ICA is Canada's national association founded in 1905 and actively represents advertising agencies in a wide variety of beneficial activities. The diversity of ICA member agencies is impressive and, when combined, they account for over 90% of national media billings in Canada.

Vision (our aspirations for the long term outcome of all ICA's activities)

The ICA member operates in a growing and profitable advertising and marketing communications business in Canada and enjoys a valued relationship with advertisers and other stakeholders.*

The ICA is recognized as the leader, coast-to-coast, in accomplishing the vision; this, together with providing better value for fees paid, attracts new members.

* (Consumer, media owners, government/regulators, production, talent unions, etc.)

Mission (articulates the behavior, culture and strategy of the ICA)

Anticipate, serve and promote the collective interests of ICA members with particular regard to defining, developing and helping to maintain the highest possible standards of professional practice.

Goals and Strategies

1. To help build better ICA advertising agencies and so improve their real and perceived value to clients. (The strategy is Best Practices and Advanced Education.)
2. To build a better ICA and so improve value for fees paid. (The strategy is to improve and expand services and benefits, generating greater involvement, communication and relationship building.)
3. To maintain advocacy at current levels, which also benefits non-members while developing services and benefits to convert more prospects to membership.

ICA Staff Directory

Staff & Consultant Advisors

Jani Yates Tel 416-482-1396 Ext 230 is the ICA's Acting President and will have membership relations and program management as her primary responsibilities. Jani joined ICA in 1998 and has more than 17 years of advertising experience working in both languages in Montreal and Toronto. Most recently with Bates Canada, Jani has broad advertising experience having worked in a number of agencies including Wells Rich Greene, Vickers & Benson, Foster and Wunderman. Currently, she is Chair of the National Advertising Benevolent Society (NABS) and past President of the Advertising Club of Toronto boards.

Paula Rose, CGA Ext 226 is Vice-President, Finance & Administration and Corporate Secretary Paula joined ICA in 1993 after holding financial positions at various advertising agencies, including Ogilvy & Mather. Prior to her 15 years in the advertising industry, she was an auditor at a mid-size chartered accountancy firm. Paula is responsible for ICA finances, member queries on sales tax, and other financial and administrative issues, as well as coordinating the Operating Statistics, Salary and Broadcast Production Costs Surveys. Paula is a Certified General Accountant and has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Concordia University.

Jo-Ann McQuillan, MISt, CPM (On Maternity Leave) Ext 224 Is ICA’s Director of Information & Communications and ICA’s Privacy Officer And is responsible for providing members with information services, ranging from simple reference questions to the compilation of detailed packages of current advertising and marketing data, consumer or category data, or information on how to best run an agency in an increasingly complex marketplace. Jo-Ann joined ICA in 2001 after serving diverse scholarly communities in the Integrated Library and Information Studies Laboratory (Inforum), Gerard House Library and the Caven Library at Knox College. Jo-Ann holds a Master of Information Studies.

Rachel Dupuis, MISt Ext 224 Is ICA’s Director of Information & Communications And is responsible for providing members with information services, ranging from simple reference questions to the compilation of detailed packages of current advertising and marketing data, consumer or category data, or information on how to best run an agency in an increasingly complex marketplace. She has worked at a number of different academic and business research centres, most recently at the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPAO), and brings additional experience from the publishing sector. Rachel holds a Master of Information Studies degree.

Suzanne Filiatrault Ext 227 Is Director, Professional Development And is responsible for the overall direction of ICA’s professional development programs. Suzanne has over 25 years of experience in marketing, advertising, internet solution design and brand development, and teaches marketing at the University of Toronto (Scarborough Campus). Suzanne is currently completing her Masters of Education.

Winnie Alford Ext 300 is ICA Broadcast Talent Advisor and trouble-shoots all member talent problems as well as negotiating with all the unions: ACTRA, UdA, SAG, AFofM. Winnie heads a company of freelance producers that service the advertising and production industry. Prior to setting up her own company, Winnie worked for over twenty years in advertising agencies in both Toronto and Montreal as a broadcast producer to agencies such as Young & Rubicam, Foster Advertising, Vickers & Benson and Harrod & Mirlin. As a member of the ICA/ACA negotiating team, Winnie has served to help negotiate the past two ACTRA contracts on behalf of the members.

Rafe Engle, JD, LLM 416-598-3806 Is ICA’s Legal Advisor whose advisory services are made available by ICA, free to members, on a wide variety of advertising-related legal matters. These include advertising and promotion copy; agency/client agreements; talent contracts; releases; copyright/trade-mark/intellectual property rights; media law; etc. Rafe’s career began in programming and media at Procter & Gamble and JWT. After studying law, he was called to the Ontario Bar in 1967 and established the first private law practice specializing in advertising law in Canada. Rafe became ICA’s Legal Advisor in 1997.

Mary Beth Currie, B.A., LL.B. 416-777-5767 Is ICA Employment Law Advisor and can provide advice to employers about general employment, human rights, employment standards, occupational health and safety, wrongful dismissal, corporate mergers/acquisitions and restructuring.  Mary Beth is a partner in Bennett Jones Employment Services Practice Group in Toronto. Mary Beth was retained by ICA in 2002, and is a member of the Human Resources Professionals Association of Ontario (HRPAO). Mary Beth attended law school at Queen's University, and was called to the Ontario Bar in 1985.

Bill McLaughlin 416-487-9173 is ICA Office Real Estate Advisor who consults with members with free negotiation advice prior to finding new premises or renegotiating an existing lease. In addition to advising ICA members, he provides office relocation counsel to a wide range of clients on a project basis - from finding new premises right through to physical move and beyond. Prior to forming his own company he spent 25 years in advertising agency management including 18 years with JWT, where he rose to Deputy GM of JWT Toronto.

Sandy Beglan Ext 229 is ICA's Executive Office Administrator and assists the President and Executive Vice President on a variety of projects and initiatives while also managing the office administrative and technical needs. She joined ICA in 1997 following 20 years in the advertising business, holding various administrative and managerial positions.

Toni Burton Ext 231 Is ICA's Information Coordinator Toni joined the ICA in 2003 to assist in the operation of the ICA Library and Information Services. Toni is responsible for cataloguing, serials management, resource circulation and research assistance. Toni also assists the Director of Information & Communications in providing information services to members. Toni holds a B.A from University of Waterloo and a Library & Information Technician Diploma from Seneca College.

Elizabeth Farge Ext 228 Is ICA's Administration Coordinator Elizabeth joined the ICA in 2005 to assist with ICA's administration, working closely with the VP of Finance. Elizabeth has a background in market research, customer service and business management.

Meghan Pollock Ext 221 Is ICA’s Professional Development/Event Coordinator Meghan joined the ICA in 2005 to assist in the coordination of our education programs and other events, including the CASSIES. Meghan brings experience from jobs in a local advertising agency, in a market research firm and in the executive recruitment sector. Meghan holds a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Italian Communications.

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