ShowBusinessMan:
Toronto

Sport Chek get's us back into the hockey spirit early this summer with this great new Sid Lee created spot featuring Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby. The 30-second ad features a group of young hockey players from Halifax (Crosby's hometown) all sporting Sport Chek's SC87 line of gear as they imitate Crosby in street hockey and amateur games.

“Every hockey player imagines being the star in the middle of an important game,” Sid Lee's executive creative director, Dave Roberts said in a press release, “In Canada, being a star means playing like Crosby. For us, this spot speaks to how much Canadians love the game and how much Canadians love Crosby.”

via:

Tennis Canada launch a national public service ad campaign promoting tennis participation for children across the country and the “Let’s Make Tennis Matter for Kids” fundraising initiative. The campaign includes three ads that highlight the fact that maybe, just maybe not every kid in Canada wants to play hockey and to give tennis a shot. Above, "Goaltending" and below "Penalty Box".

“We know that hockey in Canada is like a religion,” said Michael S. Downey, president and CEO, Tennis Canada. “But the truth of the matter is that not all kids are interested in lacing up their skates and hitting the ice for the first time. We want to ensure our sport is an option for those kids and their parents by increasing awareness and accessibility to Kids Tennis. This campaign and the resulting money raised will help us in achieving our mission of growing the sport of tennis across Canada.”

The campaign is the work of Toronto based Bensimon Byrne, Canada's largest independent agency. That sounds so good considering the recent mega Publicis/Omnicom merger.

Credits:
Creative Advertising Agency: Bensimon Byrne, Toronto, Canada
Creative Director: Joseph Bonnici
Associate Creative Director / Art Director: Dan Strasser
Associate Creative Director/ Copywriter: David Mueller
Account Director: Mark Hewitt
Producers: Christine Pacheco, Michelle Pilling
French Producer: Claudia Theriault
Film Production: OPC
Director: Chris Woods
Executive Producer: Harland Weiss
Editing: Married to Giants
Editor: Graham Chisolm
Audio: Pirate
Director: Vanya Drakul
Transfer: Alter Ego
Online: Alter Edo
Online Editor: Darren Archim

Via: The Toronto Egotist

In an era where digital and electronic inventions are consuming hours of our lives, its toys and devices are also making an impact on the way children play. Remember when fun was governed by games and activities like Red Rover, I Spy, Couch Forts and Hopscotch?

Kol Kid is helping parents and their children put down their devices with the launch of a cool new web app (Play Engine) that generates endless, simple play ideas like finger puppets, Simon Says or how to make a homemade printing press, for example. Kol Kid is a Toronto-based children’s store, making a stand to celebrate the value of simple play and illuminate the insight that tech toys can’t always fulfill the tactile joy of simple toys. Kol Kid has also released three online spots to springboard this communications campaign and help reinforce the store’s purchasing philosophy, which is to sell toys that fosters children’s imagination and play habits.

PRESS: Kol Kid’s new campaign by Tribal Worldwide — Toronto helps parents rediscover the value of simple play

In an era where so many digital and electronic toys task kids with a touch of a screen or hit of a button, Kol Kid, a Toronto-based children’s store is launching a new communications campaign that celebrates the value of simple play.

“After shopping at Kol Kid a few times I noticed they didn’t carry a single electronic toy,” says Sanya Grujicic, senior copywriter, Tribal Worldwide — Toronto. “After chatting with Lisa, the owner, our team soon realized there was a philosophy to her store that was much bigger than just toys. Technology is fundamentally changing the way children play.”

Developed by Tribal Worldwide – Toronto, the campaign launches with three 30-second web videos, directed by Tom Feiler of Code Film, that cleverly communicate how tech toys can’t always fulfil the tactile joy of simple toys.

“I’ve always been particularly tuned into childhood development,” says Kol Kid owner Lisa Miyasaki. “I’ve never been interested in toys that do the playing for you. We’ve always carried toys that are tactile and open-ended. Toys that foster a child’s imagination and allow them to create their own play scenarios.”

