MT&L Public Relations wins regional and international awards
MT&L Public Relations joins its clients in celebrating some recent top regional and international honours.
For marketing communications campaigns, MT&L recently won three Summit International Creative Awards and was the only Atlantic Canadian firm to take away gold. These awards are chosen from thousands of submissions from over 25 countries each year, MT&L was awarded gold in the consumer media category for its "Mind your Mouth" Campaign for the Nova Scotia Dental Association; and two bronze awards: one in the public service announcement category for its "Please Litter" campaign for Nova Scotia Environment; and one for developing a crisis tips and contact card for clients requiring instant and 24-7 access to MT&L counselors.
At its annual Atlantic Canadian Gemstones awards event on May 20, the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) awarded MT&L top honours in both crisis communications and media relations categories, for its work with CanJet Airlines. CanJet's crisis communications plan – built and regularly tested by MT&L – was put into action within minutes of a gunman boarding a CanJet plane on the tarmac in Jamaica, and taking more than 160 passengers and crew hostage. The incident ended peacefully, but only after many tense hours and the overwhelming interest and scrutiny from hundreds of media outlets around the world.
"While these awards represent recognition from our peers across the region and beyond, they enable us to celebrate the great work our clients invite us to do with them, as we help them achieve their objectives," said Janet MacMillan, Principal.
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Enterprise Miramichi first-ever brand identity wins national award and is launched in community
Enterprise Miramichi was recognized by the Economic Developers Association of Canada (EDAC) with a Marketing Canada Award for their new brand and visual identity, which highlights the assets of the Miramachi region. The new brand was introduced and celebrated at a community launch during the annual Miramichi Rotary Pond Hockey Tournament in February.
Following the closures of two of the region's major employers and with rising unemployment numbers, community leaders identified the need to shift dependence from natural resources and forestry to new economic drivers.
Recognizing it would take new ideas, new industries, and new ways of doing business to overcome this critical time, Enterprise Miramichi and its partners embarked on a strategy to identify new economic drivers and a rebranding exercise to help convey its new sense of purpose. The brand had to embody the Miramichi region's strengths and assets, and speak to its future direction as a region.
Today, Enterprise Miramichi has a concise brand that is meaningful and consistent with its business identity and focus. The Miramichi: spirited by nature brand is about people who are committed to and confident in clean and sustainable business and community development - utilizing green energy, natural attraction (ecotourism), creative technologies and advanced manufacturing.
This year the region became the new maritime location of Norwegian bioenergy and solar panel company Umoe Solar and the new regional hub for cranberry giant Ocean Spray.
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Canaport LNG - Largest LNG tanker
MT&L helped Canaport LNG host its commissioning event, which saw over 400 community and business leaders join the celebration and official opening of the first LNG receiving and regasification terminal in Canada. The start-up of Canaport LNG marked the moment Saint John, New Brunswick became one of the most important links in the North American supply of natural gas.
Canaport LNG then welcomed one of the largest and most innovative LNG ships in the world. Travelling 22 days and 15,000 kilometres from Ras Laffan Industrial City in Qatar, the Q-Flex MV Mesaimeer arrived at Canaport LNG to deliver 4.6 bcf of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG). The Canaport LNG Terminal in Saint John is among the very few terminals in the world that can accept a ship of the Q-Flex's size. We're pleased to be part of Canaport LNG's ongoing success.
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The power of green is within us all
The Nova Scotia Department of Rural and Economic Development recently hosted the third annual Power of Green Conference. MT&L worked closely with conference organizers, providing communications counsel, creative marketing materials, and media relations in support of the theme: "the business case for sustainability and continued action 364 days of the year".
The Power of Green Conference brings together business leaders, policy makers, academia, students and thought leaders to share practices, challenges and success stories. The 2009 speaker lineup included leaders in sustainable business practices: Ray Anderson - Chairman and Founder, Interface, Inc.; Nicholas Parker - Executive Chairman, Cleantech Group; Toby Heaps - Founder, Editor and President, Corporate Knights Magazine. Participants learned how pursuing sustainable practices are not only socially responsible, but can enhance cost savings, innovation, market opportunities and competitiveness. The Power of Green is within us all and small changes have a large impact on our communities and province.
