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Cannes Lions Canadian Awarding Jury 2025: Seven Canadian industry leaders named to prestigious Cannes juries

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The Globe and Mail, Canada’s official representative for the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, is pleased to share the Canadian Cannes Lions Awarding Jurors for 2025. These selected jurors are industry leaders who will be reviewing and awarding the winning work during the 2025 festival taking place June 16-20 in Cannes, France. The shortlist jurors will be announced shortly.  

Canada’s 2025 Awarding Jurors are: 

Outdoor Lions:  Graham Lang | Chief Creative Officer, VML, Canada 

Film Craft Lions: Yael Staav | Director, Furlined / Merchant, Canada 

Creative Data Lions: Samantha Kelley | CEO, Touché!, Canada 

Entertainment Lions for Music:  Taj Critchlow | Founder and Executive Producer, Fela, Canada 

Entertainment Lions for Sport: Xavier Blais | Partner, Executive Creative Director, Rethink, Canada 

PR Lions:  Krista Webster | CEO, Veritas Communications; Meat & Produce, Canada 

Dan Wieden Titanium Lions:  Judy John, Jury President | Global Chief Creative Officer, Edelman, Canada 

0 Awarding

2025 Canadian Awarding Jury

0 Awarding
1 Graham Lang
2 Film Craft Lions, Yael Staav
3 Samantha Kelley2
4 TajHeadshot_25
5 Xavier Blais headshot
6 Krista Webster Headshot [NEW]
7 Dan Wieden Titanium Jury President, Judy John

“We are incredibly proud to have such a diverse and accomplished group of Canadian industry leaders representing Canada in the Cannes Lions jury room,” says Andrew Saunders, President and CEO at The Globe and Mail and Chair of the Canadian Cannes Lions Advisory Board. “Their voices help shape the future of creativity on a global scale, bringing Canadian insights, bold thinking, and perspective to the work that sets the benchmark for our industry. “ 

Each year, in consultation with the Canadian Cannes Lions Advisory Board, The Globe and Mail submits a juror nomination list made up of Canada’s top industry leaders, with Cannes Lions making the final selections.  Juries are curated to ensure balanced global representation with a balance of agency, network, holding company, independents, gender and diversity.  

As the official Canadian representative of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, The Globe and Mail has proudly championed Canadian creativity on the world stage for 20 years. Strategy Magazine, Association of Canadian Advertisers (ACA), and the Canadian Media Directors’ Council (CMDC) support as partners of the Canadian Cannes Lions Program.

Strategy Magazine, Association of Canadian Advertisers (ACA), and the Canadian Media Directors’ Council (CMDC) support as partners of the Canadian Cannes Lions Program.   

IG: @GlobeMediaGroup 
X: @CannesLionsCAN
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/globemediagroup  
Official Canadian Cannes Lions Program Page: https://globemediagroup.ca/cannes-lions/  

About LIONS  

As The Home of Creativity, LIONS powers the marketing segment of Ascential and is a destination for those in the business of creativity. As the definitive benchmark of creative excellence and with unparalleled access to insight on how it works, LIONS provides those on the journey to creative excellence all they need, at whatever stage they are at and wherever they are. Their annual five-day Festival, Cannes Lions, is the meeting place for the global creative marketing community and a celebration of the world’s most excellent and effective work. 
 
www.lionscreativity.com

 

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.  

www.theglobeandmail.com

 

About Globe Media Group 

Globe Media Group is a media and marketing company that empowers advertisers with solutions and content to influence ambitious Canadians. As the advertising arm of The Globe and Mail, Globe Media Group’s offerings are end-to-end across multiple platforms, including digital, video, podcasts, app, newspaper and magazines, as well as custom content and special events. Globe Media Group provides unparalleled access to influential audiences within trusted, premium environments, reaching 20 million monthly unique visitors through Globe Alliance—a premium digital network of the world’s best news, business and lifestyle sites. Globe Media Group also connects advertisers to 6.1 million weekly readers of The Globe and Mail, Canada’s most trusted news source. Each day, The Globe engages Canadians with award-winning coverage and analysis of news, politics, business and lifestyle topics.   

globemediagroup.ca

For more information, please contact:  

Marcin Zerek 
Head of Trade Marketing 
The Globe and Mail 
mzerek@globeandmail.com  

TopTeams_2025_1800

The 2025 Young Lions Canadian Competition Shortlists

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This year’s shortlisted teams represent Canada’s talent across Marketers, Media, PR, Design, Print, Film and Digital categories 

 

TORONTO—April 16, 2025 – The Globe and Mail, the Official Festival Representative in Canada for the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, is pleased to announce the shortlisted teams for the 2025 Canadian Young Lions Competition.  

This year saw a record-breaking 816 individuals register to compete – an increase of nearly 10% from last year – across seven categories: Marketers, Media, PR, Design, Print, Film and Digital. Notably, this year’s shortlist features participants from coast to coast, marking one of the most regionally diverse cohorts the competition has seen to date. Both the Design and PR categories are new to Canada this year, with PR proudly sponsored by Edelman. 

Modelled after the Cannes Global Young Lions Competition, entrants received a brief and had 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 Baycrest Foundation, and the objective across all categories was to raise awareness and support for Baycrest’s groundbreaking work in aging and brain health, with a focus on encouraging key lifestyle changes that can help prevent cognitive decline. 

Baycrest Background 

Baycrest is a globally recognized leader in aging and brain health innovation with a mission to advance aging-related cognitive, emotional, and physical wellbeing for older persons. Baycrest is also home to an extensive network of research and innovation partners and the headquarters of Canada’s largest dementia research program.  

With a commitment to research, innovate and education, their domestic and international clinical training programs are helping to shape the future of aging and brain health. 

 

Top 5 semi-finalist teams in Marketers, Media, PR & Design advance to live judging 

The top five teams in Marketers, Media, PR and Design categories will now move on to a second round of judging, where they will present their ideas live to juries of Canadian marketing and creative leaders at The Globe and Mail Centre in Toronto.  

TopTeams_2025_1200 x 627_Marketers
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 align with Baycrest’s mission and spotlight the organization’s leadership in aging and brain health. 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. The Marketers category is sponsored by Interac.  

