Coldwater

Communications

Tailored, strategic and results-oriented public relations campaigns for purpose-driven organizations.

What we do

We provide refreshingly unique public relations solutions to tell your story.

Media Relations

We have developed solid relationships with journalists in today’s ever-evolving media landscape. Our expertise includes working with niche media in the film, television, arts and entertainment industries to gain the most authentic coverage for our clients.

Event/Festival Publicity

Event and festival publicity is something we pride ourselves on. We have the knowledge and know-how to help our clients navigate small and large-scale events, such as film festivals, conferences, and premieres. Our expertise helps our clients gain the media attention they desire and deserve.

Training and Coaching Services

Coldwater Communications offers media training and communications coaching to enable you to confidently navigate today’s fast-paced media landscape. We host full and half-day workshops focused on how to identify, prepare, and effectively communicate your message and story through on camera presentations and interviews.

Corporate Communications

We help businesses in Canada develop strong communications strategies in order to achieve their overall business goals. We will guide you through identifying a sustainable plan with customized tactics to meet your needs.

Digital and Social Media

We provide the knowledge and know-how in order to achieve a strong Web and social media presence across all platforms. By developing digital strategies, we guide our clients through the entire process in order to increase awareness of and engagement with their brand.

Thought Leadership

Our focus is on building and sustaining authentic, mutually-beneficial relationships. We work with our clients to identify ways in which they can contribute meaningfully to their industry through media relations. When connecting the media with our clients, the Coldwater team provides creative ideas that transform into credible and consistent results that positively impact our clients’ business and reputation.

Podcasts

Coldwater Communications is proud to partner with Everything Podcasts, a division of Pattison Media, for the production of podcasts. Everything Podcasts is a world-class podcast production company that helps brands evolve their branding, media, communications, PR strategy into the audio space with a custom podcast series that connects with their audience in a meaningful and memorable way.

Our Podcast

Listen to Deep Dive—the Coldwater Communications podcast

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

Testimonials

"Theodora and the whole Coldwater team have been excellent to work with. Coldwater have provided communications and PR support on two of our projects, with varying needs and budgets, and have been able to adapt their work to fit our organization's needs. I would highly recommend them."

Martha NelsonCommunications and Fundraising Manager, Pacific Legal Education and Outreach Society

“The entire process from the initial proposal to campaign launch and interview coordination was managed seamlessly and we were impressed with the amount of national media coverage that was obtained. It was a pleasure to work with such an enthusiastic and professional team.”

Colette AbbottMoms at Work Director of Partnerships and Programming

We worked with Theodora and the Coldwater team following national TV
exposure to keep the momentum and drive more media coverage. Their team
solidified several great pieces that kept our brand at the top of mind. We
were very happy with their work and the ease of collaborating with their
team. We highly recommend their services and will use them again for PR
campaigns!

Adam CorneilCEO & Founder, Unbuilders

Boys and Girls Clubs were thrilled when Coldwater Communications agreed to support us pro-bono with a 20 day media campaign. Public awareness and profile are among the highest priority needs of non-profits, and yet require a skill set we don't often possess. Coldwater's team delivered with a professional, thorough, strategic media campaign that yielded more media coverage over the course of about 6 weeks than we could typically be able to generate in a year. They took the time to understand BGC, our needs, and goals, and overdelivered. We're beyond grateful.

Carolyn TuckwellPresident & CEO, Boys and Girls Clubs of South Coast BC

Having worked with Theodora on the roll out of a feature film, I can say she is the best. For an independent project made straight from the heart, we travelled the world, winning numerous awards, followed by a theatrical run with Cineplex Odeon and finishing on iTunes, Google Play and Amazon Prime. Theodora was there the whole way, across all platforms of media engagement, around the world. Throughout it all, she was a consummate professional and - perhaps even more importantly - a whole lot of fun.

David RayWriter, Producer, Director, Second Chance Productions

Theodora’s strategic guidance and publicity efforts have helped Idea Rebel receive coverage in local and national media outlets, resulting in increased exposure for our company. I highly recommend her and Coldwater Communications’ services for any company looking to gain exposure in today’s media climate.

