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The Globe and Mail Announces the 2026 Young Lions Canadian Competition Winners

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TORONTO – April 24, 2026 – The Globe and Mail, the Official Festival Representative in Canada for the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, is pleased to announce its gold-winning teams for the 2026 Canadian Young Lions Competition in the Marketers, Media, PR, Design, Print, Film, and Digital categories. 

Modeled 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- or 48-hour time 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.

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.

Competition submission entries were judged by an esteemed panel of industry leaders chaired by:

Susan Irving, CMO at Kruger Products Inc., and Eva Salem, SVP, Marketing and Brand at Canadian Tire Corporation (Marketers);

Brooke Leland, President at Mekanism Media Canada, and Shannon Lewis, President of the Canadian Media Directors’ Council (Media);

Anthony Chelvanathan, Global Creative Partner and CCO at Edelman Canada and Krista Webster, CEO at Veritas Communications; Meat & Produce; Stagwell Canada (PR);

Mooren (Mo) Bofill, Partner, CCO at One Twenty Three West (123w), and Dave Watson, Head of Design at Broken Heart Love Affair (Design);

Luc Du Sault, Partner and CCO, LG2 Quebec, and Mary Maddever, Senior EVP, Realscreen & Strategy; Chief Content Officer, Brunico Communications (Print and Film);

Karen Howe, Founder, The Township Group, and Sabaa Quao, Venture Studio Advisor, Global Growth Lead at PlusCo Venture Studio (Digital).

Announced at the Young Lions winners announcement event on April 24th, 2026, at The Globe and Mail Centre in Toronto, the medal winners for the 2026 Canadian Young Lions competition are:  

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Marketers Category

 Gold: Google Maps: Earth Mode

  • Lydia Yoon – Product Marketing Manager, Google
  • Joanne Chen – Product Marketing Manager, Google

Silver: CLIF x JGIC – Energy for Good. Energy for All.

  • Qail Keshavjee – Associate Brand Manager, RITZ Crackers, Mondelēz International
  • Kenneth Ng – Associate Brand Manager, CLIF Bars, Mondelēz International

Bronze: Kraft Bear Tracks for Hope

  • Navjit Dhillon – Brand Manager – Brand & Creativity, The Kraft Heinz Company
  • Kaitlin Kocsis – Brand Manager – Brand & Creativity, The Kraft Heinz Company
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Media Category, sponsored by Snap Inc. 

Gold: The Path

  • Gabrielle Lapointe – Media Planner, Omnicom Media (Touché!)
  • Louis Chevallier – Senior Media Planner, Omnicom Media (Touché!)

Silver: Hope in Motion

  • Alana Langlois – Associate Director, Technology and Consulting, WPP Media
  • Mahnoor Bilgrami – Associate Director, WPP Media

Bronze: THE FINAL 1%

  • Charlotte Lemay – Media Planning Coordinator, Cossette Media
  • Alexanne Péloquin – Media Planner, Cossette Media
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PR Category, sponsored by Edelman Canada 

Gold: Roam Wild

  • Sara Zivkovic – PR Specialist, Rethink PR
  • Patricia Gonzalez – PR Manager, Rethink PR

Silver: Pharma Seeds

  • George Hobby – Copywriter, Citizen Relations
  • Grace Zhou – Art Director, Citizen Relations

Bronze: Field Notes

  • Reagan Sullivan – Senior Communications Manager, No Fixed Address
  • Cara von Ende – Account Director, Anomaly
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Design Category 

Gold: Common Thread

  • Brandon Methner – Senior Designer, Rethink
  • Matt Funk – Junior Art Director, Rethink

Silver: Join the living trail

  • Marianne St‑Pierre – Graphic Designer, LG2
  • Samuel Thibodeau – Motion Designer, LG2

Bronze: Walk As One

  • Sam Perrin – Motion Designer, Cossette
  • Léo Maubert – Graphic Designer, Wedge
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Print Category 

Gold: Look out for them

  • Chloée Desjardins – Copywriter, VML Montreal
  • Émile Parenteau – Copywriter, VML Montreal

Silver: Shot on a Phone

  • Lili Maheux – Art Director, Rethink
  • Brigitte Pinsonneault – Copywriter, Rethink

Bronze: In Our Hands

  • Rachel Taylor – Copywriter, Rethink
  • Chloe Shapiro – Art Director, Rethink
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Film Category, sponsored by Motion Entertainment Canada, a WPP Media Company 

Gold: From Conversation to Conservation

  • Matthew Custode – Copywriter, Lifelong Crush
  • Meagan Enriquez – Art Director, Critical Mass

Silver: Lives Over Likes

  • Hardik Kothari – Copywriter, Rethink
  • Aashish Kumar – Art Director, Rethink

Bronze: PROTECT OUR NOSTALGIA

  • Sahil Kumar – Content Creator, Cossette
  • Aidan Gugula – Assistant Editor, Magic Circle Workshop
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Digital Category, sponsored by Motion Entertainment Canada, a WPP Media Company 

Gold: The Prompt Recycler

  • Shelby Harper – Copywriter, Leo Toronto
  • Zacharie Cloutier – Jr. Art Director, Leo Toronto

Silver: Jane and Finch

  • Sarah Stone – Web Developer, Target Marketing
  • Tim Carew – Creative Technologist, Target Marketing

Bronze: Unanonymous Animals

  • Posie Small – Art Director, Rethink
  • Sadiya Bano – Copywriter, Rethink

You can view all the winning work here: https://globeandmailyounglions.ca/2026-winners/

“We’re incredibly proud of the talent represented in this year’s competition, from coast to coast. The calibre of work was exceptional and a powerful reminder of the strength of Canada’s emerging creative and marketing community.” said Marcin Zerek, Head of Trade Marketing, The Globe and Mail. “Canada ranks #3 globally in Young Lions history, and these winners are the next gen of talent carrying that legacy forward.”

“Judging this year’s PR entries was a wonderful reminder of just how much creative energy Canada has, specifically with our emerging talent,” says Anthony Chelvanathan, Global Creative Partner & CCO Edelman, Canada. “Programs like the Young Lions are critical to push young creatives to think bigger, act faster, and prove themselves on a regional, and global stage. It was an honour to see them in action.”

Scott Evans, Interim CEO Edelman Canada notes, “We’re proud to be part of the Canadian Young Lions. It’s been amazing to see this talented group tackle meaningful challenges with such bold thinking and cultural insight. This year’s winners really point to where our industry is going next.”

“At Snapchat, we’re inspired by storytelling that drives real-world action. This year, young talent across Canada rose to the challenge of raising awareness of the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada in powerful ways,” said Bob Cornwall, General Manager, Canada at Snapchat. “The Media category winners showed remarkable agility and creative bravery under pressure, turning ideas into impactful strategies in just 24 hours. We’re proud to support the Canadian Young Lions and excited to see these teams represent Canadian creativity and innovation on the global stage in Cannes.”

