Canadian Partnership Against Cancer seeks PR AOR

May 15, 2012

TORONTO: The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (CPAC) is seeking a media relations agency of record.
 

Target uses detailed roadmap to cross border into Canada

April 01, 2012

In spring 2013, Target makes its first international retail expansion, opening 125 to 135 stores across Canada.
 

Video: Dustee Tucker Jenkins, Target

February 10, 2012

Dustee Tucker Jenkins, VP of communications at Target, spoke to PRWeek's Steve Barrett about the company's involvement with New York Fashion Week and its expansion into Canada.
 

Ontario police departments try to stop pocket-dialed 9-1-1 calls

January 11, 2012

TORONTO: The Toronto Police Service (TPS) has launched a campaign to stop consumers from pocket-dialing 9-1-1 on their cell phones. Similar campaigns will be launched around Ontario in coming months.
 

Levine, Buchsbaum buy Energi PR

October 17, 2011

TORONTO: Co-founders Carol Levine and Esther Buchsbaum have bought their partner Martin Waxman's share of Energi PR.
 

Weber hires Matheson Gay for healthcare practice

October 17, 2011

TORONTO: Weber Shandwick has hired Peter Matheson Gay as creative director for healthcare for North America and national practice leader for healthcare in Canada.
 

GCI Health appoints Eakins in Canada

December 14, 2010

NEW YORK: GCI Health hired Robert Eakins to lead GCI Health Canada, effective December 1.
 

Thornley Fallis and 76design promotes Green

September 03, 2010

OTTAWA: Thornley Fallis and 76design, the Canadian PR firm and the creative services agency, promoted Keelan Green to president.
 

FD hires Hovey-Smith to lead Toronto office

August 04, 2010

TORONTO: FD hired Kent Hovey-Smith as MD for its recently opened Toronto office.
 

Canadian environmental group hires Pilot

July 07, 2010

TORONTO: The Ontario Centre for Environmental Technology Advancement (OCETA) hired Pilot PMR for PR and rebranding.
 

Marketwire acquires social media analytics firm

July 06, 2010

TORONTO: Marketwire has acquired Sysomos, a Toronto-based firm that specializes in social media monitoring and sentiment analysis, effective immediately.
 

Liebherr Refrigeration hires The Halo Group

June 28, 2010

BURLINGTON, ONTARIO: Liebherr Refrigeration North America hired The Halo Group as AOR after a competitive review.
 

Two Canadian firms to merge

June 02, 2010

TORONTO: Communications MECA and Palette PR will merge as of July 1 to become Energi PR, which will focus on PR, social media, digital, and corporate communications.
 

Sensio Technologies hires Wall Street Communications

March 08, 2010

MONTREAL: Sensio Technologies, a stereoscopic 3D video technology company, hired Salt Lake City-based Wall Street Communications for global PR services.
 

BW launches Canada-focused site

August 18, 2009

TORONTO: Business Wire (BW) has launched a Web site, Business Wire Canada, that will bring North American news, products and services for Canadian clients, including regulatory filers, and other professional resources, such as SEO services, to that market.
 

CNW Group adds Twitter distribution

August 11, 2009

TORONTO: CNW Group has launched a series of Twitter accounts that will update audiences about press releases that the newswire service distributes.
 

CAW "shocked" by Cision proposal

June 12, 2009

As reported on this blog, Cision Canada is facing a labor contract dispute, and 25 workers in the company's Ottawa office went on strike May 5....
 

Cision in labor dispute in Canada

June 03, 2009

As reported on The Cycle and in the PRWeek news stories, Cision has been undergoing a number of changes to streamline its...
 

Mercury Public Affairs taps Muttart as MD

May 20, 2009

WASHINGTON: Mercury Public Affairs named Patrick Muttart as an MD and leader of the firm's new Canada/US practice, starting May 4.
 

Facebook, Wordpress.com lead "conversational" media growth: comScore

April 06, 2009

TORONTO: The number of Canadians visiting conversational media—including blogs and social networking sites—grew by 6% last year, outpacing the 1% growth in total Internet users. In total, conversational media now reaches 80% of Canada's online population of just over 24 million people.
 

Botanical PaperWorks hires first agency for North American PR

April 06, 2009

WINNIPEG: Botanical PaperWorks has hired Palette Public Relations to help increase brand awareness of its 100% post-consumer waste stationary, which is embedded with seeds that sprout into wildflowers when planted.
 

National Public Relations lays off 4% of its Toronto staff

April 06, 2009

TORONTO: National Public Relations has laid off seven of its Toronto staff, eliminating both junior and senior positions.
 

