John Armstrong
Vice President, Integrated Public Affairs
John Armstrong is a strategic thinker who combines balanced counsel with creative energy to deliver communications strategies that work.
John started his career as a public liaison officer for former Ontario premier William Davis. After completing his bachelor's degree from Wilfrid Laurier University in political science, he moved into the private sector as general manager of Armstrong Communications' cable advertising channel in Niagara.
After obtaining his Master of Arts degree in political science, John taught current affairs and the media to Niagara College journalism students and lectured in Canadian studies at Brock University.
His commitment to leadership took him to Ottawa and the office of former Reform party of Canada leader Preston Manning, as a strategist, speech-writer and communications specialist. While in Ottawa, John developed and honed his media relations skills, successfully selling story ideas to public affairs programmers at Canada AM, CBC Newsworld, CBC Radio, CFRB and major news agencies such as Canadian Press and Southam News Service.
Returning to the Government of Ontario, John served on the staff of Labour Minister Jim Flaherty as communications advisor, a position that allowed him to learn the workings of government from the inside.
Since joining OEB Enterprise in 1999, John has delivered dozens of highly effective communications strategies and tactics to clients in all sectors from large multinational corporations to various levels of government, the broader public sector, industry associations and not-for-profits.
John is the firm’s lead facilitator with skills that have been applied to strategic planning, focus group testing and dealing with difficult audiences and public meetings.
He is founder of the Canadian Jazz Hall of Fame, member of the Board of the Niagara Community Foundation, and he sits on the Public Relations Program Advisory Committee at Niagara College.