“At WPP Media, we’re proud to celebrate the passion, creativity, and determination shown by this year’s Canada’s Young Lions winners. Taking on a 24-hour brief is not easy, and these teams pushed themselves, bringing fresh ideas and standout creativity. Watching our Gold winners head to the Cannes Lions Festival is especially exciting, it’s a true reflection of the world-class talent coming out of Canada, ready to shine on the global stage.” said Daniel Mekinda, EVP, WPP Media

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, 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.  

This year saw a record-breaking 796 individuals compete across seven categories: Marketers, Media, PR, Design, Print, Film and Digital – 28 teams for Design, 61 teams for Digital, 20 teams for Film, 26 teams for Marketers, 167 teams for Media, 59 teams for Print and 37 teams for PR. Notably, this year’s shortlist features participants from coast to coast.

To view the profiles of this year’s competition jurors please visit https://globeandmailyounglions.ca/jury/.  

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

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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 2026 Media category. Edelman Canada is a sponsor of the 2026 PR category. 

IG: @GlobeMediaGroup 
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:   
Jessica Ireland, Manager, Marketing & New Business, Edelman Canada
Jessica.ireland@edelman.com


 

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Cannes Lions Canadian Awarding Jury 2026: 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 Awarding Jurors for 2026. These selected jurors are industry leaders who will help review and award the work that sets the global benchmark for creative excellence during the 2026 Festival, taking place 22–26 June in Cannes, France. The shortlist jurors will be announced shortly. 

Canada’s 2026 Awarding Jurors are: 

Creative Data: Tracey Cooke, CMO, SVP Marketing | Nestlé Canada 

Health & Wellness: Joseph Bonnici, Chief Creative Officer/Owner | Tadiem (Bensimon Byrne/OneMethod/Narrative PR/Super Proper) 

Industry Craft: Krystle Mullin, Chief Creative Officer | john st. and T&P 

Innovation: Sabaa Quao, Venture Studio Advisor, Global Growth Lead | PlusCo Venture Studio 

Outdoor (Jury President): Aaron Starkman, Global Chief Creative Officer | Rethink 

PR: Lauren Thomson, Vice President, Creative Strategy & Integrated Communications | MSL Group 

Print & Publishing: Alexis Bronstorph, Chief Creative Officer | No Fixed Address, Inc. 

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“We’re proud to see such an accomplished group of Canadian leaders representing Canada in the Cannes Lions jury room,” said Andrew Saunders, President and CEO at The Globe and Mail and Chair of the Canadian Cannes Lions Advisory Board. “Their expertise and perspective will help shape the work that defines the global standard for creativity, and we’re thrilled to see Canada represented across such a strong mix of disciplines.” 

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 across markets, disciplines and business backgrounds. 

This year’s global Awarding Jury line-up reflects the breadth of voices shaping the creative industry today, with Cannes Lions highlighting increased representation from independent agencies and brands, along with first-time jurors from the Dominican Republic and Venezuela. 

The line-up for the Creative Brand, Dan Wieden Titanium, Luxury Juries, as well as Shortlist Juries, will be announced in due course. 

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 over 20 years.  

Strategy, 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  

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The 2026 Young Lions Canadian Competition Shortlists

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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. 

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.

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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. 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, 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
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Media Category 

Competitors in the Media category were given 24 hours to create a media strategy that builds national awareness of the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada. 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, ON
  • THE FINAL 1%
    • Charlotte Lemay, Media Planning Coordinator, Cossette Media, QC
    • Alexanne Péloquin, Media Planner, Cossette Media, QC
  • 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
  • Hope in Motion
    • Alana Langlois, Associate Director, Technology and Consulting, WPP Media, ON
    • Mahnoor Bilgrami, Associate Director, Media Planning, WPP Media, ON
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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, Anomaly, ON
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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
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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 a new national fundraising initiative designed to inspire participation and meaningful support. 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.

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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, VML Montréal, QC
    • Émile Parenteau, Copywriter, VML Montréal, QC
  • Missing Chimpanzees
    • Ebenezer Somado, Art Director, Cossette, QC
    • Safia Lukawecki, Copywriter, Cossette, QC
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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.   

IG: @GlobeMediaGroup 
X: @CannesLionsCAN
Hashtag: #YoungLions2026
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. 

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.   

For media inquiries, please contact:

Jessica Ireland, Manager, Marketing & New Business, Edelman Canada

Jessica.ireland@edelman.com

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Juries Announced for Canadian Young Lions 2026 Competition

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TORONTO – February 4, 2026 – Today, The Globe and Mail has announced the esteemed jury members who will evaluate submissions for the 2026 Canadian Young Lions Competition. Registrations remain open until February 8, 2026 giving Canada’s young creative minds the chance 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, providing the opportunity for young professionals to showcase their ingenuity in one of seven competitive categories: Print, Film, Digital, Media, Marketers, PR, and Design. 

Film & Print Jury
  • Luc du Sault, Partner and CCO, LG2 (Co-Chair)
  • Mary Maddever, Senior EVP Realscreen & Strategy, Chief Content Officer, Brunico Communications (Co-Chair)
  • Sean Barlow, Chief Creative Officer, Cundari
  • Dhaval Bhatt, Founder and CCO, Courage
  • Xavier Blais, Partner and ECD, Rethink
  • Alexis Bronstorph, Co-Chief Creative Officer, No Fixed Address
  • Denise Cole, Professor at George Brown Polytechnic and Creative Director, Freelance
  • Manuel Ferrarini, Vice President, Creative Director, Tam-Tam\TBWA
  • Jenny Glover, Chief Creative Officer, Zulu Alpha Kilo
  • Terri Roberts, Creative Director, Ray
  • Sann Sava, Chief Creative Officer and Founder, Nosolo
  • Angus Tucker, Chief Creative Officer, Leo Toronto
  • Christina Yu, Partner and CCO, Lifelong Crush

Film & Print Jury

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Co-chairing the Film and Print jury, Luc du Sault, Partner and Chief Creative Officer, LG2 says “In film and print, the most powerful work often comes from restraint. Strip it back until only the idea remains – then let that do the work.”

“The jury is stacked with Canada’s top creative leaders who all enthusiastically said “yes” to taking part in this iconic program and supporting next gen talent. Tip (gleaned from chairing multiple juries): insights that speak to the brief also sway the jury.” Says Mary Maddever, Senior EVP Realscreen & Strategy, Chief Content Officer, Brunico Communications, co-chairing the Film and Print jury alongside Luc du Sault.

The Canadian Young Lions Competition has long been a cornerstone of the creative industry, providing the opportunity for young professionals to showcase their ingenuity in one of seven competitive categories: Print, Film, Digital, Media, Marketers, PR, and Design. 

