Women's Clinic Commercial is a Great Example of a Successful Partnership

Working in communications, marketing and public relations in the public sector can, at times, present some challenges.

Often, we are asked to provide high quality service with a fraction of the budget in comparison to our colleagues in the private sector.

However, in a lot of ways, it actually helps us be more strategic with the projects we take on, encourages teamwork both in our department and with community partners. And, it challenges us to be creative, innovative and thoughtful.

I could not be more proud of the work we do in eliminating stigma and telling Ontario Shores’ story through the voices of our patients, families, volunteers and staff.

Our latest project, which officially kicks off January 23, exemplifies what creativity and teamwork can produce. It’s also the beneficiary of financial support from the Shoppers LOVE. YOU. Campaign, which provides funding for women’s health initiatives in communities across Canada.

The Shoppers LOVE. YOU. Campaign provided a grant to increase opportunities for women to access services through our Women’s Clinic, an outpatient consultation service at Ontario Shores which provides care to women with perinatal mood disorders and other reproductive issues that affect a woman’s mental health. 

With the new Shoppers LOVE. YOU. Women’s Clinic ready to expand, our Communications team has been working closely with the Women’s Clinic team for months to create promotional tools to get the word out to women who may benefit from this expanded service. It was a great example of collaboration among professionals with very different mandates who don’t ordinarily work side-by-side. From my perspective, it was a great experience becoming familiar with both the topic and the people who directly help others each day.

With the help of a local actor and in consultation with our women’s clinic mental health experts at Ontario Shores, our team created a 30-second commercial to reach women in our catchment area, which includes east and northeast Toronto and the surrounding municipalities of Durham Region, York Region, Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton, Northumberland and Peterborough Counties.

Because it was developed and created completely in-house, we are able to maximize the promotional funding provided by the Shoppers LOVE. YOU. Campaign to have the commercial air on Global Durham, CHEX Peterborough and digital platforms such as Facebook and Google until the end of March. In February, you also can catch the 30-second spot on movie screens as part of the pre-show at theatres across Durham Region. Additionally, we are working with our community partners to have it shown in waiting rooms at clinics and health centres throughout our catchment area.

In a lot of ways, this is the perfect project. A great product developed at minimal cost by non-clinical and clinical professionals passionate about the well-being of others combined with a great partner committed to funding projects and services that can change a person’s life.

We are thrilled to unveil this commercial. We worked hard on developing it and we are proud of the finished product. And we are also excited to have it be seen in the communities we serve by women who may be struggling and in need of care.

More information about our new Shoppers LOVE. YOU. Women’s Clinic is available at www.ontarioshores.ca/women

The commercial is available now YouTube and on a TV or movie screen near you.