Akash Sablok from Andnowyouknow.net talks back-to-school with Riaz Meghji, co-host of Breakfast Television in Vancouver.

Commission seeks public input on legal aid

Cranbrook one of 11 communities to host hearings this fall - by Barry Coulter

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Bradley Shende from media2o.com discusses the latest gear from Future Shop with Steve Darling, host of Global BC Morning News.  

Representing the Public Commission on Legal Aid, Stephen McPhee is interviewed by Stephen Quinn, host of On the Coast on CBC Radio.

CBC On The Coast radio clip

BC coalition launches legal aid commission on CBC.ca

 

Future Shop breaks down 30 years of technology with hottest products retro list

- Back to school’s hottest products over three decades -

(Burnaby, BC) August 3, 2010 - Imagine losing your Smartphone or laptop - now think back to 30 years ago and imagine life without them altogether. It’s hard to believe these items didn’t exist then. In fact, 30 years ago, Canadians had never seen a flat screen television, digital camera, mP3 player, and the list goes on. When you look back at the technology of years past, it’s a wonder how Canadians stayed connected, current and efficient. So, with back to school approaching, Future Shop, Canada’s largest retailer and e-tailer of consumer electronics, is taking Canadians on an exciting rollercoaster ride into the past, present and future of technology to remind them just how integrated electronics are in our daily activities.

“Over the years we have seen technology grow to play a primary role with Canadian students,” said Todd Empey, VP of Operations, Future Shop. “Technology has given today’s student the opportunity to find more information, do more, share ideas and be more creative than ever before - ultimately leading to their academic success.”

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MEDIA ADVISORY

2010 Aluminum Chef final to be judged by Voya Restaurant executive chef at Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival
Student chefs from top Vancouver culinary schools compete for prize and title

Vancouver, B.C.  – 15 June 2010

On Sunday, 20 June 2010, Rio Tinto Alcan invites media to come and enjoy the final culinary showdown of this year’s Aluminum Chef Competition at the 2010 Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival. Headlining this year’s panel of judges is Marc André Choquette, executive chef of the Voya Restaurant at the Loden Hotel. Previously the executive chef of Lumiere, Chef Choquette brings to this year’s competition his classical training and years of creating exquisite food for Vancouver’s most discerning palates.

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PUBLIC COMMISSION ON LEGAL AID ESTABLISHED IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

Public Commission will engage British Columbians on legal aid; encourage stakeholders
and citizens to make submissions, inform progressive solutions

VANCOUVER, B.C. June 23, 2010-The establishment of a Public Commission on Legal Aid (Public Commission) is announced today in British Columbia. The Public Commission is a joint project of the Canadian Bar Association - British Columbia Branch, the Law Society of British Columbia, the Law Foundation of British Columbia, the British Columbia Crown Counsel Association, the Vancouver Bar Association and the Victoria Bar Association.

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• To capitalize on international media visiting Vancouver during the 2010 Winter Games, Tourism Vancouver Island sought a public relations partner to execute a media event on February 13^th, 2010 - the eve before the Opening Ceremonies

• Optimum’s objective for the event was to attract targeted media and ultimately provide them with the information and stimulus they would need to promote Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast regions as destinations to vacation, live and invest

Solution

• The event ‘A Taste of Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast’ was conceptualized as an interactive sensory experience, with guests invited to see, hear, taste, smell and touch throughout the event
• Together with event management division Fusion, celebrity chef Bob Blumer (of the Food Network Canada’s The Surreal Gourmet and Glutton for Punishment) was secured as the emcee, whilst three local chefs completed cooking demonstrations using locally grown and produced ingredients. Following each demo, guests were invited to try the culinary creations
• Media were welcomed with traditional song and dance of the First Nations by the Le-La-La Dancers; through their vibrant regalia, cedar masks, and heartbeat drum rhythms, media were able to gain insight into the First Nations rich history and culture
• Media were also encouraged to explore the multimedia showcase where beautiful imagery and video from Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast was displayed
• Carey Newman, a Coast Salish/Kwagiulth artist, spent time working on unfinished pieces offering yet another glimpse into the rich, diverse offering of these two regions
• Servers passed hors d’oeuvres made from local ingredients including BC shellfish, as well as local beer, wine, and cider.
• Upon departure, media were provided with a specially prepared gift bag with products and services from the Vancouver Island and Sunshine Coast regions. A USB was also distributed, containing further detail about the event as well as tourism information about Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast

Results

• 150+ guests attended the event 
• Tourism Vancouver Island’s goal for the event was to host a networking reception that allowed them to meet with targeted journalists who may be interested in future familiarization trips to the region. The event was successful in attracting over 70 local and international media representing China, the USA, Denmark, and Canada. Camera crews from associated press, CTV and SVT Sweden were in attendance.
• The event also attracted some of the regions top Food and Wine bloggers and generated coverage on a wide range of social media sites including youcook.ca, petitechef.com and vancouverfoodies.com

Celebrity Chef Bob Blumer (right) poses with a local chef.

The Le-La-La Dancers welcome event attendees with a traditional dance and heart beat drum rhythms.

Coverage samples:

• In the summer of 2009, the David Suzuki Foundation (DSF) circulated a competitive Request for Proposal, seeking a strategic, full-service, communications partner. The Foundation needed to partner with a firm which could provide support across a wide range of platforms, effectively marketing and promoting a key DSF fund-raising event.

Challenge

• Optimum (and our Cossette partners) was selected by DSF, out of a field of almost 20 competitors vying for the project. In the span of three short months, Optimum PR and DSF worked together to create an event brand; develop and launch a social media strategy; make decisions on event ticket pricing; engage in targeted media relations; create key collateral materials; liaise with suppliers - and undertake each of these tasks with the input and positive consensus of several key Foundation partners.
• Maintaining strong partnerships was critical, since the event would be filmed live, and form an integral part of a movie being produced on the life of Canada’s most trusted citizen: Dr. David Suzuki
• The overarching goal for the convergent communications team was to raise sufficient awareness of the event - once branded - to sell all 1,000+ seats at the Chan Centre, in mid-December, just as the market approached the messaging clutter of a holiday season, and upcoming 2010 Winter Games

Solution

• Led by Optimum Public Relations, the PR team worked with Identica (Branding + Design) and Fjord (Digital Marketing) to address the client’s needs
• Identica developed the visual language for the event, focused on the use of strong photography with bold graphic and typographic statements. The main image, which was featured on all communications, was given a granular treatment to convey that the content of the lecture would not be ‘feel-good green-washing’, but much more serious and immediate - indeed an honest and gritty look at the plight of our environment. The colour palette and north-south type orientation (used for the title) was a nod to David Suzuki’s ancestral Japanese background. The end product was both thoughtful and reflective, an image befitting an elder statesman, about to deliver his seminal piece of work.
• Optimum engaged Fjord to create a number of digital executions, including online artwork for the DSF, Chan Centre and Ticketmaster websites (for both ticket sales and listings), in paid Facebook and targeted social ad placements, and on partner webpages. All applications clicked through to the DSF website or directly to the Chan Centre online ticket office
• Optimum was responsible for overall strategy development, media relations, and collateral assembly and production, as well as providing ongoing strategic counsel to DSF senior executives

Results

• David Suzuki: The Legacy Lecture was a hugely successful project, exceeding all its stated goals around audience engagement, supporter development and revenue generation
• The main event - the Legacy Lecture - sold out more than a week in advance of its December 10th date and 400 additional tickets - specifically for University and high school students - were sold to the Lecture’s matinee dress rehearsal
• The two events, plus a gala fundraiser after the evening performance, generated gross revenues of $150,000 for the David Suzuki Foundation
• Marketing collateral developed for the event continues to be used by DSF for awareness and fundraising projects
• The Foundation says it benefitted from the halo effect of The Legacy Lecture in other ways: DSF exceeded its holiday season revenue goals and sold out of all of the products in its online store. In fact, donations in December of 2009 were the highest of any previous December in the Foundation’s history.
• The project also generated interest from individuals who may not have been previously engaged with DSF’s work. DSF’s community grew significantly during the lead up to the Lecture: in the period from Sept. 1 to Dec. 30, the Foundation’s supporter base grew by 60% and its online community (Facebook fans and Twitter followers) increased by 20% and 31% respectively.