Digital Jury
  • Karen Howe, Founder, The Township Group (Co-Chair)
  • Sabaa Quao, President, PlusCo Venture Studio (Co-Chair)
  • Joseph Bonnici, Chief Creative Officer/Owner/Board Member, Tadiem
  • Noella Choi, Creative Director, TBWA
  • Andrea Cook, CEO, Jam CRM
  • Erin Kawalecki, Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer, Angry Butterfly
  • Jean-Claude M. Kikongi, Consultant, Strategy, Creativity & Comm-Marketing
  • Alistair Leyland, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Array of Stars (AOS), CEO at NVRSE
  • Stuart Macmillan, Executive Creative Director, No Fixed Address
  • Lyranda Martin-Evans, Chief Creative Director, Fellow Human Creative
  • Grace Mitchell, Executive Creative Director, VaynerMedia Canada
  • Andy Ng, Creative Director

Digital Jury

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Co-chairs of the Digital Jury, Karen Howe, Founder, The Township Group and Sabaa Quao, President, PlusCo Venture Studio say, “Our esteemed jury will look for ideas that are utterly digital to their core. Insightful, brave, powerful, and fresh ideas will win the day and catapult the team to carry the torch of Canada’s winning legacy to the world stage. Enter. Make your mark. Strip away the past. This is a chance to define the future digital landscape.”

Media Jury
  • Brooke Leland, President, Mekanism Media (Co-Chair)
  • Shannon Lewis, President, CMDC (Co-Chair)
  • Urania Agas, Chief Operating Officer, Canada, WPP Media
  • Derek Bhopalsingh, EVP, Platform Media, Publicis
  • Bob Cornwall, Country Manager, Canada, Snap Inc.
  • Marc-Antoine Grenier, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Cossette
  • Richard Ivey, EVP, Business Solutions, Horizon
  • Tracey Johnson, President, iProspect.com
  • Devon MacDonald, President, Cairns Oneil
  • Matt McGowan, SVP, Business Solutions, Bell Media
  • Sammy Rifai, Chief Strategy Officer, Initiative
  • Mike Rumble, Founder, Chief Strategy Officer, Epitaph Group Inc.
  • Rita Steinberg, Vice President, Media, FUSE Create
  • Sarah Thompson, Executive Managing Director, Glassroom
  • Noah Vardon, General Manager, Omnicom Media
  • Karl Wegert, CEO, Media Experts

Media Jury

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Together, Shannon Lewis, President, CMDC and Brooke Leland, President Mekanism Media are looking forward to the impressive, strategic submissions. They say, “The Cannes Young Lions programme pushes emerging talent to think boldly. As co-chairs, we’re continually inspired by the creativity, ambition, and forward-thinking responses to the Young Lions brief. It brings together passionate media minds and gives them a platform not just to compete, but to champion meaningful causes that extend far beyond the brief. Watching Young Lions transform a brief into powerful ideas is a clear reminder of why this programme matters, it nurtures big thinking, fuels fresh perspectives, encourages collaboration and teamwork, and empowers the next generation.”

Marketers Jury
  • Susan Irving, Chief Marketing Officer, Kruger Products (Co-Chair)
  • Eva Salem, SVP, Marketing and Brand, Canadian Tire Corporation (Co-Chair)
  • Nuno Bamberg, Senior Vice President, Brand & Marketing, Sleep Country Canada
  • Laura Curtis Ferrera, SVP and Global Chief Marketing Officer, Scotiabank
  • Laura Cutsey, Vice President of Marketing and Partnerships, Coca-Cola Company
  • Deyra Jaye Fontaine, Inclusive Marketing Strategist
  • Catherine Laporte, Chief Marketing and Digital Officer, RONA
  • Steve Levy, Ipsos Canada
  • Aaron Nemoy, Founder & CEO, Crowdiate
  • Andy Shibata, Vice President, Brand, Air Canada

Marketers Jury

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Susan Irving, Chief Marketing Officer, Kruger Products and Eva Salem, SVP, Marketing and Brand, Canadian Tire Corporation are looking forward to celebrating the best in Canada with the rest of the Marketers Jury. “We’re excited to have the full jury in place, putting Canada’s next generation of creative talent in front of an exceptional panel of leaders whose breadth of experience will challenge and champion the best ideas. Their expertise and perspective are invaluable in selecting the top teams in the country, including the winners we’ll send to represent Canada on the global stage in Cannes. This is our chance to celebrate the brightest young minds in the industry and show the world what Canadian creativity can do.”

PR Jury
  • Anthony Chelvanathan, Global Creative Partner, CCO, Edelman Canada (Co-Chair)
  • Krista Webster, CEO, Veritas Communications and Meat & Produce (Co-Chair)
  • Lisa Allie, Senior Marketing Director, PepsiCo Foods Canada
  • Veronica Bart, Head of Brand Communications, Labatt Breweries of Canada
  • Nadia Beale, President, MSL Group Canada
  • Josh Budd, Chief Creative Officer, NA, Citizen Relations
  • Julie Georgas, President & Head of Creative Strategy, Zeno Group Canada
  • Debra Goldblatt-Sadowski, Senior Consultant, Touchwood PR and Founder, rock-it promotions
  • Laura Silver, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Blue Door Agency
  • Sheryl So, Senior Director, Head of Communications, Wealthsimple
  • Renee Weekes Duncan, Senior Vice President, Golin Canada
  • Sheila Wisniewski, CEO, Burson Canada

PR Jury

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Krista Webster, CEO, Veritas Communications and Meat & Produce alongside Anthony Chelvanathan, Global Creative Partner, CCO Edelman Canada say, “We are deeply honoured to serve as Co-Chairs of PR Young Lions because we believe – unequivocally – in Canada’s creative PR talent. This country is producing a new generation of fearless, multidisciplinary thinkers who are not just ready to take the global stage, but to lead it. Our own journeys as PR Creative Directors shaped everything that followed in our careers – teaching us that bold ideas, cultural insight and earned creativity can build not just campaigns, but lasting impact. Supporting the next wave of talent isn’t just meaningful to us – it’s personal.”

Design Jury
  • Mooren Bofill, Partner and CCO, ONE23WEST (Co-Chair)
  • Dave Watson, Head of Design, Broken Heart Love Affair (Co-Chair)
  • Alex Bakker, Partner, Group Creative Director of Design, Rethink
  • Marie-Élaine Benoit, Lead Creative Director, Sid Lee
  • Sarah Di Domenico, Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer, Wedge
  • Vanessa Eckstein, Founder/Creative Director, Blok Design
  • Kelsey Horne, Chief Creative Officer & Head of Design, No Fixed Address
  • Mustaali Raj, Creative Director, Designer & Visual Artist
  • Daniel Robitaille, Creative Director, Paprika
  • Teresa Tam, Independent Creative Director
  • Brittany Waldner, Associate Creative Director, Underline Studio
  • Man Wai Wong, Independent Creative Director
  • Jonathon Yule, Executive Creative Director, Design, Concrete

Design Jury

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Canada’s design teams continue to build global momentum. Mooren Bofill, Partner and CCO, ONE23WEST says “Canada’s young designers are fearless, globally fluent, and already competing at the highest level. Last year, Jesse Shaw & Zoe Boudreau won the first Design gold for Canada at Cannes Young Lions Finals competition. Young designers like them are redefining what design can do and showing the world that Canada is a creative force.”

