Cannes Lions

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June 19 2023

Trust, communication and results: How to strengthen the CMO-CFO relationship

Globe Media Group Cannes Lions advertising, awards, Canada, Canadian Media, Cannes, cannes lions, creativity, Digital, marketing, Young Lions

In a tough economic landscape, marketers face unique obstacles in securing budgets while ensuring their brands stay visible. To navigate this tension, CMOs must showcase how creativity directly influences the bottom line.

In an interactive session, chief marketing communications officer Raja Rajamannar and chief financial officer Sachin Mehra, explored the profound impact of the CMO-CFO connection. This partnership plays a pivotal role in marketing success but it’s not always easy to establish that strong connection.

So, how can you build trust between the CMO and CFO? According to Rajamannar and Mehra, three key factors come into play:

Fantastic communication: Maintaining open and effective lines of communication is essential for building trust and understanding each other’s perspectives.

Seeking clarity and setting objective metrics: Establishing clear objectives and metrics that are mutually understood by both the marketing and finance teams allows for a unified approach towards measuring success and aligning efforts.

Collaboration with the right structure and culture: Creating a cooperative environment that fosters teamwork and encourages a shared vision is crucial for bridging the gap between marketing and finance.

Establishing a clear connection between marketing actions and their impact on business results is of utmost importance, Rajamannar and Mehra emphasize. When these dots are connected, that’s when the true magic happens. Furthermore, ensuring that everyone involved shares the same source of truth serves as the foundation for aligning efforts and maximizing outcomes.

Marcin Zerek

Trust, communication and results: How to strengthen the CMO-CFO relationship

Follow us @globemediagroup on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter to stay in the know.

June 19 2023

Brewing unity in divisive times

Globe Media Group Cannes Lions advertising, Canada, Cannes, cannes lions, creativity, Digital, marketing, Young Lions

The first day of Cannes Lions kicks off with a discussion on the complexities of navigating a polarized world and the role creativity can play to promote unity.

In a world where the boundaries of marketing are constantly tested and societal divisions seem more pronounced than ever, select brands remind us of the power of creativity to reshape our collective narrative.

Named Marketer of the Year for an unheard of two years in a row, brewer Anheuser-Busch (ABInBev) kicked off the festival by admitting what they do is not about the beer, it’s about bringing people together.

Anheuser-Busch (ABInBev) is a values-driven company, which has faced challenges in such divisive times. The situation involving Bud Light, which centred around transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney and triggered nationwide backlash, served as a wake-up call for marketers. Like many brands, ABInBev seeks to understand its customers and promote unity rather than polarization. However, this pursuit is proving more challenging in today’s landscape.

Nevertheless, there is no doubt that ABInBev is a brand that comprehends—and excels in—the power of creativity. The organization instills a culture of creativity from the ground up, ensuring a shared language among its entire team. They establish and define their own standard of excellence, which is rare, and it is reflected in the multitude of Lions they win and their subsequent organic brand growth.

As a Creative Director, I bring you my favourite Cannes quotes of the day (or perhaps of all time): “My agency partners are our Justice League. They are superheroes, conjuring magic every day” and “Creativity drives growth.” Thank you, ABInBev.

On a less favourable note, my least favourite quote was: “We, like everyone else, were looking for an anti-media idea.”

Karen Howe

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June 14 2023

Insider advice for making the most of Cannes Lions festival

Globe Media Group Cannes Lions advertising, awards, Canada, Canadian Media, Cannes, cannes lions, creativity, Digital, film, marketing, Media Agency, Young Lions

From building meaningful relationships to generating big ideas, here are expert tips to help you make the most of your time at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity

The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity attracts some of the brightest minds in the industry, from executives to creatives, to showcase their work, learn from each other, and be recognized for their achievements.

But most importantly, Cannes offers the chance to break away from the day-to-day and “see what is possible through the magic of creativity,” says creative director Karen Howe. “You are immersed in a curiously potent alchemy of inspiration and intel for five days straight.”

Thousands of people from nearly 100 countries attend the festival in the south of France. The jam-packed week is filled with keynotes, panels, and workshops featuring the who’s who of advertising, business, tech, entertainment, and culture.

To make the most of your experience, it’s important to be prepared, both mentally and logistically, says creative recruiter James Coburn. “The heat mixed with the time difference, anticipation, and the Mediterranean air can be a lot to take in.”

A brisk 30-minute walk up the hill can do wonders, he says. “In mere minutes, the light, air, and sounds will invigorate you. By grounding yourself, stretching out, and clearing your mind, you’ll stay ahead of the game.”

For Young Lions competing in the festival, communications strategist Alessia Grosso suggests keeping an open mind. “To be creative, you must be curious. Find inspiration in everything around you, explore your interests, and make sure to write down your ideas.”

