METROLAND MEDIA TORONTO

Senior Features Editor / Art Director

My first step from journalism into marketing, advertising, and design was as a copy writer and layout artist at Metroland Media Toronto

(née Toronto Community News). After quickly moving up to the position of Special Features Editor / Art Director, I transformed the advertising features department into a small-scale agency, including the hiring and development of a diverse and skilled team.
We led the creation of four magazine titles (including Wedding Trends Toronto and Toronto Kids & Families); community digests/event guides/ B2B publications; and were key in the acquisition and transition of several preexisting publications.
I was also responsible for content and layout of all features sections in the divisions nine Toronto community newspapers, including the weekly Wheels sections, along with Health and Wellness, Back to School, Home and Garden, annual historical special sections, and more.
In addition, I managed client care, and the creation of ad copy and marketing materials for the company’s advertisers, including the centre spread for the Royal Canadian Legion’s poppy campaign, and full page features for national companies like Bullfrog Power.
I was also tasked with internal marketing, developing a web portal to bring the carrier force online, a logo and website for the Readers’ Choice Awards, and designed the corporate media kit.