“There’s nothing that gets me more pumped and inspired than seeing the passion and talent of the next generation of designers in this country. I can’t wait to see what they will come up with this year and show our country (and then the world) that design in Canada is very much alive!” says Dave Watson, Head of Design, Broken Heart Love Affair.

Competition Details:
  • Registrations close February 8th, 2026 11:59pm EST
  • Teams receive their briefs February 28, 2026 9:00am EST
  • Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners announced April 24, 2026 at The Globe and Mail Centre
  • Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity runs from June 22 to 26, 2026

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

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

For more details on the jury, please visit https://globeandmailyounglions.ca/jury/.

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 26, 2026. 

*For complete eligibility criteria and competition guidelines, refer to the Competition Details and Rules and Regulations

IG: @GlobeMediaGroup
X: @CannesLionsCAN
Hashtag: #YoungLions2026
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/globemediagroup

 
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. 

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.   

For media inquiries, please contact:

Jessica Ireland, Manager, Marketing and New Business, Edelman Canada 
Jessica.ireland@edelman.com

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Inside Young Lions: PR’s perspective on what it takes and why it’s worth it

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For two decades, Canada’s Young Lions have formed teams of two and tackled a brief for a selected not-for-profit within an astounding 24- or 48-hour sprint. In the process, they’ve accumulated an impressive global record, earning 18 medals to date. The Globe and Mail proudly hosts the annual Young Lions competition, and in 2025, they were proud to introduce two new categories: Public Relations and Design. As the Canadian Competition Representative, The Globe also covers registration fees, delegate passes, flights, and accommodations for the winning Gold teams to compete in the global competition in Cannes, France.

To bring the community together, last week, The Globe and Mail and Edelman Canada hosted a PR Breakfast for prospective Young Lions participants and PR professionals. This event was part of Young Lions Canada Collective, a new community program led by The Globe and Mail that supports the growth, mentorship, and creative ambition of emerging talent. With registration for the 2026 Canadian Young Lions competition ending on February 8th, the event was centred on giving PR category hopefuls tips for success and an insider’s look at the competition. 

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In his opening comments, Marcin Zerek, Head of Trade Marketing at The Globe and Mail, emphasized Canada’s position on the world stage, having ranked third in all-time Young Lions wins, and Scott Evans, Interim CEO of Edelman Canada, spoke to the incredible learning opportunity for Canadian talent who participate in the competition.

The morning kicked off with a Young Lions panel moderated by Jessica Savage, CEO of MSL/North, Publicis Groupe. The panelists were the 2025 Canadian Young Lions Gold-winning team from No Fixed Address, Cara von Ende, Account Supervisor, and Reagan Sullivan, Communications and Project Manager, as well as the Canadian Silver winners from Rethink PR, Patricia Vuckovic, PR Manager, and Sara Zivkovic, PR Coordinator. 

Looking back on what drew them to the Young Lions competition, Patricia described it as a unique opportunity to be involved with every stage of a campaign. For Cara, the experience began with hesitation. As an Account Supervisor, she initially questioned whether a creative competition was the right fit. Ultimately, the competition pushed her to step outside her comfort zone and gain a deeper understanding of every role involved in bringing a campaign to life, something that has proved invaluable in her work.  

And the benefits don’t stop there. Since Cannes, the No Fixed Address team’s leadership has increasingly sought their advice on awards, and they’ve gained a stronger voice in campaigns. 

The Young Lions winners shared guidance on approaching the brief, highlighting both the challenges and the fun inherent within such an intense experience.

Patricia reflected on the freedom to take risks that “your clients usually wouldn’t let you take,” while Sara highlighted the value of trusting your gut and advised future competitors to “not be so precious” with their ideas. 

As time ran out, the ability to make decisions became just as important as creativity. Reagan shared that in moments of doubt, fully committing to a course of action can be the best move, advising teams to “delusionally decide you love your idea.”

They shared their top tips, including:

  • Find a universal truth as your throughline.
  • If you can, make it personal.
  • Keep it simple and understandable.
  • Practice, practice, practice!
  • Keep your humanness and connection front and centre.
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Preparing for Young Lions: a juror’s perspective

Next to join the stage was former Cannes juror Anthony Chelvanathan, Global Creative Partner and CCO at Edelman Canada, alongside Edelman colleagues Marta Miklas, Senior Account Executive, Technology and Evan Wong, Account Manager, Digital. Together, they unpacked how jurors assess entries and what differentiates strong work from Gold-winning ideas.

Finding success “starts before the competition,” Anthony said, adding, “you have to get into the mindset.” He encouraged competitors to study past winners and develop their own understanding of what makes Gold work stand out. More often than not, he noted, it’s the simplest ideas that rise to the top. 

That distinction isn’t always a rational one. “Sometimes when you judge the difference between Gold and Silver, it’s not when you’re using your brain. It’s a gut reaction,” he said.  Developing that instinct comes from consistent exposure to brilliant creative.

Key strategies for future competitors:

  • Find a partner who is fully committed.
  • Create a schedule and stick to it, keeping in mind that the idea is the most important part.
  • When receiving the brief, separate from your partner to explore different perspectives before coming back together. Then, repeat this process.
  • Exhaust your ideas, then follow your gut, and commit to one.
  • Eat well, sleep well, and get your body ready for the day you present.
  • Remember that for an international jury, the idea must be universal and easy to understand.  

In closing, Anthony emphasized that Young Lions is an exciting opportunity for personal and professional growth. The competition allows participants to see how they stack up against their peers, and can even help clarify where they belong within the industry.  

His advice was simple: “Don’t be scared. Just do it.” 

Don’t miss out on the career opportunity of a lifetime! Registration for the 2026 Young Lions competition closes Sunday, February 8, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST.

To register and learn more, visit: https://globeandmailyounglions.ca/

IG: @GlobeMediaGroup
X: @CannesLionsCAN
Hashtag: #YoungLions2026
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/globemediagroup

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Win a Stressful Trip to Cannes: 2026 Canadian Young Lions Competition Registration Now Open

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TORONTO – January 12, 2026 – Registration for The Globe and Mail’s 2026 Canadian Young Lions Competition has officially launched! From now until February 8, 2026, the nation’s brightest young creative minds will vie for the opportunity to represent Canada on the prestigious creative stage at the Global Young Lions during the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in Cannes, France. 

In 2025, Canadian competitors proved their impressive capabilities and won international recognition including Gold in Design, Bronze in Media and Shortlists in Film and Marketers, helping to secure Canada’s spot as the third-ranked country globally for the most Young Lions medals ever won, period.  

Motion Entertainment Canada, a WPP Media Company has joined as sponsor for both the Digital and Film categories. Snap Inc. returns as the Media category sponsor and Edelman Canada has returned for the second time as the PR sponsor, also supporting the event through amplification and visibility. LG2 has also lent their creative expertise for the event design and creative assets. 