Although Grosso says there’s no guidebook for Cannes, she also underscores the importance of having fun. “If you’re not having fun, you’re not winning… Remember that enjoyment is essential to success.”

But as much as you prepare, you’ll undoubtedly have FOMO at some point, Howe cautions. “There is so much happening that you need to accept that no matter what you do, you are missing something else incredible,” she says. The good news is, Cannes posts the content after the fact, so you can catch up.

To make the most of your time at the festival, Coburn suggests focusing on the talks that best align with your interests and priorities.

Howe also suggests venturing beyond the Palais along the Croisette. “There are dozens of pavilions by brands like Google, Meta, Pinterest, the Wall Street Journal, and The Economist that host events, speakers, and demonstrate leading-edge technology,” she says.

The nightly award show is also a highlight of the festival. There’s nothing like the energy of seeing the winners of the work that you admire most claim their Lions.

Fun fact: Canada achieved sixth place last year for the most Lions won globally, she says. “I am proud to say that as a country, we really punch above our weight creatively. In a typical year, we place in the top ten for wins.”

For Howe, Coburn, and Grosso, the festival is also the ultimate place to meet creatives from all over the world.

“You will be surrounded by top talent from around the world, all bringing uniquely innovative perspectives to the table. Approach with openness to learn something new,” Grosso says.

“You just never know who you will see,” adds Howe, who suggests attending the end-of-day cocktails at the back of the Palais. “It’s a great chance to raise a glass with the ad folks of the world and talk creative. Don’t miss out.”

“Dive into conversations, network relentlessly, and embrace fresh ideas and perspectives,” Coburn adds. “Anything can happen here as long as you’re open to it.”

Karen Howe, founder of The Township Group, has not only won several Lions for her work but also represents Canada as a judge and serves on the Cannes Advisory Board.

James Coburn is one of the industries top creative recruiters, who casts global talent at Mandrake Human Capital.

Alessia Grosso, an award-winning strategist and marketing leader, leads the Strategy & Insights Department in Canada at Havas Media.

Follow us @globemediagroup on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter to stay in the know.

June 13 2023

Countdown to Cannes Lions: Six themes to watch in 2023

Globe Media Group Cannes Lions

As Cannes Lions 2023 approaches, the air is thick with anticipation, not just for the upcoming event but also for the profound impact it will have on the next 70 years.

This year’s festival is all about embracing those who are still in the process of making their mark. “In the making” encompasses the challenges, struggles, blunders and breakthroughs that individuals experience on their journey toward achieving their ultimate goals. Let’s take a closer look at the pillars that will shape the conversation in 2023:

Building communities: In our interconnected world, building communities has become essential for brands seeking deep connections with their audiences. Discover how to foster meaningful relationships, cultivate brand loyalty and tap into the collective power of communities to drive business growth.

Creative culture and talent: The heartbeat of every successful creative enterprise lies in its culture and the talented individuals who bring its vision to life. Explore the nuances of cultivating a vibrant creative culture, nurturing talent and fostering an environment that fuels innovation and collaboration.

Creative impact: What does it take to build, protect and grow a business through creativity in 2023? Explore what creative effectiveness means in the current media and economic environment, which types of creative thinking have the biggest impact and how to make a compelling case for investment in creative marketing to the C-suite of an organization.

Creative processes and tools: The creative process can be a labyrinth of ideation, iteration and refinement. Uncover the latest methodologies, tools and techniques that streamline the creative journey, enabling marketers to transform ideas into compelling campaigns with greater efficiency and efficacy.

Futurescape: The future holds endless possibilities, and it’s essential for marketers to navigate the ever-evolving landscape to stay ahead of the curve. Engage in thought-provoking discussions on emerging trends, cutting-edge technologies and forward-thinking strategies that will shape the future of marketing and creativity.

Industry landscape: A panoramic view of the industry landscape is crucial for marketers and creative directors to understand the broader context in which they operate. Gain insights into industry trends, market dynamics and the forces shaping the marketing landscape to inform strategic decision-making and unlock new avenues for growth.

The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity is a platform where boundaries are shattered and new possibilities are realized. As the official Canadian representative of Cannes Lions, the world’s most prestigious and coveted advertising and marketing awards, The Globe and Mail will provide insights, ideas, and takeaways from panels and keynotes over the next five days.

Follow us @globemediagroup on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter to stay in the know.

June 12 2023

Here’s how the Globe is covering Cannes Lions 2023

Globe Media Group Cannes Lions awards, Canada, Canadians, Cannes, cannes lions, creativity, Young Lions

We are only one week away from the most anticipated awards show in the industry, The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Between the pause on programming and events during the height of COVID-19 and with some amazing feedback from our coverage in Cannes last year, The Globe and Mail is continuing with our extended coverage of the festival this year.

