Don Curtis

Throughout his career, Canadian marketing veteran Don Curtis has shaped sales pitches worth more than $200 million in revenues for clients ranging from McDonalds, Heinz, Bank of Montreal and Labatt Brewing Company, just to name a few.

On Tuesday, Oct. 28, Curtis will visit Brock University to speak about a key chapter of his career in the Canadian marketing industry.

His public presentation, which takes place from 1 to 3 p.m. in Academic South 215, is hosted by David Sharron, Brock’s Head of Special Collections and Archives and will also feature marketing materials from the Terry O’Malley/Vickers & Benson Collection.

Throughout his career, one of Curtis’ most impactful collaborations was with another well-known Canadian marketing icon, Terry O’Malley, who sponsors an annual marketing and advertising lecture series at Brock University.

Curtis spent 17 years at the Vickers & Benson agency in Toronto, where he and O’Malley collaborated on national advertising campaigns that became familiar to millions of Canadians. They also rose to become the firm’s senior partners – O’Malley was President & Creative Director and Curtis was Executive Vice President & Managing Partner.

Curtis’ talk – “The Great Canadian Advertising Agency” – will be a lively review of Vickers & Benson in the 70s and 80s, when its creative reputation made it one of North America’s most sought-after agencies, with annual activity soaring from $35-million in 1972 to more than $185-million by 1989.

“Many of those who were there for that era will tell you it was the greatest time of their lives,” says Curtis, “and the greatest agency of its day.”

• What: “The Great Canadian Advertising Agency,” a presentation by Don Curtis

• When: Tuesday, Oct. 28, 1 to 3 p.m. (public presentation) and from 12 noon to 1 p.m. (preview of archival materials with lunch provided)

• Where: Academic South 215, Brock University

Please note that seating is limited.