Canada's first-ever Advertising Week gets under way in six cities across the country Monday and more than 2,000 participants are expected to attend events taking place in Toronto. "There are a lot of events going on that are amalgamating the advertising and communication industries at large," said Advertising Week event manager Stacey Farber, who began planning the four days of activities a year ago.
Created by the Institute of Communication Agencies to celebrate the industry and encourage young people to join the profession, Advertising Week takes place in Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver from Monday through Thursday. Highlights of the Toronto festivities include a kickoff breakfast at the Art Gallery of Ontario on Monday, followed by a cocktail party for sponsors and speakers at the Gardiner Museum later that evening.
A series of speakers will participate in a conference at Atlantis Pavilions on Tuesday, and college and university students interested in joining the industry will have the opportunity to visit one of 15 agencies as part of Youth Day Wednesday. Also on Wednesday, Sir Richard Branson will talk about building the Virgin brand during a luncheon sponsored by The Toronto Star at Filmport Studios, and a Puma fashion show and concert by Kardinal Offishall takes place at Steam Whistle Brewery that evening.
The Marketing Hall of Legends Gala—presented by Mandrake and the Toronto chapter of the American Marketing Association—and the Cassie awards are also taking place under the umbrella of Advertising Week.