Creativity lies at the core of the marketing and advertising industry, and it is with great pride that we continue to champion and uphold this creativity and innovation year after year. The Globe’s commitment to supporting Canada’s marketing and advertising community is unwavering.

In the lead up to the festival, The Globe hosted a networking and training session for our Canadian Young Lions heading to the festival to compete in the Global Young Lions competition during the festival, as well as hosted a cocktail party in celebration of the top Canada Industry leaders who were named to the awarding and shortlist juries for Cannes Lions.

What our coverage will look like at the festival:

To capture learnings from key speakers during the festival The Globe’s daily coverage will be headed by Katherine Scarrow, General Manager, Globe Content Studio. Our on-the-ground coverage will include fresh insights and perspectives of what’s happening at Cannes Lions for the Canadian community plus highlights of notable creativity from around the world, by our Globe ambassadors and members of the Canadian Cannes Lions Advisory Board.

Karen Howe, President of The Township Group, Young Lions Judge and Coach and member of the Cannes Canada Advisory Board, will focus on creativity, creative impact, creative culture & talent.

Shannon Lewis, President, CMDC, Young Lions Judge and Coach, and member of the Cannes Canada Advisory Board, will focus her coverage on highlights and learnings from a media lens, industry landscape, futurescape.

Sonia Carreno, President, IAB Canada and member of the Cannes Canada Advisory Board, will focus on the digital, media, and futurescape.

Marcin Zerek, Head of Trade Marketing at The Globe and Mail, will focus on brand marketing, building communities, DEI, creative process & tools.

You can follow along with our Cannes coverage across our platforms on Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter. Wrapping up our coverage throughout the month of July, we will be posting interviews with select jurors and attendees about their experiences from the festival, which you can read on our Cannes hub here.

As the official Canadian representative of Cannes Lions, the world’s most prestigious and coveted advertising and marketing awards, The Globe and Mail will provide insights, ideas, and takeaways from panels and keynotes over the next five days.

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April 28 2023

The Globe and Mail is pleased to announce the 2023 Canadian Young Lions Competition winners

Globe Media Group Cannes Lions advertising, awards, Canada, Canadian Media, Cannes, cannes lions, creativity, Digital, marketing, Media Agency, Young Lions

The Globe and Mail, the Official Festival Representative in Canada for the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, is pleased to announce the winning teams for the 2023 Canadian Young Lions Competition in all five categories: Digital, Film, Print, Media and Marketers.

Over the weekend of March 4 to March 6, 2023, working in teams of two, 680 entrants received a brief from a non-profit charity and had 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 charity as the subject of the competition briefs. This year, two charities were chosen: the Nature Conservancy of Canada for the Print, Film, Digital and Media categories, and The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund for the Marketers category.

The Nature Conservancy of Canada

The Nature Conservancy of Canada protects, restores, and sustainably manages the most ecologically important Canadian lands in the urgent ﬁght against climate change and bio-diversity loss. With your donations NCC purchases and protects land – permanently, from coast to coast. In this, NCC is unlike any other environmental organization. When you donate, the diﬀerence you make lasts forever. Young Canadians are deeply worried about the environmental crisis. They understand that solving climate change will require a collective eﬀort, but real progress seems to have stalled out. They want to know how they can make a sustainable diﬀerence in protecting nature, to have true impact.

The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund

In 1966, at 12 years old, Chanie Wenjack, an Anishinaabe boy, ran away from Cecilia Jeffrey Residential School in northern Ontario to reunite with his family 600 kilometers away. His body was found beside the railway tracks on October 22, 1966. His death sparked the first inquest into the treatment of Indigenous children in the residential school system, and years later, inspired Gord Downie’s album, Secret Path. Reconciliation became Gord’s central focus after he learned more about the history of Indigenous people in Canada and residential schools. At one of the final Tragically Hip concerts, Gord Downie asked all Canadians to look at the state of Indigenous-settler relations in this country and to “Do Something” to change them for the better.

The relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples is foundational to Canada and critical to its future. The impact of residential schools is still felt today, affecting the health and well-being of Indigenous people and communities, and contributing to inequalities. Reconciliation is critical to healing this rift and enabling the well-being and prosperity of all peoples in Canada.

Competition submission entries were judged by an esteemed panel of industry leaders, led by returning jury chairs Mary Maddever, EVP, Editorial Director, Brunico (Digital, Film, Print), Cathy Collier, Chief Executive Officer, OMD Canada (Media) and Susan Irving, Chief Marketing Officer, Kruger Products Inc. (Marketers).