Jamie GarrattCEO, Idea Rebel

Theodora represents a true professional in her field, making it her priority to keep clients well informed and updated on all aspects of any project. Results-oriented, conscientious and dedicated are just some of the words to describe our pleasurable experience working with her.

Murphy LiuSenior Sales Manager, BlackboxMyCar

Who we are

Coldwater Communications is a boutique PR agency with national reach that delivers tailored, strategic and results-oriented PR campaigns for purpose-driven organizations. A diverse mix of people solving complex problems, the agency’s values include excellence, integrity, respect, collaboration, public interest, innovation, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Theodora Jean
Founder + Managing Partner

Theodora Jean

Theodora has over 15 years of public relations and communications experience in private industry, government, and non-profit sectors. Through her public relations agency, Coldwater Communications, Theodora provides earned media strategies, corporate communications services, and thought leadership for clients in various industries, such as non-profit, academia, film, retail and tech.

Theodora has over 15 years of public relations and communications experience in private industry, government, and non-profit sectors. Through her public relations agency, Coldwater Communications, Theodora provides earned media strategies, corporate communications services, and thought leadership for clients in various industries, such as non-profit, academia, film, retail and tech.

Theodora sits on the boards of the Squamish Chamber of Commerce and Small Business BC (SBBC). She is Past President of the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) Vancouver. Theodora was named one of three finalists for Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2022 by the Squamish Chamber of Commerce. She was also on The Peak’s 2021 Emerging Leaders list and was named one of the Inspiring Females Accelerating Change by North America Women in PR.

She has spoken at numerous conferences, including the Canadian Public Relations Society annual conference in 2023, BC Communications Forum in 2020, the Canadian Public Relations Society National Conference in Edmonton in 2019, Marketing Kingdom 2018, and Doors Open to Technology 2018.

In 2021, Theodora completed a Harvard Business School Executive Education program focused on leading professional service firms and is currently pursuing a Certificate of Specialization in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from Harvard. She also has an undergraduate degree from Queen’s University and a Masters in Communications from the University of Ottawa.

Partner

Nela Gojevic

Nela is a sought-after consultant and project manager specializing in strategic communications, public education, marketing, multi-media creative, stakeholder engagement and partnerships. Uniquely positioned to serve her clients, Nela fuses her communications expertise with core business innovation principles to drive her clients’ desired results.

Nela is a sought-after consultant and project manager specializing in strategic communications, public education, marketing, multi-media creative, stakeholder engagement and partnerships. Uniquely positioned to serve her clients, Nela fuses her communications expertise with core business innovation principles to drive her clients’ desired results.

With nearly a decade of communications experience, Nela has a proven track record of excellence and building strong relationships with a wealth of clients, from a small business to government departments and agencies. She has lent her expertise to develop notable federal government communications initiatives, such as anti-racism public education and awareness, International Women’s Day, and strategic marketing to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake. She is known for applying a strong diversity, inclusion and equity lens to her work, as she draws on her 3 years of public sector experience spent working on national anti-racism initiatives. Nela is passionate about the arts, innovation, amplifying the voices of equity-seeking communities, and using communications as a vehicle for driving social change.

Nela holds a B.A. in Media Production from Ryerson University’s competitive School of Radio and Television Arts, and is a candidate at the McMaster-Syracuse Universities’ Masters in Communication Management. She is also poised to complete her certificate in Business Innovation at the University of Toronto. In her spare time, Nela is a singer-songwriter and can be found playing small gigs in the downtown Toronto area.

Public Relations Coordinator

Anne Marie Scanlon

Anne Marie has a Bachelor of Arts in English and Art History from the University of Guelph and received her certificate in Marketing and Public Relations from BCIT. She has experience working in Investor Relations and Marketing and Event Planning. She is passionate about writing and communications and brings a positive, creative and research driven mind to the table in all her endeavors. She was born and raised in North Vancouver and is bilingual in French and English.