 In no particular order, the semi-finalists in the Marketers category are:

Coors Light – Chill Puzzles

  • Carlie Lorentz, Molson Coors Beverage Company, British Columbia 
  • Lauren Pereira, Molson Coors Beverage Company, Ontario

Bring Back the Stars

  • Arielle Uwonkunda, Molson Coors Beverage Company, Ontario
  • Suzanne Liu, Uber, Ontario

bubly sparkling minds

  • Ivy Yu, PepsiCo, Ontario
  • Vippy Chau, PepsiCo, Ontario

LiveYoung: one sip, one step at a time

  • Caroline Pellegrini, Danone Canada,Ontario
  • Katherine Ball, Danone Canada, Ontario

BRAIN CHANGER: PUT YOUR BRAIN IN THE GAME

  • Mateo Molinaro, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE), Ontario
  • Tristan Ruffo St-Amour, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE), Ontario
TopTeams_2025_1200 x 627_Media
Media Category 

Competitors in the Media category were given 24 hours to create a media strategy that raises awareness and support for Baycrest’s groundbreaking work in aging and brain health. The challenge called on teams to show that Canadians have agency over their cognitive health and to encourage key lifestyle changes that may help prevent cognitive decline. Entries in the Media category were evaluated by a distinguished jury of media experts, co-chaired by Brooke Leland, Managing Partner at Jungle Media, and Shannon Lewis, President of the Canadian Media Directors’ Council. The Media category is sponsored by Snap Inc.  

In no particular order, the semi-finalists in the Media category are: 

Anosognosia

  • Teryn Clapp, Epitaph Group Inc, Ontario
  • Anthony Da Rocha, Epitaph Group Inc, Ontario

Disrupt the Cycle

  • Béa Beaini, Wavemaker, Quebec
  • Maïlly Filin-Ficadière, Wavemaker, Quebec

Forgot Your Password?

  • Rafaela Steiner, UM Canada, Ontario
  • Riley Wolfe, UM Canada, Ontario

WAITVESTING

  • Alphée Lamothe, Cossette Media, Quebec
  • Gabriel Lafond, Cossette Media, Quebec

By your side

  • Samuel David-Durocher, Cossette Media, Quebec
  • Tristan Bonnot-Parent, Cossette Media, Quebec
TopTeams_2025_1200 x 627_PR
PR Category 

Competitors in the PR category were given 24 hours to create a compelling campaign that raises awareness and support for Baycrest’s groundbreaking work in aging and brain health . The brief challenged teams to convey that Canadians can have agency over healthy aging by encouraging the adoption of key lifestyle changes shown to help prevent cognitive decline. Entries in the PR category were judged by a jury of industry leaders, co-chaired by Eva Salem, Senior Vice-President, Marketing and Brand at Canadian Tire Corporation, and Shauna Roe, Vice President, Creative Director, Canada at Edelman Canada. New for this year, the PR category is sponsored by Edelman Canada.   

In no particular order, the semi-finalists in the PR category are: 

Brain Barrier

  • Patricia Vuckovic, Rethink PR, Ontario
  • Sara Zivkovic, Rethink PR, Ontario

Memory Blocks

  • Grace Lancefield, Narrative XPR, Ontario
  • Maria Naqvi, Narrative XPR, Ontario

Wait…Didn’t I JUST see this?

  • Jessica Anderson, Craft Public Relations, Ontario
  • Madeline Reston, APEX PR, Ontario

The #FADINGCITY

  • Cara von Ende, No Fixed Address Inc., Ontario
  • Reagan Sullivan, No Fixed Address, Ontario

Train Your Brain

  • Eno Antai, Proof Strategies Inc, Ontario
  • Laiba Fatima, Proof Strategies Inc, Ontario
TopTeams_2025_1200 x 627_Design
Design Category 

Competitors in the Design category were given 24 hours to create a brand identity for Baycrest’s annual Bike for Brain Health fundraising event. The challenge asked teams to carve out a distinctive visual identity that stands out in a crowded charitable landscape, while connecting the event to Baycrest’s mission to advance healthy aging. Entries in the Design category were judged by a jury of creative leaders, co-chaired by Laura Stein, Partner, Chief Creative Officer, and Stephanie Yung, Chief Design Officer at Zulu Alpha Kilo.  

In no particular order, the semi-finalists in the Design category are: 

Let’s get in formation for brain health

  • Geneviève Jetté, LG2, Quebec
  • Marianne St-Pierre, LG2, Quebec

Bike Path

  • Jesse Shaw, Rethink, British Columbia
  • Zoë Boudreau, Rethink, British Columbia

Protect Your Brain

  • Angel Chun, Cossette, Ontario
  • Sam Perrin, Cossette, Ontario

All you need is a bike

  • Audrey Demers, maubau, Quebec
  • Valérie Desjardins, maubau, Quebec

Outthink. Outlast.

  • Chen Shang, Media. Monks, Ontario
  • Iris Ti, Monks, Ontario
 
 
Top 3 finalist teams announced in Print, Film & Digital 

The top three teams in each of the Print, Film and Digital categories have been named as this year’s finalists. 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, and Mary Maddever, EVP, Realscreen & Strategy; Editorial Director, Brunico Communications. 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. 

TopTeams_2025_1200 x 627_Print
Print Category 

Competitors in the Print category were given 24 hours to create a print ad that raises awareness and support for Baycrest’s groundbreaking work in aging and brain health. 

In no particular order, the finalists in the Print category are: 

The Mindless Brain Exercise

  • Laurent Tremblay, Rethink, Quebec
  • Victor Pierre, Rethink, Quebec

Talk to Anyone

  • An Trinh, FCB, Ontario
  • Cristina Palmer Lemus, FCB, Ontario

Stretch Your Mind

  • Naqsh Sagar, Wunder, Nova Scotia
  • Rebecca Benjamin, Ray, Newfoundland and Labrador
TopTeams_2025_1200 x 627_Film
Film Category  

Competitors in the Digital category were given 24 hours to create a digital campaign that raises awareness and support for Baycrest’s work in aging and brain health.   

In no particular order, the finalists in the Film category are: 

Cognition Over Coolness

  • Cameron Marshall, Publicis, Ontario
  • Quinlan Bruce, Leo Burnett Toronto, Ontario

Take care of yourself

  • Alexandre Pépin, LG2, Quebec
  • Nicolas Robert, Carton Rouge, Quebec

The Trailer

  • Roxanne Pelletier, LG2, Quebec
  • Thomas Soto, Les Enfants, Quebec
TopTeams_2025_1200 x 627_Digital
Digital Category  

Competitors in the Digital category were given 24 hours to create a digital campaign that raises awareness and support for Baycrest’s brain health work.  

In no particular order, the finalists in the Digital category are: 

NeuroLingo

  • Anna Ira, Tadiem, Ontario
  • Elyssa Biringer, Super Proper, Ontario

Restore Your Memories

  • Mriga Suchdeva, The Garden, Ontario
  • Nuala Murray, The Garden, Ontario

The Fourth Ring

  • Nicole Vasarevic, Cossette, Ontario
  • Santana Symeonides, Cossette, Ontario

 

Winners for all categories will be revealed live on April 30, at the CMDC Media Summit at the Toronto Design Exchange.  