The medal winners for 2023 Canadian Young Lions Competitions are:

DIGITAL

Gold – Pay-Per-Viewpoint

Andronicus Wu, Art Director, The Garden
Jon Dawe, Senior Copywriter, The Garden

Silver – The VPN that Virtually Protects Nature

Sammy Lo, Art Director, LG2
Peter Sreckovic, Senior Copywriter, Sid Lee

Bronze – Tip Your Trees

Ethan Gans, Writer, Rethink
Ekenechukwu Oduh, Art Director, Rethink

FILM

Gold – Do Nothing for Something

Cory Hansen, Senior Writer, Milestone Integrated Marketing
Anthony Curran, Motion Designer, Milestone Integrated Marketing

Silver – HOLD ON

Frédérick Pelletier, Freelance Director, Clark Influence
Gabrielle Roy, Strategist, Clark Influence

Bronze – Forever Home

Samantha Beauchamp, Art Director, Rain
Rebecca M. Williams, Senior Copywriter, Rain

Gold – The Deforestation Defense

Jaclyn McConnell, Art Director, Rethink
Shawn Weidman, Copywriter, Rethink

Silver – Thanks for Nothing

Grace Guan, Junior Writer, Taxi
Kyle Simpson, Art Director, Taxi

Bronze – Immortal Landscape

Emma Laberge, Art Director, Rethink
Laurent H. Tremblay, Copywriter, Rethink

MEDIA

Gold – Consent to Conserve

Thierry Lessard, Head of data and technology, Cartier
Olivier Houle, Media Strategy Supervisor, Cartier

Silver – Do You Have the Willpower

Dustin Wilson, Associate Director of Strategy, OMD Canada
Kunal Jain, Paid Social Supervisor, OMD Canada

Bronze – My Nature Moments

Béa Beaini, Assistant Media Designer, Cossette Media
Gabriel Lafond, Media Designer, Cossette Media

MARKETERS

Gold – The Purple Legacy

Mike Miura, Manager, Commercial Marketing Strategy, MLSE
Ryan Grippo, Associate, Strategy, MLSE

Silver –The Land is Your Land

Christie Stelling, Brand Manager, Twisted Tea & Truly Hard Seltzer, Moosehead Breweries
Sarah Smith, Creative Manager, Moosehead Breweries

Bronze – Food For Thought

Abigail Rigonan, National Marketing Specialist, McCafé & Breakfast, McDonald’s Canada
Jordyn Posluns, National Marketing Consultant, McCafé & Breakfast, McDonald’s Canada

2023 Winning Work

View the winning work from the top-3 teams in each category.

“We are thrilled to announce the 2023 Young Lions winners, a group of exceptionally talented individuals who embody the future of our industry,” said Andrew Saunders, Chief Revenue Officer at The Globe and Mail and Chair of the Canadian Cannes Lions Advisory Board. “This competition showcases the next generation of creative minds and provides a once-in-a-life time experience that can propel their careers to new heights. Our commitment to supporting the marketing and advertising community in Canada remains steadfast, and we take pride in celebrating innovation and creativity year after year. These winners will represent Canada’s talent on the global stage, and it’s exciting to be able to highlight that talent on the global stage for the world to see.”

In addition to being crowned as Canada’s best, gold teams go on to compete in the Global Young Lions Competition taking place at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, from June 19 – 23, 2023, where they will compete against the most creative teams from all over the world.

As the Competition Sponsor, The Globe and Mail awards a prize per gold team, which includes the registration fees for the Global Young Lions Competition, delegate passes to attend the five-day festival in Cannes, France, the cost of flights and accommodation.

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.

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, hosting the Canadian Young Lions competitions since 2007 and the Marketers competition since 2012.

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

Twitter: @CannesLionsCAN

Hashtag: #YoungLions2023

For more information about The Globe and Mail’s Young Lions Competition visit globeandmailyounglions.ca.

About the 70th Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity

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 6.5 million readers every week in our print or digital formats, and Report on Business magazine reaches 1.8 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.

April 26 2023

Canada’s Cannes Lions Awarding and Shortlist Juries 2023

Globe Media Group Cannes Lions awards, Canada, Canadians, Cannes, cannes lions, creativity

The Globe and Mail, Canada’s official representative for the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, is pleased to announce the Canadian Cannes Lions awarding and shortlist jurors for 2023. The awarding jurors will be reviewing and awarding the winning work during the festival taking place June 19-23, and the shortlist jury conducts the first round of judging virtually in advance of the festival.

