Behind the Scenes of the SickKids Foundation’s Million Reasons Run: How We Launched a Successful, National, P2P Event During a Pandemic

With over 25 years experience leading successful digital advertising companies, many consider Jay to be one of the top digital marketers in Canada.  He started his career in finance and marketing at American Express and made his move into digital marketing by launching industry-pioneer DoubleClick’s Canadian business and serving as its first General Manager.  After DoubleClick, he ran several successful internet advertising companies including 24/7 Media Canada.  

About 16 years ago, Jay started The Aber Group, which advised C-Suite executives on the best ways to use the Internet to achieve direct marketing goals.  That consulting practice quickly evolved into a digital marketing firm, as clients asked The Aber Group to expand its role from strategic advisor to actively planning, buying, and managing search engine marketing, online, mobile, and social media advertising campaigns.  With its deep roots in direct marketing plus its Google AdGrants certification and AdGrants Professionals Community Membership, The Aber Group quickly attracted many not for profit and charity clients, helping them develop and execute plans and strategies to build their brands, fundraise, advocate and achieve other direct marketing goals.  The Aber Group counts blue-chip not for profit and for-profit companies as clients including Plan International Canada, Doctors Without Borders, Sick Kids Foundation, The Shaw Festival, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Wilfrid Laurier University, and TransUnion.

Jay has been the Vice-Chair of the Interactive Advertising Bureau of Canada’s board of directors for the last eight years.  He is also actively involved with the Canadian Marketing Association, serving on its Board of Directors and chairing its Digital Marketing Committee for six years, taking part in its Internet Best Practices Task Force, and co-authoring and teaching its inaugural e-Marketing Certification course for five years.  The Aber Group has been the Canadian Marketing Association’s digital media and search agency of record for the past five years, as well.  He is a part time professor at George Brown College and is a member of its Professional Advisory Council for the School of Marketing. 

Jamie is currently Director, Special Events & Sponsorship for SickKids Foundation in Toronto.

He has an established career in the marketing, event planning and fundraising industries. Having worked in the agency world, non-profit sector and as a consultant, he has a variety of experiences to draw from when it comes to planning and strategy.

Jamie has spent the last 8 years in the Hospital Foundation sector as Director of Events at Sunnybrook Hospital Foundation, Sinai Health Foundation and currently at SickKids Foundation. He has been involved in the creation and execution of several large fundraising events in Toronto including SickKids GetLoud, The Million Reasons Run, RBC Run for the Kids, Rock N Stroll, and Great Cycle Challenge Canada.