It’s the Vancouver Lookout’s 40th anniversary and to celebrate, they’ve partnered with the Vancouver Heritage Foundation to present Perspectives: Talks & Discussions – a five-part speaker series that sheds lights on the forgotten history of Vancouver.

Among the various topics to be covered is the fascinating story of Vancouver’s first forensic investigator, John F.C.B. Vance, who used cutting-edge scientific techniques to solve some of the most sensational crimes of the early 1900s. So effective were his methods that there were seven attempts made on his life and he and his family had to be given round-the-clock police protection.

Other topics in the series include the history of some of Vancouver’s most iconic buildings and the golden age of Granville Street nightlife as well as stories from Indigenous and South Asian communities.

The talks will take place atop Harbour Centre in the Vancouver Lookout – offering attendees stunning 360-degree views of the city as they hear stories drawn from the surrounding area.

Talks & Discussions

• Blanketing the City: Musqueam Stories
  Speakers: Debra Sparrow and Kamala Todd
  Saturday, September 23, 10:15 am-12 pm
• Cultural Landscapes: Vancouver’s South Asian Community
  Speakers: Naveen Girn, Paneet Singh and Milan Singh
  Saturday, October 7, 9:45-11:30 am
• Historic Crime: Early Forensic Investigation
  Speaker: Eve Lazarus
  Thursday, October 19, 6:15-8:00 pm
• Heritage from Up High
  Speaker: John Atkin
  Sunday, October 29, 9.45-11:30 am
• Vancouver After Dark: History of the Entertainment Scene
  Speaker: Aaron Chapman
  Thursday, November 16, 6:15-8:00 pm

To learn more and book your tickets, visit the Vancouver Perspectives website.

Campaign to raise funds for interactive sound & light art installation in Ackery’s Alley

More Awesome Now, the collective who brought Vancouver its first reimagined alleyway, Alley-Oop, is asking for the public’s help to fund an interactive art installation in the city’s next activated laneway – Ackery’s Alley.  The collective is launching a Kickstarter campaign to raise the $35K needed to secure FIELD, an interactive public art installation by renowned international artist, Alex Beim.

Once transformed, Ackery’s Alley (located off Granville Street in the alley behind the Orpheum Theatre) will be a space for public art and performance, with FIELD at its centre. The installation’s field of sensors and lights will detect the presence of a person, changing colours and emitting sounds in reaction to movement. FIELD will work like a large musical and light instrument that creates a unique composition every time someone moves through it.

“I can see people coming together and experimenting with FIELD -  dancing and creating something that is completely unexpected,” says Alex Beim, artist and director of Tangible Interaction. “I think Vancouver needs more spaces that create conversation and connection. This installation will bring people together in that way, and it would be amazing to get the funding to make this happen.”

More Awesome Now will use the funds raised through Kickstarter for the procurement and installation of FIELD.  The collective has already raised funds to transform the alleyway with artful signage, psychedelic paint, a metallic gold feature element, projection walls and a glowing orb beacon.

“Human connection is at the core of rich urban experiences.  By creating interactive public spaces, we can foster connection and social exchange,” says Charles Gauthier, member of More Awesome Now, and President and CEO of the Downtown Vancouver BIA. “We hope this project inspires the people of Vancouver and also those outside our city who want to try something similar in their own communities.” 

More Awesome Now is a collective of thinkers and doers who reshape underutilized urban land spaces into engaging, accessible public spaces.  The group includes the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association (DVBIA), HCMA Architecture + Design, in partnership with Vancouver Civic Theatres and the City of Vancouver’s VIVA Vancouver program.

More Awesome Now hopes that the concept of reimagined alleyways takes on a life of its own, so that one day Vancouver and other cities around the world have a connected system of colourful alleys that are places of human connection.

The Kickstarter page will be live for thirty days, ending on the 12th of July.  Ackery’s Alley and FIELD will be completed and ready for the public to enjoy by the end of summer.