The competition will take place over the weekend of February 28 to March 2, 2026, with teams of two participate in the competition across categories. Once registered, teams will receive a category-specific creative brief and will have only 24-48 hours to complete their submission. Entries are judged by a distinguished panel of industry leaders. Canadian Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners will be announced in late April 2026 at a Winners Announcement Event at The Globe and Mail Centre, Toronto. 

In addition to being crowned as Canada’s leading creative talent, Gold-winning teams will have the opportunity to travel to Cannes, France to compete against other top-tier teams from all over the world in the Global Young Lions Competition along with an invitation to attend the largest gathering in the creative marketing community: the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, taking place June 22 to 26, 2026. As the Canadian Competition Representative, The Globe and Mail covers registration fees, delegate passes, flights, and accommodation for winning teams. 

The 2026 Canadian Young Lions Competition is further supported by the addition of new advisory board members, Anthony Chelvanathan, Global Creative Partner and Chief Creative Officer, Edelman Canada and Andrea Hunt, President and CEO, Association of Canadian Advertisers. Both Anthony and Andrea bring their own impressive industry expertise and passion for nurturing emerging talent and 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 “Canada had an exceptional year on the global Young Lions stage in 2025, and that momentum continues to raise the bar for what’s possible. The Young Lions Competition is where emerging talent pushes themselves under real creative pressure, and year after year, we see just how strong, ambitious and globally competitive Canada’s next generation truly is. We’re so excited to see who steps forward this year.” 

“I believe creativity thrives under pressure. The Young Lions competition is the ultimate proving ground. It teaches you time management, and it’s where you learn the nuances of execution that separate a good idea from a winning one,” says Anthony Chelvanathan, Global Creative Partner and Chief Creative Officer, Edelman Canada. 

“We are incredibly proud to return as the sponsor of the Canadian Young Lions Media category, continuing our commitment to supporting the extraordinary creative talent blooming across Canada. At Snapchat, we believe that empowering young professionals isn’t just about supporting the industry’s future – it’s about fueling bold ideas, innovative thinking, and unapologetic authenticity,” said Bob Cornwall, General Manager, Canada at Snapchat. “We are excited to see how this year’s competitors push the boundaries of storytelling and media, and we look forward to cheering on these bright minds as they represent the best of Canadian creativity.”

“Motion Entertainment Canada, a WPP Media Company, is thrilled to sponsor both the Film and Digital categories in the 2026 Canadian Young Lions Competition. This nation is overflowing with fantastic young talent, and we’re excited to see the fresh, innovative approaches these individuals will bring to their briefs, and the exceptional work that will emerge. Its creative community consistently makes a remarkable impact on the global stage, a true testament to the caliber of its emerging professionals. The opportunity for these teams at Cannes Lions is exciting and we can’t wait to celebrate their achievements,” says Daniel Mekinda, EVP, Motion Entertainment. 

Co-Chairs for the 2026 Canadian Young Lions Competition

Young Lions Design Co-Chairs

  • Mooren Bofill, Partner and CCO, ONE23WEST
  • Dave Watson, Head of Design, Broken Heart Love Affair

Young Lions PR Co-Chairs

  • Anthony Chelvanathan, Global Creative Partner, CCO Edelman Canada
  • Krista Webster, President and CEO, Veritas Communications and Meat and Produce, Vice Chair at Stagwell Global (DPN)

Young Lions Marketing Co-Chairs

  • Susan Irving, Chief Marketing Officer, Kruger Products
  • Eva Salem, SVP, Marketing and Brand, Canadian Tire Corporation

Young Lions Film/Print Co-Chairs

  • Mary Maddever, Senior EVP Realscreen & Strategy, Chief Content Officer, Brunico Communications
  • Luc Du Sault, Partner and CCO, LG2

Young Lions Media Co-Chair

  • Brooke Leland, President, Mekanism Media
  • Shannon Lewis, President, CMDC

Young Lions Digital Co-Chairs

  • Karen Howe, Founder, The Township Group
  • Sabaa Quao, President, PlusCo Venture Studio

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

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

New to 2026, the Canadian Marketing Association (CMA) supports the competition as a Young Lions Competition Partner. 

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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 26, 2026. 

*For complete eligibility criteria and competition guidelines, refer to the Competition Details and Rules and Regulations

IG: @GlobeMediaGroup
X: @CannesLionsCAN
Hashtag: #YoungLions2026
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/globemediagroup

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. 

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.   

For media inquiries, please contact:

Jessica Ireland, Manager, Marketing and New Business, Edelman Canada 
Jessica.ireland@edelman.com

Après Cannes 20205

Après Cannes: Decoding the trends and celebrating Canada’s impact at Cannes Lions 2025

As the official Canadian Representative for the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, The Globe and Mail hosted special Après Cannes events in Montreal and Toronto to spotlight the standout work and emerging themes from Cannes Lions 2025. This year’s festival proved that the future of creativity isn’t cautious – it’s courageous. From AI’s wild west to the rise of ROE (Return on Emotion), Cannes Lions 2025 reminded us that imagination still leads the way.

Canada’s creative industry delivered a remarkable performance, ranking #5 globally with 27 medals and 5 co-wins, including 4 Gold Lions. With only 3% of entries earning a Lion, each recognition reflects the exceptional caliber of work coming out of the country.

The events whisked guests to the South of France, complete with flowing rosé, artisanal French cheeses, and abundant charcuterie and desserts. 

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See all the Montreal Cannes Après party pictures here, and the Toronto pictures here.

A highlight at both events was Decoding Cannes with Karen Howe, Founder of The Township Group and Canadian Cannes Lions Advisory Board Member offering an insider’s perspective on the work, trends and provocations that defined this year’s festival. 

Karen Howe, Decoding Cannes 2025

Karen presented her highly anticipated list of the year’s top creative insights. Emphasizing provocation and possibility as the year’s defining themes, she positioned Cannes Lions as a view into the broader creative and cultural moment.

#1: Data doesn’t care

Debates raged at Cannes Lions about the use of artificial intelligence. Karen highlighted the impressive capabilities of the tech while reminding the audience that 91% of decisions are made with the heart, not the head.

“As human beings, we seek empathy, we seek understanding – not soulless data,” she said. “That’s the Achilles heel of AI.”

#2: The Democratization of Everything

AI is levelling the playing field, helping small players compete on big stages and bringing new solutions to long-overlooked problems. Karen cited Caption with Intention, which modernized an outdated captioning system, enabling deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences to experience cinema like never before.

#3: Age of Collaboration

Not every brand is brave enough to let the audience take the wheel. But for those that do, there’s real payoff, as Lidl proved with its campaign embracing user-generated ideas, creating genuine excitement for the brand.

#4: Using AI for good

Sometimes, the best offence is a great defence. Karen showcased the power of AI to do good with O2’s “Daisy,” an AI-generated granny designed to distract scammers and protect real customers.