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Nova Scotia's H1N1 campaign: "What Would You Need to Know?"
With the threat of the world's first influenza pandemic in 40 years, the Government of Nova Scotia needed to ensure its citizens had access to up-to-date, accurate information and were encouraged to protect themselves against H1N1.
MT&L was asked to develop a creative marketing campaign in support of the province's overall communications efforts. The goal? To reach as many Nova Scotians as possible and encourage them to protect themselves, their families and their communities. MT&L developed, focus-tested and produced the campaign in time to coincide with the first provincial mass vaccination clinics. The campaign included television, print, out of home (posters), radio and online advertising. Getting vaccinated is still the best way to protect yourself; for more information visit www.gov.ns.ca/H1N1.
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A little retail therapy anyone? This is the place
McAllister Place in Saint John, New Brunswick, celebrated a grand reopening upon completion of a $13-million renovation. For the first time in 30-years McAllister Place had a total makeover by revamping its look and modernizing the shopping experience.
McAllister Place engaged MT&L to develop an exciting new visual identity and marketing materials, including a print and radio advertising campaign, posters, e-newsletter and website. It was important that the new creative and script reflected the modern, contemporary look and feel of McAllister Place, as well as appealing to the senses of the sophisticated shopper for the launch and the upcoming holiday shopping season. The creative was also extended to the holiday greeting card.
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Dick Lemon - Nova Scotia's Tourism Innovator of the Year
MT&L is pleased to congratulate Dick Lemon, winner of the Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia's 2009 Innovator of the Year award.
Dick was presented the award for his development of Five Islands Retreat, his creation of the Not Since Moses run, and his opening of Mo's at Five Islands, a café, book and art store and hostel.
Dick is a successful businessman from California who came across Five Islands, Nova Scotia, several years ago and fell in love with the place. As with the other initiatives Dick is involved with, his goal is to give back to communities and the people who live in them.
Those interested in running in 2010 are encouraged to watch the website for registration details (check in mid-April).
Congratulations Dick!
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PolyCello's thinking outside the "pouch" leads to success
PolyCello, an Amherst, Nova Scotia-based flexible packaging company has been thinking outside the pouch for more than 50 years. Under the guidance of third-generation CEO Stephen Emmerson, PolyCello has recently been awarded the 2010 Nova Scotia Family Enterprise of the Year award from the Canadian Association of Family Enterprises (CAFÉ) and has requalified as one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies. PolyCello's innovative packaging solutions is making it easier for North American shoppers to be environmentally-friendly.
With more than one billion non-recyclable, bottom-gusseted stand-up pouches produced in North America alone annually, and customer demand for greener packaging on the rise, PolyCello developed an environmentally-friendly, recyclable packaging solution.
PolyCello's environmentally-friendly pouches are developed using their SmartPack Technology. The VOC-free process reduces the number of films required for a given package, saves production time, and reduces the environmental impact—both in the process and in the packaging.
MT&L is pleased to congratulate PolyCello on their awards!
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Branding our bridges
Halifax Dartmouth Bridge Commission, one of MT&L's longest-standing clients, and one of this region's longest-standing and vital transportation infrastructures, recently refreshed their visual identity, and MT&L was happy to be part of the process. Long-known as the Halifax Dartmouth Bridge Commission, the organization launched its new visual identity.
The last time that HDBC introduced a new logo was in 1980. Since that time, they have worked hard to establish the bridges as the link between communities providing, safe, efficient and reliable service to a growing number of users. While the organizational name will not change legally or legislatively, "Halifax Harbour Bridges" (HHB) is the organization's new public face.
Research confirmed that our bridges are seen as iconic symbols of the region as well as functional structures; they are vital links between communities and are crucial to the region's economy and infrastructure. Regardless of whether a person crosses the bridges or not, many acknowledged that life without the bridges "would be chaos." It was determined desirable for the public to not only feel appreciative of "their bridges," however, but also feel that the organization responsible for them is a professional, progressive, and reliable force.
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New name, new logo - immigration
We're pleased to have had the opportunity to work with MISA (Metropolitan Immigrant Settlement Association) and HILC (Halifax Immigrant Learning Centre) to create their new visual identity as they merged their organizations to become one—ISIS (Immigrant Settlement and Integration Services). The full service immigration organization helps immigrants to fully integrate into our community.