This week we’re delighted to welcome our new intern, Victoria Giddings. Victoria is a Marketing Communications student at BCIT and will be spending her 9-week practicum at Elettra.

In 2015, Victoria left Smithers, B.C., the small-town in which she grew up in to pursue a career in Public Relations. She has always loved the city of Vancouver, which is what brought her to the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). She is in her final semester at BCIT and is looking forward to starting a career in PR at Elettra Communications. Her time at BCIT has prepared her for the real-world, and she is so excited to bring innovative and fresh ideas into the workplace.

Before focusing on her career, Victoria worked many years in the restaurant industry and traveled extensively after high school graduation. Her passion for traveling has taken her to Europe, South East Asia, USA, and Australia. She enjoys experiencing new cultures, particularly through food, music and art. Understanding the world and what makes it tick is something that will continuously inspire Victoria to explore and communicate with people.

During her free time, Victoria can be found snowboarding in Whistler, exploring the city, or trying out the latest ethnic restaurants in Vancouver. 

We are excited to welcome our new PR Consultant Sarah Hitchings to the Elettra team this week.

Hailing from New Zealand, Sarah brings extensive PR experience, having worked in the field for more than six years on a diverse client portfolio.

Working for Vancouver Fashion Week as PR and Media Coordinator in April was a natural fit as her first PR role in Canada, after working with New Zealand Fashion Week for several years.   Prior to this, her previous role back home saw her working for one of NZ’s top not-for-profit specialization agencies, working alongside charities, social-change organizations, and top NFP clients. 

Sarah’s career has seen her launch New Zealand’s first Kickstarter campaign, she account managed Deaf Aotearoa’s New Zealand Sign Language Week and Diabetes New Zealand Awareness Weeks, and was appointed Social Media Liaison for the Rise Up Christchurch Global Telethon (after the devastating Christchurch earthquakes in 2011).  She is passionate about niche communities, evolving technologies, social good, awareness weeks, and small business.

Seeking adventure, snow, and the world’s best maple syrup, Sarah packed her bags and moved to Canada in October 2015, and has embraced the Vancouver lifestyle enthusiastically.  When she isn’t reading, you’ll find her writing, biking to yoga at Dude Chilling Park, camping, ice-skating or snowboarding. 

Sarah is excited to get stuck in and achieve great PR for Elettra clients, and we are delighted to have her at the agency.

We are pleased to welcome our new intern, Sara MacIntosh, to the Elettra Communications team. Sara is a second year Marketing Communications student at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). Throughout her two years at BCIT, she has strengthened her communications skills and developed her ability to create digital content

During her free time, Sara enjoys photography and writing and exploring the city to find new restaurants. She is very passionate about food and visually showcasing food.  When she isn’t with camera in hand, you can find her curled up on the couch with a good book or planning a new adventure.

Through her years at BCIT, Sara has become more interested in the communications industry and how event and digital marketing can help improve communications plans. These interests have led her to the joining the world of public relations in Vancouver. She will be joining us at Elettra for the next eight weeks working on everything PR. She can’t wait to put her BCIT knowledge to work in the industry setting.

Welcome to the team, Sara!

Carter Hales Design Lab has joined forces with Hong Kong-based Distinguished Den Distribution Ltd. to create the identity and packaging for Four Fox Saké, a new entry into the saké market.  The premium beverage is poised to transform the perception of the traditional Japanese rice wine from staid to upscale and hip.

Distinguished Den tasked Vancouver-based Carter Hales with delivering a brand that honours Japanese saké tradition, but appeals to trendsetting, upwardly mobile consumers with a penchant for premium products and high-end nightlife experiences. The brand was recently unveiled in Hong Kong and can now be found in some of the city’s most fashionable clubs, bars, and restaurants. 

Carter Hales handled all the branding aspects including the visual identity (logo and associated elements), website (fourfoxsake.com), print and digital collateral, and custom bottle design. 

