The Israel Government Tourist Office in Toronto has put its agency search on hold until the new year.
A budget figure has not been released.
Agencies on the short-list are Weis and Associates, Saffer Advertising, Ranscombe & Co. and Robins Sharpe Associates.
è Taxi of Montreal has opened a new division called Taxi Design to handle graphic, package and corporate design for clients in Montreal and Toronto.
The new unit is headed by Creative Director Jane Hope, formerly of Cossette Communication-Marketing.
Five-month-old Taxi recently picked up new business in the form of the Quebec Pork Producers Federation.
è Promanad Communications of Mississauga, Ont. has moved into the Ontario Lottery Corporation agency pool position resigned last month by Vickers & Benson of Toronto.
Other agencies in the pool are Ian Roberts Advertising and Padulo Advertising of Toronto and Brooks Advertising of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
Jim Cronin, manager of public affars for olc, says the pool will stay at four agencies and a replacement for the fifth shop, Anderson Advertising of Toronto, will be not named when its purchase by DDB Needham Worldwide is final.
Anderson will no longer be Canadian-owned, a prerequisite for agencies handling government business.
The olc annual marketing budget is $23 million.
è The best of Manitoba’s advertising industry will be honored at the fifth annual Signature Awards, on Feb. 27 at the Winnipeg Convention Centre.
Entry deadline is Dec. 21.
For more information, call Karen Ilchena at (204) 787-2022.
è Strategic Objectives of Toronto is handling public and media relations for the launch of Hyundai Auto Canada’s new customer service program.
The company’s comprehensive 24-hour roadside assistance program, offered through the Canadian Automobile Association affiliate, Club Auto, is standard with all of its 1993 vehicles.
Hyundai Canada is a subsidiary of Korean-based Hyundai Motor Company.
The pr effort supports an advertising campaign created by Hyundai agency Backer Spielvogel Bates of Toronto.
è Mertens Gibson Advertising of Toronto has officially changed its name to MGA Advertising to reflect the buyout of the agency two years ago by President Ron Gibson.
è Ellie Rubin, former director of business development at Communique in Toronto, has started a new company called Verve Solutions.
Verve specializes in the execution of internal communication audits and business development plans for clients such as the Second Cup chain of 180 franchised coffee outlets and mid-sized advertising agencies.
Verve Solutions, is located at 120 Front St. East, Suite 203, Toronto, Ont., M5A 4L9. The phone number is (416) 594-9207 and fax, (416) 594-9577.
è The Housesitters of Toronto has recently launched two joint promotions that run to the end of the year.
Both efforts are targetted to those taking winter vacations.
American Express has teamed up with The Housesitters to promote use of its Platinum Card.
Cardholders charging any of The Housesitters’ services will be welcomed home from their trip with a floral bouquet, mugs and coffee.
In partnership with Toronto-based Uniglobe Travel, The Housesitters offers a $10-off coupon to travellers booking through one of Uniglobe’s 81 offices in eastern Canada.
è Atkins & Ellis Corporate and Marketing Communications recently opened its doors in Markham, Ont. to offer services to the natural resources and techology industries.
The company is located at 10 Commerce Valley Dr. E., Suite 401, Thornhill, Ont., L3T 7N7. Telephone (416) 731-2611, and fax (416) 882-9229.
