This year’s shortlisted, top 5 teams represent Canada’s talent across Marketers, Media, PR, Design, Print, Film and Digital categories
TORONTO—April 10, 2026 – The Globe and Mail, the Official Festival Representative in Canada for the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, is pleased to announce the shortlisted, top 5 teams for the 2026 Canadian Young Lions Competition.
This year saw a record-breaking 796 individuals compete across seven categories: Marketers, Media, PR, Design, Print, Film and Digital, with a shortlist that features participants spanning from Vancouver, British Columbia, to St. John’s, Newfoundland. Edelman Canada has returned as sponsor of the PR category, also supporting the competition through amplification and visibility, and Snap Inc. has also returned as sponsor of the Media category. Motion Entertainment Canada, a WPP Media Company, has joined as sponsor for both the Digital and Film categories, and LG2 has returned to support with competition design and creative assets.
Modelled after the global Cannes Lions Young Lions Competition, entrants receive a brief and have to complete the challenge for their respective category within a 24-hour or 48-hour period. Each year, the competition jury chairs select a non-profit organization as the subject of the competition briefs. This year, the chosen charity was the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada (JGIC). Across the categories, competitors were challenged to build awareness of JGIC and its mission to turn hope into action for animals, people, and the environment. In select categories, teams were also asked to support the launch of the Jane Goodall Hike for Hope, a new national fundraising initiative designed to inspire participation and meaningful support.
Jane Goodall Institute of Canada Background
The Jane Goodall Institute of Canada (JGIC) amplifies and scales community-led actions to create a world where animals, people, and the environment thrive together. The Institute bridges science with traditional wisdom, supports community initiatives, and empowers young environmental leaders across Canada and chimpanzee ranges of Africa. Rooted in Dr. Jane Goodall’s message of hope through action, JGIC works to grow community-led conservation, empower youth environmental leadership, and advance Jane’s legacy through authentic storytelling and multimedia campaigns.
Top 5 semi-finalist teams in Marketers, Media, PR, Digital and Design advance to live judging
The top five teams in Marketers, Media, PR, Digital and Design categories will now move on to a second round of judging, where, during the week of April 13, 2026, they will present their ideas live to juries of Canadian marketing and creative leaders at The Globe and Mail Centre in Toronto.
Marketers Category
Competitors in the Marketers category were given 24 hours to develop a big idea – whether a product, service, campaign, or promotion – on behalf of the brand they currently work for. Their solution had to support both their own brand objectives and the strategic objectives of the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada, specifically by raising awareness of the new Jane Goodall Hike for Hope, encouraging audiences to sign up for the hike, and inspiring meaningful support. Entries in the Marketers category were reviewed by a distinguished jury of industry leaders, chaired by Susan Irving, Chief Marketing Officer at Kruger Products Inc. and Eva Salem, SVP, Marketing and Brand, Canadian Tire Corporation.
In no particular order, the shortlisted, top 5 teams in the Marketers category are:
- The Growing Hope Happy Meal
- Shaelyn Talusan, Marketing Specialist, McDonald’s Canada, ON
- Sarah Wade, Marketing Specialist, McDonald’s Canada, ON
- Google Maps: Earth Mode
- Lydia Yoon, Product Marketing Manager, Google, ON
- Joanne Chen, Product Marketing Manager, Google, ON
- Hershey’s Do S’more
- Ashley Phan, Gatorade Assistant Marketing Manager, PepsiCo, ON
- Emily Liu, Assistant Marketing Manager, Hershey Canada, ON
- Kraft Bear Tracks for Hope
- Navjit Dhillon, Brand Manager – Brand & Creativity (Kraft Peanut Butter & Philadelphia), The Kraft Heinz Company, ON
- Kaitlin Kocsis, Brand Manager – Brand & Creativity, The Kraft Heinz Company, ON
- CLIF x JGIC – Energy for Good. Energy for ALL.
- Qail Keshavjee, Associate Brand Manager, RITZ Crackers, Mondelēz International, ON
- Kenneth Ng, Associate Brand Manager, Mondelēz International, ON
Media Category
Competitors in the Media category were given 24 hours to create a media strategy that builds national awareness of the Jane Goodall Hike for Hope, drives sign-ups and participation among younger audiences, and turns hope and environmental concern into measurable action. Entries in the Media category were evaluated by a distinguished jury of media experts, co-chaired by Brooke Leland, President at Mekanism Media, and Shannon Lewis, President of the Canadian Media Directors’ Council. The Media category is sponsored by Snap Inc.