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 16 to 20, 2025, 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 Magazine, Association of Canadian Advertisers (ACA) and The Canadian Media Directors’ Council (CMDC), support the competition as Canadian program partners. Snap Inc. is a sponsor of the 2025 Media category. Edelman Canada is a sponsor of the 2025 PR category. Interac is a sponsor of the 2025 Marketers category.   

IG: @GlobeMediaGroup 
X: @CannesLionsCAN
Hashtag: #YoungLions2025 
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/globemediagroup  

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.  

 

For media inquiries, please contact:  
Alanna di Tomasso, Manager, Brand & New Business, Edelman Canada 
Alanna.ditomasso@edelman.com 

Cannes Lions Awards

What you need to know to win at Cannes Lions

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The competition for advertising’s most creative and prestigious honour is on as the 2025 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity opens its doors to submissions. Last year was a record-breaking year that saw Canadians take home 57 Lions plus 9 co-wins, bringing Canada’s rank to 4th globally – our best performance ever. We can’t wait to see what Canadian creativity will bring to the competition this year as we build on this incredible momentum.

With the best creative minds across the world preparing their submissions before the April 10th deadline, we’ve brought together years of jury and winning campaign insights into the top three essential strategies and tips that will take your entry from contender to champion.

  1. Choose the right category

An often-overlooked aspect of a winning submission is choosing the right category. With over 600 categories across 30 Lions, this isn’t as simple as it might seem.

Competitors should look beyond the category title to the descriptions when determining the right category for their submission. The judges will be using criteria specific to the entry category in making their determination. That means that even if the submitted work is incredible, if it doesn’t fit the category, it won’t be awarded.

Many assume that entering more categories leads to better results, but strategic focus can be far more powerful. Broken Heart Love Affair proved this with their award-winning Love is Messy campaign for Kruger. Instead of submitting across multiple categories within Film Craft, they entered just one – Editing, which was a perfect fit, and won a Silver Lion.

When deciding on what category to enter, ask yourself the following question to help narrow your focus:

  • How would you describe your work? What are the key elements?
  • What is the objective of your work? What was it trying to achieve?

  2. Craft a strong written submission

In crafting your written submission, ensure you speak to the category criteria. Tailor to your specific category and tell a clear and impactful story. Ensure you share your written submission with an outside person who can be objective.

These are some of the essential elements of an impactfully written submission that you should make sure you’ve answered:

  • How is your submission relevant to your category?
  • How is your submission meeting your stated campaign objectives?
  • What is the cultural context necessary to understand the impact of your work?
  • Are your results and impact consistent with your stated objective?

  3. Use the case film to tell a story

The case film is among the most important parts of the submission. Keep it concise – 1 minute and 30 seconds is ideal, and anything over two minutes risks losing the jury’s attention.

With hundreds of videos to review, the jury won’t remember them all, so ensure you have a powerful hook. Make it clear, compelling, and impossible to forget. As you craft your story, consider how to best connect with your audience and how you can customize your case film, especially if you’re entering it into multiple categories.

Ready to submit your campaign to Cannes Lions? Check out these resources for more inspiration and guidance:

As the official Canadian representative of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, The Globe and Mail has proudly championed Canadian creativity on the world stage for 20 years.

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Young Lions Winners Spotlight with Emma Lorenzi and Sammy Lo

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Competing in the Young Lions Competitions is a dream for every up-and-coming creative. For Sammy Lo and Emma Lorenzi, that dream became a reality when they won Gold in the Digital category at the 2024 competition. Their victory earned them an all-expenses-paid trip to Cannes to compete on the global stage. Hear them break down the key moments of the competitions and what it was like to compete on the world stage.

Give us a quick intro – who you are, where you work, and what you do.

BOTH: We’re Sammy and Emma, and we’re a creative team from Courage Inc. We partner day to day as an art director (Sammy) and copywriter (Emma) duo, so teaming up for the competition was an easy call. Some people around the office have started calling us The Emmy’s, which always makes us laugh, but we’re secretly hoping it sticks.

What would you say to someone who was on the fence about competing in Young Lions 2024?

SL: I’d say you really have nothing to lose here except maybe a couple hours of sleep. Prior to this year’s win, I was lucky enough to win Silver twice and each time I’ve experienced an immediate boost in both career opportunities and creative confidence. Even if you don’t place, it’s just a fun way to make some friends and stretch your creative muscles. 

EL: I would say just go for it! It’s always nice to stretch your brain and flex your creative muscles on something that’s different from what you work on in your day-to-day. Plus, because of the time crunch, the competition is a really unique scenario and pushes you to think in a different way. It’s also an excuse to order in an exorbitant amount of takeout, and who isn’t down for that?

Tell us about the global competitions, how did the experience compare to the Canadian qualifiers?

SL: I’d say it was similar structurally but the challenge was harder. In the global competition, you’re being judged by a live jury from around the world so while you brainstorm you have to think about insights that someone from across the world would understand. They also make all the competitors work out of the same room. You’re in a workspace with 100 other incredible creatives and that can feel a little intimidating.

EL: I echo what Sammy said. Both competitions are 24 hours and have you coming up with a digital idea, articulated with a case board. But in France, you’re up against some wildly talented people from across the world. Plus, your work is going to be judged by an international jury that may not get Canadian, or even North American nuances, insights or behaviors. It forces you to put a different lens on your thinking.

What was your most rewarding moment when competing globally?

SL: One of the most rewarding moments for me was actually just before the competition! One of the other Young Lion competitors organized a little candy exchange and about 15-20 countries participated! We were all just sitting in the sun quickly trading sweets before all the chocolates melted. I walked away with a bunch of new snacks I’d never tried before and it was a really cute way to meet some of the other competitors.

EL: For me, I really enjoyed the time right before we presented our idea. Obviously, we were a little nervous waiting outside the room, but that was when we were able to meet and chat with a lot of the other teams who were competing. It was really cool to hear about everyone’s ideas, and how we all approached the same brief from totally different angles.

Other than the competitions, break down some of your most exciting experiences at the festival.

SL: The whole week was one long, incredible whirlwind for us. We got to take a boat to La Guérite with the crew from Courage, and I got absolutely drenched in seawater on the way there. We couldn’t get into any of the concerts but I got to listen to the Chainsmokers performance from a balcony above the Gutter Bar (Shoutout to Circonflex). And of course, we got to take a photo on the infamous Cannes red carpet. 

EL: Again, I’m going to be echoing Sammy here. It was really amazing to be there with both the other Young Lions and our coworkers. But on top of what she mentioned, I loved walking through the Palais to look at the work. I even got to see a project I worked on displayed with the other winning pieces, which was definitely a cool moment.

How has your experience at Cannes Lions influenced your approach to work back in Canada?