Putting the spotlight back on simple play activities that many parents grew up with, Kol Kid and Tribal have also launched Play Engine. A web app that generates endless, simple play ideas like finding shapes in the clouds, Simon Says or how to make a homemade printing press, for example. The playful app harnesses the utility of technology to help parents discover hours of imaginative, play ideas. Ultimately, helping kids and parents put down their devices.

In addition to the videos and the Play Engine, Tribal Worldwide — Toronto also refreshed the design of Kol Kid’s website adding new content and in-store photography by Tom Feiler, that helps bring the store's philosophy to the forefront. Print advertising and in-store signage are being developed as well, to further round out the campaign and drive traffic to the store.

Credits:
Creative Advertising Agency: Tribal Worldwide, Toronto, Canada
Managing Director: Andrew McCartney
Creative Directors: Louis-Philippe Tremblay, Denise Rossetto
Copywriters: Sanya Grujicic, Tiffany Chung
Art Director: Andrew Bernardi
Agency Producer: Andrew Schultze
Strategy: Lisa Hart, Dino Demopoulos
Production Company: Code Film
Director: Tom Feiler
Director of Photography: Alan Lukatela
Cameraman: Andrew Easson, Michael Tung
Sound: Shawn Kirkby
Line Producer: Magda Czyz
Post-Production Company: School Editing
Editor: Kyle McNair
Online Editor: Paul Binney
Colourist: Jason Zukowski
Audio House: Pirate Toronto
Audio House Director: Stephanie Pigott
Audio House Engineer: Jared Kuemper
Casting Agency: Andrew Hayes, Powerhouse Casting

Maple Leaf Foods and one Mother's story of how bacon has changed her life in Toronto's John St. created new ad campaign.

This is one Mom's amazing story of how she changed her life with bacon. It's time to tell the world about its incredible power and we hope her story inspires you to change your life. Four spots from the campaign include: The Woman Who Changed Her Life With Bacon, Doing The Dishes, Making The Bed, and House Cleaning.

Credits:
Creative Ad Agency: john st, Toronto
Client: Maple Leaf Canada
Creative Director: Stephen Jurisic
Creative Director: Angus Tucker
Copywriter: Jacob Greer
Art Director: Denver Eastman
Agency Producer: Anna Neilson
Director: Will Beauchamp
Director: Jamie Cussen
Production Company: Aircastle Films
Executive Producer: Will Beauchamp
Executive Producer: Jamie Cussen
Line Producer: Lauren Corber
Editorial: Aircastle Films
Editor: Anna Feldman
Post Production: Aircastle Films
Post Production: Susan Armstrong
Casting: Jigsaw Casting
Casting Director: Shasta Lutz

Toronto's Red Lion creative ad agency creates the perfect family dishwasher in their latest ad for Maytag entitled "Dishwasher".
Sorry kids put down the hose you won't be hosing dad down with the garden house anymore thanks to this dishwashers pre-rinse.

Credits:
Maytag — "Dishwasher"
Agency — Red Lion, Toronto Canada
Creative Director — Brett Channer
Copywriter — Dave Pigeon
Art Director — Anand Iyer
Director — Tim Hamilton
Director of Photography — Roberto Schaefer
Editor — Andy Ames
Sound Design — Silent Joe
Production House — Sons & Daughters
Executive Producer — Joan Bell
Account Director — Christine McArthur
Agency Producer — Carlo D'erole

Toronto's Bata Shoe Museum, one of the world's largest and most comprehensive collection of shoes and footwear-related artifacts recently had the "Out of the Box; The Rise of Sneaker Culture" exhibition created and designed by famed international designer Karim Rashid that documents the sneaker history from the 1800's to today.

