The NOW Group

06/27/2024

"Health care needs health care workers. Let’s support them—so we don’t lose them.”

That's the message in the heart of Government and General Employees' Union (MGEU) campaign to support thousands of dedicated health care workers across Manitoba. Our team is proud to help deliver that message to all Manitobans, with ads airing now across the province—including MGEU’s first-ever 60-second radio spot!

Read more about the campaign on our website:

That’s the message at the heart of MGEU’s new campaign to support thousands of dedicated health care workers across Manitoba. And our team is proud to help deliver that message to all Manitobans, with ads airing now across the province—including MGEU’s first-ever 60 second radio spot.

06/26/2024

Great news – deadline for the Ian Reid Scholarship applications has been EXTENDED to July 1!

Apply now! https://www.douglascoldwelllayton.ca/ianreid

—

Scholarship Prizes: One $1,500 prize and one $1,000 award.

Who can apply: The scholarship is open to students from any Canadian public post-secondary institution enrolled in an undergraduate degree, pursuing a career promoting social democracy in politics and government, with a focus on research, strategy and communications in particular.

06/24/2024

Although Pride month is coming to an end, the fight for more equal, just Canada does not end.

Pride month gives us an opportunity to be loud and proud, and show our continued commitment to creating safe, inclusive, and supportive communities for 2SLGBTQIA+ folks. Whether you're attending a parade, speaking up against hate, or taking action in other ways—or hopefully all of the above—here's a link to Society of Q***r Momentum website where you start: https://www.rainbowequality.ca/

06/21/2024

This week Heather, the president of NOW, attended the CUPE BC Super Conference. Union leaders were gathered in Kelowna to learn and share their knowledge and ideas. Heather had the pleasure of sharing insights on the topic we know and love at NOW—why unions matter, and how to communicate persuasively to win more for working people.

Photos by Joshua Berson

06/19/2024

🏳️‍🌈 Don't miss it! The application deadline for the Ian Reid Scholarship is this Sunday, June 23rd.

Essay Topic: This year’s essay will focus on defending and supporting transgender rights: why it matters, who's affected, and how to promote greater understanding and equality, together with the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

Scholarship Prizes: One $1,500 prize and one $1,000 award.

Who can apply: The scholarship is open to students from any Canadian public post-secondary institution enrolled in an undergraduate degree, pursuing a career promoting social democracy in politics and government, with a focus on research, strategy and communications in particular.

Apply now! https://www.douglascoldwelllayton.ca/ianreid

06/14/2024

How will you win people’s hearts this summer? 😍 Don't worry, we have some thoughts on innovative ways to reach your audience—even when they might be in vacation mode.

🎉 Explore event advertising. Identify where your audience might gather—will it be a music festival, conference, or a local street festival?

🎧 What are people listening to? Take advantage of the popularity of podcasts! Nearly 60% of podcast listeners said that they have taken some action as a result of hearing a podcast ad (source: The Podcast Exchange).

☀️ Consider out-of-home advertising. With people hitting the road for road trips and vacations, this tactic can be highly effective in the summer.

Find more ideas on our blog post: https://nowgroup.com/swipe-right-on-summer/

06/12/2024

A shortage of teachers in BC schools and inadequate levels of classroom resources are making it harder for teachers to reach every student, and deliver the supports kids truly need.

BC Teachers' Federation (BCTF) campaign calls for solutions that will improve public education across the province. It starts with hiring more teachers—so they can help more kids.

We recently wrote a blog post about the campaign, where you can watch all the ads. Link in the comments!

06/07/2024

The Ian Reid Scholarship is currently accepting applications!

The scholarship prizes are worth $1,000 and $1,500 and are open to undergraduate students from any Canadian public post-secondary institution committed to promoting social democracy and fostering inclusion in politics.

📅 Application Deadline: June 23, 2024

Start the application here: https://www.douglascoldwelllayton.ca/ianreid

Tommy Douglas (the Official)

06/05/2024

CUPE BC has been campaigning for better public child care for years. And recently, they received some big news! ✨

Earlier this month, the Government of British Columbia announced it’s moving forward on Seamless Childcare—a new pilot project for fully integrated before- and after-school childcare options at BC public schools. It's one of the best ways to make life easier for parents while making use of the existing school space, resources, and trained staff at BC’s public schools.