SL: I think coming out of this experience I learned a lot about how global audiences judge work. The ideas that rise to the top are always painfully simple with universal insights. I’m going to try to apply that to my work in Canada as much as I can.

EL: I totally agree — all of the winning work was grounded in relatable, human truths. That’s something I strived to have in my work before, but now feel a new, even greater appreciation for.

Also, I think the event as a whole was like a massive shot of inspiration. Seeing all the winning pieces and being around so many talented creatives gave me a new drive to continue to hone my craft and make great work. And hopefully, return to Cannes someday.

The Globe and Mail’s 2024 Cannes Young Lions Qualifying Competitions comprised of 736 registrants, competing for their chance to participate at the Global Young Lions Competitions at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

Each year, the Competition jury chairs select a non-profit charity as the subject of the competition briefs. This year, Second Harvest was selected.

Second Harvest’s vision is simple: No Waste. No Hunger. As such, the teams were challenged to create a big idea to keep food where it belongs: On plates and out of landfills.

Check out Sammy and Emma’s 2024 Gold winning work here. 

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Young Lions Winners Spotlight with Alphée Lamothe and Gabriel Lafond

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Alphée Lamothe and Gabriel Lafond won Gold in the Media category at the 2024 Canadian Young Lions Competitions and won an all-expenses-paid trip to France to compete globally at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity. From browsing the Cannes Lions case studies to flexing their creative muscles – they discuss the highlights of the 2024 festival and the challenges of creating work for an international audience. 


Give us a quick intro – who you are, where you work, and what you do.

AL: Hi, my name is Alphée Lamothe! I work at Cossette Media as a Media Supervisor.

GL: Hello! My name is Gabriel Lafond and I also work at Cossette Media as a Media Supervisor.

What would you say to someone who was on the fence about competing in the Young Lions Competitions?

AL: The Young Lions Competitions are a great environment and opportunity to think outside the box and play with your creativity outside of your day-to-day. It’s an opportunity to get inspired and build an entire strategy from top to bottom instead of focusing only on your expertise: trying new things, deep-diving into relevant subjects, incorporating innovation, etc. It is also a great bonding experience with your colleagues as you spend time together preparing for the competition in addition to a full 24 hours of collaborative work!

GL: The Young Lions Competitions are such a great way to have a “non-job related” experience with your coworkers. In the two years I participated, I had the chance to create deeper connections with colleagues that I can now call friends. It’s also a great way to test yourself on a brief that doesn’t have any repercussions in the end. You can let your minds go in every direction and enjoy the creative challenge of a 24-hour competition.

Tell us about the Global competitions, how did the experience compare to the Canadian qualifiers?

AL: The goals are the same and the process is relatively similar. However, the global competitions requires a slightly different strategy. You’re not focusing on specific media formats or platforms as much as trying to find one big, bold idea. The vision also had to stay global so we had to rethink our approach to solving the problem. 

GL: The process is really similar. You have 24 hours to answer the brief and the morning after your submission, you have a 5-minute pitch in front of a small jury formed by media specialists from all around the world. I would say there’s one big difference – you have to adapt to an international brief. You have to get rid of your Canadian media stereotypes and think internationally. You can’t rely on companies, partners or publishers that aren’t known worldwide and you can’t assume that everybody uses TikTok or Instagram. 

What was your most rewarding moment when competing globally?

AL: Honestly, we felt very blessed just to be there. Being in the middle of the action during one of the biggest Creativity Festivals in the world is unreal. To be able to see what the other teams came up with was pretty impressive too. 

GL: I couldn’t agree more with Alphée. Having the opportunity to represent Canada at an international event really made us proud. It’s clearly a once-in-a-lifetime experience that we had the chance to live back in Cannes, and we’re coming back full of ideas and ambitions to push our work further and maybe one day be nominated for a Cannes Lion.

Other than the competitions, break down some of your most exciting experiences at the festival.

AL: My number one experience would have to be walking through this year’s case submissions. They are all displayed in the conference center basement. The room has a museum feel with the infinite number of rows of cases displayed. They are identified by category and as the week goes by, they add mentions of the winning case directly on the boards. We walked through the rows multiple times during the week and in the end, spent a couple of hours looking at them. It is impressive to see the work being done across the globe – Definitely sparked ideas and conversations throughout the week!

GL: What I enjoyed the most besides the competition was connecting with people from all around the world and listening to the individual challenges in their part of the world. We had the chance to listen to a large number of panels in which CMOs from various industries discussed their story, their recent achievements but also their vision for the future of advertising. 

How has your experience at Cannes Lions influenced your approach to work back in Canada?

AL: My biggest takeaway from this experience is that you do not need a big budget to create incredible campaigns. A lot of the cases showcase amazing ideas done with little to no budget. You just need to go for it and try new bold things and the consumers often end up loving it! 

GL: The key takeaway for me is clearly the creative process behind every campaign. We’ve all been in situations where we feel we don’t have time to be creative and just remove the creative thinking process behind a plan. But looking at all the cases that were in Cannes, it clearly made me realize that no matter when the deadline is or how much time you have to work on your strategy, there’s always a little place for creativity and maybe that’s what will make your media campaign unforgettable.

The Globe and Mail’s 2024 Cannes Young Lions Qualifying Competitions comprised of 736 registrants, competing for their chance to participate at the Global Young Lions Competitions at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

Each year, the Competition jury chairs select a non-profit charity as the subject of the competition briefs. This year, Second Harvest was selected.

Second Harvest’s vision is simple: No Waste. No Hunger. As such, the teams were challenged to create a big idea to keep food where it belongs: On plates and out of landfills.

Check out Alphée and Gabriel’s 2024 Gold winning work here. 

SOCIAL_QandA_YL Marketers Team_1200x627

Young Lions Winners Spotlight with Jenn Bailey and Nick Carson

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Marketers Jenn Bailey and Nick Carson competed at the 2024 Young Lions Competitions – winning gold nationally and shortlisting globally. Listen in as they highlight their key takeaways from this year’s Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity.

Give us a quick intro – who you are, where you work, and what you do.

JB: I’m Jenn Bailey and I’m a National Marketing Supervisor at McDonald’s, where I work on our Digital Marketing team. My role involves strategy and execution on McDelivery and Contests (e.g. Monopoly). Outside of work, I love to travel, try new restaurants, and relax at the cottage with friends and family. 

NC: My name is Nick Carson, and I’m a Partnership Marketing Manager at Brizi Inc. We are a sports technology provider that works with global sports organizations, events, and brands. Providing fan engagement tools through an interactive platform that can be leveraged for crowd analytics and sponsorship asset analysis. Before joining Brizi I worked at PepsiCo Beverages Canada as the Assistant Marketing Manager for Gatorade Canada. Currently, with Brizi, I manage partners externally across the NBA, NHL, ATP, MLS, AFL, CFL, and more. 