Canada’s Awarding Jurors are:

Creative Commerce – Jury President: Nancy Crimi-Lamana, Chief Creative Officer, FCB Canada
Creative Data: Scott Pinkney, SVP, Executive Creative Director, Publicis Hawkeye
Creative Effectiveness: Tyler Turnbull, Global CEO, FCB Worldwide
Creative Strategy: Jay Chaney, Chief Strategy Officer, Founder, Broken Heart Love Affair
Design: Leia Rogers, Executive Creative Director & Partner, Rethink
Digital Craft: Kate Bate, Chief Operating Officer, Tendril Design & Forever Co
Health & Wellness: Neill Brown, President, IPG Health Canada
PR: Andrew Simon, Global Creative Director, Edelman
Social & Influencer: Brent Choi, CEO, Angry Butterfly
Film: Jordan Doucette, Chief Creative Officer, Dentsu Creative
Entertainment Lions for Sport: Susan Irving, CMO, Kruger Products Inc.

“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, Chief Revenue Officer at The Globe and Mail and Chair of the Canadian Cannes Lions Advisory Board. “Their collective expertise and insight will undoubtedly contribute to recognizing and celebrating the best in creativity and innovation from around the world.”

Canada’s Shortlist Jurors are:

Brand Experience & Activation Lions: Doug Muir, Executive Creative Director, PROOF Experiences
Direct Lions: Roehl Sanchez, Chief Creative Officer, BIMM
Film Craft Lions: Christina Yu, Director/Creative, Merchant Films
Industry Craft Lions: Marie-Elaine Benoit, Creative Director, Branding and Design, Sid Lee
Media Lions: Helen Galanis, Chief Executive Officer, Initiative Canada
Outdoor Lions: Man Wai Wong, VP, Group Creative Director, Leo Burnett Canada

“We’re pleased to announce the appointment of these Canadian leaders as Cannes Lions shortlist jurors,” says Andrew Saunders, Chief Revenue Officer of The Globe and Mail and Chair of the Canadian Cannes Lions Advisory Board. “Their essential role in shaping the competition’s landscape and advancing exceptional creative work will greatly contribute to Canada’s presence on the global stage, as they share their unique perspectives and experiences in the jury rooms”.

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

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

Twitter: @CannesLionsCAN

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. Each day, The Globe engages Canadians with award-winning coverage and analysis of news, politics, business and lifestyle topics. Through its advertising products, Globe Media Group provides unparalleled access to influential audiences within trusted, premium environments, reaching 19 million monthly unique visitors through its Globe Alliance digital network and 2.7 million weekly print readers. Globe Media Group offers end-to-end advertiser solutions across multiple platforms including newspaper, magazines, online, mobile, video and app, as well as custom content and special events.

YoungLions-print film digital 2023-18 heads

April 13 2023

Announcing the top 3 finalists for the 2023 Young Lions Print, Film and Digital categories

Globe Media Group Cannes Lions advertising, awards, Canada, Canadians, Cannes, cannes lions, creativity, Digital, film, Young Lions

The Globe and Mail, the Official Festival Representative in Canada for the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, is pleased to announce the Top 3 teams for the 2023 Canadian Young Lions Competition in the Print, Film, and Digital categories. Modeled after the Cannes Global Young Lions Competition, Print, Film, and Digital entrants received a brief and had to complete the challenge for their respective category within a 24-hour period.

Each year the competition jury chairs select a non-profit organization as the subject of the competition briefs. This year the Nature Conservancy of Canada was chosen for the creative categories.

Nature Conservancy of Canada Background

Nature Conservancy of Canada protects, restores, and sustainably manages the most ecologically important Canadian lands in the urgent ﬁght against climate change and bio-diversity loss. With your donations NCC purchases and protects land – permanently, from coast to coast. In this, NCC is unlike any other environmental organization. When you donate, the diﬀerence you make lasts forever.

Young Canadians are deeply worried about the environmental crisis. They understand that solving climate change will require a collective eﬀort, but real progress seems to have stalled out. They want to know how they can make a sustainable diﬀerence in protecting nature, to have true impact.

They are looking to make a permanent diﬀerence and to help accelerate conservation.

Print Category: Competitors in Print are given 24 hours to develop a print ad that drives awareness and support for the Nature Conservancy of Canada among a younger demographic. The goal is to build the community: add 500,000 new supporters by 2030.

Film Category: Competitors in Film are given 48 hours to develop a 60-second commercial that drives awareness and support for the Nature Conservancy of Canada among a younger demographic. The goal is to build the community: add 500,000 new supporters by 2030.

Digital Category: Competitors in Digital are given 24 hours to develop a digital campaign that drives awareness and support for the Nature Conservancy of Canada among a younger demographic. The goal is to build the community, and add 500,000 new supporters by 2030.

These category submissions were judged by an esteemed panel of 18 industry leaders, led by returning jury chair Mary Maddever (Brunico).