“Our task was to bring saké into the 21st century to a high-end clientele. The packaging needed to honour the ancient traditions, but turn heads in a nightclub setting,” says Sean Carter, Director of Design at Carter Hales Design Lab.  “Another challenge is that saké only has a one-year shelf life, which is exacerbated by ultraviolet light, so it is important that the design protect the saké. The result is a bottle which gives a nod to tradition, but exudes modern cool: a two-piece construction, with an LED light that illuminates the bottle in the darkness of a nightclub.”

For inspiration, Carter Hales looked to Japanese mythology and the figure of Inari Okami, the ancient God of rice, saké, swordsmiths, and foxes. Legend has it the fox spirits of Inari were entrusted to guard the Torii gates, only allowing the purest of spirits to pass. Four Fox Saké represents this purity and perfection. The crest on the bottle features four foxes guarding the Torii gate with snowfall overhead and rice fields at their feet. The Samurai swords, elegantly embossed in the profile of the bottle, pay homage to the ancient swordsmiths to whom Inari was god. The chrome finish, combined with the wooden cap, produces a modern take on an ancient classic.

“We gave Carter Hales a difficult assignment – creating an aspirational brand within a category in need of revival,” says Neil Hosie, Co-Founder, Distinguished Den Distribution Ltd.  “To say that Carter Hales crushed this project would be something of an understatement. They listened intently to what we wanted to achieve and delivered us something so unique and beautiful that it was beyond our wildest expectations.”

Made in Niigata, Four Fox Saké is brewed according to centuries-old methods. Using Niigata’s pure, melted snow and highly-milled Gohyakumangoku rice, it is classified as Junmai Daiginjo – the highest grade of saké available.

Recent years have seen increased international interest in saké amongst discerning consumers seeking a sophisticated alternative to champagne, vodka and scotch. Exports of saké from Japan have more than doubled since 2001[1] with worldwide exports reaching record-breaking levels in 2014[2].

Four Fox Saké is currently available in select Hong Kong nightclubs, restaurants and specialty liquor retailers.  It will be launched in nightclubs in London and New York later this year.

About Carter Hales Design Lab

Carter Hales Design Lab is a multi award-winning branding, graphic design, and digital firm. Based in Vancouver, Canada, the studio is headed by noted Vancouver designer Sean Carter and agency account veteran Ross Hales. Carter Hales helps businesses and organizations thrive through inspired design. Clients include YVR, TransLink, The City of Vancouver, The Wickaninnish Inn, BC Place, Vancouver Convention Centre and ScotiaMcLeod.

Website: http://carterhales.com

Twitter: @CarterHalesLab

Facebook: Carter Hales Design Lab Inc

Instagram: carterhalesdesign

###

For media inquiries, please contact:

Lorna Allen - Elettra Communications                                   

O: 604.738.3870 

C: 778.858.8805                                      

lorna@elettra.ca                                               

[1] http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/food/rice-wine-makers-hope-to-promote-sake-overseas

[2] http://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/Economy/Japanese-sake-exports-reach-new-record-high

Harbour Centre is one of the most iconic towers in the Vancouver skyline, and never is it more radiant that at Christmastime when the top is decked with festive red lights. It's a downtown holiday tradition that's spanned more than 30 years.

Yesterday, the Elettra team took Vancouver Sun up to the very top of the tower to see the hanging of the lights. It's a massive job for the Harbour Centre crew. They fearlessly hang 1,100 lights 200 metres above the city streets. Be sure to enjoy their hard work by looking up when you're walking around downtown this holiday season.

Media professionals and public relations / communications practitioners enjoy a symbiotic relationship.  It’s important to know what types of stories appeal to specific outlets and reporters and how they like these stories to be pitched.

Lorna Allen from our team recently took over responsibility for supplying journalist profiles on the CPRS Vancouver website. Her first subject was Tim Renshaw, managing editor at Business in Vancouver.