In no particular order, the shortlisted, top 5 teams in the Media category are:
- 10 Seconds of Hope
- Mia Zhu, Specialist, Integrated Planning, Epitaph Group, ON
- Myah Jackson, Senior Specialist, Integrated Planning, Epitaph Group, Ontario
- THE FINAL 1%
- Charlotte Lemay, Media Planning Coordinator, Cossette Media, Quebec
- Alexanne Péloquin, Media Planner, Cossette Media, Quebec
- The Chimp Pant Hoot
- Manjari Singh, Senior Media Planner, Cairns Oneil, ON
- Yash Panchal, Assistant Media Planner, Starcom, Publicis Groupe, ON
- The Path
- Gabrielle Lapointe, Media Planner, Omnicom Media (Touché!), QC
Louis Chevallier, Senior Media Planner, Omnicom Media (Touché!), QC
- Gabrielle Lapointe, Media Planner, Omnicom Media (Touché!), QC
- Hope in Motion
- Alana Langlois, Associate Director, Technology and Consulting, WPP Media, ON
- Mahnoor Bilgrami, Associate Director, Media Planning, WPP Media, ON
PR Category
Competitors in the PR category were given 24 hours to create a compelling campaign that raises awareness of the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada as a catalyst for hope in action, empowering young people to create positive change for animals, people, and the environment. The campaign had to align with the organization’s mission and inspire participation. Entries in the PR category were judged by a jury of industry leaders, co-chaired by Anthony Chelvanathan, Global Creative Partner and Chief Creative Officer, Edelman Canada, and Krista Webster, CEO, Veritas Communications; Meat & Produce; Stagwell Canada. The PR category is sponsored by Edelman Canada.
In no particular order, the shortlisted, top 5 teams in the PR category are:
- Escape Doom, Inspire Hope
- Agnes McGinnis, Consultant, Veritas Communications, ON
- Margaret Garrison, Account Coordinator, 1Milk2Sugars, ON
- Pharma Seeds
- George Hobby, Copywriter, Citizen Relations, ON
- Grace Zhou, Art Director, Citizen Relations, ON
- Jane’s Journey
- Emily Galluzzo, Account Executive, Citizen Relations, ON
- Amelia Owens, Account Manager, Citizen Relations, ON
- ROAM WILD
- Sara Zivkovic, PR Specialist, Rethink PR, ON
- Patricia Gonzalez, PR Manager, Rethink PR, ON
- Field Notes
- Reagan Sullivan, Senior Communications Manager, No Fixed Address, ON
- Cara von Ende, Account Director, Anolomy, ON
Digital Category
Competitors in the Digital category were given 24 hours to create a digital campaign that builds awareness of the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada’s role as an inspirational champion of grassroots change and galvanizes Gen Z to channel their environmental concern into action. Entries in the Digital category were judged by a jury of creative leaders, co-chaired by Karen Howe, Founder, The Township Group, and Sabaa Quao, President, PlusCo Venture Studio. The Digital category is sponsored by Motion Entertainment Canada, a WPP Media Company.
In no particular order, the shortlisted, top 5 teams in the Digital category are:
- The Green Resolution
- Camille Boucher, Copywriter, LG2, QC
- Megan Plamondon, Art Director, LG2, QC
- Unanonymous Animals
- Posie Small, Art Director, Rethink, ON
- Sadiya Bano, Copywriter, Rethink, ON
- Jane and Finch
- Sarah Stone, Web Developer, Target Marketing and Communications, NL
- Tim Carew, Creative Technologist, Target Marketing and Communications, NL
- The Prompt Recycler
- Shelby Harper, Copywriter, Leo Toronto, ON
- Zacharie Cloutier, Jr. Art Director, Leo Toronto, ON
- Spawn Hope
- Sandeep Kogilwaimath, Senior Copywriter, Zeno Group, ON
- Agathe Maillard, Senior Account Director, Zeno Group, ON
Design Category
Competitors in the Design category were given 24 hours to create a brand identity that motivates corporate teams across Canada to participate in the Jane Goodall Hike for Hope. The goal was to help transform Hike for Hope into a must-join corporate movement that raises funds and awareness for the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada, while giving teams tools to build momentum, promote participation, and celebrate collective impact. Entries in the Design category were judged by a jury of creative leaders, co-chaired by Mooren (Mo) Bofill, Partner, CCO, One Twenty Three West (123w), and Dave Watson, Head of Design, Broken Heart Love Affair.
In no particular order, the shortlisted, top 5 teams in the Design category are:
- Walk with us in Jane’s footsteps
- Anh Dien, Freelance Graphic Designer, Blue Door Agency, ON
- Anh Chau, Graphic Designer, Hollywood Suite Inc, BC
- Be The Path For Hope
- Olga Netaeva, Associate Creative Director, Angry Butterfly, ON
- Myah Wills, Designer, Publicis Toronto, ON
- Common Thread
- Brandon Methner, Senior Designer, Rethink, BC
- Matt Funk, Junior Art Director, Rethink, BC
- Walk As One
- Sam Perrin, Motion Designer, Cossette, ON
- Léo Maubert, Graphic Designer, Wedge, QC
- Join the living trail
- Marianne St-Pierre, Graphic Designer, LG2, QC
- Samuel Thibodeau, Motion Designer, LG2, QC
Top 5 finalist teams announced in Print & Film
The top five teams in the Print and Film categories have been named as this year’s shortlist. These two categories do not move on to a live judging round, and winners will be announced on April 24 at The Globe and Mail Centre.The Print and Film categories were judged by industry leaders spanning various backgrounds within the advertising and creative sectors, and co-chaired by Luc Du Sault, Partner and CCO, LG2 Quebec City, and Mary Maddever, Senior EVP, Realscreen & Strategy; Chief Content Officer, Brunico Communications.