Canadian Interview: Keith McArthur

April 06, 2009

Keith McArthur, senior director of social media and digital communications, spoke to PRWeek about how Rogers is improving its online communications, particularly as it relates to consumer complaints.
 

Former National colleagues launch CoeurIdeas

March 16, 2009

TORONTO: Sarah Thompson and Mandi Davis, former colleagues at National Public Relations, have launched their own agency, believing clients today are looking for alternatives to big agencies.
 

Scotiabank plans year-long PR support of ETrade rebrand

March 16, 2009

TORONTO: The Bank of Nova Scotia has given ETrade Canada a new name—Scotia iTrade, and will support the rebrand with ongoing communications support
 

Canadian Interview: Julie Rusciolleli

March 16, 2009

Julie Rusciolleli, president of Maverick Public Relations, talks to PRWeek about the pitch process
 

Canadian Thermos Products hires Cohn & Wolfe

March 09, 2009

TORONTO: Cohn & Wolfe has been hired to execute the Canadian Thermos Products' first significant media relations campaign in Canada.
 

Toronto Film Festival creates new VP, communications role

March 09, 2009

TORONTO: The Toronto International Film Festival has created a new VP, communications role, and has hired Jennifer Bell to fill it.
 

Public target of CAPP's revamped Web site

March 09, 2009

CALGARY: In an ongoing effort to improve its communication with the general public, the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers has revamped its Web site with a greater focus on environmental and community issues.
 

Canadian Interview: Shawn Hall

March 09, 2009

Telus recently joined the growing number of Canadian companies using Twitter. And as Telus' senior communications manager Shawn Hall tells PRWeek, more of corporate Canada should take advantage of Twitter's immediacy—as well as other social media tools like wikis.
 

Cision launches near real-time monitoring of TV coverage

March 02, 2009

TORONTO: Cision has launched a new service, called QuickAlert, that monitors and reports TV coverage in almost real-time.
 

Bell Mobility does about-face after Twitter snafu

March 02, 2009

TORONTO: After a series of conflicting announcements, Bell Mobility finally agreed with Twitter that it would not charge customers who have a monthly texting plan to send and receive tweets from their devices.
 

Moneris Solutions hires Maverick, plans social media push

March 02, 2009

TORONTO: Moneris Solutions, the country's largest provider of payment processing, has hired Maverick Public Relations, following a competitive review. High Road Communications was the incumbent.
 

Trust in Canadian businesses slipping, finds Edelman Trust Barometer

March 02, 2009

TORONTO: Trust in Canadian businesses has fallen enough that it is now the least trusted institution in Canada, according to the Edelman Trust Barometer, which recently revealed its Canadian findings.
 

Ian Barr to lead Rocket XL office for Cossette

February 23, 2009

TORONTO: Ad agency Cossette has opened the first Canadian office of Rocket XL, an LA-based social media marketing firm it acquired in May 2008.
 

'Bulging Brides' host tapped for Nutribar relaunch

February 23, 2009

TORONTO: Stella Pharmaceuticals has generated media coverage for the launch of its newly-formulated meal replacement brand, Nutribar, by hiring two well-known personalities.
 

Fleishman-Hillard Canada cuts staff

February 23, 2009

TORONTO: Nine employees were laid off at Fleishman-Hillard Canada, as part of staff cuts across North America.
 

Canadian Interview: Ed Lee

February 23, 2009

Ed Lee, managing director of com.motion, spoke to PRWeek about why social media is not a stand-alone tool, why he's not a Twitter fan, and his thoughts on that now infamous twitter dust-up.
 

Canadian Interview: Alan Chumley

February 16, 2009

Alan Chumley joined research and polling firm Léger Marketing last November. Since then, he's assisted Terry Flynn of McMaster University on a first-of-its-kind study looking at the effect of PR on restoring the reputation of Maple Leaf Foods. He spoke to PRWeek about reputation measurement, and where they plan to take their Maple Leaf Foods research next.
 

Luxury development in Vietnam taps Pilot PMR for North American PR

February 16, 2009

TORONTO: Asian Coast Development (Canada) Ltd. (ACDL) has hired Pilot PMR to promote the development of a $4.2-billion "Las Vegas-style" resort destination along the Ho Tram Strip, about 80 km south of Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.
 

National Post apologizes for reporter's Twitter outburst

February 16, 2009

TORONTO: The National Post posted an apology on its Web site after a Twitter exchange between one of its reporters and a communications exec turned nasty.
 

Telus targets Bollywood crowd with in-movie product integration

February 16, 2009

VANCOUVER: Telus has rolled out the red carpet for the world premiere of Jag Jeondeyan De Mele, a Bollywood movie in which one of Telus' smart phones, the Blackberry Curve, is integrated in the movie.
 

