Take the Leap…from Good to Great! 2012 Forum is back and it’s happening on February 29, 2012 at the Ottawa Convention Centre.

We’ve gathered the best and brightest PR and media relations professionals in English and French to present you a stellar event! You will learn best practices from communicators at these top organizations:

• New Democratic Party (NDP) ; Brad Lavigne
• Canadian Olympic Committee ; Dimitri Soudas
• Canada Post ; Anick Losier
• McDonald’s Canada ; Jason Patuano
• NATIONAL Public Relations ; Bruno Guglielminetti

Join us and our Master of Ceremony, Christina Lawand, for this intensive one-day event, the #PRMixer after party, and, of course, a great networking and professional development experience! You’ll walk away with the tools you need to put your organization ahead of the competition.

Registration is now open at taketheleap2012.ca. Hurry up while seats are still available!

When Ford of Canada’s Vice-President of Sales, Scott Cauvel, was in Ottawa in late September to speak at OCRI’s ExecTALKS event, Thornley Fallis Account Coordinator Samantha Hartley (@msshartley) arranged an interview between him and CTVs Kate Eggins, which led to this great report on the health technologies for drivers that Ford is putting in its vehicles.

As we get closer to Thanksgiving we often remind ourselves of reasons to be thankful. Here at Thornley Fallis we recalled how, this past summer, The Shepherds of Good Hope declared their cupboards bare.

TFC’s LeeEllen Carroll with the Ford Transit Connect – a home office on the road.

We came up with the idea of “Ford Connects with the Community” – a new community fundraising event organized in hopes of making Thanksgiving a thankful time for everyone in the nation’s capital. Ottawa area Ford dealers are filling their Transit Connect mobile units, when packed to the roof, will provide enough food to fill tables with hundreds of meals in the coming weeks.

While the dealers have invited their staff, customers, communities and friends to contribute, we’ve invited the Parliamentary Press Gallery, local areas MPs and MPPs, as well as municipal politicians and candidates to make a difference.

We’ll be driving the Transit Connect to collect the food at the end of this week. We hope you can join us in celebrating the community connecting to help those in need.

LeeEllen loading food donations into the Transit Connect.

At the conclusion of the Ford Food Drive, Ottawa’s AChannel had a chat with Rob Eady from the Shepherds of Good Hope, Phil Torrinha from Donnelly Ford and a group of Ottawa Sting minor hockey players who wanted to apply their teamwork to their community.

Here’s an easy and efficient way to take one’s home office on the road. Literally.

Ford’s Transit Connect was developed to be a smart new choice for small business owners. The Ford Work Solutions in-dash computer is capable of linking into a business’s main office computer network or a home computer via the cellular broadband connection.  When I gave it a spin I found the word processing and on-board inkjet printer handy for my own work. It also has a handy “Tool Link” where the RFI will scan the vehicle to ensure all inventory is onboard. This has potential to ensure all hockey and sports equipment makes it back safely as well!

The navigation system contains features including listings for local stations and coffee stops, which both came in handy during my test drive.

CTV’s Paul Brent also got behind the wheel and spoke with an Ottawa-based business about why it’s their choice of business vehicle.

Sean Howard joins as Vice-President of Digital Communications.  For over 15 years Sean has delivered insight and innovation to clients in the digital marketing space including Aeroplan, Aviva, Unilever, Microsoft Xbox, Pfizer and TD Bank. Most recently Sean was Strategy Director at Twist Image, where he was co-creator of the emerging strategy discipline.  Prior to that he was Director of Strategy and Innovation at Lift and he also ran his own digital media firm, Spinglobe Inc, from 2002-2007.  Sean has worked with clients and agencies on product innovation, UX and the development of digital strategies.  He also helped plan and launch TVO’s AgendaCamp where they used open innovation techniques to engage Canadians across Ontario.

Sean’s immediate responsibilities will include taking on the social media/digital communications team lead role, but he will also be driving new business in the digital space.

Deborah Knight has joined as a Senior Consultant in the traditional communications practice.  Deborah is an experienced publicity, promotions and marketing strategist with a solid track record in the arts, corporate and entrepreneurial environments.  Her category expertise includes B2C package goods, beverage and alcohol, automotive, telecoms, financial, food, retail, airline, healthcare and entertainment.  Prior to joining Thornley Fallis & 76design, Deborah ran her own firm, dkpr public relations, and she also spent two years at WestJet as National Manager, Public Relations and Communications, and three years at SkyDome Corporation as Public Relations Manager.

Deborah will step in immediately to take media relations capabilities to the next level.

On Tuesday, June 29th, Sean Hallett of Erinwood Ford presented a 2011 Ford Mustang to an Erindale Secondary School graduate and award winner for outstanding leadership on Rogers First Local, Mississauga.

Check out the clip:

On Friday, June 18^th, Doug Heeney of Campbell Ford demonstrated SYNC on A-Channel with Kurt Stoodley.

Check out the clip:

A-Channel – SYNC – Campbell Ford – June 19, 2010

On Saturday May 29th, Dupuis Ford Lincoln’s Mutang Poker Run raised $101,666 for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

Check out this previous Capital PR post about the event.

On Saturday, June 5^th, Michel Dupuis along with other organizers of the Mustang Poker Run appeared on A-Channel to discuss their great fundraising success.

Check out the clip:
A-Channel Weekend – Dupuis Ford Mustang Poker Run

On Wednesday, May 26^th, Kirk Joseph of Donnelly Ford demonstrated Ford’s Active Park Assist Technology on CTV Ottawa with reporter Paul Brent.

Check out the clip:
CTV Ottawa – Ford Active Park Assist

Yesterday, I moderated a news conference at the Canada Aviation Museum at which Tony Frese, Lockheed Martin program manager for the Canadian CC-130J project, announced the Canada In-Service Support Team for the CC-130J fleet and $1.5 billion Industrial Regional Benefits confirmed to date under the CC-130J program, including $307 million for companies in Ontario.  News Release

The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Industry, then welcomed the news that Lockheed Martin is providing in-service support contracts to businesses across Canada and that the company has confirmed to date $1.5 billion in Industrial Regional Benefit projects under the CC-130J program, including $307 million for companies in Ontario. News Release

Keelan Green of Thornley Fallis

Tony Clement, Minister of Industry

Tony Frese of Lockheed Martin

L to R: Tony Frese, Keelan Green, David Schellenberg of Cascade Aerospace, Minister Tony Clement