2017 Brands of the Year

2017 Brands of the Year: A robo-advisor’s human touch
Canadian startup Wealthsimple has grown globally by putting humanity at the core of its brand.

2017 Brands of the Year: A&W stays rooted in real
The QSR is growing among millennials thanks to a commitment to more real ingredients and less packaging waste.

2017 Brands of the Year: Nissan doesn’t play it safe
How a commitment to building drivers’ confidence has made the auto brand stand out in the highly competitive SUV and crossover market.

2017 Brands of the Year: Rethink rejigs the non-profit model
Up next: continental expansion and tween outreach.

2017 Brands of the Year: Cheers to SAQ’s CRM success
Quebec’s liquor retailer makes it very personal.

2017 Brands to Watch: Matt & Nat’s vegan venture
Ethical fashion goes big.

2017 Brands to Watch: Collective Arts’ chameleon can
The Hamilton brewer designs its brand purpose into its labels.

2017 Brands to Watch: How Saje struck oil
The natural skincare company is sprouting up everywhere.
Tribute

CIBC, then and now
150 years of tinkering with strategy and brand identity have helped the bank with first-mover ambitions fit into consumers’ lives.
Editorial

OK brands, are you ready to find your voice?
Managing editor Jennifer Horn on how to avoid creating content that gets lost in the voice ether.
Upfront

Knixwear strikes a balance
The “period underwear” brand’s CEO on the tricky task of going after teens.

The gin is in
Craft distilling is catching on, and brewers are getting in on the mix.

If brands were people…
We surveyed consumers about which brands are the best companions for certain social activities.
Creative
![Final Bob[1][1]](https://cdn.strategyonline.ca/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/final-bob11-300x172.jpg?fcf423)
The market for pet parents
Millennials take pet ownership seriously, creating all kinds of opportunities for brands that know how to reach them.
Forum

Your audience is smarter than a goldfish: column
Juniper Park\TBWA’s Mark Tomblin takes on false claims about shrinking attention spans and the impact on creative.
Back Page

Back page: A demographic breakdown
Here is an unorthodox method of segmentation, courtesy of OneMethod.
Features

Media roundtable: Facing the pace of change
Media agency leads and brand execs gathered to discuss change and competition in the industry.

Preparing for brands that talk
With voice assistants, brands are figuring out how to insert themselves into a new kind of conversation and the high-stakes method of search.
PROMO! Awards

Here are the 2017 Promo! winners
The awards recognizing the best brand activation programs were handed out in Toronto on Tuesday.
Publisher's Note

What makes a Brand of the Year
Publisher Mary Maddever on how this year’s top brands found a gap, picked a lane and stuck to it.
Media Agency Leader of the Year

Alain Desormiers’ really big startup
Touché’s founder still runs his agency like it’s just starting out. That approach fuelled a year of big wins, including strategy’s Media Agency Leader of the Year title.