Digital Day Camp, produced by David U.K. and Rob Beeler, will be a day of sharing ideas to move digital advertising forward in Canada. We will discuss key topics not only at a strategic level but also at a practical level. You will leave the event with ideas on transforming the industry and your company's future.
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The agenda is focused on a collaboration between publishers, agencies, brands and ad tech partners to share ideas to move digital advertising forward in Canada and transform the industry and our future.
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28th Floor Cafe & Bar
Registration & Breakfast
Welcome! Start your day with us by joining for registration and a light breakfast. Network, grab a coffee, and get ready for the inspiring day ahead.
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Main Presentation Area
Land Acknowledgement and Opening Remarks
Opening Remarks
David U.K.
CEO
Wired Carbon
Robert Beeler
Founder & CEO
Beeler.Tech
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Main Presentation Area
When Ian Rosen joined retailer Harry Rosen in 2018, online sales were just 3% of the business. Today, digital is the company’s biggest store. Hear how a legacy brand re-framed investment thinking, secured board buy-in, and built a proprietary omni-channel experience – combining tradition into future-facing.
Tailoring the Future: Beyond Brick and Mortar
Ian Rosen
President
Harry Rosen
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Main Presentation Area
For 20 seasons, Dragons’ Den has been more than a TV show — it’s been a launchpad for Canadian businesses and a catalyst for digital growth, investment, and community impact. Dragon Arlene Dickinson and Executive Producer Molly Middleton join moderator Gigi Forth,Executive Director Sales, Media Solutions, to share how CBC/Radio-Canada turns entrepreneurial stories into national success stories, how the show continues to evolve in the digital era, and what it takes to turn a local idea into a brand that captures Canada’s imagination.
Beyond the Pitch: How Dragons’ Den Fuels Canadian Innovation
Arlene Dickinson
CBC TV Dragons' Den
Molly Middleton
Executive Producer
CBC TV Dragons' Den
Gigi Lui Forth
Executive Director, Sales
CBC/RC Media Solutions
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Networking & Session Transition
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Main Presentation Area
Canada has emerged as one of the most dynamic testbeds for media and advertising innovation. From global agencies and leading publishers to homegrown ad-tech platforms, Canadian organizations are rethinking how AI and identity can work together to drive smarter collaboration, more effective activation, and measurable business impact.
Made In Canada: How Canada Is Reimagining AI and Identity
Sponsored by...
Geoffrey Bernard
Chief Marketing Officer & Chief Data Officer
La Presse
Fil Lourenco
SVP, Digital
Dentsu Media
Patrick Viau
Chief Revenue Officer
Optable
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Boardroom
Publishers hear it all the time: “We want to support Canadian media” or “We value quality.” However, when budgets are tight and ROI takes the lead, actions often tell a different story. Let's discuss the disconnect between intent and execution in media buying and selling, asking what it really takes for agencies and publishers to align. Together, we’ll explore how to keep investment within Canadian media—rather than watching it flow south.
Canadian Media: What We Say versus What We Do
Marissa Cristiano
Associate Vice President
Cossette Media
Brett Chang
Co-Founder and CEO
The Peak
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29th floor S/W Breakout
Retailers own the moment of intent; agencies scale it. All the pieces are in place for retail (or commerce) media to power its fair share of the Canadian market. Or are they? Where can we collaborate to see this segment realize its full potential?
Retail Media's Promise
Lucy Baumgartner
Managing Director, Commerce & Retail
Omnicom Media Group
David Jackman
Vice President
Canadian Tire - Triangle Retail Media
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30th floor S/W Waterfront
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Session TBD
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Networking & Session Transition
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Digital Day Camp | Fall 2025
What does the future of Canadian media look like in the streaming era? Are BDUs partners or competitors? Is the CRTC helping or hindering? And how can Canadian players compete with the Netflixes and Amazons of the world while still building uniquely Canadian content?
Selling Canada in a Streaming World
Leonard Asper
President & CEO
Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc
David Kines
President
Hollywood Suite & GameTV
Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc.
Marilyn Sherman
President
twenty6two International
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30th Floor S/W Waterfront
We are all in a relationship-driven industry, and yet, despite our efforts, inclusivity continues to elude us. Making the business case alone hasn't created the change needed. It's time to have a real talk about systemic exclusionary practices and how individual efforts to fight them can become a collective movement.
You are the Company You Keep
Sponsored by...
Mark Harrison
Founder
MH3 Collective
Nikki Stone
Business Futures Architect
On Behalf of iDream
Justin Senior
Executive Director
iDREAM
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Main Presentation Area
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Session TBD
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Boardroom
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Session Transition
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Main Presentation Area
Layering Up the Canadian Marketplace: A Fireside Chat with Canada Goose & Bell Media
In today’s world, the scarcest resource isn’t capital—it’s attention. Canadian companies are adopting a Canada-first mindset to capture and keep it, strengthening our local marketplace while competing on the global stage.
In this fireside chat, Matt McGowan, SVP Business Solutions, Bell Media and Raven Opatovsky, VP Marketing, Canada Goose, will discuss how two of Canada’s most iconic organizations are re-engineering their teams, technology, and strategies to win in an attention economy—while ensuring Canada’s Media remains Canadian.
Expect insights on:
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How brands earn and sustain attention in an era of endless choice.
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Why Canadian identity is a competitive advantage in a global market.
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Where media and marketers can align to fuel growth here at home.
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Join us for a candid conversation on how Canada can thrive by turning attention into long-term impact.
