Case Studies
Case studies from cities, institutions, innovators, and civic leaders.
MADE SALMON THE OFFICIAL FISH
The Challenge: British Columbia had no official fish.
Our Solution: We decided it should have one.
The Process:
- Identified the cultural and economic significance of salmon to BC
- Built coalition across Indigenous communities, environmental groups, and government
- Wrote media campaign highlighting salmon’s role in BC identity
- Orchestrated legislative process and public support
The Result: Salmon became BC’s official fish through government legislation.
The Impact: Elevated BC’s brand identity while supporting conservation efforts and Indigenous recognition.
SUCCESSFUL PLACEMAKING – GROSVENOR AMBLESIDE
The Challenge: Convince a skeptical West Vancouver community to support a seven-story luxury condominium.
Our Solution: We wrote a brand story that made the building part of the community’s identity.
The Process:
- Wove together Generation X cultural history and Doug Coupland’s artistic legacy
- Connected the development to West Vancouver’s creative DNA
- Built grassroots support network of 500+ community advocates
- Positioned project as cultural landmark, not just housing
The Result: Grosvenor Ambleside sold out at record prices and became a community epicenter.
The Impact: Transformed NIMBY opposition into community pride. See the video we made.
NAQI – FROM INVENTION TO $100M+ VALUATION
The Challenge: NAQI’s remarkable invention lets people control digital devices and wheelchairs with facial gestures. But it needed attention and finance.
Our Solution: We wrote a narrative that showcased the human impact.
The Process:
- Wrote compelling brand narrative around accessibility and empowerment
- Made videos demonstrating real-world use cases
- Secured coverage in TIME and Inc. Magazine
- Got NAQI onto the Edison Awards stage—where it won first prize
The Result: A brand transformation that helped value the startup at $100 million+.
The Impact: From unknown invention to globally recognized accessibility leader.
NEW WORLD/OLD EARTH – TREASURY WINE ESTATES
The Challenge: Foster’s needed a compelling story for their wine division—the world’s second-largest wine distributor.
Our Solution: We wrote the “New World/Old Earth” brand concept in just days.
The Process:
- Developed positioning that honored wine’s ancient traditions while celebrating innovation
- Wrote narrative framework for global wine portfolio
- Positioned division for market leadership and investor appeal
The Result: Foster’s used our concept to IPO the wine division as Treasury Wine Estates.
The Impact: Now worth $8 billion. The beer division no longer exists.
THE DATA EFFECT – IBM WATSON HEALTH
The Challenge: Establish IBM Watson Health’s first country-specific brand in Canada and demonstrate leadership in health and human services to a national leadership audience.
Our Solution: Organized three editions of The Data Effect in Ottawa, Toronto, and Vancouver, complemented by a newsletter and LinkedIn community.
The Process:
- Convened 500+ government leaders across three national summits
- Built a newsletter with 1,500+ subscriptions
- Launched and grew a LinkedIn group to sustain engagement
The Result: Aligned IBM’s offering with Canada’s emerging national data strategy and won the targeted major contract.
The Impact: Strengthened IBM Watson Health’s position in Canada’s health and human services market.
THE NEW AMERICAN CITY – CITY OF PHILADELPHIA & DREXEL UNIVERSITY
The Challenge: Raise attention for the redevelopment around 30th Street Station and Drexel University as a new innovation district.
Our Solution: Produced The New American City in close collaboration with Mayor Michael Nutter and President John Fry’s senior teams.
The Process:
- Co-created agenda and objectives with city and university leadership
- Curated a high-level audience of civic, academic, and private-sector leaders
- Positioned the district vision for broad regional buy-in
The Result: Development momentum accelerated; Skidmore, Owings & Merrill won the masterplan shortly after the event.
The Impact: Elevated Philadelphia’s innovation district into active design and delivery.
CITYAGE: LONDON – GREATER LONDON AUTHORITY
The Challenge: Highlight the administration’s infrastructure investments and secure national coverage for the multi-billion-pound Crossrail 2 initiative.
Our Solution: Organized CityAge: London (2014) to deliver a high-level UK and international audience.
The Process:
- Programmed a platform for the Mayor to unveil Crossrail 2
- Invited top national and international media outlets
- Showcased transit-oriented development and associated investments
The Result: Mayor Boris Johnson keynoted, proposed “The Winston Churchill Line,” and secured coverage in The Telegraph, The Economist, Reuters, BBC, The Guardian, and more.
The Impact: Put Crossrail 2 on the national agenda with broad, influential media reach.
THE CORRIDOR BRAND – CITY OF TORONTO & REGION OF WATERLOO
The Challenge: Create a unified brand to position Southern Ontario as a major tech centre, replacing fragmented regional messaging.
Our Solution: Launched a complementary conference in Waterloo, reinforced the Toronto edition, and staged a San Francisco forum featuring Mayor John Tory.
The Process:
- Built dual-city convenings to catalyze regional collaboration
- Facilitated alignment between Toronto and Kitchener/Waterloo leaders
- Activated Bay Area audience with a San Francisco edition
The Result: Toronto and Kitchener announced “The Corridor” brand in San Francisco; the visit generated national Canadian media.
