The Message

The Campaign team of David Brown, Chris Powell, and Lauren Johnson recount their (mostly) relaxing holiday break, before diving into the big industry news stories that caught their attention during the first week back. The holding companies went to CES to show off their new AI products—a likely signal about where agencies will be focused in the year ahead. In terms of brand plays closer to home, Rogers is encouraging young Canadians to put down their phones; Tim Hortons just signed its first Olympic Team Canada sponsorship; and WealthSimple maintains its reputation for unique and engaging advertising that is atypical for financial services. Finally, the team shares one of their own big plans for 2026: expanded social marketing and creator economy coverage.  

David Brown, Chris Powell, and new senior reporter Lauren Johnson review recent news headlines including the Ontario government's much-publicized anti-tariff ad, a new leadership appointment at LG2, and an inspiring run by the Toronto Blue Jays that had brands in a post-season tizzy.

Sara Koonar launched Platform Media to bring fairness, transparency, and storytelling to the creator economy when it was still an emerging industry. In this episode, she talks about what’s changed (and what hasn’t) in creator-brand partnerships, and the tools and systems she’s built to challenge the status quo.

Aleah Balas talks about her experience leaving agency work to go freelance and launching her own consultancy, as well as what it takes to land coverage for clients in under-the-radar sectors. 

As senior reporter Emma Johnston-Wheeler wraps up her time at Campaign Canada, she reflects with David Brown and Chris Powell–her marketing jedis–about everything she's learned in her two years in the advertising industry. 

Emma Johnston-Wheeler chats with Lucus Dato, Supervisor, Communications Design at Initiative Media, about what drew him to media planning, and how he goes above and beyond in role.

Emma Johnston-Wheeler chats with Noah Faigal, account supervisor at Lifelong Crush about how account management is sometimes under-appreciated in the industry and why It shouldn’t be, as well as why creativity is at the core of his agency’s wellness approach.

Emma Johnston-Wheeler chats with Soames Lovett-Darby, recent graduate of the final cohort of the M2T rotational marketing program, about his internship experience and how he's approaching the job search.

David Brown, Chris Powell, and Emma Johnston-Wheeler review stand out news headlines including the closure of Toronto’s Miami Ad school, and reflect on interesting Canadian creative like Rethink’s steamy plays for Doritos and Dame.