2021 has been another year full of change, adaptation and growth. Here at Durrell Communications, we want to celebrate all that we have accomplished and reflect on what this year has brought us, despite its ups and downs.
Over 2021, our team grew to twelve as we added six new team members! We also shifted to a hybrid work model, allowing us to move back to working from our office after a long period of solely working from home during the initial COVID-19 stay at home order. It’s been so lovely for us to have the opportunity to meet in person after having a virtual work environment for so long.
Our first Durrell Communications town hall also took place this year, allowing us to go over our company direction, policies and team culture. This was a great way for our team to connect and have a unified view of Durrell Communications and our company vision moving forward.
As the year continued, and Ontario reopened we even got to do more team building activities in person, such as a spin class at Hustl + Flow and our holiday party at King Street Trio. This was a great way for the team to support Uptown Waterloo while also connecting more with one another.
As a global public relations agency we have worked with clients in a variety of different industries this year to help promote their work and brand through media and marketing, while also positioning them as true changemakers. Our clients have ranged from startups to established corporations, allowing us to work with companies of all sizes. From Helius Medical Technologies and CMHA Waterloo Wellington in the health sector to YNCU and The RaeLipskie Partnership in finance to Zehr Group and Terra View Homes in the development and building industry, to name a few, we have truly covered a lot of professional fields.
Client in the News Highlights
Our client Certn raised $43-million to help finance international expansion as revenue soared! It also grew by 75% in three months! This story landed coverage in The Logic, The Globe and Mail, and The Financial Post. Check out the article from The Logic here: https://thelogic.co/news/after-closing-three-funding-rounds-in-a-year-b-c-based-data-company-certn-eyes-expansion-abroad/
Amanda Storkey is a teacher with the Waterloo Region District School Board. She’s enjoyed the profession for more than a decade, yet shortly after graduating from teachers’ college at the age of 23, Storkey was struggling to hear on a daily basis.
It was through the use of our client Unitron’s hearing aids that Amanda was able to better hear her students, even while they wore masks.
Without the Unitron adaptation technology she wouldn’t have been able to stay in the classroom.
Watch Amanda’s full story on Global News: https://globalnews.ca/video/8028568/waterloo-teacher-shares-her-story-of-acceptance-perseverance-and-empowerment-in-her-hearing-loss
Shop Your Neighbourhood, is a virtual marketplace put together by our client YNCU. It’s meant to create a community shopping experience during the pandemic and is now being used by 1,300 small businesses across 9 Ontario towns and cities!
Check out this article from CTV for more information: https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/virtual-marketplace-shop-your-neighbourhood-aims-to-recreate-the-downtown-shopping-experience-1.5610589
In the fall, our client Terra View Homes made the cover of the Canadian Contractor’s September/October Issue.
2021 has been a major milestone for the company as it celebrated its 30th anniversary. Check out the cover and more here: https://mydigitalpublication.com/publication/?m=53927&i=721641&p=1&ver=html5
Our Client Profound Impact’s President and CEO, Sherry Shannon-Vanstone was featured on Women of Influence in October. Sherry talked about launching and scaling a social network as well as how she was able to manage her business through the pandemic.
Read more here: https://www.womenofinfluence.ca/2021/10/27/qa-serial-stem-entrepreneur-sherry-shannon-vanstone-on-launching-and-scaling-a-social-network/
Our client CMHA Waterloo Wellington was featured in the Globe and Mail in October as well!
Robert Eilers, who has built a successful global business as well as spent much of his life struggling with mental health issues, donated both the land and the cost of construction for a new centre designed for youth mental health services expected to open in early 2023.
Login to read the story here: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-pitching-in-paying-back-by-paying-forward-for-mental-health/
Durrell Communications has loved working with THEMUSEUM Kitchener on UNZIPPED, its new Rolling Stones exhibition! This show’s Canadian debut was featured in the latest edition of Dine and Destinations. Check it out here: https://dinemagazine.ca/magazine-archives/
Campaign and Event Highlights
Terra View Homes
This year, our client Terra View Homes was also nominated in the EnerQuality awards for The Best Green Marketing Campaign! And… it won! The #HomeownerHowTo video series was a huge component of the marketing efforts that allowed Terra View to take home this award. We’ve been sharing these videos on social media regularly and they have garnered a great response from both professionals in the green housing sphere as well as homeowners. Here’s a look at one of the videos highlighting the Energy Recovery Ventilator in homes: https://www.facebook.com/terraviewhomes/videos/1071044820398430
The Grove
We have supported The Grove in a variety of capacities since June 2021, leading the event planning and media relations around key events to raise awareness in the community. With an estimated 4 out of 5 youth struggling from mental health or substance use issues, The Grove makes services, programs and safe spaces more accessible for youth between the ages of 12 to 26 in Wellington County and Guelph.
The groundbreaking of the Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington’s (CMHA WW) new Centre for Children’s Mental Health and Developmental Services Building included two significant announcements — the largest single donation of $50M to community mental health in Canadian history by the building developer, Vesterra Inc., and the new identity for CMHA WW’s Integrated Youth Services Network project — now referred to as The Grove.
Through the summer 2022, The Grove Hubs officially opened the three of its seven Hubs in Guelph and Wellington County, symbolizing the investment in the mental health and wellness of local area youth. Since its inception, The Grove Hubs have impacted the lives of 3,777 youth in need of wellness support. We look forward to continuing our partnership to amplify the amazing work they are doing for the community.
The Rolling Stones | UNZIPPED
We were thrilled to be along for the ride as our client, THEMUSEUM, marked 2021 as “The Year of The Rolling Stones” in Waterloo Region and beyond. Our efforts to amplify and promote the Canadian premiere of The Rolling Stones | UNZIPPED exhibition opening at THEMUSEUM on November 30, 2021, involved strategic media relations and a variety of public relations initiatives. To date, UNZIPPED at THEMUSEUM has garnered quality attention in 150+ pieces of coverage — with online readership alone reaching 400M.
Durrell Communications was additionally engaged for event management services as we organized and executed the Press Preview Event and Opening Night Event ahead of UNZIPPED’s public opening. After months of hard work, we welcomed over 50 media outlets and 200 guests to each event respectively, resulting in a successful celebration of the exhibition’s Canadian debut. Running through until February 2022, we are excited to continue our work on this campaign into the New Year!
Have you purchased your tickets to the first international exhibition by and about the world-famous rock band right here in Waterloo Region yet? Visit www.unzippedkw.ca to do so!
Media Training
Durrell Communications was also able to resume in-person media training this year.
Throughout 2021, we’ve worked through a multitude of strategies, media and digital marketing campaigns, giveaways and more. We’ve seen great growth in communities, audiences and engagement across the board for all of our clients. After all of our hard work we are proud to say we were included on the Great Place to Work™ list of Best Workplaces Managed by Women 2021.
We look forward to continuing to do this meaningful work and amplify more changemakers throughout 2022!
A great strategy and communications plan are essential to starting off a new year on the right foot. If you or someone you know is looking to start strong in 2022, find out more about our services here or reach out to 411@durrellcomm.com.