New Web site aims to remove hot air around green claims

February 09, 2009

MONTREAL: Ethipedia.net aims to highlight good corporate citizens by publishing posts about their sustainable business practices. The site was created by Tom Liacas, the former communications and campaigns manager for Adbusters.
 

Fila Canada hires agency

February 09, 2009

TORONTO: Fila Canada has hired its first PR agency after several years of little PR outreach.
 

Rankings reveals 'engagement' factor of Canadian media sites

February 09, 2009

CHICAGO: The Toronto Star Web site ranked atop a top 10 list measuring the "engagement" score of Canadian media outlets' Web sites.
 

Canadian Interview: Pat McNamara

February 09, 2009

Pajama parties. One-month paid sabbaticals. All-expense paid weekend getaways. Pat McNamara, president of Apex Public Relations in Toronto, spoke to PRWeek about the importance of staff perks and why things would have to become really ugly before she'd ever consider scaling back the aforementioned incentives, as well as why goodbye lunches are overrated and where she sees an opportunity to save money.
 

Weekend to End Breast Cancer sets the stage with ballerinas

February 02, 2009

MONTREAL: A six-city PR campaign featuring ballerinas helped generate media coverage for the Weekend to End Breast Cancer.
 

PayPal Canada launches Valentine's Day-themed promo

February 02, 2009

TORONTO: PayPal Canada has published the results of an online poll, which shows that 30% of Canadian couples are fighting more about their finances because of the financial crisis.
 

Maple Leaf Foods' reputation surpasses pre-crisis levels, study finds

February 02, 2009

HAMILTON, ONT: In less than five months, Maple Leaf Foods has regained its reputation with previous customers to above pre-crisis levels.
 

Canadian Interview: Mario D'Amico

February 02, 2009

Mario D'Amico, the executive VP of marketing communications for Cirque du Soleil, spoke to PRWeek about why PR is so ingrained in the Montreal-based entertainment company's communications, its embrace of social media and how it reacted to the criticism of its Criss Angel Believe production in Las Vegas.
 

Financial crisis slows 2010 Olympic sponsor support

January 23, 2009

VANCOUVER: COLD-FX, the ginseng-based flu remedy, is the newest sponsor of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. Yet the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) remains just shy of $10 million to reach its national sponsorship target of $760 million.
 

New airline lobby group selects High Park Group

January 23, 2009

OTTAWA: A new lobby group representing the country's four largest airlines has hired High Park Group to assist with its government relations.
 

Bayer hires 'The Hills' star to promote Yaz

January 23, 2009

TORONTO: The Hills star Lo Bosworth is the face of birth control product Yaz in Canada, as part of a two-pronged media relations strategy from Bayer. Yaz was approved by Health Canada last year.
 

Ex-Marketing editor Sutter hired by Ontario's Communications Branch

January 23, 2009

TORONTO: The Communications Branch servicing the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture and the Ontario Seniors' Secretariat has recruited Stan Sutter as acting team lead.
 

Obama sparks worldwide media coverage for Blackberry

January 20, 2009

WATERLOO, ONT: Research in Motion is generating a ton of free press for its Blackberry product, thanks to Barack Obama's love of (and well-reported reluctance to give up) his Blackberry now that he has been inaugurated.
 

Pride Toronto bans interviews with Xtra

January 20, 2009

TORONTO: Pride Toronto, which produces the city's 10-day pride festival, has banned interviews with Xtra, the country's largest gay and lesbian publication.
 

Toronto Board of Trade fills public affairs role with 'Toronto Life' writer

January 20, 2009

TORONTO: The Toronto Board of Trade has hired Philip Preville as director of public affairs, following an intensive, eight-month search.
 

Canadian Interview: Robert Palmer

January 20, 2009

WestJet Airlines was applauded in the media for the way it handled weather conditions that grounded flights coast-to-coast during the holidays.
 

Banks defend position in credit crunch

January 12, 2009

TORONTO: The Canadian Bankers Association (CBA) is in the midst of a full-blown media campaign to defend the country's five big banks - RBC, TD Bank, Scotiabank, BMO, and CIBC - which have come under political pressure to lend more money.
 

Online forum a PR success for oilsands producers

January 12, 2009

CALGARY: A Web site forum created by the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) to spark a public discussion about the environmental impacts of oilsands development attracted more than 31,000 unique visitors in its first three months.
 

LBG hires Fantail to promote corporate community investors

January 12, 2009

CALGARY: LBG Canada—an association which promotes a higher standard in corporate community involvement and whose 26 members include Home Depot, Shoppers Drug Mart and Pfizer—has hired Fantail Communications.
 