#5: Empathy and Emotional Intelligence Reign

Brands that tapped into a higher purpose made big leaps this year. From AXA’s insurance policy update protecting women from domestic violence to Nordea’s Parental Leave Coverage, which brought relief to new parents, these campaigns proved that creative thinking can drive real impact.

#6: Hope as Currency

Campaigns that offered humanity in the face of fear resonated deeply with jurors. From Valencia’s flood-responsive JCDecuax subway activation Still Open to Samsung’s exploration of The Worst Children’s Library, brands that met the human moment head-on stood out.

#7: Culture is the new strategy

The best ideas tapped directly into cultural truths. Karen highlighted ACKO’s “Tailor Test,” which showed that when brands understand real behaviours, their solutions become more relevant and effective than ever.

 #8: Nature still matters

Amid tech dominance, nature re-emerged as a creative winner. Nature Shapes Britannia’s campaign showed that staying true to your roots and respecting nature can lead to standout thinking. 

Après Cannes 2025 Montreal

In Montreal, Marcin Zerek, Head of Trade Marketing at The Globe and Mail thanked the event sponsor WPP Motion Entertainment, before hosting an intimate Q&A with Canada’s Young Lions Gold and global Media Bronze winners, Samuel David-Durocher and Tristan Bonnot-Parent, who shared their behind-the-scenes experience at the 2025 global competition.

Après Cannes 2025 Toronto

In Toronto, WPP Motion Entertainment returned as the event partner, with Kruger Products Inc. as the event sponsor. The Young Lions panel was moderated by Susan Irving, CMO at Kruger Products Inc. and fellow Canadian Cannes Lions Advisory Board Member. She was joined on stage with Canadian Gold and globally shortlisted Marketers Suzanne Liu and Arielle Uwonkunda and Canadian competition Silver winners Mateo Molinaro and Tristan Ruffo St-Armour. 

In both discussions, panelists spoke about their motivations for entering the competition, how they approached the brief, and the factors behind their successes. They emphasized developing ideas with “heart” and the importance of speaking the “language of empathy.”

They also shared advice for future competitors:

  • Don’t forget about the execution and implementation of your idea – you want to show it has legs
  • Contextualize your idea for your audience
  • Never be afraid to think bigger
  • Find your common truth, then mass-ideate
  • Be fearless in pitching ideas
Inside the Cannes Jury Room

In Toronto, the event also featured an additional special on-stage session titled Inside the Cannes Jury Room, highlighting what Cannes judges are looking for when reviewing submissions to award Cannes Lions.

Moderated by Andrea Hunt, President and CEO, Association of Canadian Advertisers with Cannes Lions jurors Krista Webster, President and CEO at Veritas, and Communications and Meat and Produce Vice Chair at Stagwell Global (DPN), and Graham Lang, Chief Creative Officer at VML Canada.

Their discussion centred on what makes award-winning work stand out, with speakers emphasizing the importance of well-rounded submissions that combine fresh ideas with cultural relevance and a strong execution.

Krista shared that the strongest work clearly explained its country’s unique context, while Graham stressed the importance of selecting the right category, noting that many strong submissions didn’t advance due to misalignment with the category. Both offered advice to future competitors to curate submissions thoughtfully and focus on full campaigns with real-world impact rather than short-term stunts.

With more than 26,000 entries at the 2025 Festival, Après Cannes has become a must attend gathering to unpack the standout work, explore the global trends shaping creativity, and it comes with shot of creative adrenaline and inspiration.

Explore the Cannes Lions hub for more insights, stories and for upcoming details on the Young Lions 2026 competition here.

To learn about future events, subscribe to Globe Next, Globe Media Group’s monthly newsletter here.

Cannes Lions 2025

Creativity Is the Business Strategy: Key Reflections from Cannes

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At Cannes, one truth rang louder than ever: creativity is not a “nice to have” –  it is the driving force behind value creation, brand resilience and business transformation.

Over the course of the week, a few key themes emerged – not just about creativity, but about how brands are navigating the forces reshaping marketing today. Here are the top themes as reported by Andrea Hunt, President and CEO, Association of Canadian Advertisers.

Theme 1.  The Business of Brands Begins with Creativity

The data is in: creative brands make more money. Desire drives purchase and creativity sparks that desire. Recent WARC X LIONS research results are unequivocal. The top-performing brands over the past 25 years,  particularly those embedded with creativity at the core, have consistently outpaced market expectations and created disproportionate business value.

It’s not just about ads or attention. Creativity is a business asset. When brands embed it into their operations, they don’t just compete – they lead.

Theme 2.  Brand Building Is a Long Game in a Short-Term World

In a market obsessed with quarterly performance, many brands over-index on short-term metrics and performance marketing. But that risks irrelevance. True growth comes from marathon training and not sprinting. Long-term brand building is the moat in a sea of sameness.

Companies who reduced marketing lost market share; those who held or increased spend gained or maintained position That’s not theory – that’s economics. (Bain)

Theme 3.  Cultural Courage as a Growth Engine

In an industry wrestling with fear and fatigue, cultural courage is more than just a buzzword, it’s the fuel for relevance. Great brands move first, speak boldly, and don’t ask culture for permission.

This kind of bravery doesn’t just drive headlines, it drives business outcomes. Why? Because in a low-barrier environment, standing out isn’t optional – it’s survival.

Theme 4.  Creativity and AI: Partners, Not Opponents

The rise of AI and agentic technologies isn’t a death knell for creative work, it’s a challenge to reimagine what’s possible. AI is democratizing scale and insights. It’s helping mine deeper truths, anticipate challenges, and unlock new creative spaces.

But here’s the key: machines don’t have guts. Logic alone can’t win hearts. Brands win when they make people feel something. That’s our edge. The human touch remains our superpower.

Theme 5.  The Human Touch: Your Brand’s Secret Weapon

Forget polish. You don’t win hearts with perfection, you win with emotion. Neuroscience proves it. People don’t just buy based on facts; they buy because something moved them. Even in B2B, emotion builds trust  through frequency, consistency, and personalization.

As AI scales and systems automate, empathy, intuition and vulnerability will define the most impactful work. Creativity with guts is the brand’s greatest differentiator.

Theme 6.  Marketing’s Moment of Reckoning

“This is a time of big news and big fear,” as Apple’s Ty Masterton noted. The stakes are high, and the pace is faster than ever. Traditional indicators are too slow; companies must act early, with curiosity and courage.

It’s no longer enough to understand. Decision-makers must be moved. A marketer’s real job is to influence, inspire, and ignite action. Not just with data, but with story.

The Bottom Line: Creativity Builds Capital

Creativity has always been the heart of Cannes. But this year, it was also the brain, spine, and engine. The work that echoed? It made people feel. And that emotion? It’s empirically good for business.

