“X” marks the spot.
For more than 80 years, Canadian Geographic has been producing extraordinary maps of all types and sizes that not only cover geographical areas in Canada, and around the world, but many types of non-geographical maps that take us to places we never dreamed of (i.e. a map on how music affects our brains). To showcase Canadian Geographic’s legacy of mapmaking to students, we created a fun, animated short called CG-180. Through a clever narrative and dyamic, 3-Dimensional graphics we featured maps that took the viewer off the beaten path and to places unknown.

What invasive species is eating up Newfoundland?
Terra Nova's forest is rapidly changing. Much of it is disappearing because 1000-pound rabbits (known as a moose!) are eating its trees. Saving Terra Nova's forest is the driving force behind this video. With sensitive narrative and insightful testimonials from Parks staff, who are on the frontlines of this ecological battle, we presented the problems facing Newfoundland's first national park in combating its over-abundant moose population. The video's underlining goal was to gain support for Terra Nova's long-term policies that will ultimately protect the ecological integrity of its forest for future generations to come.

What's faster than a speeding bullet and can deliver information through walls?
Canarie Networks' CAnet4 broadband fibre optic network had just been hooked up in Whitehorse and Yellowknife. With its expansion to these northern regions, the network was now available in every Canadian province and territory for the first time. As a defining centerpiece of a nationwide celebration that recognized the final link-up, we designed a video that featured dynamic 3-D "light runners" who passed a baton to each other. This explosive theme of connectivity was a perfect way to illustrate Canarie's leading global position in high-speed information sharing. Its dynamic visual and audio components were also very suitable for large-screen public events.

What's cookin' next door may shock you.
In this hard-hitting informational video featuring raw testimonials from strung-out teenage drug users, actual police footage and original reenactments, we presented the harsh realities of clandestine drug labs in middle-class and affluent neighbourhoods. With an underlining subtext of "this could happen to you", the video clearly demonstrated, on a true street level, the dangerous effects these operations can have on Canadian families.

Credibility direct from the source.
To assist Service Canada's clients in understanding and completing various applications, we designed 11 modular "Video Tutorials" for their website. The tutorials needed to give its users guidance similar to what they would receive at in-person centers. They had to ultimately reduce stress, promote trust and improve quality of service. Using actual Service Canada personnel as hosts (shot on green-screen) keyed in front of supporting web page information and stylish animated sequences, the eleven web-based modules took seemingly daunting tasks and simplified them into layman's terms. To date, these videos have proved highly popular and effective.

All that jazz and so much more.
When the Ottawa International Jazz Festival, one of Canada's premier music events, was marking its 30th anniversary it was looking for a creative 30-second television ad to promote itself. We didn't want to do one commercial, we wanted to design a full campaign. Our bold, and much talked about approach, consisted of a series of 5 X 15-second commercial shorts. Surprise-factor driven, the spots reinforced the Jazz Festival through a series of clever "wordplay" ads. We took well-known jazz phrases and presented them in series of backdrops that initially didn't make any immediate connection to the festival until the very end of each spot.

What do you show at a National Historic Site when there's very little to see?
The Rocky Mountain National Historic site was home to four forts, but very little remnants, or archival imagery, of any of the forts exist today. The challenge before us was, how could we create a captivating video with little onsite resources? The solution was a host-driven, documentary that examined the accomplishments of the Northwest and Hudson Bay fur trading companies, and questioned whether or not present day companies could achieve what they did more than two centuries ago? Comparing the technology, personal achievements and political sensitivities associated with the fur trade of the past, to present day transportation, marketing and manufacturing provided many fascinating parallels.

Words. What do they mean to you?
How do you attract young professionals to consider a career in language translation? First, you appeal to their love of words and then you sell them on the many rewards associated with working in Canada's language industry. This was the successful approach we took in designing a stylistic, 30-second recruiting commercial for AILIA. By focusing on the lifestyle an individual could enjoy as a result of working in Canada's language industry, we made an occupation that many may have never considered, become an appealing option. The spot ended with a clever call-to-action statement that encapsulated the whole mission of the language industry.

Teaching old dogs new tricks.
Canada Revenue Agency wanted two, clever, short-form videos to motivate taxpayers to file their taxes online using their Netfile service. What we did was to take the anxiety many taxpayers feel when sending their sensitive, financial information over the Internet, and eliminated it. The humourous Back and Forth video features a taxpayer who is challenged by his "right and wrong" conscience appearing in the form of virtual miniatures of himself as he grapples with whether or not to file online. And the It Fits My Life video features a working mom who appears on the screen as a mom, businesswoman, wife and taxpayer, all simultaneously, as she describes how Netfile fits her busy life.

