagel, Advertising Standards Canada
“A terrific event - Christie told some great stories and was candid, interesting and funny as hell. A great opportunity to hear from a woman who has built an illustrious career in Canada and is truly passionate about her work.”
A video highlight reel of the event will be available shortly on the Ad Women of Toronto website, www.adwomentoronto.ca.
October 7, 2009
Some initial feedback from our September 17th event is indicating that attendees were deeply impressed by the whirlwind presentation of Jess Greenwood (Deputy Editor, Contagious Magazine, UK):
Jess Greenwood has a way of turning a presentation (and a content-rich one at that) into an audience experience - a heady roller coaster ride through the latest and coolest stuff from the worlds of new media, digital, mobile, social media and what-have-you. What I really appreciated were her examples of when some of these trendy initiatives go horribly wrong, ever reminding us to think outside the tool. Joan McArthur, 27 Marbles
Her presentation was totally engaging, entertaining, and highly informative about the new way of doing business in the digital world. Since her talk, we have become so much more aware of leveraging the power of social media. Cynthia Richards, Event Spectrum Inc.
To view videos of past Ad Women of Toronto events click here.
