I’ve never done this before, but for some reason I decided to take a screenshot of the Winter Olympics medal count on Monday. Canada was on top of the standings, and something told me I should have some proof of that.
As it turns out, I had unknowingly snapped a shot of history. Continue reading
In the world of advertising, less is usually more.
Too much copy can obscure the true meaning of a print ad. Excessive dialogue often becomes distracting during a commercial. And overselling a call to action can easily lead to your target market to feel alienated.
Before I run the risk of violating the statements I just finished making above, I’ll let the Canadian Institute for Diversity and Inclusion prove how effective one video, one song, and one simple statement can be: Continue reading
With just 20 days left to wait, I have to admit that I’m starting to get really excited for the Calgary Stampede! Those 10 glorious days in July are when Calgary is at its best, and I am definitely one of those Calgarians who eagerly anticipates the Stampede from pretty much the moment it ends.
Anyone who has been within 10 blocks of the Stampede when it’s in full swing knows that the event has a smell all its own. You’ll catch a whiff of manure from the livestock and a hint of diesel from the rides, but the top note is always the unmistakable scent of midway food. Continue reading
Surprise, indeed!
Aside from all the melting snow and pothole-riddled roads, one of the best ways to determine if spring is its way to Canada is the inevitable return of Easter-themed Kinder Surprises.
Enjoyed by children and adults alike, Kinder Surprise is a two-in-one treat that consists of an unassembled toy contained within a hollow chocolate eggshell. You never know what kind of toy your chocolate egg will reveal, and half the fun of getting a Kinder Surprise is in trying to figure out how to put all the pieces together. Continue reading
Everyone knows no one parties like the Irish do. That’s why it’s impossible to walk past any pub on March 17th without stumbling across a group of happy revellers celebrating whatever tiny claim they have to Irish ancestry.
But if you thought St. Patrick’s Day was becoming a global phenomenon before today, wait until you see what’s been cooked up for this year’s celebrations.
Knowing how to capitalize on a good thing when they see it, Tourism Ireland has launched a ‘global greening’ marketing campaign. The result? Some 70 global landmarks will be turned green this year in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day.
Some of the monuments and sites that have joined in on the fun include Niagara Falls, the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Burj al Arab in Dubai, and the Las Vegas sign.
Here’s a shot of Sydney’s Opera House getting in on the celebrations: Continue reading
This is just a short and sweet post to say Happy Pi Day to all of you who participate in such events!
No idea what I’m talking about? Click here and find out.
And even if you do know what I mean, here’s a crazy little graphic you might not have stumbled across yet:
Very rarely do you get to witness the birth of a widely-observed cultural event. Most holidays and celebrations have deep histories rooted in the veneration of a significant figure, commemoration of an ancient religious feast day and/or festival to usher in a new season. Given that they generally have historically-significant backgrounds, new holidays haven’t sprung up very often in the past.
But then the era of mass consumption came along. And now all the rules have changed.
Each November, Canadians take a day to reflect on and remember the sacrifices of those who fought for our freedom. Known as Remembrance Day, many (but not all) Canadians are given a day off work/school on November 11th to participate in the events held to commemorate our military veterans. If November 11 falls on a weekend (as it does this year), some employers and schools provide a day off in lieu on the Monday after the 11th.
Gone are the days of weddings involving the local church, a handmade (or handed down) dress, and a reception featuring a meal prepared by the newlywed’s families.
In our age of conspicuous consumption, many couples are trying to keep up with the Kardashians by throwing massive weddings that more closely resemble spectacles than public declarations of love. And if the bride-to-be isn’t fortunate enough to be an event planner by trade, she have a hell of a time deciding between the seemingly endless array of vendors offering wedding-related goods and services to ensure the happy couple’s special day is tailored to reflect their credit card limits unique personalities.
But what if you don’t care to make thousands of mostly insignificant decisions about an event that will last 12 hours at the very most? What if you truly can’t muster up even an ounce of interest in the colour of the chair covers at the reception, whether the invitations are embossed or debossed, or how many tiers the cake features? What if you just want to dress up in your fancy clothes, say a few words, put on your new ring, and get your party on?
In a word, the answer is Vegas. Continue reading
We’ve all heard the saying “opposites attract” attributed to any number of situations, but I’d be willing to wager that statement is at its most accurate in Sin City. Nowhere else will you find a single boulevard packed with such random mash-ups as a rollercoaster that dips through a casino, gondolas (complete with singing gondoliers) that float you through the heart of a shopping mall, and an 8.5 acre dancing water display that laughs in the face of its desert locale.
As the city that pretty much invented one-upmanship, it’s no wonder Vegas is about to become home to what is arguably the most random mash-up of all.
Cultural Quirks 