What would you say to someone who was on the fence about competing in Young Lions 2024?

JB: I’d say go for it – you never know what it could lead to! Nick and I have both competed more than once. We’ve kept coming back because it’s a fun way to challenge yourself and showcase what you can do. It’s always tough to find the time, especially on a weekend, but it’s worth it for the opportunity to improve your marketing skills and have some fun along the way. Whether you win or not, the experience alone will be fulfilling and can open doors for your career. 

NC: I would encourage all young marketers to participate in the Young Lions Competitions. It allows you to flex your creativity and explore new marketing strategies outside of your day-to-day role. Young Lions is also one of the most inspiring competitions I’ve participated in. From start to finish you’re exposed to the best of the best from around the world. I can’t think of a better investment of time for someone’s career or their personal growth and development! 

Tell us about the global competitions, how did the experience compare to the Canadian qualifiers?

JB: The global competition was an incredible experience – just being there felt like we had already won. We had the chance to meet other competitors and judges from around the world and build great connections. The scale and intensity were on another level compared to the Canadian qualifiers. The pressure was higher, but so was the excitement and energy. It pushed us to overcome a new set of challenges from jetlag to language barriers and everything in between. Overall, it was an unforgettable experience that made us better marketers.

NC: The Canadian qualifying competition did a great job of preparing us for Cannes. The Global competition was a really exciting experience. You’re surrounded by the best marketing executives from around the world and they are excited to see and hear your ideas. The competition brought out a few late nights and challenged us to adapt to a global perspective for our case solution. We received some amazing coaching from our marketing mentors who did a great job in preparing us for the competition. This was apparent in the feedback that we received from the marketing judges. They were CMOs from global companies around the world and they applauded our work saying that we clearly had a grasp on what they were looking for. 

What was your most rewarding moment when competing globally?

JB: Competing alongside some of the best young marketers in the world was an honour. We also had the opportunity to receive feedback from the judges, and that was an invaluable experience to hear insights from a global perspective. One of the most rewarding moments was placing in the top 5 and seeing Canada come up on the screen as a shortlisted country. It was a great validation of all the hard work we put into the competition and a highlight of the entire journey.

NC: I think it was super rewarding to receive feedback and praise for the work that we submitted globally. It was validating to hear that the international judges felt that we truly understood the case requirements and objectives set by the World Bank. Having our work short-listed as a top 5 team was a great reminder that the work we are doing in Canada during our day-to-day jobs is already at a very high standard for marketing and advertising.

Other than the competitions, break down some of your most exciting experiences at the festival.

JB: The festival was full of exciting experiences and events. I got to see some amazing speakers from around the world and be inspired by their ideas and creativity. One of the highlights was the final awards show and the closing party – the energy at both those events was incredible and it was amazing to see so many Canadian teams bringing home awards.

NC: It was inspiring to see how brands were activating in Cannes and what strategies they leveraged to capture fellow marketer’s attention. I tried to attend as many events as possible because they were a great opportunity to network in a casual and inviting setting. It was cool to be able to chat with some of the industry thought leaders I follow online.

How has your experience at Cannes Lions influenced your approach to work back in Canada?

JB: I came back to work feeling refreshed, inspired, and eager to apply what I had learned throughout the festival. I also feel more confident because of my experience competing in Young Lions. It pushed me outside my comfort zone and challenged me in many ways, and that has made me a stronger marketer. 

NC: I think that my experience with Cannes Lions will influence my approach to work back in Canada by reminding me to take more risks. Approaching day-to-day standard practices with a new lens – asking questions like “How can this drive more impact?” It’s easy to get caught up in the daily routines within an organization, but Cannes Lions has refreshed my perspective on the need to execute with excellence and focus on learning, growing, and trying new strategies as a marketer.

The Globe and Mail’s 2024 Cannes Young Lions Qualifying Competitions comprised of 736 registrants, competing for their chance to participate at the Global Young Lions Competitions at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

Each year, the Competition jury chairs select a non-profit charity as the subject of the competition briefs. This year, Second Harvest was selected.

Second Harvest’s vision is simple: No Waste. No Hunger. As such, the teams were challenged to create a big idea to keep food where it belongs: On plates and out of landfills.

Check out Jenn and Nick’s 2024 Gold winning work here. 


Young Lions Winners Spotlight with Jordan and Ben

Young Lions Winners Spotlight with Jordan Bloom and Ben Nusca

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Art Directors Jordan Bloom and Ben Nusca won Gold in the Print Category in the 2024 Canadian Young Lions Competitions and competed globally in France. We asked them to break down their experience at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity.

Give us a quick intro – who you are, where you work, and what you do.

JB: My name is Jordan Bloom. I’m a Junior Art Director living in Toronto. I work at the creative agency, john st. on some incredible clients, including Home Hardware, Canada Post, the Canadian Stuttering Association (CSA) and Fit4Less. Most recently, I worked on the internationally recognized “stutter.ca” campaign for the CSA, which involved creating 410,000 versions of the CSA’s website URL, one for every Canadian who stutters.

BN: Hello hello, my name is Ben Nusca and I’m an Art Director. I worked at john st. during the competition dates but I’ve recently jumped over to Anomaly.

What would you say to someone who was on the fence about competing in Young Lions 2024?

JB: For creatives working in advertising especially, the Young Lions Competitions truly capture the best parts of our job and pack it into one fun (and maybe a little exhausting) day of work. Being given a single day to ideate and execute against a creative brief really encourages you to just go with ideas and explore them with as little judgment as possible. Entering the brief (and even after submitting), I had the attitude that it was just a fun day of exploring and creating.

To those who are on the fence, I would say it’s an incredible way to practice rapid-fire ideation and, for those who are starting out, to refine your critical thinking skills when it comes to approaching a brief. Above all else, I would say try it. You never know if an idea will stick unless you put it out there. And that idea may just land you with a trip to Cannes, France!

BN: I don’t see a reason not to compete in Young Lions – I know some people that simply didn’t want to give up a Saturday to “work”, but I’ve worked many Saturdays that didn’t result in an all-expenses-paid trip to France. The competition, like NAC (National Advertising Challenge), is a great way to hunker down and think of something outside the box. Not every brief gives you that freedom. It’s also a refreshing reminder of what it feels like to ideate and execute something without creative director opinions or interference (unless you’re one of those all-agency-on-deck competitors).

Tell us about the global competitions, how did the experience compare to the Canadian qualifiers?