Check out the article here.

The Elettra team is over the moon to have been recognized by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) and to have been awarded a Silver Leaf Award of Excellence for Media Relations. What’s more, we were the only public relations agency in Vancouver to pick up a Silver Leaf award this year.

For a full list of the winners click here.

We received this accolade for our work on the opening of Mahony & Sons Stamps Landing restaurant, which opened last summer. 

It was a really fun project to work on and it was exciting to watch the various stages of the transformation of the former Monk McQueen’s.  The end result is a stunning location with a beautiful patio area, and thoughtful and authentically Irish input.  Not to mention a fabulous and extensive menu.  It was a pleasure telling the world about it!

We thank Mahony & Sons for bringing us on board and we wish all the other BC Silver Leaf winners “congratulations” on their achievement.

I think that warrants a celebratory glass of bubbly at Stamps Landing, don’t you?

Today in our ongoing series, “Two Minutes With”, we're talking to talented graphic and web designer, Michael Young.  In addition to being an in-demand designer, Michael is also exceptionally handy with a camera. In fact, he's Elettra's go-to photographer for shooting building interiors/exteriors for our PR campaigns.

Check out Michael's online portfolio here.

Favourite publication: Montecristo is simple, tasteful, and always interesting.

Favourite quote:  Creative work can often go under-appreciated. Hemmingway sums it up nicely with..  "There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed."

Favourite food: There is nothing better to eat in the world than a carefully loved and lightly seasoned, grilled Wagyu steak with a peppercorn cream sauce on the side, paired with a dark full bodied stout.

Favourite font: The obvious choice - Helvetica is perfect when kerned and used properly and obviously boring when not. In graphic design, it separates the amateurs from those who care.

Best piece of career advice you have received? Get paid doing what you love and you'll never work a day in your life. Sounds cliché but I'm very happy that I took it to heart, I love what I do and wouldn't change it for the world.

Why do you choose to live in Vancouver? It's home, I was born and raised here. It wasn't until I left that I truly appreciated how beautiful it is.

What’s the #1 most played song on your iPod? It's always changing but right now, anything by Mø.

What is your favourite PR campaign (local, national, or international): Sony (allegedly) acted as though Kim Jung Un was going to engage in war due to The Interview film. The buzz that came from this was enormous. 

Michael Young shooting for Mahony & Sons Stamps Landing

Michael Young shooting for Mahony & Sons Stamps Landing

Vancouver film buffs will have the opportunity to catch a number of critically acclaimed international films over the next fortnight at the 34th annual Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF), which kicks off on Thursday.

As a former film journalist and self-confessed film fanatic, I am really excited about this year’s selection of films. It is chock-full of features and documentaries I have been looking forward to seeing.

I’m also excited to be volunteering in the VIFF media office where I get to combine my passion for communications and my love of cinema!

One of the perks of volunteering is that I get a pass granting me access into most screenings so have eagerly scoured the VIFF schedule and selected the movies I most want to watch.

Here are the top five movies I intend to check out:

Room

Lenny Abrahamson’s adaptation of Emma Donaghue’s powerful bestseller is at the very top of my list.

While the subject matter may not be for everyone (it’s inspired by the horrendous Josef Fritzel case) the film generated rave reviews at Telluride and Toronto – even winning the People’s Choice Award at the latter.

Brand: A Second Coming

Documentarian Ondi Timoner’s film about British comedian and activist Russell Brand is screening in the documentary section of the festival.

This promises to be a revealing and intimate portrait of Brand’s life over the last few years and his struggle with addiction. 

Beeba Boys

I’m a sucker for a gangster film so when I saw the trailer for Beeba Boys, a film about a ruthless mobster loosely based on “Bindy” Johal, I was very intrigued.   A gangster film set in Vancouver and directed by a woman no less!

I love seeing this city on the big screen and it’s especially nice to enjoy it for itself and not as a stand-in for a US location.