The new visual identity is focused on newcomers to Canada. Demonstrating a tone that is warm and "of the people", ISIS has created a unified brand for the organization that is clean, professional and direct. The natural palette colours and the curviness of the letters provide a warm and friendly tone without feeling too formal or impersonal.
The primary brand consideration speaks to "being all about people" with a subtle graphical representation of people in the acronym. We wish ISIS all the best as they roll out their new brand and build upon their existing reputation as a community leader.
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Kim West named CPRS Fellow
We are proud to announce that Kim West, Principal, was admitted to the Canadian Public Relations Society's College of Fellows. The only Atlantic Canadian practitioner to be admitted this year, Kim will be honoured for her outstanding contributions to the profession of public relations at the CPRS national conference in June 2010.
To qualify for Fellowship status, members must have been public relations practitioners for 20 years, CPRS members for 10 years and must have obtained Accredited Public Relations (APR) practitioner certification. They must also be recognized as having brought a significant contribution to the practice of public relations and to the Canadian Public Relations Society.
Kim has certainly proved her place in the profession and we applaud her!
Welcome Ned Perry
Ned Perry joins the team as a Senior Consultant. Ned has provided expert counsel to many of Canada's leading executives in the private, public and non-profit sectors. He has served leadership roles in public affairs, media relations, change and issues management, employee engagement initiatives, and strategic communications planning and execution.
Prior to relocating to Halifax from Toronto, and one of the city's leading communications agencies, Ned spent several years in B.C. working with a few key Ministries.
Read more about Ned and the other members of the MT&L team here.
Welcome Leo Artalejo
Joining MT&L as Senior Counsel, Leo is a strategist and communications professional with proven experience establishing new ideas as market standards. Most recently, Leo ran a communications consultancy in Seattle, Washington, providing product, presentation, and branding strategy to Fortune 500 technology companies, marketing agencies, and non-profit organizations.
Prior to that he worked for Microsoft for 12 years, leading a broad range of software and business development efforts, driving customer and partner outreach and serving as a technology spokesperson through the rise of the Internet and both the dot com and bomb periods. While at Microsoft, Leo was responsible for directing executive communications for Microsoft Windows, ensuring integration and consistency of messaging to audiences as diverse as financial analysts, computer manufacturers, and lawmakers. Passionate about the art of storytelling, one of his unique talents is expressing complex ideas in clear and compelling ways; he is as comfortable talking to policy makers as programmers.
In addition to his extensive experience creating and developing executive presentations, his background in technology strategy helps clients leverage new technologies in ways that make the most sense for their industry and audience.
Read more about Leo and the other members of the MT&L team here.
Welcome Gavin Anderegg
Gavin joins the MT&L team as web d00d par excellence. As an online
consultant and coder, he applies the strengths of the net to our
clients' communications. Gavin has worked as a web developer and server
administrator for years prior to joining MT&L, and more than keeps pace
with the speed of online innovation: there isn't a program, platform or
product that has come and gone over the past ten years that Gavin hasn't
discovered, tested, and graded according to usefulness and design.
Read more about Gavin and the other members of the MT&L team here.
Welcome Devon Mason
As MT&L's newest designer, Devon brings a fresh perspective to our
clients' communications pieces. We rely on his creativity, inspiration
and talents to build brands and deliver messages for our clients with
style and substance. His insights have powered regional, national and
international campaigns, in print and online.
Read more about Devon and the other members of the MT&L team here.
The Art of Prosperity - Smart Business Needs Art
MT&L has sponsored the Halifax Chamber of Commerce State of the Province Address since its inception, and each year we highlight a topic of importance to Nova Scotians, the business community, and to us as an organization. Most recently, we focused on the Art of Prosperity—shining a light on the connection between arts, creativity, innovation and economic prosperity and making the point that smart business needs art.
In collaboration with the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design and the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, the foyer of the venue was transformed into an art gallery, showcasing creative works by some of Nova Scotia's most talented artists.
Members of the 500+ sold-out audience were encouraged to visit their local centres of art and each guest provided with passes to the Seeds Gallery at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design and the Jean-Pierre Gauthier exhibit at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia.