Eventscape was brought in to engineer, fabricate, and install the complete exhibition; literally from the floor finish up to the ceiling. To showcase the prized sneakers, the sleek design incorporates 32 translucent pedestals, a 40 foot long display case, an acrylic entrance screen, five integrated inset wall displays, and seamless printed graphics throughout.
The primary challenge was to engineer a system that would meet all the rigorous museum grade structural requirements of security, accessibility and durability while adhering to the narrow budget of a one-year long exhibit. Eventscape was able to achieve this without sacrificing the clean, flowing aesthetic of the design.
Below, check out a cool time lapse of the 3rd floor gallery being transformed from an empty space to the exhibition itself.

For many, new smartphone technologies are liberating advancements, but for women who are victims of abuse they are just another control mechanism that can be exploited by their abusers.

Toronto-based agency UNION has created a new online video on behalf of Interval House, Canada’s first shelter for abused women, to show that while the technology has changed, the problem of abuse hasn’t. Mimicking the smartphone “reveal” commercials we see so often, wherein companies unveil their new smartphone tech, the ad subverts audience expectations for such ads to show just how much control a smartphone can give an abuser, as well as how that control can make it even harder for women to seek help from facilities like Interval House.

“When we started this project, we still had a relatively naive conception of the forms that abuse could take – that it was mostly physical or verbal,” said Lance Martin at UNION. “But as we learned more, we realized how big a role control and surveillance play in abusive relationships. And how smartphones enable that.”

With the goal of having viewers take away a better understanding of the evolving nature of abuse, UNION’s ad for Interval House also encourages them to engage with the problem, do what they can to eliminate it and donate.

This ad is part of UNION’s ongoing work for Interval House which began earlier this year with the Facebook connect project, Every Second Matters.

Credits:
Campaign Name: Phone Demo
Client: Interval House, Toronto
Creative Agency: UNION, Toronto
Executive Creative Director/ Partner: Lance Martin
Senior Art Director: Glen D’Souza
Senior Copywriter: Michael Takasaki
Designer: Justin Aitcheson
Producer: Jennifer Dark
Group Account Director: Cheryl McKenzie
Account Supervisor: Daniella Casasanta
Planner: Heather Black
Production Company: Sugino Studio
Director: Todd McLellan
Executive Producer: Dan Arki
Editorial Company: School Editing
Editor: Aaron Dark
Post Production: Paul Binney/Fort York VFX
Sound Design/Music: Steve Gadsden/ TA2 Sound & Music
via: Glossy

Smoother skin prevailed last week as Fuzz Wax Bar brought ‘Street Waxing’ to Toronto. And the project, developed by Fuzz’ partner agency Lowe Roche, is fast becoming one of the most talked about stunts of the summer.

The Fuzz Wax Bar team wanted to show weekend festivalgoers that waxing is worth it. Onlookers were invited to tear a wax-strip off a male model, covered entirely in wax-coated strips. As more and more people pulled wax-strips from his body, he was left hairless – and completely ‘exposed’ – in the Toronto streets.

Jessica Frampton and Florence Gavin, co-owners of Fuzz Wax Bar have found the response so far to be nothing short of extraordinary.

“The crowd reaction on the day, and the attention we’ve received since it happened have been amazing,” said Frampton. “As Toronto’s original wax bar, we’re always looking for new ways to generate awareness, and so we were thrilled with this innovative idea which we knew from the outset would literally stop traffic.”

Hundreds took part on the day, as thousands of others looked on.

Of course, the ultimate objective for the stunt was to drive traffic to Fuzz, and to do so, the wax-strips were designed to be the incentive: acting as removable discount coupons for participants to use for their next wax at Fuzz – and also as a hairy reminder of the weekend festivities. The wax-strips themselves served as another messaging touch-point for the stunt – they were each inscribed with funny phrases, like “We’ll take the monkey off your back” and “You’ll walk a little differently, along with the tagline “So good, it hurts”.