Anne Marie has a Bachelor of Arts in English and Art History from the University of Guelph and received her certificate in Marketing and Public Relations from BCIT. She has experience working in Investor Relations and Marketing and Event Planning. She is passionate about writing and communications and brings a positive, creative and research driven mind to the table in all her endeavors. She was born and raised in North Vancouver and is bilingual in French and English.
Betsy Cooper
Crisis Consultant

Betsy Cooper

With more than 20 years as a strategic communications expert, Betsy Cooper has extensive experience in the food & beverage, travel, health and lifestyle communications realms. She has created innovative and integrated media relations, social media, events and crisis communications strategies on both the agency and client side of the business. From beer to beauty, fashion to football, she utilizes her strong leadership and communication skills to collaborate honestly and openly with clients to ensure their programs meet and exceed all expectations.

With more than 20 years as a strategic communications expert, Betsy Cooper has extensive experience in the food & beverage, travel, health and lifestyle communications realms. She has created innovative and integrated media relations, social media, events and crisis communications strategies on both the agency and client side of the business. From beer to beauty, fashion to football, she utilizes her strong leadership and communication skills to collaborate honestly and openly with clients to ensure their programs meet and exceed all expectations.

One of her specialty areas is in Crisis Communications, or as she likes to call it, Special Situations. She is often called upon for her counsel on challenging situations for clients of any size. In addition to providing reactive strategies for each situation, she works with clients to build out a proactive Special Situations Guide so everyone is prepared for any potential issue that may arise.

Cooper has led integrated communications strategies and provided counsel to both national and multi-national corporations, and has won multiple awards for her work, including a Notable Award, CPRS ACE Awards and IABC OVATION Awards.

In addition to her corporate work, she has done pro bono and volunteer work for a variety of organizations including Habitat for Humanity, The GenWell Project, F*ck Cancer and a number of others. She currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Sponsorship Marketing Council of Canada (Vancouver chapter). She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Queen’s University, and a Public Relations Diploma from Algonquin College.

Betsy is a huge proponent of the Work Hard Play Hard philosophy, and enjoys road trips with friends, hitting her local patio, and days at the cottage.

Media Outreach Officer

Callista Ryan

Callista Ryan is passionate about creative communications and has extensive experience in media relations, issues management, and strategy. She served as the Vice President Communications and Public Affairs for the University Students' Council at Western University, where she studied International Relations as a Loran Scholar. She hails from Squamish, BC but has had the privilege to live in many different Canadian provinces/territories and abroad in France and China.

Callista Ryan is passionate about creative communications and has extensive experience in media relations, issues management, and strategy. She served as the Vice President Communications and Public Affairs for the University Students' Council at Western University, where she studied International Relations as a Loran Scholar. She hails from Squamish, BC but has had the privilege to live in many different Canadian provinces/territories and abroad in France and China.
Chris Malmo
Director of Accounts and Business Development

Chris Malmo

Chris is an experienced communicator and writer with a track record of applying his skills to push for smarter public policy, previously as Senior Manager of Communications and Policy at the BC Tech Association.

Chris is an experienced communicator and writer with a track record of applying his skills to push for smarter public policy, previously as Senior Manager of Communications and Policy at the BC Tech Association. As a reporter for Vice News and Motherboard, Chris has broken stories about digital and energy policy, including a groundbreaking 2015 analysis of bitcoin mining's energy consumption. He has a Master of Public Administration from Queen's, a BA in International Relations from UBC, and complementary studies at Sciences-Po Paris and Fudan University. Chris has 5 years of experience reporting insightful stories as a freelance journalist and 7+ years of experience developing impactful communications products for clients in government, academia, industry, and the nonprofit sector.
Danielle Alfaro
Account Manager

Danielle Alfaro

Daniell has over 10 years experience in corporate communications and public relations across a variety of industries including B2B tech, PR agency and non-profit. Skilled in strategic communications planning, earned, owned, paid media relations, analyst relations, executive communications and social media management.

Danielle has over 10 years experience in corporate communications and public relations across a variety of industries including B2B tech, PR agency and non-profit. Skilled in strategic communications planning, earned, owned, paid media relations, analyst relations, executive communications and social media management.

Outside of work, Danielle is passionate about giving back to her profession and has served as a board member and is a current mentorship program volunteer for the Canadian Public Relations Society in Calgary.