Read more about the good news in our blog: nowgroup.com/cupebc-campaign-gets-results-for-parents-and-kids/

05/31/2024

At NOW we are big fans of research and even bigger fans of Leslie Turnbull!

NOW and Viewpoints have been partners for almost 30 years and Leslie has been there every step of the way—but today she heads off into well-deserved retirement.

One of the country’s smartest political strategists and a masterful focus group moderator, Leslie’s insights have been invaluable to much of our work. We’ll miss you lots Leslie, but we love you even more!

We’re excited for you to have more time to travel, paint and most importantly—spend time with your family, especially little Frank.

05/30/2024

Are you, or someone you know, passionate about social democracy and inclusion? So was Ian Reid, whose legacy lives on through the Ian Reid Scholarship.

At NOW, we strongly believe in the power of research and communication to drive positive change, which is why we're proud to see this opportunity open up for students attending any post-secondary institution!

About the scholarship:
💰 Scholarship Prizes: One $1,500 prize and one $1,000 award.
📝 Essay Topic: This year's focus is on Trans rights and Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Education.
🌟 Eligibility: Open to undergraduate students from any Canadian public post-secondary institution committed to promoting social democracy and fostering inclusion in politics.
📅 Application Deadline: June 23, 2024

Start the application here: https://www.douglascoldwelllayton.ca/ianreid

Tommy Douglas (the Official)

05/24/2024

Every moment matters in a medical emergency. But Ottawa’s paramedics are stretched so thin that they’re struggling to reach people in time. How long is too long to wait?

This Paramedic Services Week, CUPE 503 in Ottawa launched a new campaign to fix the crisis in emergency medical services.

Read more, and support Ottawa’s paramedics at TooLongToWait.ca

05/15/2024

📣 Calling all aspiring change-makers in politics! The Ian Reid Scholarship is now open for submissions! If you're passionate about promoting social democracy and advancing inclusion in decision-making, this scholarship is for you. Visit
https://www.douglascoldwelllayton.ca/ianreid
to learn more and apply today!

05/14/2024

Have you seen a message like this pop up on your business page inbox recently? This message was sent to our page just a month ago. True story!

Scams are getting more common—and more sophisticated. On social media, getting scammed out of your business account is everyone's worst nightmare. Once a scammer gets a hold of your account, it's very difficult to get it back.

If you get a suspicious message on Facebook claiming you have violated policy, asking to reset your password, or that your account will be disabled if you don't take action...that's a scam! A rule of thumb: Facebook will never try to contact you through the messenger chat. You will either get an email or a notification if there is something wrong with your account. So you can safely ignore or delete these types of messages—better yet, report them as a scam.

05/09/2024

If you're like many of us, speaking to a large audience is terrifying—the heart is in your throat, a knot in your stomach, a wobble in your knees... But here’s a little secret that can help. No one’s a natural at giving a speech or delivering a press conference.

At NOW, we have decades of experience in helping leaders and communications teams find their unique style of public speaking. In our latest blog post, we give you four tips for your next public appearance, and how to ace it! Read it, here: https://nowgroup.com/4-tips-to-build-your-confidence-and-deliver-your-message/

05/06/2024

All of the members of UFCW 1518 here at The NOW Group extend our deepest condolences to Kim's family and to all she inspired in the labour movement.

It is with heavy hearts that we must share the tragic news that this past weekend, UFCW 1518 President Kim Novak passed away, surrounded by her family and loved ones.

We at UFCW 1518 are devastated by this news. For many years, Kim has been an integral part of our Union, an inspiring leader, and a dear friend.

President Kim Novak led a remarkable life that made a positive difference in the lives of countless people. Throughout her time with UFCW 1518, Kim held various leadership roles, including as a union representative, director, and Secretary-Treasurer. When Kim was unanimously elected President of UFCW 1518, she made history as the first woman and youngest leader of our Union. She also served as Vice-President of UFCW International and on the UFCW Canada National Council. She dedicated her entire career to the fight for dignity and respect for all workers, leading the way not only for our Union, but the wider labour movement.

