Health science professionals hire DDB Canada to build public awareness

HSABC taps Vancouver office to broadcast the value of their membership as part of the modern health care team

VANCOUVER, Sept. 13 /CNW/ - DDB Canada has been hired to raise awareness of the value provided by the Health Sciences Association of British Columbia (HSABC), a union that represents 16,000 health science professionals across BC.

Beginning immediately, DDB Canada's Vancouver office will develop an awareness campaign to raise HSABC members' profile among the general public and help receive government recognition concerning the value of HSABC members and the essential services they provide.

"HSABC members play an integral role in modern health care," says, Miriam Sobrino, director of communication, HSABC.  "We have an intimate connection with patients, often more so than doctors and nurses, as we perform vital, hands-on procedures such as x-rays, physiotherapy and rehabilitation services.  We were impressed by DDB Canada's results-driven creative and social strategies, they made us confident they could draw attention to the essential nature of HSABC members' contribution to health care."

"Wherever you look in the health care system HSABC members play a vital role," says Justin Young, managing director of DDB Canada's social media offering, Radar DDB.  "We're going to drive awareness of their contributions through social creativity, and strategic and tactical media buys, letting people know that without HSABC members, modern medicine would be in the dark ages."

DDB Canada was awarded the business after a competitive pitch process in August.  OMD Vancouver will handle media planning and buying.

About the HSABC
The Health Sciences Association of British Columbia (www.hsabc.org) is a dynamic union representing more than 16,000 health care and social services professionals at over 250 facilities and agencies in acute care, long-term care, and community health, including workers at child development centres and transition houses. In addition to negotiating collective agreements for our members, HSABC is active on many other fronts, including health care policy, labour issues, occupational health and safety, wage equity, women's issues, and the solidarity movement. HSABC also works to preserve and promote public health care in Canada through campaigns, and through the activities of our committees.  HSABC offer a number of education opportunities to our members, both directly and through our labour affiliations.

About DDB Canada
Named Strategy's 2009 Agency of the Year and Top Creative Agency, DDB Canada (www.ddbcanada.com) is the most creatively acclaimed, internationally recognized marketing communications agency in Canada. Known for advertising that generates significant results for clients, DDB Canada is a "total communications company" whose fundamental belief is that creativity is the most powerful force in business. DDB Canada has offices in Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto and Montreal. The agency's integrated groups include: DDB Kid Think (youth marketing), DDB Public Relations, Tribal DDB (online and interactive), Karacters Design Group, Rapp Canada (direct and CRM), Radar DDB (social media marketing) and DDB Hodes Recruitment Communications (recruitment marketing).

For further information:

or to schedule an interview, please contact:

Paige Calvert
DDB Canada
604-608-4421
[email protected]