Canadian Interview: Fraser Likely

January 12, 2009

Fraser Likely is president and managing partner of Likely Communication Strategies in Ottawa.
 

2009 Predictions: Canadian market

December 22, 2008

We asked our Canadian readers to make some predictions for what would transpire in 2009. Below are the responses.
 

Canadian interview: Sheila Corriveau of AgencyLink

December 15, 2008

Last January, Sheila Corriveau cofounded AgencyLink to help companies maximize the performance of their marketing agencies. She is also the past president and CEO of Porter Novelli Canada, before being promoted to global network director and partner.
 

Stratford Festival hires international ambassador

December 15, 2008

STRATFORD, ONTARIO: The Stratford Shakespeare Festival has hired Elizabeth Bradley as senior artistic associate to help it expand its international connections.
 

Study finds social media gaining budget share, senior-level support

December 15, 2008

TORONTO: Eighty-two percent of Canadian business leaders and senior marketers will spend as much or more on social media in 2009 as they did in 2008, according to the Com.motion-Pollara's "Social Media Barometer," a survey of 401 business and marketing leaders. The survey was conducted by Pollara Strategic Insights for Com.motion, the social media marketing division of Veritas Communications.
 

WPP expands public affairs reach in Canada

December 15, 2008

TORONTO: Two of Hill & Knowlton Canada's top executives were recently tapped to lead a new public affairs division at sister agency GCI Canada, as part of a strategy by WPP to expand its public affairs reach in Canada.
 

Fleishman-Hillard Canada shuffles top executives

December 08, 2008

TORONTO: Fleishman-Hillard Canada recently appointed Mia Wedgbury to president, Canadian region, and subsequently shuffled a number of other agency executives' posts.
 

George Brown College hires Apex PR

December 08, 2008

TORONTO: George Brown College selected Apex Public Relations as its AOR. A key part of the strategy will be trying to reach new Canadians, a segment of the population that is underemployed, said Ken Evans, VP, Apex.
 

Canada interview: Mark Nusca of PN discusses impact of media cuts

December 08, 2008

TORONTO: In recent weeks, some of Canada's major media companies—CanWest Global Communications, CTVglobemedia, and Rogers Media—have all made significant staffing cuts. Porter Novelli Canada's VP and regional director Mark Nusca—a former journalist with The Globe and Mail and National Post—spoke to PRWeek about the challenges that PR pros and their clients face in a retracting and evolving media environment.
 

Dailies' coverage split on Canada's opposition coalition

December 08, 2008

OTTAWA: Thirty-two percent of coverage in major market dailies was critical of the Liberal-led coalition to topple the Conservative government, according to a new study. That compares to 20% in support of it, the media analysis conducted by MediaMiser found.
 

Canadian Interview: Tom Enright

December 01, 2008

Tom Enright, the new president and CEO of the Canadian Investor Relations Institute, talked to PRWeek about the importance of IR in a downturn economy, particularly for Canadian companies, and what CIRI is doing to help raise the stature of the IR role within the corporate hierarchy.
 

'Attack ad' promotes Barrick Gold holiday media party

December 01, 2008

TORONTO: While many companies have canned their Christmas parties, Barrick Gold invited journalists to its media-only Christmas party via online video.
 

RCMP creates executive director, public affairs role

December 01, 2008

OTTAWA: The Royal Canadian Mounted Police has hired Sheila Bird in the newly created role of executive director, public affairs, in an attempt to help improve its image.
 

Best Buy Canada fights back against hoax e-mail

December 01, 2008

VANCOUVER: Best Buy Canada went on the offensive to counter an e-mail that had gone viral that suggested the electronics retailer was going out of business.
 

CADA tries to sell auto bailout, while Big Three remain mum

November 24, 2008

OTTAWA: The Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) urged the government to aid the auto industry, at a press conference on Friday, November 21 at Parliament Hill.
 

Sears Canada builds PR position around Budget Relief

November 24, 2008

TORONTO: Sears Canada has launched a holiday promotion called "Budget Relief Price Drop", in which the retailer will lower prices for a limited time on a selection of merchandise leading up to and possibly beyond the holidays.
 

Léger Marketing hires researcher exclusively for PR sector

November 24, 2008

TORONTO: Research and polling firm Léger Marketing has hired Alan Chumley to the newly-created position of director of communications research.
 

In-house PR execs pull back, maintain budgets for 2009

November 24, 2008

TORONTO: Scotiabank says it will trim its PR budget next year, as it aims to do "more with less" because of the economy
 

Canadian Interview: Niall Cook

November 17, 2008

Niall Cook, the worldwide director of marketing technology at Hill & Knowlton, discusses the impact, now and in the near future, of social software on internal and external communications.
 