“We knew we needed something revolutionary to get our name out beyond our already loyal customers, and our partners at Lowe Roche certainly helped us deliver that,” said Gaven.

Credits:
Project: Street Waxing
Client: Fuzz Wax Bar
Agency: Lowe Roche
Executive Creative Director: Sean Ohlenkamp
Copywriter: Jeremy Richard, Eli Joseph
Art director: Ryan Speziale, Kunaal Jagtianey
Producer: Shannon Farrell
Make-up: Alyssa McCarthy
Account Director: Frederic Morin
Director: Dean Vargas
Post Production: Motion Pantry

New spot by Toronto ad agency john st., entitled Breakfast Loves Nutella, and all of us at Great-Ads love you too Nutella.

Credits:
Client: Nutella
Spot Title: Breakfast Loves Nutella
Ad Agency: john st. Toronto
Creative Director(s): Stephen Jurisic & Angus Tucker
Copywriter: Dhaval Bhatt
Art Director: David Glen
Agency Producer: Dale Giffen
Director: Jorn Threlfall
Production Company: Circle Productions
Executive Producer: Karen Tameanko
Line Producer: Erica Parks
Director of Photography: Todd M. Duym
Editorial: Mark Morton, School Editing
Colour: Wade Odlum, Alter Ego
Online/Finishing: Paul Binney, Fort York
Music: RMW

For Immediate Release — Toronto, ON – April 30, 2013 – Dixie Outlet Mall, in Mississauga Ontario has released a new multi-media campaign encouraging women to let their shopper out.
“Dixie is a well-guarded secret for a lot of dedicated, extreme shoppers,” says Nicole Camara, Marketing Director for Dixie Outlet Mall, “We have over 100 brand name outlets that offer deeply discounted prices. So this campaign is about letting women know about who we are and what we offer. But we also want to let them know that when they come visit, they’re going to be going into battle with some pretty competitive shoppers.”
“Shopping is a sport as any woman will tell you,” says Stephen Jurisic, Executive Creative Director at john st., Dixie’s agency of record since October 2012, “and like any sport, it’s about technique, determination, and stamina. And sometimes, it’s also about a well-placed elbow.”
The Let Your Shopper Out campaign includes print featuring specially-modified accessories for the intense deal hunter, radio with not-so sincere apologies from shoppers who might have gone a little overboard shopping at Dixie, and online videos demonstrating unique shopping techniques used by women who will do anything for a deal.
The videos will be promoted through social media channels and shared over the next month on the Dixie Facebook page.
“Dixie is a little under the radar for a lot of women and we hope that this campaign will make them way more top of mind for shoppers,“ said Stephen Jurisic, Executive Creative Director at john st.
Let your shopper out: Change Room Let your shopper out: Line Up

Credits:
Creative Ad Agency: john st., Toronto
Co-Executive Creative Director: Stephen Jurisic, Angus Tucker
Art Director: Denver Eastman
Copywriter: Jacob Greer
Account Team: Amelia MacGregor
Producer: Carrie Weston
Production Partners: Soft Citizen, Graydon Sheppard.
Editing Partner: Bijou Editorial, Melanie Hider
Sound Company: Pirate Toronto
Song by Ariel and the Undertow

World Creativity & Innovation Week is a celebration of the creativity in all of us. We wanted people to get more creative, so we encouraged them to let their mind wander. Zulu Alpha Kilo introduced Toronto to a 'wandering mind', in the form of a custom built brain RC car.

Credits:
Creative Agency: Zulu Alpha Kilo
CD: Zak Mroueh
Client: World Creativity and Innovation Week
Art Director: Jenny Luong
Designer: Mooren Bofill
Writer: Nick Asik
Agency Producer: Kari Macknight Dearborn
Agency Producer: Kate Spencer, David Isaac
Videographer: Josh Ingleby
Editor: Steve Puhach
Post Prod: Panic and Bob Edit
Photographer: Jamie Morren

Spring is coming to the Toronto Maple Leafs for the first time since 2004.