Kim's leadership was marked by her deep connection to UFCW 1518 members and we know this loss will be deeply felt by many of you.

We offer our deepest condolences to Kim’s family and ask that their privacy be respected at this extremely difficult time.

In the coming weeks, we will share information on how our members and the wider community can join us in recognizing Kim’s legacy and the lasting impact she made on our movement.

As Kim’s family said best: “do something today to embody how Kimberly lived. Be kind, make someone laugh, lend a hand.”

Let us honour her memory by carrying forward her spirit of service, kindness, and compassion.

05/06/2024

BC's acute teacher shortage is putting a huge strain on our teachers across the province. The funding of our public schools is not keeping up with the complex needs in classrooms—and the schools are facing big challenges.

The new campaign from the BC Teachers' Federation (BCTF) highlights the realities facing students and teachers in BC’s public schools. The shortage of teachers and inadequate levels of classroom resources are making it harder to reach every child and deliver the supports they truly need.

BCTF’s new campaign builds on that message to call for the solutions that will improve public education across the province. It starts with hiring more teachers—so they can help more kids.

Read more about the campaign on our blog:

This week, the BC Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) is launching a new campaign with a powerful ad showing the realities facing students and teachers in BC’s public schools. And as Canada’s leading advertising agency for public education advocacy, we’re proud to help.

05/03/2024

Wow! It's hard to believe that it's been 25 years since Michele walked through the doors of the NOW office for the first time. Her career here started by working at the front desk, quickly moving to other roles like media coordinator and account management—and for the past 8 years, she's been a Partner and our VP of Operations!

Needless to say, she knows the business inside out. She's got an incredible ability to know what you need before you do, and she always ensures we have what we need to excel and get the job done right. We couldn't be more grateful for her kindness, patience, and knowledge that she shares with her team.

Happy 25 years at NOW, Michele! 🥳❤️

05/01/2024

In the last year, the labour movement has gained momentum. With the rise in cost of living matched with wages that don't keep up—it's clear why so many workers are taking action and demanding more.

This International Workers' Day, we stand in solidarity with all unions and their workers who are fighting for better working conditions or are currently on strike across the country. We're with you!

04/28/2024

No work is worth more than workers' lives.

Today, on National Day of Mourning, we pause to reflect on the lives lost and the families forever changed by workplace fatalities and accidents.

It's time that we all commit to safer workplaces, better regulation, and stronger unions to advocate for employee safety where everyone can return home to their loved ones unharmed.

04/26/2024

Our very own VP of Creative & Strategy Joanne is joining this year's Polaris Awards jury!

For us, she's an obvious choice for the jury—Polaris Awards recognize the best political and public sector communications campaigns from around the world. Her expertise in marketing and communications in the political field is like no other, and we're so lucky to have her as a lead Creative at NOW!

This year's Polaris Awards will be announced in London UK on June 21st.

04/10/2024

14 million impressions. 3,300 digital screens. And the biggest one-day campaign we have ever run.

Our team's first-of-its-kind interactive outdoor ad campaign for the Elementary Educators has just been awarded Best International Use of Outdoor Advertising and Best Canadian Use of Outdoor Advertising at the 2024 Reed Awards! And we couldn't be prouder to help celebrate teachers and educators in a brand new way.

Read more in our latest blog! https://nowgroup.com/outdoor-ads-for-etfo-win-at-reedawards/

04/09/2024

We're proud to announce that the historic Manitoba NDP election campaign was honoured at the 2024 Reed Awards! ⭐️

With a clear focus on fixing health care and making life more affordable, that is exactly how the Manitoba NDP won the 2023 election and made history with Wab Kinew becoming the 1st First Nations premier of a Canadian province. The campaign—which featured four signature ads that were seen on TV, digital and social platforms—was recognized as the Best International Campaign (Sub-National).

Read more, and watch all the ads in our latest blog post! https://nowgroup.com/reed-awards-win-for-historic-manitoba-campaign/

04/05/2024

It's truly hard to believe it's already been 10 years since we lost our dear friend Ian Reid.

