The agency marks a milestone year of shaping stories that move communities forward, reflecting on women’s leadership this International Women’s Day
Waterloo Region – March 8, 2026 – This International Women’s Day, Durrell Communications is taking a moment to reflect on its 15th anniversary and the journey of building and sustaining a female-founded public relations agency in the Waterloo Region.
Like most entrepreneurial ventures, it began humbly. In 2011, CEO Melissa Durrell was a one-person operation, working from a local coffee shop with a clear vision: to fill a gap for specialized, strategic public relations, communications and media support in the Region.
A decade and a half later, much like the Waterloo Region itself, Durrell Communications has evolved and grown. What started as a solo venture is now a full-service agency that is women-led and deeply rooted in the community it serves
“This is a moment, a reflection and a hope all in one,” says Melissa Durrell. “If I could have seen where we are today, as that hopeful woman in a coffee shop, I would have known the risk was worth it. It is the people, our clients, who trust in the team behind it all that make Durrell Communications a community-known name, a service that makes a real impact, and I am so proud of it.”
For fifteen years, the agency has worked at the centre of reputation and leadership, developing media strategies, guiding corporate communications, managing high-stakes announcements, advising during times of crisis and building brands that stand the test of time.
“As a former journalist and councillor, I bring a unique perspective to the work we do,” said Durrell. “Our team is equally multi-faceted with backgrounds in broadcasting, government relations, professional writing, and so much more. What makes that especially meaningful is that we are a team of women, bringing our collective experience and perspectives together to support organizations as they find their voice and communicate with intention in the moments that matter.”
Durrell Communications continues to provide senior-level counsel across public relations, strategic planning, digital presence and executive positioning while remaining relationship-driven with boutique-style services.
Reaching fifteen years in business is a milestone Durrell describes as both significant and grounding. “When I launched the firm in 2011, there were fewer women leading agencies at this level,” she said. “Building this company required belief, not only in myself, but in the idea that strategic communications belongs at the leadership table.”
As the company looks ahead, International Women’s Day offers a timely pause, not just to celebrate how far Durrell Communications has come but to recognize the impact of women building businesses, leading teams and shaping industries across the Waterloo Region.
“Women entrepreneurs are not just participants in the economy; they are helping define it,” says Durrell.
“For me, this work has always been about more than growth. It’s helping a founder navigate their first media interview, seeing a client’s name in the headlines for the first time, or sitting in on a call where a leadership team finds the words they’ve been searching for. Those are the moments that stay with you – and the ones that show other women what’s possible, powered by belief, capability, and strong coffee.”
Durrell Communications has recently been recognized as a nominee at the Greater KW Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards, a recognition that Durrell says is as humbling as it is meaningful as the company reflects on fifteen years of supporting organizations across the Waterloo Region and beyond.