The Impact: Shifted the region from competition to collaboration with a unified international tech identity.
THE DATA EFFECT – PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
The Challenge: Inform British Columbians about the value of publicly held health data to drive research, economic development, and government efficiency—and encourage improved access.
Our Solution: Created The Data Effect, a multi-city conference platform now in its tenth edition.
The Process:
- Hosted editions in Vancouver, Toronto, and Ottawa
- Convened 1,000+ leaders from government, business, and research
- Advanced a “data declaration” and executed polling and earned media
The Result: BC introduced regulations to speed access to data; the declaration was accepted by government and the issue made front-page news.
The Impact: Helped shape provincial policy and influenced Canada’s national data strategy.
CITYAGE: LOS ANGELES – UCLA
The Challenge: Communicate UCLA’s urban research strengths and deep partnerships with the City of Los Angeles and its citizens.
Our Solution: Created and launched CityAge: Los Angeles with UCLA as Title Sponsor.
The Process:
- Curated a senior leadership network of 200+ public and private leaders
- Established an annual forum to sustain visibility and impact
The Result: A standing annual gathering that spotlights UCLA’s urban leadership.
The Impact: Elevated UCLA’s brand with city, civic, and industry decision-makers.
LIVING CITIES – GROSVENOR AMERICAS
The Challenge: Project Grosvenor’s Living Cities brand, research, and development pipeline across North America.
Our Solution: Produced a series of brand showcases in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Vancouver.
The Process:
- Highlighted brand research and multi-billion-dollar deal flow
- Hosted curated dinners with key civic and industry leaders
- Drove exposure at high-profile conferences and in media
The Result: Significant media in key markets; brand exposure to thousands at events and millions via coverage.
The Impact: Strengthened market presence and accelerated North American pipeline opportunities.
THE CITIES SUMMIT – CITY OF VANCOUVER
The Challenge: Establish Vancouver as a global leader in sustainable city-building, especially among Olympic host cities.
Our Solution: Launched The Cities Summit in February 2012.
The Process:
- Gathered leaders from 100+ cities
- Attracted 600+ total delegates
- Generated major international and national media attention
The Result: Led to smart city contracts exceeding $50 million and grew the CityAge network.
The Impact: Cemented Vancouver’s reputation and delivered tangible economic outcomes.
INNOVATE NOW CANADA – THE RIDEAU HALL FOUNDATION
The Challenge: Help build a culture of innovation across Canada.
Our Solution: Conceived and launched Innovate Now Canada (October 2017).
The Process:
- Convened 300+ leaders from across North America
- Activated a national media narrative around innovation
- Extended digital reach to millions of Canadians
The Result: A high-profile national forum with major media pickup.
The Impact: Advanced the conversation and momentum for a Canadian culture of innovation.
CITYAGE LOS ANGELES PROGRAM – BURNS & MCDONNELL
The Challenge: Demonstrate capabilities beyond civil engineering in the Los Angeles market.
Our Solution: Designed a CityAge LA program that profiled regional leadership alongside key transportation officials and extended the brand nationally.
The Process:
- Showcased executive leadership to priority public-sector stakeholders
- Positioned integrated transit and development solutions
- Expanded exposure to a national network of decision-makers
The Result: Established the firm as a regional leader in transit and development solutions.
The Impact: Strengthened consideration for upcoming transportation and development contracts.
PACIFIC FINANCE & TRADE SUMMIT – ADVANTAGE BC
The Challenge: Highlight Vancouver’s role as an RMB trading hub—one of a handful worldwide.
Our Solution: Organized the Pacific Finance & Trade Summit with major corporate partners.
The Process:
- Positioned Vancouver as a Pacific Rim trading hub
- Convened 200+ leaders from finance, business, and government
- Drove targeted regional and national media outreach
The Result: Major media coverage and strong executive participation.
The Impact: Elevated Vancouver’s global financial profile around RMB trading.
MULTI-CITY GROWTH PLATFORM – POPULOUS
The Challenge: Place Populous’ expertise into major markets to promote past projects and win new work.
Our Solution: Created a series of conferences in Los Angeles, Kansas City, San Francisco, and Toronto to tell the Populous story.
The Process:
- Delivered targeted business-development storytelling in key cities
- Aligned programming with local market opportunities
- Built multi-year momentum with repeat engagements
The Result: Advanced pursuits on multiple contracts and established a multi-year growth partnership.
The Impact: Expanded opportunity pipeline and market visibility across North America.
PACIFIC FINANCE SUMMIT – AGRICULTURAL BANK OF CHINA
The Challenge: Promote the bank’s Canadian head office and future banking plans, including RMB trading, as one of three Chinese banks licensed in Canada.
Our Solution: Positioned the bank as a thought leader by integrating it into the Pacific Finance Summit.
The Process:
- Secured a major speaking role for the CEO from Beijing
- Arranged meetings with key Canadian government and business leaders
- Framed RMB capabilities within Canada’s financial ecosystem
The Result: High-level engagement and visibility among Canada’s financial and policy leadership.
The Impact: Boosted the bank’s profile and relationships in the Canadian market.