JB: The global competition differed from the Canadian qualifiers in one measurable way: the energy! For the Canadian qualifying brief, Ben and I worked at each of our homes on a day-long Teams call. Other than my pet bird chirping away, it was the two of us, our laptops, and a lot of ideating. When you get to Cannes and start working away at a new brief alongside Young Lions from around the world, you instantly feel an exhilarating energy. The creativity, excitement, and passion in the Young Lions workspace was unparalleled.

BN: The Canadian competition was a fun exercise. You and your partner get to waffle around and think of a fun idea to put up against your industry friends – but the global competition is fierce. You’re up against some of the best young advertisers in the world and that became very apparent when the winners were displayed. I can only imagine what it must feel like to take home some gold in Cannes.

What was your most rewarding moment when competing globally?

JB: My most rewarding moment was being able to meet creatives from around the world. Specifically, I remember meeting two amazing young lions from Prague. Spending time with them over the week, looking at case boards, attending talks, and working through our briefs, reminded me that creativity truly knows no limits nor is it confined to any language or by any border. We all come from all over the world with one goal: to admire creativity and to take part in it!

BN: As cheesy as it sounds, the most rewarding part of the global competition is being there in the first place. We got to meet some amazingly talented people from around the world who are all there for the same reason.

Other than the competitions, break down some of your most exciting experiences at the festival.

JB: I mean, it’s the Cannes Lions — all of it was exciting! Just walking around the concourse and being around the best of the industry was really eye-opening. Running into industry legends that I follow on LinkedIn was a little surreal. And going to some incredible parties (including the very last party of the week) felt like a once-in-a-lifetime moment.

BN: Being sent to Cannes on someone else’s dime was exciting enough on its own, but the week was fantastic. We were surrounded by the most talented advertisers in the world (or their bosses) for 5 days. The work and craftsmanship were unmatched and peeking behind the curtain to hear their stories was a privilege. The parties and networking events were a highlight. I met some great friends and still see them often. We went on yachts, went out for boujee dinners, and saw more rosé than I needed to.

How has your experience at Cannes Lions influenced your approach to work back in Canada?

JB: It’s been about 6 months since my experience at Cannes, and I can say I definitely approach work with a more open mind. Seeing all of the award-winning advertising at Cannes showed me that a good idea can come from anywhere, so it’s important to trust your instinct and leave no stone unturned!

BN: Competing in the global competition and being surrounded by award-winning work gave me a new outlook on what advertising can look like. It opened the aperture and raised the bar. Ultimately, the trip made me want to get back there for real work produced through an agency and get my mitts on a Lion. I’m incredibly grateful to the Globe for sending us and being such amazing hosts leading up to and during the trip.

The Globe and Mail’s 2024 Cannes Young Lions Qualifying Competitions comprised of 736 registrants, competing for their chance to participate at the Global Young Lions Competitions at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

Each year, the Competition jury chairs select a non-profit charity as the subject of the competition briefs. This year, Second Harvest was selected.

Second Harvest’s vision is simple: No Waste. No Hunger. As such, the teams were challenged to create a big idea to keep food where it belongs: On plates and out of landfills.

Check out Jordan and Ben’s 2024 Gold winning work here. 

Charles-Antoine Thériault and Charles Côté, Gold winners in the Film Category in the 20024 Young Lions Competition

Young Lions Winners Spotlight with Charles-Antoine Thériault and Charles Côté

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Quebecois Creatives Break Down Their Young Lions 2024 Experience

Freelance film director Charles-Antoine Thériault and Rethink copywriter Charles Côté won Gold in the Film Category in the 2024 Canadian Young Lions Competition and their victory earned them a spot at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity in France.

They’re sharing their journey from winning at home to competing internationally in Cannes, France.

Give us a quick intro – who you are, where you work, and what you do.

CT: Hi, my name is Charles-Antoine Thériault. I’m a freelance director from Quebec. I mostly work in branded content, commercials, and documentaries, but I love exploring all types of productions. Whether it’s working with the camera, collaborating with actors, or crafting ideas, I’m always up for it. Building strong connections with the people I direct is super important to me, no matter the size of the production. And above all, I like to have fun while doing it!

CC: Hi! I’m Charles Côté, a copywriter at Rethink Montréal. 

What would you say to someone who was on the fence about competing in Young Lions 2024?

CT: Just go for it! Put 100% of yourself into the short time you have during the competition, and try to think outside the box. Rely on your skillset—don’t overcomplicate things—and focus on delivering your concept as clearly as possible. Make it relatable, and add your personal touch to the directing.

CC: It’s definitely worth the weekend push. Not only for the reward itself but also for the learning accelerator that this competition is. I also think it’s worth betting on yourself for a project like this because you might very well come up with a solid idea even if you’re not the type of creative who can improvise on the fly.

Tell us about the global competitions. How did the experience compare to the Canadian qualifiers?

CT: Honestly, I found the Canadian competition more enjoyable, mainly because of the client and the quality of the briefing. The whole experience with the Canadian setup felt super well-prepared and organized, maybe even more than the international competition. But, I mean, competing in the Cannes weather? That’s hard to beat! Haha! 

CC: Well, it’s two completely different things. In Canada you have the luxury of knowing people and locations, it’s easier to get answers to your questions, and you can sleep in your bed. You can come prepared and there are no distractions. In Cannes, all of the above disappears. You’re jet-lagged, overwhelmed by the scale of the event, in constant FOMO, can’t prepare too much, and the brief tends to be more confusing than what we see at local competitions.

What was your most rewarding moment when competing globally?

CT: My most rewarding moment was definitely the shortlist announcement, and winning in Canada. We had this feeling that if we made it to the shortlist, we’d have a solid chance of winning. Charles and I were all in on our concept during both competitions. Our mindset was: if it works, it wins; if it doesn’t, we won’t even shortlist. So when we heard our names, it was such an incredible moment.

CC: My favourite moment was probably the first day of the competition, talking to creative people from all over the world. In French, the best word to describe the energy would be “frénétique”.

Other than the competitions, break down some of your most exciting experiences at the festival.

CT: Video is tough because we spent most of the festival working or preparing, so I didn’t get to experience as much of it as I would’ve liked. But that’s the downside of the video competition. Still, meeting fellow Canadians at the Canadian Night was awesome. The different venues, the beach, the events—it all made for a really fun week.

CC: The Film Competition is its own beast because you have two full days to craft your project. This means you have less time to wander around the festival and attend conferences. That said, I still managed to go to some great talks, award ceremonies, shows, and dinners. Plus, the timing couldn’t have been better for being a Rethinker last year.

How has your experience at Cannes Lions influenced your approach to work back in Canada?

CT: It really opened my eyes to the world of advertising. As a young freelance director, it was my first big interaction with the ad industry and these types of competitions. I felt so humbled by the talent and creativity on display—it’s amazing how much inspiration flows in this line of work. It made me hungry to do more, learn more, and seize every opportunity to create impactful productions.