The semi-finalists in the Print category are:

IMMORTAL LANDSCAPE

Emma Laberge, Art Director, Rethink

Laurent H. Tremblay, Copywriter, Rethink

THANKS FOR NOTHING

Grace Guan, Junior Writer, Taxi

Kyle Simpson, Art Director, Taxi

THE DEFORESTATION DEFENSE

Jaclyn McConnell, Art Director, Rethink

Shawn Weidman, Copywriter, Rethink

The semi-finalists in the Film category are:

HOLD ON

Frédérick Pelletier, Freelance Director, Clark Influence

Gabrielle Roy, Strategist, Clark Influence

DO NOTHING FOR SOMETHING

Cory Hansen, Senior Writer, Milestone Integrated Marketing

Anthony Curran, Motion Designer, Milestone Integrated Marketing

FOREVER HOME

Samantha Beauchamp, Art Director, Rain

Rebecca M. Williams, Senior Copywriter, Rain

The semi-finalists in the Digital category are:

PAY-PER-VIEWPOINT

Andronicus Wu, Art Director, The Garden

Jon Dawe, Senior Copywriter, The Garden

TIP YOUR TREES

Ethan Gans, Writer, Rethink

Ekenechukwu Oduh, Art Director, Rethink

THE VPN THAT VIRTUALLY PROTECTS NATURE

Sammy Lo, Art Director, LG2

Peter Sreckovic, Senior Copywriter, Sid Lee

The winning teams will be revealed on April 26th, at the CMDC’s Annual Canadian Media Summit at the W Hotel in Toronto.

In addition to being crowned as Canada’s best, Gold-winning teams also win a trip to Cannes, France, to attend the five-day International Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity from June 19 to 23, 2023, the largest gathering in the creative marketing community, where they will compete in the Global Young Lions Competition, taking place during the festival week. As the 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, and the cost of flights and accommodation.

This year’s competition saw 680 people registered, making up 340 competing teams across the five categories: Digital, Film, Print, Media and Marketers –53 teams for Print, 14 teams for Film, and 58 teams for Digital.

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

Print, Film, and Digital Top 3 Teams pictured (top row, from left)

Gabrielle Roy, Kyle Simpson, Sammy Lo, Laurent H. Tremblay, Emma Laberge, Grace Guan

Ekenechukwu Oduh, Rebecca M. Williams, Jon Dawe, Andronicus Wu, Shawn Wideman, Cory Hansen

Peter Sreckovic, Jaclyn McConnell, Ethan Gans, Frédérick Pelletier, Samantha Beauchamp, Anthony Curran

About the Young Lions Competition

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

Twitter: @CannesLionsCAN

Hashtag: #YoungLions2023

Instagram: @globemediagroup

For more information about The Globe and Mail’s Young Lions competition, visit globeandmailyounglions.ca.

About the 70th Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity

About The Globe and Mail

YoungLions-media-marketers-2023-heads copy (1)

April 11 2023

Announcing the top 5 finalists for the 2023 Young Lions Media and Marketers categories

Globe Media Group Cannes Lions advertising, awards, Canada, Canadian Media, Canadians, Cannes, cannes lions, creativity, marketing, Young Lions

The Globe and Mail, the Official Festival Representative in Canada for the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, is pleased to announce the Top 5 teams for the 2023 Canadian Young Lions Competition in the Marketers and Media categories.

Modeled 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, there were two charities: the Nature Conservancy of Canada for the Media and Creative categories of Print, Film, and Digital, and The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund for the Marketers category.

Nature Conservancy of Canada Background

They are looking to make a permanent diﬀerence and to help accelerate conservation.

Competitors in the Media category were given 24 hours so create a media strategy, addressing the challenge of: how to build the Nature Conservancy of Canada community (goal 500,000 by 2030) among a younger demographic.

The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund Background

Reconciliation became Gord’s central focus after he learned more about the history of Indigenous people in Canada and residential schools. At one of the final Tragically Hip concerts, Gord Downie asked all Canadians to look at the state of Indigenous-settler relations in this country and to “Do Something” to change them for the better.

Inspired by Chanie’s story and Gord’s call to build a better Canada, the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund (DWF) aims to build cultural understanding and create a path toward reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. Our vision is to improve the lives of Indigenous people by building awareness, education, and connections between all peoples in Canada.

Marketers were given 24 hours to develop a big, innovative idea and written submission that creates awareness of the collective reconciliation journey and opportunities to “Do Something” to move reconciliation forward through tangible reconciliACTIONs offered by the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund, that also link with your brand business objectives.

Marketers and Media competition submission entries were judged by an esteemed panel of industry leaders, led by returning jury chairs Susan Irving (Marketers) and Cathy Collier (Media).