Nazem Kadri: Become Legendary

James Reimer FIRSTAR

Greatest Maple Leaf Moment

Leafs TV

Where Amazing Happens

...Sacred Noise

Molson Canadian "The Code" Toronto Maple Leafs radio version

Finally, a fan made video created by BigBadBoss in honour of his beloved Maple Leafs

Director Charles Wahl creates a truly authentic spot for Toronto's HoopDome. The film entitled "Bring Your Game" was shot in the west end of downtown Toronto, North York and the HoopDome multi-court basketball facility itself.
Charles explains his inspiration behind the spot, "I used to play for the founder of HoopDome and he gave me the opportunity to create a spot that represents the escape from everyday life that Basketball and a place like HoopDome can be to a player. Shooting this really allowed me to express how the basketball court has been a refuge for me my entire life, and to highlight the gritty beauty of the city." See more of Wahl's work here.

Credits:
HoopDome “Bring Your Game”
Director/Producer: Charles Wahl @ The Corner Store
Director Of Photography: Rion Gonzales
Post Production: Relish
Editor: Chris Murphy
Transfer: Alter Ego
Colorist: Wade Odlum
Audio Post Production: SNDWRX
Producer: Didier Tovel
Online & VFX: 567 VFX

Don't let Uncle Bob ruin that passionate kiss with you're cousin, either hide the picture before bringing home that guy or lady you just met on QuestChat or at the very least ask a few more questions. That message is expressed brilliantly in the ad entitled "Uncle Bob" created by Blammo, Toronto.

Oh dating. It can be awesome and it can be awkward.
The latter is brought to life in this steamy yet comically cringeworthy spot for QuestChat, North America's busiest chatline. Yes, it's best to chat first.

Credits:
Title: "Uncle Bob"
Client: QuestChat
Agency: Blammo Worldwide, Toronto
ECD: Andrew Simon
Writer: Vinay Parmar
Art Director: Grant Cleland
Broadcast Producer: Gord Cathmoir
Production Company: Untitled Films
Director: Curtis Wehrfritz
Executive Producer: James Davis / Lexy Kavluk
Line Producer: Amanda Campbell
DP: James Gardner
Post Production: Rooster Post Production
Editor: Chris Parkins
Assistant: Nick Martin
Transfer: Alter Ego
Colourist: Wade Odlum
Online: Track & Field
Artist: Andrew Rolfe
Audio Production: Pirate
Producer: Taissa Callaghan
Audio Director/Music: Chris Tait
Engineer: Jarred Kaemper
Casting: Jigsaw Casting
via: Glossy

Credits:
Advertised brand: Mountain Dew
Advert title: "Dew Drop"
Advertising Agency: BBDO, Toronto, Canada
Agency website: http://www.bddo.ca
Creative Director: Jaimes Zentil
Art Director: Craig Brandon
Copywriter: Johnny Pavacic
Director: The Cronenweths
Production Company: Code Film
Executive Producer: Thomas Rickert
Producer: Chris Boddy

Air Hogs is taking its remote controlled planes and helicopters to new digital heights with Google Street View in a campaign by Proximity and Spin Master. Aviation enthusiasts have the opportunity to fly a virtual plane in Google Street View — above their home, school, or any other location they choose. When they have completed training, they can stunt around the Globe and earn their virtual pilot's license. “As the leading brand in RC, Air Hogs has always been an early adopter of technology, both in our products and our marketing. We’re excited about our latest digital marketing initiative which will allow people to fly the Sky Stunt RC plane virtually anywhere in the world –in front of a world famous landmark or in their own neighbourhood,” said the Director of Marketing, Shawn Chance. The campaign is also supported with online media and ambient posters that drive to the website experience.
Air Hog enthusiasts can check out the Sky Stunt at: http://www.airhogs.com/