When money talks, people listen.
In this visitor centre video we literally put words into William Lyon Mackenzie King's mouth, as we brought the story of his childhood home, Woodside, to life. In this entertaining, fun-filled 'dramedy', an animated King's face, on an actual Canadian fifty-dollar bill, provides a voice to Canada's most celebrated Prime Minister. The talking bill is found in a Kitchener park, by an average Canadian, who is then instructed by King to take him to his childhood home. At Woodside, he is given a gift like no other, a private tour by King himself.

This two-minute plus, animated short we created for the CRA was a new episode
in an established series of animated tax relief measures videos. Jumping off an established look, feel and delivery, we successfully brought to life how the Family Caregiver Tax Credit affects two families. The video seamlessly took its place alongside other videos in the series that explained the various tax credit benefits available to Canadians.

Who you gonna’ call when you’re feeling the squeeze?
Protecting and informing Canadian consumers on financial matters is the responsibility of the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC). They are watching our backs when it comes to dealing with the banks and credit card companies. The problem is, many Canadians are unaware of their existence and the assistance they provide. To promote all the good work FCAC does, we developed an engaging, motion graphic-driven approach. Blending still images of everyday Canadians with stylistic info-text, that appear in a variety of clever applications. We showcased and described the many financial products, tools and services they provide. This clean and sophisticated approach with its appealing narrative, established who they are and explained how they help Canadians make sense of their finances.

Please sir, can I have some more?
Carleton University knows full well that to successfully nourish the mind, you have to also nourish the body. To this end, they have created some of most tasty, on campus food services courts and restaurants imaginable. To visually capture their cornucopia of culinary treats, we literally strapped rollerblades onto our cameraman and set him loose. Singing the praises of the rich variety of healthy choices being served up were the students themselves, as they candidly provided on the spot, impromptu reviews. The result was a fun and informative video that the student body ate up!

An awe-inspiring National Park, with a tongue twister of a name.
Through stunning HD aerials, macro close-ups and everything in between, we captured the beautiful landscape, flora and fauna of Kouchibouguac (Kou-she-boo-gwack) like never before. This riveting, interpretive visitor centre video featured historical recollections by experts and locals who gave an emotional intimacy and a personal connection to the sense of this fascinating place. Through historical recollections, carefully crafted narration and poignant testimonials, we provided an understanding of how Kouchibouguac came to be, at the expense of Acadian expropriation, and how its varied geography, ecology and climate influenced its surrounding communities.

Twenty-six went to war. Only one survived.
This stirring music video was a passionate tribute to Canada's only Tribal-Class destroyer still in existence. Through powerful lyrics of an original song, we gave this storied ship human-like qualities such as personality, bravado, history and pride. Set in a conceptual backdrop of a virtual photo album we featured engrossing archival film footage and photographs of the HMCS Haida and crew in action. This powerful music video touched all Canadians, as it showcased the valour and dedication of those who served on its mighty decks.

It’s all about putting the “customer first”.
Carleton University’s in-house printing shop prides itself on the attentive service it provides each student and customer. To capture their passion, we created a mini-documentary about the people behind the presses. Making them feel at ease in front of the camera, they told a story of commitment, teamwork and pride. The reason this video was such a success was because it was an inspiration to anyone who works with, and for, others. It not only profiled what services were available at the print shop, but also captured the total job satisfaction of the staff, in an environment that most of us know little about.

Make every trip a return trip.
Sea Kayaking presents hazards and considerations that are unique. Sea kayakers who are unprepared can be a hazard to themselves and a potential threat to the ocean's delicate eco-system. To demonstrate how the majority of sea kayaking incidents, tragic or otherwise, can be avoided, we developed a series of dramatic recreations shot off the rugged coast of Newfoundland. To acquire first-hand knowledge of the dangers associated with this growing sport, our producer and writer, with paddles in hand, found themselves in front of the cameras participating in many of these recreations. Supporting these recreations was in-depth analysis and recommendations from a local sea-kayaking expert, and a no holds barred script.

Sweat the small stuff.
DND required a video to ensure that young Canadians fully understood all of the steps involved in applying to the Canadian Forces. To appeal to this youth market, we pushed for a contemporary 'marketing & stylistic' creative approach. The result was an intriguing scenario that featured three seemingly unrelated young adults experiencing the recruitment process journey. Using innovative camera techniques and clever production design, we created a visual landscape in which viewers could vicariously see themselves going through each step of the application process, alongside each new recruit.

An awe-inspiring National Park, with a tongue twister of a name.
Through stunning HD aerials, macro close-ups and everything in between, we captured the beautiful landscape, flora and fauna of Kouchibouguac (Kou-she-boo-gwack) like never before. This riveting, interpretive visitor centre video featured historical recollections by experts and locals who gave an emotional intimacy and a personal connection to the sense of this fascinating place. Through historical recollections, carefully crafted narration and poignant testimonials, we provided an understanding of how Kouchibouguac came to be, at the expense of Acadian expropriation, and how its varied geography, ecology and climate influenced its surrounding communities.