Print Category
Competitors in the Print category were given 24 hours to create a print ad that builds awareness of the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada’s role as a champion of grassroots change, and inspires people to channel their environmental concern into action.
In no particular order, the shortlisted, top 5 teams in the Print category are:
- Shot on a Phone.
- Lili Maheux, Art Director, Rethink, QC
- Brigitte Pinsonneault, Copywriter, Rethink, QC
- In Our Hands
- Rachel Taylor, Copywriter, Rethink, ON
- Chloe Shapiro, Art Director, Rethink, ON
- Complete Our Work.
- Laurent Tremblay, Writer, Rethink, QC
- Victor Pierre, Art Director, Rethink, QC
- Look out for them
- Chloée Desjardins, Copywriter, Taxi, QC
- Émile Parenteau, Copywriter, VML Montreal, QC
- Missing Chimpanzees
- Ebenezer Somado, Art Director, Cossette, QC
- Safia Lukawecki, Copywriter, Cossette, QC
Film Category
Competitors in the Film category were given 48 hours to create a 60-second film that builds awareness of the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada’s role as a champion of grassroots change, and inspires people to channel their environmental concern into action. The Film category is sponsored by Motion Entertainment Canada, a WPP Media Company.
In no particular order, the shortlisted, top 5 teams in the Film category are:
- Halfway
- Christian Byrne, Director & Editor, Lifelong Crush, ON
- Andee Kintanar, Art Director, Lifelong Crush, ON
- PROTECT OUR NOSTALGIA
- Sahil Kumar, Content Creator, Cossette, ON
- Aidan Gugula, Assistant Editor, Magic Circle Workshop, ON
- Lives Over Likes
- Hardik Kothari, Copywriter, Rethink, ON
- Aashish Kumar, Art Director, Rethink, ON
- THE MOST UNINSPIRING FILM ON EARTH
- Cédric Genest, Copywriter, LG2, QC
- Laurence Tremblay, Director, OKOK, QC
- From Conversation to Conservation
- Matthew Custode, Copywriter, Lifelong Crush, ON
- Meagan Enriquez, Art Director, Critical Mass, ON
Winners for all categories will be revealed live on Friday, April 24 at the Canadian Young Lions Winner Announcement Event at The Globe and Mail Centre in Toronto.
In addition to being crowned as Canada’s best, gold-winning teams also win a trip to Cannes, France, where they will represent Canada in the Global Young Lions Competition, taking place during the festival week from June 22 to 26, 2026, and attend the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, the largest gathering in the creative marketing community.
As the Official Canadian Representative for Cannes Lions and the Young Lions Competition Sponsor, The Globe and Mail awards a prize per gold-winning team, which includes registration fees for the Global Young Lions Competition, delegate passes to the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, flights and accommodation.
About the Young Lions Competition
The Globe and Mail has been the official Canadian representative of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity since 2005, and has hosted the Canadian Young Lions competitions since 2007.
Strategy, Association of Canadian Advertisers (ACA), and the Canadian Media Directors’ Council (CMDC), support the competition as Canadian Cannes Lions Program Partners. The Canadian Marketing Association (CMA) supports the competition as a Young Lions Competition Partner. Snap Inc. is a sponsor of the 2026 Media category. Edelman Canada is a sponsor of the 2026 PR category. Motion Entertainment, a WPP Media Company is a sponsor of the 2026 Digital category and 2026 Film category.
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For more information about this year’s Young Lions Competition, visit globeandmailyounglions.ca. To learn more about The Cannes Lions Program in Canada, visit globemediagroup.ca/cannes-lions/.
About The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity
Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, also known as Cannes Lions, is the world’s leading celebration of creativity in communications and encompasses Lions Health, Lions Innovation and Lions Entertainment. Founded in 1954, the Festival takes place every June in Cannes, France. As the most prestigious international annual advertising and communications awards, entries from all over the world are showcased and judged at the Festival.
About The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail is Canada’s foremost news media company, leading the national discussion and causing policy change through brave and independent journalism since 1844. With our award-winning coverage of business, politics and national affairs, The Globe and Mail newspaper reaches 6.1 million readers every week in our print or digital formats, and Report on Business magazine reaches 2.8 million readers in print and digital every issue. Our investment in innovative data science means that as the world continues to change, so does The Globe. The Globe and Mail is owned by Woodbridge, the investment arm of the Thomson family.
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