SUCCESS STORIES
SASKATCHEWAN DISABILITY INCOME SUPPORT COALITION
The Disability Income Support Coalition (DISC) consists of a large cross section of disability advocates, consumers and organizations across the province committed to advocating for a better income support system. We worked closely with DISC to develop and implement a strategic communications plan that encouraged a dialogue between DISC and the provincial government, yet applied pressure through media relations and targeted advertising. This campaign led to an increase in funding for people with disabilities in the province.
BUILD TOGETHER SASKATCHEWAN
The construction industry has an aging workforce and will lose almost a quarter of its workforce to retirement over the next decade. This means that the industry will need to recruit and train new workers from non-traditional populations: youth, women, new Canadians, visible minorities and Indigenous Peoples. To increase interest in a career in the trades among these populations, we worked with the Saskatchewan Provincial Building Trades Council and the Construction Labour Relations Association of Saskatchewan to create the 2020 Build Together Calendar. This calendar provides an overview of the trades, youth apprenticeship programs, and profiles role models including steamfitters, heavy equipment operators, millwrights, and boilermakers. These profiles show how successful a career in the trades can truly be.
SASKATCHEWAN MUSIC CONFERENCE
Benchmark Public Relations has been chosen as the event organizer for the Saskatchewan Music Conference for more than a decade. This three-day conference features more than 30 workshops with presenters from across Canada and the United States, a luncheon concert, tradeshow, and evening awards banquet. Approximately 200 people attend the conference each year, and Benchmark administers all aspects of the conference on behalf of a volunteer working group.
TRADE TEAM SASKATCHEWAN
Benchmark Public Relations was chosen to organize the Broaden Your Borders international trade mission into the United States. This was an educational trade mission led by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade to demonstrate to fledgling exporters how international trade is conducted. We provided all the logistical, administration and marketing support for this event.
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL
The Cirque du Soleil is the largest theatrical company in the world. However, when it planned to stage its Dralion performance in Saskatoon, it experienced sluggish sales for the event. The company decided to increase its media relations activities by contracting Benchmark. We began an aggressive media campaign to educate the public about the performance and its showtimes. Telephone interviews were arranged with the show’s star performers and articles began appearing on local radio and in local newspapers. Social media sites were also targeted with promotional methods. In-person interviews were later arranged for the show’s technical director and other performers. The day before opening night, Benchmark scheduled media tours every thirty minutes for reporters to meet the performers and technicians, and to see first-hand how the show was produced. Thanks to our efforts, sales for Dralion significant increased before the event.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BANK OF CANADA
BDC relied on Benchmark for its media relations activities in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Our main responsibility was to promote the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in both provinces. Benchmark has been contracted to promote the awards to encourage entrepreneurs to apply; to promote the provincial finalist in a national competition; and then to promote the national champion if that individual is from Saskatchewan or Manitoba. Benchmark has also assisted BDC by promoting Small Business Week, conducting media tours for its Chief Executive Officer, and providing media relations for a national Aboriginal youth summit on entrepreneurship.
SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS
As the agency for KidSport Saskatchewan, we were approached to create a feasibility study on the creation of an annual Saskatchewan Roughriders calendar to raise funds for KidSport. We conducted a feasibility study that led to the creation of a high-end calendar that raised more than $1 million for the charity over a 10-year period. In addition to creating the calendar, we were responsible for creating and implementing the marketing strategy that included a blend of earned media, media buying, digital platforms, stakeholder engagement, and sponsorships. We were responsible for designing all the marketing collateral including sponsorship packages, retailer agreement forms, flyers, posters, mail inserts, advertisements, special events, and any other items that may have been required.
SASKATCHEWAN RATE REVIEW PANEL
The Saskatchewan Rate Review Panel conducts reviews of proposed utility rate adjustments by SaskPower, SaskEnergy and SGI. These reports are drafted in a comprehensive and thorough manner since they serve as the foundation for government policy regarding utility rates. The process to write the report involves regular meetings with the panel and the technical consultant to review the application and its implications, and attending public meetings to hear presentations from organizations and individuals to ensure their feedback is properly incorporated into the final report. Although there is a standard template for each report, the details within each report can vary significantly. Due to our success in this area, successive panels have continued to rely on our expertise for almost 15 years.