And the winner is.
NSERC awards for excellence honours Canada's most outstanding scientists and engineers who work tirelessly to better people's lives and make major contributions to international science and technology. As part of NSERC’s elaborate awards ceremony, we produced a profile video that showcased all of the finalists. In order for the scientists and engineers to engage with the audience, made up largely of non-academics, we went beyond their achievements and uncovered what made them tick. We looked for quirky anecdotes and heart-warming moments. Our goal was to raise public awareness about the achievements Canada’s top researchers make, while revealing their human side to endear them to the audience.

A Child Abduction in a small western town. A Rape in Mexico. A High-seas Pursuit of a freighter filled with hashish. What do these three crimes have in common?
To illustrate the RCMP’s complex service networks, that include municipal, provincial, federal and international capabilities, we selected three actual RCMP case files and demonstrated, in a real-life drama, how they were Connected. This 20-minute film, unlike anything the RCMP had ever produced before to promote themselves, resembles a prime-time television drama in its concept, original action and gripping suspense. It effectively marketed the value of the RCMP to communities where municipal governments had the choice between hiring the RCMP, with its wide breadth of services, or just a local community police force to take care of their enforcement needs.

How to sell Canada in 60-seconds.
To encourage foreign investors to Invest in Canada, we created an exciting 3-Dimensional, perpetually moving graphical world. A world that featured dramatic stock footage (representing Canadians at work, life and play), actors shot in a green screen studio and graphic text showcasing Canada’s attributes. The result was a visually stunning video that communicated Canada’s investment attractiveness, and its winning formula, effectively with the sound on or off.

How do you put a fence around a body of water?
In this 'over and under' water adventure we presented the story of the natural significance of National Marine Conservation Areas. The video's goal was to provide viewers a greater understanding of NMCA's role as part of Canada's system of protected national parks and their evolving relationship between humans and the sea. The video was a metaphorical gateway to NMCAs, building anticipation, focusing attention and piquing curiosity. It also presented broad themes and focused on building emotional connections. It encouraged people to discover and embrace NMCAs through their own experiences.

You may be a smuggler and not even know about it.
To inform Canadians and international travelers on the dangers of bringing, often innocuous, prohibited items into Canada, we developed a humorous, site-gag approach for the Canada Food Inspection Agency. The humour’s intent was to immediately capture the traveler’s attention while still delivering the spot’s serious message. Our approach fell under the old adage that “you have to entertain in order for your audience to retain”. The spot acknowledged the diligent work of Canada’s Custom Agents and certainly made travelers think about how smuggling has evolved beyond the stereotypical illegal drugs and alcohol to now include items that, were at one time, deemed seemingly harmless.

One of the most significant events in human migration history occurred just because the Vikings took a left turn and landed on the northern tip of Newfoundland.
In Completing the Circle we used an engaging host to debunk the many myths associated with Vikings and tell the epic journey of how Viking explorers came to L’Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland in quest of resources. Reenacting the Vikings’ dramatic encounter with local First Nations inhabitants, viewers are treated to a significant event in history—the first full-circle reunion of two different migrating branches of humans who had both left Africa 100,000 years ago! Reenactments, and CGI, were also used to tell another dramatic journey filled with suspense; that of the search for the Viking village and its ensuing archeological dig.

From bucket to baseball hats, the key to winning over new fans.
This stylish and sexy 30-second promotional ad was designed to attract new and younger fans to Ottawa’s most prestigious music festivals. The Ottawa Jazz Festival was changing directions and booking more mainstream acts to complement their traditional jazz lineup. It was a risk they were willing to take to put new patrons in their seats. Using the ultra crisp imagery of a Red camera, sexual innuendos, sultry models and an infectious sound track we directly appealed to both non-jazz and traditionally jazz music fans. The spot was highly effective as it captured, and elevated, the new spirit of the Jazz Festival, and brought in a new crowd to enjoy a wider variety of great artists.

Reality with a twist.
There are hundreds of online sites that allow perspective homebuyers to view the amenities of potential new homes. To give this experience a new and exciting twist for Tamarack Homes, we developed something that had never been done before in new home sales. We created an entertaining online reality show that jumped off Tamarack’s signature slogan of Upgrade Your Life. This must-see and informative reality show featured a likeable, young couple (Mike & Gina) experiencing all the amenities Tamarack had to offer in their model homes. Seeing these homes through Mike and Gina’s eyes, combined with their entertaining give and take banter, allowed viewers a dynamic virtual visit that they could immediately relate too.