CC: The most valuable lesson I learned is how important it is to be locked in for time-sensitive briefs like the Young Lions. For me, fresh ideas often come either when I allow myself some time to be silly with the brief, and unfortunately, that’s not something you can count on in a competition like this. So yeah, you just have to be totally focused and hope that a word, a phrase, or a joke will spark something in your head.

The Globe and Mail’s 2024 Cannes Young Lions Qualifying Competitions comprised of 736 registrants, competing for their chance to participate at the Global Young Lions Competitions at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

Each year, the Competition jury chairs select a non-profit charity as the subject of the competition briefs. This year, Second Harvest was selected.

Second Harvest’s vision is simple: No Waste. No Hunger. As such, the teams were challenged to create a big idea to keep food where it belongs: On plates and out of landfills.

Check out Charles-Antoine and Charles’s 2024 Gold winning work here. 

2025 Young Lions Competition

Win a Stressful Trip to Cannes: Canadian Young Lions Competition Registration Now Open

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Registration to the 2025 Young Lions Competition is now open! Calling all advertising and marketing professionals aged 30 and younger. Sign up for the Canadian Young Lions Competition and show off your skills for a chance to compete in France.

You and your partner will have 24-to-48 hours over the weekend of March 1-3, 2025, to answer a brief for a non-profit organization, selected by The Globe and Mail. Choose from seven categories: Marketers, Film, Print, Digital, Media, and new for 2025, PR and Design.

The winning team will be crowned Canada’s best and will receive an all-paid trip to France to attend the five-day Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity and compete in the Global Young Lions Competition, taking place from June 16-20, 2025.

Winning on the world stage won’t be easy, but it will be worth it. Registration for the 2025 Young Lions Competition is now open until Sunday, February 9, 2025, at 11:59 pm EST.

For all competition details and to register, visit globeandmailyounglions.ca. Don’t miss your chance to shine on the global stage! Team up, register and show the world what you’re made of.

2025 Young Lions Competition

Announcing The 2025 Young Lions Jury and New Categories

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TORONTO — January 13, 2025 — Registration for The Globe and Mail’s 2025 Canadian Young Lions Competition is officially open. From now until February 9, 2025, Canada’s young creative minds can register to compete for the opportunity to represent the country on the world stage at the Global Young Lions Competition at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in Cannes, France.

The Canadian Young Lions Competition has long been a cornerstone of the creative industry, offering young professionals the chance to showcase their ingenuity in one of six competitive categories: Print, Film, Digital, Media, Marketers, and, new to Canada in 2025, PR and Design.

The 2025 competition introduces the new PR category, proudly sponsored by Edelman Canada. Edelman joins the lineup of sponsors, which also includes Interac as the sponsor of the Marketers category and Snap Inc., returning as the Media category sponsor. This year’s competition also benefits from the creative expertise of LG2, which has contributed to its design, and Edelman Canada, whose PR support has helped amplify its reach and visibility.

Over the weekend of March 1 to March 3, 2025, creativity, innovation, and grit will take center stage as teams of two participate in the competition. Teams will receive a creative brief and must complete the challenge for their respective category within 24 or 48 hours. Submissions are judged by a panel of industry leaders within each category, and Canadian Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners will be announced on April 30, 2025 at the CMDC Media Summit.

In addition to being crowned as Canada’s best, Gold-winning teams win a trip to Cannes, France, to compete against the best creative teams all over the world in the Global Young Lions Competition and attend the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity from June 16 to 20, 2025, the largest gathering in the creative marketing community.

As the Canadian Competition Representative, The Globe and Mail covers registration fees, delegate passes, flights, and accommodation for competitors traveling to Cannes, France.

The 2025 Canadian Young Lions competition is further supported by the addition of new advisory board members Bianca Freedman, CEO, Edelman Canada and Sabaa Quao, President, PlusCo Venture Studio. Their insights and guidance will help shape the future of the program. For the full list of advisory board members, visit our updated board page: https://globemediagroup.ca/cannes-lions/canadian-cannes-advisory-board/.

Marcin Zerek, Head of Trade Marketing, The Globe and Mail, says “We’re thrilled to kick off another exciting year of the Young Lions Competition. With the introduction of the new PR and Design categories, this year promises to highlight even more of the creativity, energy, and determination that make Canada’s young talent stand out on the global stage.”

“At Edelman, we’re passionate about creativity that drives impact. The Canadian Young Lions Competition showcases the future of our industry, and we are thrilled to support emerging talent and see their ingenuity unfold at Cannes,” Bianca Freedman, CEO, Edelman Canada.

“We couldn’t be more excited for Interac to join the Young Lions Competition as sponsor of the Marketing category. We believe in the power of creative marketing and the impact it can have on brands and businesses, and it’s an honour to be supporting and recognizing the next generation of marketing talent in Canada,” said Matt Houghton, Digital and Integrated Marketing Lead, Interac.

“For the second consecutive year we are proud to partner with the Canadian Young Lions Competition to champion the thriving, creative talent ecosystem in Canada. Uplifting and celebrating the future of Canada’s media industry both here and on the ground in Cannes is an exceptionally important opportunity, and we are excited to see the groundbreaking work Canadians bring to the world stage again this year,” said Matt McGowan, General Manager, Canada, Snap Inc.

For full competition guidelines and to register, visit https://globeandmailyounglions.ca.

Competition entries for the 2025 Canadian Young Cannes Lions Competition are judged by an esteemed panel of industry leaders, bringing their expertise and dedication to recognizing the country’s brightest creative talents. For more details on the jury, please visit: https://globeandmailyounglions.ca/jury/

Young Lions Design Co-Chairs

  • Laura Stein, Partner, Chief Creative Officer
  • Stephanie Yung, Chief Design Officer, Zulu Alpha Kilo

Young Lions Design Jury

  • Brian Banton, Co-founder and Creative Director, Plan of Record
  • Bryan-K. Lamonde, Co-Founder and Creative Director, Principal
  • Claire Dawson, Co-Founder and Creative Director, Underline Studio
  • Hans Thiessen, Partner & ECD of Design, Rethink
  • Jacqueline Lane, Executive Creative Director, Whitman Emerson
  • Jennifer Taback, Co-CEO, Design de Plume
  • Kyosuke Nishida, Design Director, Public Address
  • Man Wai Wong, VP, Group Creative Director, Design, Leo Burnett Design
  • Marie-Elaine Benoit, Executive Design Director, Sid Lee
  • Maude, Lescarbeau, Founder and Head of Design, maubau
  • Mooren (Mo) Bofill, Partner, CCO   One Twenty Three West (123w)
  • Ronald Tau, Founder and Creative Director, Meat Studio
  • Ryan Crouchman, Partner, VP, ECD Design, LG2