It’s not enough to create brilliant work. We need to advocate for it. We need to make the case, again and again, that great creativity doesn’t just win awards,  it builds brands, grows market cap, and drives the economy forward.

So yes, this is the business of creativity. But more importantly this is the creativity of business.

Reporting Andrea Hunt, President and CEO, Association of Canadian Advertisers

Andrea is a dynamic, C-suite executive with a history of success driving transformational growth for iconic B2C businesses. Through executive roles with Kellogg’s, Kraft, Molson, Arterra, and Mondelez, Andrea has led high-performance teams across North America and the globe.

A collaborator and boardroom influencer known for visionary leadership and strategic acumen, Andrea’s adeptness in commercial leadership, innovation, and operational management has been rewarded with outsized commercial performance and extensive industry accolades.

Andrea is currently President and Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Canadian Advertisers and serves as an adjunct professor of marketing & strategy (MBA) with the Smith School of Business, Queen’s University. Andrea also contributes selectively as an executive adviser and certified board member within the private sector.

IG: @GlobeMediaGroup 
X: @CannesLionsCAN 
Hashtag: #CannesLions2025 
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/globemediagroup

Cannes Lions 2025

Cannes: A Love Letter to the Madness, Magic, and Marketing Mayhem

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Andrea Hunt is no stranger to the pulse of global marketing. As President and Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Canadian Advertisers, and an adjunct professor of marketing and strategy at Queen’s University, she brings a rare blend of academic insight and boardroom savvy. 

As a trusted voice in the industry as someone understanding both the mechanics and the magic of modern marketing, we asked Andrea for her unfiltered reflections on the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. She was more than happy to report on the chaos, the charm, and the undeniable electricity that makes the Cannes Festival the heartbeat of the advertising world.

 

Let’s just call it what it is: Cannes is a beast. Beautiful, bloated, brilliant. You’ll hear people roll their eyes at the mere mention of it. But I will state my bias plainly: I’m firmly in the “lover” camp.

There is simply no other global forum with the same gravitas, staying power, and sheer gravitational pull in our industry. Cannes isn’t just a festival – it’s the summit. A living, breathing organism that gathers the world’s best minds in marketing, creativity, tech, and brand-building along one sun-drenched beach.

What began as a celebration of agencies and brands has expanded into dearth of ad tech, wellness, sport, strategy, media, policy, and any vertical or entity that even flirts with the idea of storytelling. And still, at its heart, it remains united by one unifying belief: the audacious potential of this industry.

It’s organized chaos and that’s the charm. The Cannes machine is an operational marvel. You’ll find your people there, no matter how niche. There’s a collide-and-conquer energy to the week. It’s gloriously unstructured and also absolutely exhausting.

Here’s the kicker: for all the flash and show, Cannes is surprisingly democratic. Yes, there’s pretense and pageantry. But everyone – clients, agencies, media, tech platforms – is sweating through the same heat, hoofing it down the same Croisette, and getting blindsided by the same scheduling whiplash.

There’s something oddly grounding about that. You’ll see hope, ambition, anxiety, pride, imposter syndrome, and joy all playing out in real time. Cannes doesn’t just test your stamina. You feel it. Deeply.  

Eventually, you surrender. You find your rhythm. You learn to live in the tension – ideas by day, conversations by night. You make peace with lamenting the talk you missed.

Some folks master the balance. Others vow to try again “next year.” 

Yes, it’s hot. Yes, it’s logistically maddening. Yes, it’s expensive. But if you let it, Cannes gives back. If you listen closely, you’ll hear the real heartbeat of the industry, for better or for worse. Because this isn’t just about trophies and toasts. Cannes is a classroom. And the curriculum is elite. From the biggest CMOs to scrappy startup founders, to creatives who can make you laugh, cry – the insights are unmatched.

You’ll leave inspired, a little wrecked, and completely recharged. You’ll want to do better. Be bolder. Think bigger. You’ll remember why you fell in love with this industry in the first place.

To quote Tor Myhren of Apple – and echoed by the legendary Mark Ritson – “The human touch is our superpower.” Marketing isn’t just about comprehension. It’s about connection. And if it takes a few beachfront debates and Croisette confessions to remind the global industry of that truth, so be it.

So yes, Cannes, I feel you. I see you. I thank you. For the lessons, the joy, the disorientation and the undeniable reminder that this wild world of marketing still has the power to move us.

And to those still on the fence: here’s the unvarnished truth – it’s absolutely worth it.

Reporting Andrea Hunt, President and CEO, Association of Canadian Advertisers

 

Andrea is currently President and Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Canadian Advertisers and serves as an adjunct professor of marketing & strategy (MBA) with the Smith School of Business, Queen’s University. Andrea also contributes selectively as an executive adviser and certified board member within the private sector.

She is a dynamic, C-suite executive with a history of success driving transformational growth for iconic B2C businesses. Through executive roles with Kellogg’s, Kraft, Molson, Arterra, and Mondelez, Andrea has led high-performance teams across North America and the globe.

A collaborator and boardroom influencer known for visionary leadership and strategic acumen, Andrea’s adeptness in commercial leadership, innovation, and operational management has been rewarded with outsized commercial performance and extensive industry accolades.

IG: @GlobeMediaGroup  
X: @CannesLionsCAN
Hashtag: #CannesLions2025 
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/globemediagroup

Cannes Lions 2025

Making the Cut: How Two Young Lions Earned Coveted Spot on Cannes Film Shortlist

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Canada’s creative talent lit up the global stage at the Young Lions competition in Cannes this year. Going from storyboard to the spotlight was Canada’s film team – Alexandre Pépin, from LG2 and Nicolas Robert of Carton Rouge – who earned a coveted shortlist spot for their poignant 60-second ad created for World Ovarian Cancer Day – completed within only 48 hours. 

With over 450 competitors from 67 countries across seven categories, this year’s competition was one of the most competitive to date. 

Luc Du Sault – Film Co-Chair in the Canadian qualifying competition, Canadian Cannes Lions Advisory Board Member, and Partner and Chief Creative at LG2 Quebec City (now the largest independent agency in Canada) – asked Alexandre and Nicolas about their journey to Cannes and the standout moments that defined their experience on the international creative stage. 

As creatives from Montréal, winning Gold in Canada and being recognized on the global stage must have been incredibly rewarding. To start us off, can you each share a bit about yourselves and your roles?

Cannes Lions 2025

AP: I’ve been in the advertising world for three years now and still finding my footing, but in that time, I’ve been lucky enough to work on some great campaigns and with some really talented people. I try to stay curious and tuned in to what’s going on culturally, which helps me create work that (hopefully) connects and (hopefully) makes people laugh. In 2024, Nic and I managed to earn a Silver at the Canadian Young Lions competition, and this year we were pretty thrilled to come back with a Gold – and a spot on the global shortlist. That led to my nomination for Campaign Canada’s 30 Under 30.