In loving memory of Ian, a scholarship in his name was launched earlier this year in partnership with The Douglas Coldwell Layton Foundation (Tommy Douglas (the Official)). Ian was an inspiration to so many, and we are thrilled to see his contributions honoured with this scholarship.

Find out more, and how to donate, here:
https://www.douglascoldwelllayton.ca/the_ian_reid_scholarship_fund

03/22/2024

Last night, Heather and Emily-Anne attended the Reed Awards and they're bringing home SEVEN awards—including the award for Best International Firm. 🤩

Reed Awards represent the very best the political campaign and advocacy industries have to offer. We can't wait to share the winning campaigns with you!

03/19/2024

Happy first day of spring! Is it too early to start dreaming about long days, sunshine, and summer events? Asking for a friend. 👀

When it comes to your marketing strategy for the summer, it's not too early! In our new blog post, we've put together some ideas on how to raise awareness in your local community this summer in a fun, approachable, and creative way. 🌞

Read more below!

As the weather warms up and days get longer, it’s the perfect time to spring ahead and start planning for summer! And our team has lots of ideas to help your union or non-profit make the most of summer 2024.

03/14/2024

We’re excited to announce that our work with the Canadian Cancer Society—Canada’s largest cancer charity—has been honoured with the silver award for Health/Medical Industry Marketing at this year’s Summit Marketing Effectiveness Awards! 🎉

With over 1,800 submissions from 17 countries, The Summit Marketing Effectiveness Awards recognizes campaigns that change minds and shift behaviours. The 30-second ad, "About Life" features real people and real stories about palliative care and its power to make life better for everyone.

Read our new blog post about the campaign, here: https://nowgroup.com/canadiancancersociety-honoured-with-award/

03/08/2024

Trans women and all trans people have been up against a lot of hateful rhetoric from right-wing politicians this past year and it’s leading to an uptick in violence towards trans and non-binary people.

Trans women are women. And trans rights are human rights. So, we’re marking this International Women’s Day by profiling a few organizations that are helping to lead the work of organizing for a just and safe society for all women. Here are just a few accounts to follow that share a lot of great information and actions you can do to take part in the struggle for gender equality.

If you have other recommendations for accounts to follow, make sure to share them in the comments below! 💜

03/06/2024

⭐️ The biggest movie event of the year is this Sunday—the Oscars, of course! We asked some of our team members who have professional experience in production (and are avid movie enthusiasts) for their predictions on winners—and they had some interesting insights to share with us. ⭐️

Katie, Visual Effects:
"The Creator made me fall in love with a robot which I believe is partly because the visual effects were so seamless. The budget was a lot lower than a typical visual effects film and it somehow still looked like high-budget work. The director, Gareth Edwards, used to be a visual effects artist so the attention to detail and care that went into the production was heavily influenced by his expertise."

Eric, Writing (Adapted Screenplay):
"This is a close call, both are difficult stories to adapt for the screen. How do you make Oppenheimer engaging to the masses for three hours? How do you make a “girls” toy into a film relevant to today’s shifting perspective of traditional gender roles? IMO the award should go to Barbie if for no other reason than Greta not being nominated for best director. Plus, it was just fun!"

Carla, Directing & Best Picture:
"Christopher Nolan is arguably overdue for an Oscar for his innovative, boundary-pushing, emotionally compelling, cinematically spectacular and downright entertaining films. And Oppenheimer is a masterpiece. To have taken this complex subject matter and woven it together in a way that engaged and kept millions of theatre-goers on the edge of their seats for a full 3 hours—bravo Mr. Nolan, and kudos are well deserved."

Neha, Music (Original Score):
"Poor Things has a score that I've never heard before. There’s a prominent melody featured in the movie that sounds like harp strings. It has some intentionally pitchy notes, but the arrangement just works altogether. It gives the film this quirky, drunk-like feeling that perfectly matches all its whimsy. Oppenheimer felt like I was watching a very long music video. Not my winner, but credit where credit is due, we all heard and felt the movie."

What's your prediction for the Best Picture? 👀 Let us know in the comments!