Editorial
Insights and influencers
Growth and client wins are great, but in this industry, it’s about the output, says strategy editor Emily Wexler.
Upfront
Outward Bound’s journey to mass advertising
The wilderness education co goes for realism in its first TV spot by Grip.
HBC gets adventurous
The retailer’s History Foundation is bringing stories from the past into the future with its first-ever TV campaign.
Kijiji puts the pedal to the floor
The website enlists some Canadian rappers for a new campaign, as it pushes its auto selection.
Scotiabank’s factory focus
The bank launches a Toronto tech hub to stay on the cutting edge in an increasingly digital category.
Hot and cold trends of 2015
From branded texting to gluten, we asked industry insiders to weigh in on where some trends are headed.
Forum
The future of advertising is non-linear
Publicis’ Max Valiquette and Jon Crowley on the trends shaping how we connect with brands.
Back Page
Back page: Agency of the Year emojis
Thought the recent middle finger addition was exciting? Check out our AOY-specific selection.
Features
Rejuvenating Reitmans
How the mid-priced retailer is staying in the game by asking a new generation to reconsider the brand.
Female empowerment (finally) comes of age
Brands move from tear-jerker creative to sassier ads that celebrate ditching insecurities.
Campbell takes soup into the new age
In its 85th year, the CPG co is rolling out new products and targeting a younger crowd, but will millennials warm to it?
Dominic Mercuri’s new direction
As he prepares for retirement, we ask the TD CMO to reflect on the changing banking landscape.
Agencies of the Year
MAOY Bronze: Jungle Media’s nimble advantage
The scrappy young agency’s flexible approach helps it land a Bronze this year.
MAOY Silver: Starcom’s silver lining
With a new president at the top, the agency picked up a handful of new clients and continues to focus on content and data.
MAOY Gold: Touché!’s walk-on win
The agency had a banner year, increasing revenue, bringing on new clients and now winning Gold.
DAOY Bronze: Rethink’s crafty ideas
How the agency is helping clients future-proof their marketing in an increasingly digital era.
DAOY Silver: Grip redefines branded content
The agency has a knack for creating new products for brands, and using digital to talk about it.
DAOY Gold: DDB/Tribal Worldwide takes Gold for the team
The agency’s collaborative approach has helped it nab the digital Gold this year.
PR AOY Bronze: Media Profile’s winning partnership strategy
The Toronto-based agency is all about cultivating relationships, as it also beefs up its media buying and planning expertise.
PR AOY Silver: Citizen Relations’ adaptation
The agency dives deeper into data, and changes with the times as the definition of PR evolves.
PR AOY Gold: MSLGroup gains influence
The agency leverages its relationships with its Publicis sister agencies, and rallies influencers to create a recipe for success.
AOY Bronze: Taxi bounces back
Losing a big account didn’t stop this agency, as it continued to bring on new clients and produce stand-out work.
AOY Silver: J. Walter Thompson perfects the art of collaboration
The agency’s evolution in the last few years has led to its first-ever AOY trophy.
Campaign of the Year: SickKids’ Better Tomorrows
J. Walter Thompson’s work that showed a day in the lives of hospital patients was the top-scored campaign by the AOY judges.
AOY Gold: Leo Burnett’s winning vision
After a huge year on the awards circuit (including an Emmy), the agency wins its second consecutive Agency of the Year Gold.
Media Director of the Year: Vision7′s Joseph Leon
The self-proclaimed “data nerd” was chosen by the MAOY judges for the honour this year.
AOY jury
Check out the marketers and agency execs who made up this year’s judging panel.
DAOY jury
Check out this year’s Digital judging panel.
MAOY jury
Here are the media industry experts and marketers who judged this year’s competition.
PR AOY jury
Check out this year’s PR judging panel.
AOY: Process & Shortlists
Check out the shortlists for Digital, Media, PR and Agency of the Year, and how the winners were determined.
Agency of the Year 2015
Read all the stories about this year’s creative, digital, PR and media winners, as well as Campaign and Media Director of the Year.
Publisher's Note
Cheers to not succumbing
Publisher Mary Maddever on the importance of building cultures that frown on mediocrity.