The semi-finalists in the Marketers category are:

AMAZON DO SOMETHING DAY
- Shweta Choudhury, Global Product Marketing Manager, Amazon
- Alex Levy, Marketing Partnerships Manager, NBA Canada
THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND
- Christie Stelling, Brand Manager, Twisted Tea & Truly Hard Seltzer, Moosehead Breweries
- Sarah Smith, Creative Manager, Moosehead Breweries
THE PURPLE LEGACY
- Mike Miura, Manager, Commercial Marketing Strategy, MLSE
- Ryan Grippo, Associate, Strategy, MLSE
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
- Abigail Rigonan, National Marketing Specialist, McCafé & Breakfast, McDonald’s Canada
- Jordyn Posluns, National Marketing Consultant, McCafé & Breakfast, McDonald’s Canada
KNOW YOUR BUDS
- Maci Levy, Brand Manager, Labatt Breweries of Canada
- Rochelle Singer, Brand Manager, Michelob Ultra, Labatt Breweries of Canada

The semi-finalists in the Media category are:

THE E.T. PASS – A BIODEGRADABLE TRANSIT PASSCARD
- Camille Recto, Media Buyer, Hearts & Science
- Ramya sri Sethu, Programmatic Analyst, Hearts & Science
MY NATURE MOMENTS
- Béa Beaini, Assistant Media Designer, Cossette Media
- Gabriel Lafond, Media Designer, Cossette Media
CONSENT TO CONSERVE
- Thierry Lessard, Head of data and technology, Cartier
- Olivier Houle, Media Strategy Supervisor, Cartier
DO YOU HAVE THE WILLPOWER
- Dustin Wilson, Associate Director of Strategy, OMD Canada
- Kunal Jain, Paid Social Supervisor, OMD Canada
#CONSERVETHELOVE
- Geneviève Amyotte-Graveline, Media Coordinator, Media Experts
- Geneviève Dansereau, Media Planner, Media Experts

The Marketers and Media Top 5 teams will virtually participate in the live judging stage of the competition taking place on Tuesday, April 11^th, where our revered panel of judges will determine the top-3 placing teams. Those placing teams will be revealed on April 26th, at the CMDC’s Annual Canadian Media Summit at the W Hotel in Toronto.

In addition to being crowned as Canada’s best, Gold-winning teams also win a trip to Cannes, France, to attend the five-day International Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity from June 19 to 23, 2023, the largest gathering in the creative marketing community. As the 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, and the cost of flights and accommodation.

This year’s competition saw 680 people registered, making up 340 competing teams across five categories: Digital, Film, Print, Media, and Marketers – 174 teams for Media and 41 teams for Marketers.

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.

Marketers and Media Top 5 Teams pictured (top row, from left)

Abigail Rigonan, Thierry Lessard, Jordyn Posluns, Béa Beaini, Olivier Houle

Shweta Choudhury, Alex Levy, Ramya sri Sethu, Mike Miura, Christie Stelling

Geneviève Amyotte-Graveline, Kunal Jain, Camille Recto, Maci Levy, Ryan Grippo

Sarah Smith, Gabriel Lafond, Geneviève Dansereau, Dustin Wilson, Rochelle Singer

For more information about The Globe and Mail’s Young Lions competition, visit globeandmailyounglions.ca.

Twitter: @CannesLionsCAN

Hashtag: #YoungLions2023

Instagram: @globemediagroup

About the Young Lions Competition

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

About the 70th Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity

About The Globe and Mail

February 6 2023

Young Lions Alumni Spotlight with the 2022 Media Winners

Globe Media Group Cannes Lions advertising, awards, Canada, Canadian Media, Canadians, Cannes, creativity, Digital, film, marketing, Media Agency, Young Lions

Ahead of the 2023 Young Lions Competitions in a few weeks’ time, we’re looking back at past competition winners and picking their brains on their Young Lions experience and tips and tricks they can share with this year’s competitors! We spoke to Tristan Bonnot-Parent (TBP), Digital Specialist, and Ana Matuk (AM) Media Design Assistant, both with Cossette Media during the competition, the winners of the 2022 Young Lions Competition in the Media Category.

Tell us a bit about yourselves – who you are, where you work, and what you do (the 30-second elevator pitch!)

TBP: My name is Tristan and I am a performance analyst at Cossette Media in Montreal. I’ve always been fascinated by numbers and statistics. I have never been a big video game player but I often joke that I’m an Excel Gamer. I also have a passion for graphic design. On a daily basis, I mix these two passions to try to find ways to present and vulgarize my different analyses. I love to communicate, convince and pitch!