NR: I’m a Montréal-based executive producer with a background in marketing and communications. After spending a few years producing commercials for top brands and agencies, I joined the Cinélande Group in 2023 to launch its new division, Carton Rouge. Today, I’m proud to be a partner at Cinélande and to be recognized as one of Montréal’s promising young executive producers. With a passion for creative instincts, leadership, and drive, I’m working to make my mark in the industry as a rising force in commercial production.

Let’s start at the beginning: what was your reaction when you found out your team had won gold and would be heading to Cannes to compete globally? 

AP: Pretty crazy! It honestly felt like a dream come true. I’d been wishing for Gold, especially after coming in second last year. In the weeks leading up to the Canadian Young Lions competition winner’s announcement, whenever it was 11:11 or 22:22, I knew exactly what to wish for. 

NR: Ever since I started working in the industry, going to Cannes has been a dream of mine. So when we found out we won gold in the Canadian Young Lions competition and would be heading to Cannes to compete globally, it was a huge bucket list moment. I was thrilled not only to represent Canada on an international stage, but also to spend a week surrounded by the world’s most inspiring creatives. The energy, the talent, the setting felt like the ultimate reward.

The Film category stands out in the competition, with an extra 24 hours granted due to the intense demands of producing a 60-second film. It’s a tough challenge – how did you prepare for it? 

AP: I’ve been training to perform without sleep since my days at UQAM so I was good for that part. The rest does itself with the adrenaline, the energy and the urgency.

NR: For me, the real preparation came from the last 10 years of producing videos. I’ve had the chance to work on so many different projects and face all kinds of situations that build instincts and reflexes you carry with you forever. That experience was key in helping me tackle the challenge of producing a 60-second film in just 48 hours. As for Alex, I’d say his preparation was all the creative thinking he does every day at work.

Can you walk us through the creative process behind your 60-second film for World Ovarian Cancer Day? How long did it take for you to land on the concept? 

AP: We wanted to create a spot that could only be about ovarian cancer. Ovaries are tied to life, but far too often, they’re also connected to death. That contrast became the emotional core of the concept, and everything else began to take shape.

NR: The speed at which Alex came up with our idea really impressed me – he actually came up with three solid concepts right from the start. That gave us momentum and clarity from day one.

IF IT WEREN’T FOR OVARIES by Alexandre Pépin and Nicolas Robert 

How did you approach balancing creativity and the emotional weight of the topic?  

AP: The Young Lions competitions center around emotional subjects, and that’s what makes them so meaningful. It’s the type of brief that everyone in this industry wishes to work on, so it’s incredibly rewarding to feel like your work can tap into real emotions and make an impact.

NR: I think the emotional weight of the topic actually helped guide our creativity. It pushed us to focus on a simple, powerful idea, something that would really connect with people on a human level. Our goal was to make viewers feel something the moment they watched our commercial, and that emotional core helped shape every creative choice we made.

What was the most challenging part of completing the film within the 48-hour timeframe? Were there any equipment challenges or surprises filming in another country? How did you find extras to appear in the film?   

AP: Casting the extras turned out to be the most stressful, and also the most fun part of the process. We debated between three different creative directions, and once we landed on this one, we knew everything would hinge on the kind of casting we could get. Filming in a foreign country came with its own surprises, but speaking French was a huge advantage and really helped us land the project. We ended up finding 20 people that we’re willing to help.

NR: I think the hardest part was knowing that the rest of the festival was happening all around us while we were fully focused on the challenge. It was a bit surreal, we were in Cannes, surrounded by all the excitement, but completely locked into production mode. As for casting, that turned out to be much easier than we expected. People in Cannes were incredibly friendly and open to helping out. And, as Alex mentioned, speaking French definitely worked in our favor, I’m pretty sure that made a big difference!

Alexandre, you’re the copywriter, and Nicolas, you directed the film. With different creative voices involved, there’s always a risk of the vision getting off track. How did your team dynamic help keep the process focused and cohesive? 

AP: Honestly, Nicolas did much more than direct – he practically produced the entire film. He was a talented director before becoming a well-known producer in Montréal. That makes him a pretty good Swiss army knife. I could depend on Nic to do everything that needed to be done, except the sleeping. 

NR: This was actually the third time Alex and I teamed up for this kind of challenge, so everything felt really smooth. I have a lot of respect for his creative mind. He’s on a serious roll right now in Montréal as one of the standout young creatives so I really wanted to give him the space to run wild with the concept. My role during the ideation phase was mostly to keep the vibes good and the energy flowing. Once we moved into production, we naturally shifted into a strong collaborative rhythm. We trusted each other’s strengths, and that made the whole process focused, efficient, and fun.

Cannes Lions 2025

Nicolas and Alexandre in Cannes, France.

How did competing at the global Young Lions competition in Cannes shape or change your perspective on creativity? 

AP: I think sometimes in advertising we make things more complicated by chasing perfection. What makes the Young Lions competition fun is the pace – it forces you to rely more on instinct. Being behind schedule and under pressure really helped clarify what matters most is the heart of a creative idea. 

NR: Competing at the global Young Lions competition really opened my eyes to how much bigger the industry is than I had imagined and that shift in perspective was huge. It made me realize that our ideas can travel, and that it’s absolutely possible to stand out on a global stage no matter where you’re from. It fired me up. I came back more motivated than ever to keep pushing and to raise the bar on every project I take on.

What’s one insight or memory you’ll carry forward from this incredible journey?

AP: I’d say it’s all about loving the process and being lucky!

NR: One of the biggest insights I’ll carry forward is the importance of speed. Our industry is evolving fast, and being able to create a commercial in just 48 hours really highlighted how crucial agility and quick decision-making are. There’s a lot to learn from that pace, lessons I’m excited to bring back and apply in everyday work.

You won Gold in Canada and earned a coveted Shortlist at Cannes – the world’s largest gathering of creative talent. Why should other filmmakers give Young Lions a shot? What makes the experience so rewarding? 

AP: At this stage in our careers, chances to compete like this are rare. If you get the opportunity – take it. It pushes you creatively but it’s mainly really fun. 

NR: Everyone in our industry should experience Cannes at least once – it’s incredibly eye-opening on so many levels. Being surrounded by the best creative minds in the world is both humbling and inspiring. The Young Lions competition is such a unique opportunity to be part of that and I’d recommend it to anyone who can take a shot at it. It pushes you, challenges you, and puts your work on a global stage, it’s 100% worth it.

Luc-Du-Sault

Luc Du Sault, Partner and Chief Creative, LG2 Quebec City, Cannes Lions Advisory Board member

In 2004, Luc and his friends founded the Quebec City office of lg2. Since then, they’ve created a fun place to find great ideas and have led the teams on many projects recognized on the national and international scene like Cannes, D&AD, London Internationals, One Show and Clios. Luc fell in love with creativity at 4 years old, when his father brought home a storyboard for a TV spot and he will continue to create the way he always has – with the heart of a 4-year old. 

IG: @GlobeMediaGroup
X: @CannesLionsCAN
Hashtag: #CannesLions2025 
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/globemediagroup

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