Raven Opatovsky
Global VP Media and Measurement Science
Canada Goose
Matt McGowan
SVP Business Solutions
Bell Media
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28th floor Cafe & Bar
Lunch
Join us on the 28th floor for a casual meal while connecting with fellow attendees. A perfect time to refuel, recharge, and build valuable connections before the afternoon sessions begin.
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Main Presentation Area
As the Canadian digital media market continues to evolve, so does the need for stronger collaboration between the buy and sell sides. This keynote will tackle the realities of working across agencies, buyers, and publishers in an increasingly complex ecosystem. Key topics include the growth of Connected TV, the rise of live streaming, challenges around signals, and measurement, and the ongoing balance between upfront commitments and programmatic flexibility.
Signals, Streams, and Strategy: Evolving Media Collaboration
Sponsored by...
Brad Jeffrey
Agency Partnerships Lead
Google
William Soraine
VP Investment
WPP Media
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Networking & Session Transition
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29th floor S/W Breakout
Attendees will be split into two teams, each given a mock brief for a fictional product. One side argues for social media, the other for digital/CTV channels. Participants will battle it out, making the case for why their channel wins the budget. It'll be fun, competitive, and a great opportunity to really think about the merits of each channel. Sorry, no high-sticking or checking will be allowed.
Social vs. Streaming: The Great Media Faceoff
Deb Gurofsky
SVP & Managing Director
MediaPulse
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30th floor S/W Waterfront
In today's evolving digital landscape, successful marketing requires an expansion beyond brand-centric to also include audience-first strategies. This session, led by Lindsay Wilson (WPP Media) and Cristie Schultz (Google), will offer actionable insights for thriving in the creator economy. They will explore how to partner with creators to craft and amplify genuine storytelling to turn authentic connections into powerful results for your business. Join this interactive discussion for fresh takes on topics like AI, Gen Z, and scaling your strategy, ultimately giving your brand permission to evolve and succeed where authenticity and entertainment are key.
Authenticity: Aligning Creator Strategy, Brand Goals, and Audience Expectations
Sponsored by...
Lindsay Wilson
Vice President, Sports + Entertainment
​WPP Media
Cristie Schultz
Video Partner Lead
Google
Anthony Berrena
President
Playwire
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Boardroom
Canada's media landscape faces a critical challenge: 80–85% of media spending is diverted to foreign platforms. This outflow of investment jeopardizes the creation of distinctly Canadian narratives, particularly those reflecting our rich multicultural and Indigenous heritages. This session will explore how current planning and buying decisions are impacting investment and, consequently, marginalizing diverse voices. For media partners to remain relevant and viable, the industry must adapt to Canada's evolving demographic reality, characterized by increasing multiculturalism, a growing urban-rural divide, and diverse backgrounds.
Why Canadian Media Data Tells Half the Story
Anson Wong
CEO
Sing Tao Media Group Canada
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Main Presentation Area
Artificial intelligence and changing consumer behaviours are existential threats we can’t ignore — but they also present transformative opportunities for media companies. Can editorial integrity foster stronger relationships with readers? Should success be measured by engagement rather than page views? Are traditional barriers between editorial and business teams breaking down, creating new ways to collaborate? Let’s explore what’s possible — and what we can do today.
AI, Audiences, and Alignment
Sponsored by...
Jason Maghanoy
Group Publisher
SJC Media
Nicole MacIntyre
Editor-In-Chief
Toronto Star
Laura Boodram
VP, Commercial Delivery
FatTail, Inc.
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Networking & Session Transition
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Main Presentation Area
As the final session of Digital Day Camp, we’re turning up the volume with an unfiltered conversation about the state — and future — of Canada’s music industry.
This powerhouse discussion brings together some of the country’s most iconic and influential voices:
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Jeff Woods — Author, radio and podcast host, and legendary broadcaster and music storyteller (Q107 and beyond) who has spent decades shaping the national rock soundtrack.
Brian Byrne — Acclaimed frontman of I Mother Earth, with hard-won insight from life on the road, in the studio, and at the forefront of Canada’s rock scene. -
AHI (pronounced “eye”), the soulful, genre-defying songwriter, recording artist and two-time Juno Award nominee blazing a path through today’s digital-first music landscape.
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Mike Sharma — Founder of Society, one of Canada’s leading independent media agencies, bringing the agency and brand perspective on how artists, platforms, and partners can work together to amplify reach and impact.
Together, this group will dive into the challenges facing Canadian artists today — from breaking through the noise and navigating streaming platforms, to building authentic fanbases, connecting with brands, and leveraging platforms like Spotify, TikTok, and Canadian music channels. With perspectives spanning artists, storytellers, industry veterans, and agency leaders, expect honest stories, sharp debate, and bold ideas about what it will take to thrive as a Canadian artist in a global, algorithm-driven industry.
We’ll then end Digital Day Camp on a true high note — with a special, private performance by Brian Byrne and Tara from their new band, The Duo Two, exclusive to attendees.
It’s the perfect crescendo to an unforgettable day: a session about creativity, collaboration, and the future of Canadian music — straight from the legends and leaders who live it.
Plugged In: The Future of Canadian Music in a Digital World
Ahi
Musician
Brian Byrne
Musician
I Mother Earth
and The Duo Two
Jeff Woods
Author
Radio and Podcast Host
Mike Sharma
Founder
Society, etc.
4:15 - 6:00
28th floor Cafe & Bar
Reception
Join us for the end-of-day reception. Relax, network, and enjoy refreshments as we wrap up a great day of learning and connections.