AM: From media planning to project management to what now? I joined the advertising world right after finishing my degree without really understanding what it was, frankly, I’m still figuring it out. I fell in love with the creativity I was surrounded by daily, the people I was working with, and the fact that the challenge never stops. I’ve always loved new beginnings, so after over a year in advertising I tried project management, which was not my cup of tea. I am currently on a professional break, traveling around and reflecting on what’s next, which will most definitely be back to basics, aka advertising.

What was the most rewarding or memorable moment about competing (either domestically or globally/virtually)?

TBP: The national competition was a roller coaster of emotion for us. We started the 24-hour with an idea that we thought was solid and that we loved. We had our noses stuck in it so much that we were convinced it was the best idea. Around midnight, we had a big second thought and realized that our big idea was not that great, that it was too complex, and that the wow factor was slowly disappearing as we detailed the idea. Even though we were completely discouraged, we did a complete 180 and went with a brand-new idea. We finished in the early hours of the morning. When we found out that this idea was going to take us all the way to Cannes, the first thing I thought was, “imagine if you had given up instead of starting over at midnight” I think that’s what makes the victory and the experience even more rewarding.

AM: The 12 hour nap after our sleepless night during the national competition. No, but honestly the most memorable moment is when we had an illumination around midnight on how the idea we were working on the whole day was not actually that good. We did a complete 180 and started from scratch and I’m so glad we did. That night, it was the nuit blanche in Montreal, we finished almost 24 hours after the beginning of the competition and took the first-morning metro to go back home. The train was full of people still partying which gave us a little FOMO, all worth it now.

How did being crowned Canadian gold winners change, if at all, your perspective or approach to work?

TBP: I don’t think it changes everything. I think it’s a tremendous professional and personal victory, but it was important for me to keep my feet on the ground and continue to focus on learning every day at work. Nevertheless, it’s a huge confidence boost and every time I think that I don’t have the experience or knowledge to bring my ideas to the table, I think about this victory and I tell myself that all ideas can go far. Sometimes even as far as Cannes…

AM: I would say it didn’t change that much for me except that I feel more confident about speaking my points of view despite my title/position. Other than that, I’m still young on the working market and I know that I have tons to learn. I listen, I learn and I try.

What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to YL Competitors heading into the competition weekend?

TBP: I think the first thing I would say is don’t “fall in love with an idea”. I think it’s super important to be able to step back and evaluate our ideas objectively. And that’s really hard, especially when you’ve been working on an idea for 12 hours straight. I would also say forget about your job title and experience. Young Lions is all about having the right idea at the right time and being able to communicate it effectively and there is no title or seniority that guarantees that. And that’s the beauty of Young Lions!

AM: I think the best part of the competition is that we’re not alone, being a team of two gives us a better perspective. Sometimes we are so deep in our heads/minds that we don’t question whether the idea is good or clear enough. I’d say keep challenging each other and your ideas even though you think it’s great. Also, give it your 100% and encourage your partner to continue, whether it’s your first or 9th-time competition – keep each other motivated. Last thing: don’t underestimate the power of the pitch.

Talk to us about your experience at the virtual Global Young Lions competition. What were some highlights?

TBP: The experience at Global Young Lions was very similar to the national competition. The biggest difference is that we had the chance to see pitches from several other countries. As much as it is stressful and not necessarily fun to compare yourself, it is super enlightening. The other thing that was amazing about Global Young Lion was getting feedback from top people in agencies from all over the world and being able to learn from their experience and become better.

AM: The key to our National pitch, was the insight. In that sense, the Global competition was a little bit more challenging for us since we had to find an insight that was understood globally. Other than that, the national competition prepared us pretty well for what was coming, we elaborated a sort of “template” on what was important and we had lots of fun brainstorming ideas in a “smash or pass” kind of way.

You can connect with Tristan and Ana online, and can view their winning work here.

About the Young Lions Competition

The Young Lions competition, happening this year over the weekend of March 4 – March 6, 2023, is where teams of two will participate in a live competition in their registered category (over a 24 to 48- hour period), modeled after the global competitions in Cannes. A brief for a not-for-profit organization will be unveiled when the competition begins.

The winners from our Canadian qualifying competitions will go on to compete in person at the Global Young Lions Competition taking place during the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in Cannes, France from June 19-June 23, 2023.

Visit our competition website here for more information about Young Lions, including, how to register. Registration closes on February 17, 2023.

About the Globe and Mail

The Globe and Mail has been the Official Cannes Lions Festival Representative for the past 17 years and has had the privilege of sending over 60 Canadian teams to compete in the global competition that’s hosted in the south of France in Cannes against some of the best talents from around the world.

As the Competition Sponsor, The Globe awards a prize per Gold-winning team, which includes the registration fees for the virtual Global Young Lions Competition at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, delegate passes to attend the five-day festival, and the cost of flights and accommodation.

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