Ethical Funds taps Hoggan & Associates to warn investors about oil sands

November 17, 2008

VANCOUVER: The Ethical Funds Company, Canada's leading manager of sustainable investments, has hired Vancouver PR firm Hoggan & Associates as its AOR.
 

RBC shakes up PR department

November 17, 2008

TORONTO: Stephanie Lu is the new head of media and public relations for RBC, the country's largest financial institution.
 

Nortel's PR blogger weighs in on negative financial coverage

November 17, 2008

TORONTO: It's not often that a company publicly analyzes its own media coverage, particularly when the news is bad. But that's exactly what Nortel did, a day after it announced a big quarter loss and job cuts totalling 1,300 staff.
 

Obama could help improve Harper's image

November 10, 2008

OTTAWA: During the Canadian federal election, opposing parties went to considerable lengths to tie Prime Minister Stephen Harper to US President George W. Bush, one of the most least-liked presidents among Canadians in recent memory.
 

Magazines reposition pitch to bad economy

November 10, 2008

TORONTO: So far, the widespread content and job cuts by US media outlets hasn't spread north of the border, but the Canadian magazine industry is hurting.
 

'Sex' video on YouTube provides PR push for Tourisme Montréal

November 10, 2008

MONTREAL : Tourisme Montréal is promoting itself as an "anything goes" destination to gay travellers, with a viral video that suggests two male calèche drivers getting it on in broad daylight.
 

AME BC hires PR Associates

November 03, 2008

VANCOUVER: The Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia (AME BC) has hired PR Associates to execute on a three-year communication and strategic PR plan. PR Associates won the account following a competitive RFP.
 

Cell phone ban prompts media outreach from Future Shop

November 03, 2008

BURNABY, BC: Future Shop quickly reacted with a media outreach campaign to news that Ontario would introduce legislation to ban the use of handheld communication devices such as cell phones while driving.
 

Canadian Interview: Rula Sharkawi

November 03, 2008

Rula Sharkawi, Ontario Lottery Corporation and Gaming Corporation's executive director of communications and PR, revealed to PRWeek how the organization is changing its communications moving forward.
 

White Ribbon selects Delta Media for social media outreach

October 27, 2008

TORONTO: The White Ribbon Campaign aimed at ending men's violence against women and Le Centre ontarien de prévention des agressions (COPA) has hired Delta Media for a social media-driven awareness campaign.
 

Political satirists portrayed Dion as too weak to lead

October 27, 2008

TORONTO: Outgoing Liberal leader Stephane Dion was portrayed during the election campaign as "weak" by the country's political satirists, according to a media analysis from Cormex Research.
 

CSRwire launches Canadian service

October 27, 2008

TORONTO: CSRwire is targeting Canadian readers and organizations, with a corporate social responsibility news distribution network devoted to Canada.
 

Canadian Interview: Marian Salzman

October 27, 2008

Marian Salzman, the CMO of Porter Novelli in New York, reveals how corporations should react to change — both now, and in the future
 

Wal-Mart Canada lobbies for bank status

October 19, 2008

TORONTO: Wal-Mart Canada has applied for a banking license, which is expected to be received favourably by regulators given the tightening credit climate in Canada.
 

ClickCare hires social media firm in Halifax

October 19, 2008

NEW YORK: ClickCare is using social media outreach to help grow its Web-based subscription service, which allows medical professionals to use digital video, sound, and other online media to communicate about a patient's condition.
 

CTV News defends Dion broadcast

October 19, 2008

MARITIMES: CTV News broadcast a defence of its decision to air part of an embarrassing interview with Liberal leader Stephane Dion, during its 6pm broadcast in the Maritimes on Thursday, October 16.
 

Canadian interview: Roxanne Cramer

October 19, 2008

Roxanne Cramer, president of Cramer & Company, spoke to PRWeek about career navigation during a downturn market.
 

Indigo Books & Music taps MS&L

October 13, 2008

TORONTO: Indigo Books & Music selects Manning Selvage & Lee as its new AOR in a bid to ramp up its overall PR efforts.
 

Desjardins CEO to attract younger customers through online chat

October 13, 2008

MONTREAL: Desjardins Group president and CEO Monique Leroux will participate in an online chat with people under 30 as part of the company's effort to attract younger customers.
 

National PR acquires Sonic Boom

October 13, 2008

TORONTO: National Public Relations acquired Sonic Boom Creative Media, a 20-person interactive ad agency that will move into National's Toronto office.
 
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