Lynda Brault, director, marketing communications, is a consumer and technology product expert. Many of her accounts are cross-Canada in scope.


Mathieu Filion, director, corporate communications, is a new member of the corporate and public affairs team. He brings extensive knowledge of both provincial and federal politics to the job.


Magalie Laliberté, consultant, handles a panoply of marketing communications accounts. A real go-getter, she has a passion for developing winning strategies and campaigns.


Anaïs Lorenz, research and Web coordinator, brings her special mix of talent and perseverance to the important task of research, while also providing special help to clients on social media as a member of the Web team.


Frédérique D’Alo, executive assistant, is the dedicated and creative hand that teammates at CASACOM have come to value so much. She puts her administrative and graphic skills to daily use on behalf of the team and our clients.

Space-that we’re looking to fill!

Over the next year, we’ll be recruiting other remarkable individuals to fill every corner of our house. If you know experienced, ambitious people who love communications and public relations (Web, media relations, copywriting, etc.) and strive for success-for themselves and for others-be sure to send them our way! If that person is you, write to us today at rh@casacom.ca.

Here are three facts I would like to bring to your attention:

• Good news! Social media is progressing on all fronts. Eighty (80) percent of public relations and communications professionals always, frequently, or occasionally incorporate it in their communication plans-great progress compared to last year’s result (56%).

• Emergency! Despite this progress, 57% of professionals say they lack training to properly advise their clients in this area. Social media training has become the issue of the day, and it is essential that professionals receive Web 2.0 training and updates.

• Challenge! Despite clients’ increasing openness to social media, many hesitate to integrate it in their communication plans. The two reasons cited are loss of communication control (39%) and insufficient resources (26%). This resistance is normal, since social media has truly revolutionized how information is organized and communicated. I am confident that resistance to social media will decrease as organizations learn to manage it and recognize the advantages.

To learn more about social media and Web 2.0, feel free to contact us or look at my presentations on the subject.

Where are you at with social media?

As CASACOM, Maria is young, talented, dynamic and, in addition, trilingual. Moreover, her life has deeply inspired our New Year message. On October 16th, Maria received a great demonstration of love. Her sweetheart, the lucky man who has been sharing her life for the past six years, proposed to her. Needless to say that her overwhelming joy and happiness were communicable the next day at the office…

So who better than Maria, whose laughter is contagious and so pretty, to convey our wishes? She kindly agreed to be our star of the day. As can be seen in the video, pictures and even in the bloopers, we had a lot of fun during the making of the 2010 wishes.
Through Maria, the CASACOM team wishes you and your loved ones, what will make 2010 an unforgettable year “Love, lots of love!”

Journalists who covered the news story the day before wanted to learn more. La Presse wrote : “According to the calculations of Influence Communication, Hyundai took up 1.06% of Quebec media coverage on Wednesday compared with 0.19% in Canada. If Hyundai had paid for this amount advertising, it would have spent $440,467.” [...] “For comparison purposes, one of the most lucrative campaigns over the past few years was the hiring of Céline Dion as spokesperson for Air Canada. The airline received 24 hours of media coverage worth about $175,000 in Quebec alone.”

This campaign was a resounding success with the Quebec media. All major daily newspapers, several radio stations and Web sites, as well as the daily news programs on Radio-Canada, RDI, CBC and CTV talked about the Clean Air Commitment program.

This example shows how Twitter can be a resource not only to relay pure information but also to effectively position experts with mass media.

BT telephone booth

The press release went around the world in just minutes. In addition to the hundreds of media mentions generated, the project was characterized by countless, stimulating discussions between contributors posted in London, Mumbai, New York, and Montreal. The announcement was made simultaneously to all target audiences of both companies. Our role consisted of getting the word out to all Tata Communications employees, suppliers, and partners, as well as to the business media and telecommunications trade publications.

Through the five-year agreement, Tata Communications will become BT’s primary supplier of International Direct Dial (IDD) and other voice termination services outside BT’s own footprint countries and BT will become Tata Communication’s main distribution channel for its IDD traffic into the UK, expanding into other markets across Europe as the relationship matures.

By providing each party with access to additional capacity and flexibility, the relationship will allow BT and Tata Communications to benefit from each others’ strengths as they develop and grow their businesses in their respective markets.

The resounding success of the effort can be measured by the hundreds of articles published around the world-including several in Montreal-and the sincere satisfaction expressed by our client.

The Wall Street Journal 06. 25. 2009

National Post 06. 26. 2009

The Gazette 06. 26. 2009

La Presse Affaires 06.26. 2009

During the general assembly held in Montreal, Marie-Josée Gagnon thanked ACRPQ members for their trust and stressed “François Morin’s leadership and exceptional involvement” over the last years.

“In the months to come, we will continue to promote the public relations firm’s work in the public and private sectors,” says Marie-Josée. “Furthermore, we will work to increase recognition of the A+ accreditation, a seal of approval exclusive to ACRPQ members which guarantees the highest industry standards.”

If you wish to learn more about this news, please click here: an interview with Nicolas Ritoux of Marketingmag.ca (in French).

About ACRPQ
Founded in 1998, ACRPQ brings together the majority of public relations firms in Quebec. Its mission is to ensure quality services and compliance with ethical standards while promoting the development of the profession. Its 13 members hold the A+ quality accreditation, which is awarded after a rigorous review by the Chair in Public Relations and Marketing Communication at UQAM. By promoting the public relations consulting industry, ACRPQ members apply the highest quality standards to both professional and business practices. ACRPQ demonstrates its leadership by recognizing and respecting the principles of integrity and accountability that underlie the commercial and professional practices of Quebec public relations firms. ACRPQ also works with governments and other bodies to address issues affecting the public relations consulting industry in Quebec, in the best interest of professionals in the field.

