As a full-service firm, OEB Enterprise has more than 60 years experience and a proven track record of delivering a wide range of strategic communications services and public affairs counsel to clients.
1947 - Recreation for Millions
The Bureau was retained to plan the first public relations program for the Niagara Park Commission and Niagara Falls. The 3,000-acre parks system, with headquarters overlooking Niagara Falls, runs parallel with the Niagara River from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. In addition to regular communication programs featuring world famous sites and attractions and the organization of many special events, Bureau services during a 15-year period encompassed royal visits, historical dedications and the openings of new facilities. During this period the number of annual visitors to the Niagara Parks increased to about 12 million.
The many special news-making events in which the Bureau participated ranged from the opening of the gold course to the Friendship Invasion Ceremony at Fort George, and the filming of the Marilyn Monroe movie, “Niagara”. This was the first international public relations program designed to promote Niagara Falls, and Bureau services continued into the Sixties, when the Commission established an internal public relations department. It should be noted that during the period under review, expanding air travel or the first time brought Niagara Falls into competition with other distant holiday centers.
Canada's Inland Fleet
The decade beginning in 1959 brought dramatic changes in Canada’s Lakes-St. Lawrence shipping industry. The opening of the international Seaway, the start-up of the vast iron ore mines in the lower St. Lawrence, new world grain markets, coal-fired Hydro station, and the general upsurge in the economy brought on an increase in bulk cargoes carried by Canada’s inland fleet.
The Canadian shipping industry responded with a major conversation and building program which substantially enlarged tonnage capacity. Port Weller Dry Docks Limited, a Bureau client, built many of the largest ships now afloat, principally for the Upper Lakes Shipping Ltd., also a client of the Bureau. Keel-laying, christening and commissioning ceremonies were arranged to draw attention to these new developments and facilities.
A significant communication project was the introduction of a newspaper, “Ship-Shore News”, sponsored by Upper Lakes Shipping Ltd. which chronicled developments along the Great Lakes. This eight-page monthly tabloid achieved impressive success reaching a controlled monthly circulation of 15,000 copies. Having achieved its basic objectives, “Ship-Shore News” was slowly phased into retirement after 10 spectacular years as the Great Lakes shipping “voice”. Working in close cooperation with the company, the Bureau coordinated editorial policy, content, production and distribution. The effectiveness achieved by this publication is recognized as an outstanding Bureau communication achievement. Although it is some years since the last issue was published, requests are still being received for back issues and the publication enjoys frequent complimentary references in marine and government circles.
1962 - Building a University
The founding of Brock University at St. Catharines, Ontario, brought with it utilization of all facets of public relations expertise and communication skills that could be anticipated in pioneering such an undertaking and many that were not anticipated. From the beginning and throughout the formative period, starting from site and name selection to the establishment of the first Board of Governors, the Bureau served as public relations consultant. When the university eventually established a public relations department, a Bureau staff member transferred to head the new university P.R. department. Brock, now well established, serves 4,800 full and part time students and has a full-time faculty of 200.
Celebrating the Vintage
The Bureau was retained to manage and promote the Niagara Grape and Wine Festival, jointly sponsored by the Ontario Grape Growers Marketing Board, the Canadian Wine Institute and the City of St. Catharines. The Festival, founded in 1952, comprised a handful of events and was mainly a regional affair when the Bureau became involved. Now the 10-day event staged annually in the latter part of September features 100 events and is recognized as one of Canada’s great national festivals with the annual Grande Parade attracting up to half a million spectators along its route in St. Catharines. The Festival has successfully focused consumer attention on wines produced from Ontario grapes and the continuing advances being made by this important industry. It is now a major tourist attraction for St. Catharines and the entire Niagara Region.
Indicative of its international recognition, the Festival was selected to be the feature event for September in the 1974 calendar published by the American Automobile Association.
1968 - Better Vines, Better Wines
The tremendous new developments in the growing of grapes in the Niagara region had gone relatively unnoticed. Canadians read and heard only about European vineyards, and knew little about a 25-year grape research program. Sponsored by grape growers, wineries, and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, this development program brought 40 hybrid grape varieties into commercial production on 23,000 acres of vineyards in the heart of the Niagara fruitlands. In addition, several hundred varieties are under constant tests at the Government research farm, Vinland, Ontario.
Beginning in 1968, the Ontario Grape Growers’ Marketing Board, representing about 1,200 growers, undertook a full-scale information/education program developed and coordinated by the Bureau with the Board staff. The main purpose was to acquaint Canadians with improvements which have enhanced the quality and created a diversity of Ontario wines and grape products. In comparatively few years the Ontario grape industry and its products have earned widespread public attention and acceptance. The public relations program continues in new areas of information and education, serving to keep consumers and legislatures aware of the continued progress being registered by this remarkable industry.
1976 - An Eventful Anniversary Year
Lou Cahill, chairman and founder of the Bureau, was elected first chairman of the national consultants’ section of the Canadian Public Relations Society at the June meeting in Edmonton. The Public Relations Society of America awarded Mr. Cahill a Certificate of Merit for his efforts in founding this new section.