Young Lions PR Co-Chairs

  • Eva Salem, Senior Vice-President, Marketing and Brand, Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited
  • Shauna Roe, Vice President, Creative Director, Canada, Edelman Canada

Young Lions PR Jury

  • Amber Ciolfe, Director, Citizen Relations
  • Brendan Watson, Creative Director, Weber Shandwick
  • Halla Rafati, Founder & President, Halo & Co.
  • Jenn Harper, Founder & CEO, Cheekbone Beauty Cosmetics
  • Jessica Savage, CEO (MSL/North), Publicis Groupe
  • Krista Webster, President & CEO, Veritas Communications and Meat and Produce, Vice Chair at Stagwell Global (DPN)
  • Lisa Pasquin, President & Founder, Craft Public Relations
  • Lynne Piette, Director, Marketing / Directrice du marketing, Volkswagen Canada
  • Maja Neable, Canadian Chief Marketing Officer, TD
  • Melanie Johnston, Chief Marketing Officer, The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation 
  • Sandra Sanderson, Chief Marketing Officer, Empire Company Limited and Sobeys Inc
  • Vanessa Eaton, President, Proof Strategies

Young Lions Digital Co-Chairs

  • Karen Howe, Founder, The Township Group
  • Sabaa Quao, Chief Creative and Innovation Officer, Cossette

Young Lions Digital Jury

  • Alexis Bronstorph, Chief Creative Officer, No Fixed Address
  • Carlos Garavito, Founder, Executive Creative Director, CommandAlpha_
  • Chris Barrett, Creative Director, Razorfish
  • Christina Yu, Partner and Chief Creative Officer, Lifelong Crush
  • Gail Pak, Executive Creative Director and Art Director
  • Garett Tonge, Executive Creative Director, We Are Social
  • Ian Mackenzie, Chief Creative Officer
  • Jenny Glover, Chief Creative Officer, Zulu Alpha Kilo
  • Marta Hooper, Group Creative Director, AntiSocial Solutions
  • Sanya Grujicic, Executive Creative Director, Experience Monks
  • Wain Choi, Owner and Chief Creative Officer, BLKW Inc.

Young Lions Media Co-Chairs

  • Brooke Leland, Managing Partner, Jungle Media
  • Shannon Lewis, President, Canadian Media Directors’ Council

Young Lions Media Jury

  • Alastair Taylor, CEO, Publicis Media Canada
  • Alessia Grosso, SVP, Communications Strategy, Havas Media Canada
  • Alice Digiovanni, Client President, Wavemaker
  • Christine Scott, Founder, The Accomplice Project
  • John Killam, Chief Operating Officer, INNOCEAN Canada
  • Lauren Redman, VP, Media Services, Think Shift
  • Matt McGowan, Director & General Manager, Snapchat Inc.
  • Mike Rumble, Founder, Chief Strategy Officer, Epitaph Group Inc
  • Nikki Stone, Chief Commerce Officer, GroupM Canada
  • Richard Ivey, Executive Vice President, Business Solutions, Horizon Media
  • Samantha Kelly, CEO, touché!
  • Shelley Smit, CEO, IPG Mediabrands Canada
  • Thierry Lessard, Vice President, Audiences & Insights, Glassroom

Young Lions Marketers Chair

  • Susan Irving, Chief Marketing Officer, Kruger Products Inc.

Young Lions Marketers Jury

  • Aaron Nemoy, Founder & CEO, Crowdiate
  • Andrea Hunt, President and CEO, ACA
  • Christine Cruz-Clarke, Vice President and Global Head of Marketing Excellence, Kraft Heinz
  • Deyra Jaye Fontaine, Inclusive Marketing Strategist
  • Jacqueline Ryan, Chief Brand and Commercial Officer, Canadian Olympic Committee; Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Olympic Foundation
  • Jonelle Ricketts, Head of Marketing, IKEA Canada
  • Matt Houghton, Digital and Integrated Marketing Leader, Interac Corp.
  • Maxine Chapman, VP Brand and Marketing Officer, OLG
  • Rachel MacAdam, Vice President of Marketing, Skip
  • Shannon Hosford, Chief Marketing Officer, MLSE
  • Shirley Mukerjea, Senior Global Marketing Director – Positive Brands, PepsiCo Inc.
  • Steve Levy, Ipsos Canada
  • Tracey Cooke, CMO, SVP, Marketing & Commercialization; Head of the Centre of Marketing Excellence, Nestlé Canada Inc.

Young Lions Print & Film Co-Chairs

  • Luc Du Sault, Partner and CCO, LG2 Quebec City
  • Mary Maddever, EVP, Realscreen & Strategy; Editorial Director, Brunico Communications

Young Lions Print & Film Jury

  • Alex Bernier, Executive Creative Director
  • Anthony Chelvanathan, Global Creative Partner & Chief Creative Officer, Edelman Canada
  • Derek Blais, Chief Creative Officer, Lifelong Crush
  • Erin Kawalecki, Partner, Chief Creative Officer, Angry Butterfly
  • Geneviève Jannelle, Creative Director, Rethink
  • Helen Pak, Senior Vice President – Creative-Marketing/Design/Content, The Walt Disney Company
  • Hemal Dhanjee, Creative Director, Courage
  • Jordan Hamer, VP, ECD, ONE23WEST
  • Terri Roberts, Creative Director, Ray, St. John’s, NL
  • Thimalay Sukhaseum, Creative Director & Radio Columnist
  • Vic Bath, Creative Director, Zulu Alpha Kilo Inc

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About the Canadian Young Lions Competition

The Globe and Mail has been the official Canadian representative of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity since 2005, hosting the Canadian Young Lions competition since 2007.

To qualify, participants must:

  • Be Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or hold a valid Canadian work permit.
  • Be professionals employed in the creative industry (specific criteria apply).
  • Be at least the legal age of majority in their province or territory and under 31 years of age as of June 20, 2025.

*For complete eligibility criteria and competition guidelines, refer to the Official Rules and Regulations.

 IG: @GlobeMediaGroup

X: @CannesLionsCAN

Hashtag: #YoungLions2025

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/globemediagroup

Strategy Magazine, Association of Canadian Advertisers (ACA), and the Canadian Media Directors’ Council (CMDC) support the competition as partners of the Canadian Cannes Program.

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 6.2 million readers every week in our print or digital formats, and Report on Business magazine reaches 2.9 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. 

Source: Vividata SCC Fall 2024, National, Total 14+ 

For media inquiries, please contact:

Alanna di Tomasso, Manager, Brand & New Business, Edelman Canada
Alanna.ditomasso@edelman.com

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