London Road

Received enthusiastically at TIFF, this unorthodox musical recounts the chaos that followed the murders of five prostitutes in Ipswich, England in 2006.

Evolving from the stage musical of the same name it is based on actual taped interviews conducted with inhabitants of London Road, the quiet residential street from where the victims were picked up.

45 Years

This drama generated glowing reviews from critics and earned Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay best actor awards at the Berlin Film festival earlier this year.

It tells the story of an older couple whose lives are rocked when the husband receives a letter revealing that his past love’s frozen body has been recovered from the Alps five decades after she fell to her death.

By Lorna Allen

As a British/Irish transplant in Canada (I’m from Northern Ireland) I had previously thought that the basics of PR would be pretty much the same no matter where one was in the western world.

I was wrong.  I learnt, I mean learned, that very quickly upon landing my first PR position in Vancouver.

While the principles and objectives are very much the same there are some subtle, and some not-so-subtle, differences between practicing PR in Belfast and Vancouver. I’ve summarised, or rather, summarized, some of these differences below:

The first hurdle?  Canadian spelling.  A confusing mix of American and English, I didn’t even know there was such a thing until I started having to use it on a daily basis. And why doesn’t Microsoft acknowledge it in its spell-check options? After 16 months I think I’ve finally mastered the usage and it’s almost second nature now, however, I do fear my former colleagues and journalist friends back home may be silently judging me each time I use it in a Facebook post.

PR Terminology.  I’ve been met with my fair share of confused looks since taking up this position due to the terminology I use.

Here what I previously referred to as a Diary Note is a Media Advisory.  The content I normally used in the Notes to Editor section below my press release is now used in a fact sheet.

Photography.  Back in Belfast our main goal was print media. As a small region with very limited regional radio and television programming, most of which was taken up with political reporting, generating broadcast coverage was rarely achievable no matter how compelling the client’s story may be.  However, the golden rule for getting plentiful print coverage in Belfast was to have a quirky, colourful image accompanying your media release….featuring at least one attractive female. Hence, no matter the story - whether it be business, trade or lifestyle - a model was generally booked for a photo shoot and I was off on the hunt for props and costumes.

Here in Vancouver I have had more contact with broadcast media in the last 16 months than I did in 6 years in Belfast.  There is definitely more human interest content on news shows here.  It can be the daily newspapers that are the hardest nuts to crack.

Quirks aside…the biggest challenge was learning an entire media market from scratch.  Radio and TV call signs also stumped me for a bit but in time I’ve become familiar with the various channels, their programming and the types of content they carry.

The last 16 months have been a fantastic learning experience and this has greatly widened my outlook and made me more adaptable and flexible in my role. Having the opportunity to gain experience in your chosen industry in different cultures and countries is something I would thoroughly recommend to anyone.

Welcome to our ongoing series, “Two Minutes With”. We’re getting to know a little more about the Elettra team, our clients, and our partners/suppliers. Today we chat with Elettra Account Coordinator, Leanne Kedrosky.

​Favourite place to visit: My favourite place I have been is Positano, off the Amalfi Coast of Italy. It is incredibly beautiful and calm.

Favourite food: Banana milkshakes – what a treat.

Morning beverage of choice: Black coffee to kick my mornings up a notch.

Favourite social media site: Pinterest – there is so much inspiration! Whether it’s what to cook for dinner, new makeup tricks, or how to make a bookshelf from pipe (tried it, love it!).

If you didn’t work in PR, what would you choose to do: Ideally, I would be a pirate. Realistically, I would be a professional equestrian.

Natural talent you wish you had: I’ve always wished I could sing – you don’t want to hear my family sing Happy Birthday. We are the most out of tune bunch.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose?

Thor! Ability to fly, manipulate weather, have super strength and agility, and be incredibly intelligent? Yes please! Plus, being friends with the rest of the Avengers would be a great time.