Moderated and hosted by France Beaudoin, five experienced mommy bloggers: Martine Gingras from Banlieusardises, Christine Simard from Mamamiiia!, Nancy Coulombe and Nadine Descheneaux from (Z)imparfaites, Caroline Allard from Mère Indigne, and—of course—lively commentary from the audience.! The introduction of the actors—Marie-Hélène Thibault, the spiting image of Caroline Allard, and women’s favorite actor Stéphane Archambault—provided another of the evening’s highlights.

In addition to posting about their plans to attend the event, the participants all wrote, each in their own way, about the memorable evening on their blogs either that same night or the next morning. It was also a great opportunity to share their peers’ success with their readers.

About the webseries

The series, based on Les chroniques d’une mère indigne by Caroline Allard, is co-produced by Radio-Canada.ca and Milagro Films. The series was created by Caroline Allard (blogger, author, and story consultant) and Miryam Bouchard (writer and producer), and features actors Marie-Hélène Thibault (Mère indigne), Stéphane Archambault (Père indigne), Alice Morel-Michaud (Fille aînée), and baby Charlotte Bégin. The web-based series consists of nine3 -minute webisodes to be released online exclusively through Radio-Canada.ca, making it possible for moms from around the world, their girlfriends, and even their husbands to enjoy and relive their parenting exploits each week. Visit Radio-Canada.ca/mereindigne to view the episodes.

Reduced sugar: Great health news…

Carbohydrates are essential for good physical health and the normal functioning of our bodies. According to recommendations in the Canadian Food Guide, 45 to 65% of the calories we consume every day should come from carbohydrates. However, it also recommends that we limit our consumption of added sugar.
“You should not completely eliminate sugar from your diet or that of your children. You should instead limit how much sugar you eat and opt for foods that have good nutritious value. By putting25 % less sugar in its products, Yoplait is making yet another step towards helping consumers eat a healthy diet,” explained nutritionist Linda Montpetit.
Yoplait Minigo Original fresh cheese now contains 8 g of total carbohydrates per 60-g serving. This is comparable to the amount of carbohydrates in an average-sized raw carrot or 125 ml of raw raspberries. Yoplait Minigo Immuni+ Jr. contains 10 g of total carbohydrates per 60-g serving, or the same amount in a peach or white grapefruit. Finally, Yoplait Tubes has 7 g of total carbohydrates per 60-g serving, or the equivalent of a red pepper or star fruit.

Excellent news for parents!

To clearly identify this new 25% reduction in sugar content, the packaging of Yoplait Minigo (Original, Duo and Immuni+ Jr.) and Yoplait Tubes now features a post-it note label. For more information, we invite you to visit www.yoplait.ca or consult the enclosed table.

About Yoplait

At the forefront of Canada’s yogourt and fresh cheese market for almost 40 years, Yoplait products are synonymous with quality, diversity and innovation. Yoplait markets over a hundred products in Canada under such reputed brand names as Yoplait Minigo, Yoplait Tubes, Yoplait Source, Yop from Yoplait, Yoplait Creamy, Yoplait Basket Fat-Free, Yoptimal from Yoplait, and now, Yoplait Kidz. At Yoplait, eating healthfully and having fun is not a contradiction: it is our mission. This is why we offer yogourts and other dairy products to make all of life’s moments that much more enjoyable.
For more information about Yoplait products, visit our company Web site: yoplait.ca.

The topics addressed during the three intensive conference days touched on campaign analysis, reputation management and customer satisfaction. Just like every meeting, this one also provided an opportunity for Worldcom to assess each firm according to very high standards, which the partner must meet to remain a member of the organization. An innovation of the Montréal conference was a “Generation Next” program tailored to younger firm members and that focused on the current trend of social media.

“CASACOM was delighted to host its partners from Worldcom Public Relations Group. Our stimulating program delved into the most recent developments in public relations. Whether they come from Los Angeles, New York, Buenos Aires, Mexico City or Vancouver, the members of Worldcom Public Relations Group from all over the America came to Montréal to share in the most recent advances in corporate communications, government relations or consumer communications. We have also organized social activities that left everyone with a very positive impression of their Montréal visit,” stated Marie-Josée Gagnon, Founding President of CASACOM house of communications.

About Worldcom

Worldcom Public Relations Group is the world’s leading network of independently owned public relations counseling firms. Worldcom has 112 offices in 93 cities in 42 countries on six continents, more than 2,000 employees and revenue in 2007 of more than US $227 million.
Established in 1988, Worldcom was formed so that the strongest, most capable independent public relations firms could serve national, international and multi-national clients while retaining the flexibility and client-service focus inherent in independent agencies. Through Worldcom, clients have on-demand access to in-depth communications expertise from professionals who understand the language, culture and customs of the geographic arenas in which they operate.
Worldcom is governed by an elected board of directors and three regional boards, with support by a Chief Operating Officer.

Australian Financial Review Magazine p.90
Australian Financial Review Magazine p.91

About CASACOM

Founded in Montreal in 2001, CASACOM is a boutique agency known for its highly creative, results-oriented team determined to build enduring and profitable relationships with its clients. Specializing in corporate communications, public affairs, and marketing communications, CASACOM offers strategic planning, branding, crisis management, media relations, internal communications, and event planning services.