Credits:
Title: Stunt Around the Globe
Client: Air Hogs
Agency: Proximity Canada
Creative Directors: Josh Stein, Rene Rouleau, Scott Pinkney
Director Creative Technology: Jeff Vermeersch
Senior Flash Developer: William Lee
Senior Art Director: Graham Ameron
Art Director: Bryan Howarth
Writer: Shiran Teitelbaum
Group Account Director: Priyanka Goswami
Account Director: Mark Christie
Account Supervisor: Brian McLachlan
Account Executive: Mike Spilchuk
Producer: Gillian Largey
Sound Design: Resolve Audio
3D: Symbolic Pictures

Credits:
Agency/School: Mohawk College, Hamilton, Canada
Copywriter: Kurtis Martin
Art Director: Stephen Sandian
Photography: Kurtis Martin and Stephen Sandian

“This year’s campaign takes a tongue-in-cheek approach to communicate that Jewish people have a long-standing reputation for making great films in Hollywood and beyond,” says Helen Zukerman, executive director, TJFF. “TJFF is an authentic cultural experience that celebrates Jewish culture by screening outstanding films, documentaries and shorts from around the world, and showcases quality films that aren’t shown anywhere else.”

“TJFF is largely perceived to be a religious festival – featuring movies heavy on Jewish content and light on action, drama, suspense and laughs,” says David Ross, creative director, DDB Canada. “To expand our reach to include a younger Jewish and non-Jewish demographic, we set out to demonstrate that people are already fans of movies that feature Jewish contribution, they just might not be aware of it.”

Cue the new online tool "J-Dar" and now we can have some fun testing just how Jewish some of favorite films are. Test you're J-DAR HERE and for more about the 21st Toronto Jewish Film Festival HERE.

Credits:
Brief: The Toronto Jewish Film Festival needed to broaden its reach and increase ticket sales. Our challenge was that TJFF was largely perceived to be a religious film festival, featuring movies heavy on Jewish content and light on action, drama, suspense and laughs — a belief that couldn't be further from the truth. We set out to correct this perception by proving to people that while they may not know it, they’re already fans of Jewish movies.

Description: We created a fun online tool called J-DAR. It calculates how Jewish your favourite Hollywood movies are. All J-DAR results are accompanied by contextualized TJFF film recommendations and a link to purchase festival tickets.

Creative Ad Agency: DDB Canada/Tribal, Toronto
Executive Creative Director: Denise Rossetto, Todd Mackie
Creative Director: David Ross, David Horovitch, Paul Wallace
Writer: David Ross, David Horovitch
Art Director: Jake Bundock, Paul Wallace
Designers: Jake Bundock, Devon Williamson
Developers: Gar Liu, Brendyn Zachary
Director of Technology: Joe Dee
Information Architects: Dale McRae, Daniel Wiseman
Digital Production Managers: Chris Webden, Cathy Kim
Account Team (names & titles): Melanie Johnston (SVP, Managing Director), Leigh Farlow (Sr. Account Executive)
Strategy: Parker Mason, Sandra Moretti
Online Analyst: Kevin McHugh
Audio House: Keen Music

CBCNews has confirmed that the HERO Certified Burgers was awarded the primo City Hall location and Toronto Mayor Rob Ford savours the burger chain win.

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford was claiming victory on Wednesday night after an emotional, at times angry debate at City Hall.

Despite a packed meeting agenda, city councillors spent nearly three hours arguing over whether to allow a Hero Burger to open outside city hall.

"Are we really spending hours talking about burgers in the square?," Ward 15 Coun. Josh Colle tweeted.

The motion eventually passed after councillors voted 22-16 in favour of the move.

“It will be good,” the mayor said.

The restaurant had a previous bid thrown out by city council, who then wanted a restaurant offering a more diverse menu.

It all makes perfect sense now doesn't it Toronto? Let's just hope our Mayor decides to go for a few Hero Thin Burgers instead of his norm.