Fiona Forbes
Media Training Consultant

Fiona Forbes

Fiona Forbes is a TV powerhouse with over 20 years experience both in front of the camera as a host and behind the scenes as a producer. Over the course of her career, she has interviewed A-listers to Prime Ministers, rock stars to astrophysicists and everything in between.

Fiona Forbes is a TV powerhouse with over 20 years experience both in front of the camera as a host and behind the scenes as a producer. Over the course of her career, she has interviewed A-listers to Prime Ministers, rock stars to astrophysicists and everything in between. Fiona is currently living in her hometown of Vancouver with her smiling dog Chewbacca working as a freelance consultant at Coldwater, TV Host and Producer.
Gabrielle Brisebois
Social Media Consultant

Gabrielle Brisebois

Gabrielle has over 15 years of experience managing the online presence for businesses, from social media management to content marketing and brand management. She received an MA in Media and Journalism from Newcastle University (UK) with a focus in digital communications and minority studies.

Gabrielle has over 15 years of experience managing the online presence for businesses, from social media management to content marketing and brand management. She received an MA in Media and Journalism from Newcastle University (UK) with a focus in digital communications and minority studies. Gabrielle thrives in diverse environments and embraces constant learning. She loves taking roads less travelled and is constantly thinking outside the box. Outside of work, you’ll find her visiting farmer’s markets and shopping for local goods. She’s fluent in French and travels frequently to Montreal to visit friends and family.
Policy Consultant

Jean Kavanagh

Jean Kavanagh has extensive communications and media relations experience in the non-profit and government sectors including at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, the David Suzuki Foundation and Vancouver Public Library. Before making the switch to communications, Jean was a reporter and covered regional news in British Columbia and Ontario, nationally for the Canadian Press, and internationally from Central America.

Jean Kavanagh has extensive communications and media relations experience in the non-profit and government sectors including at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, the David Suzuki Foundation and Vancouver Public Library. Before making the switch to communications, Jean was a reporter and covered regional news in British Columbia and Ontario, nationally for the Canadian Press, and internationally from Central America.
Justin Ingraldi
Film + Festival Consultant

Justin Ingraldi

Justin has been working in the film and television industry for over 13 years. He is a freelance editor and post-production professional with experience working on various short films, television shows and online content.

Justin has been working in the film and television industry for over 13 years. He is a freelance editor and post-production professional with experience working on various short films, television shows and online content.

For 9 years, Justin worked for one of Toronto’s leading cultural institutions, the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). In his primary role as the Senior Manager of the Volunteer and Intern Resources department, Justin led the largest film festival volunteer programme in the world with a team of over 3000 volunteers annually. In this role, Justin helped to create and develop Volunteer and Internship programmes at TIFF with a key focus on diversity and inclusion.

Justin holds a Bachelor of Art Honours Degree from Queen’s University in Film Studies and a Graduate Certificate from Humber College in Post Production.

Liv Hung
Strategic PR Consultant + Account Manager

Liv Hung

A Swiss-army knife of marketing, Liv has accumulated a wide range of marketing communication experience since 2004. She is a connection planner, community manager, marketing strategist, copywriter, entrepreneur, and award-winning digital producer with a passion for the interactive space. Equally comfortable planning the overall vision and executing the details, don’t ask her if she is an account or creative person; she’s happy to do both and media too.

A Swiss-army knife of marketing, Liv has accumulated a wide range of marketing communication experience since 2004. She is a connection planner, community manager, marketing strategist, copywriter, entrepreneur, and award-winning digital producer with a passion for the interactive space. Equally comfortable planning the overall vision and executing the details, don’t ask her if she is an account or creative person; she’s happy to do both and media too.

Liv’s experience includes working with some of BC's top brands, including Vancity, WorkSafeBC, ICBC, Preventable, Healthy Families BC, Public Affairs Bureau, Teck Cominco, White Spot, and Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver. She has worked in various roles in advertising, from digital strategist to planner to copywriter. As a marketing consultant, Liv created Simon Fraser University Continuing Studies’ Interactive Marketing program and taught digital marketing and social media courses at SFU and The Art Institute of Vancouver. Liv also has extensive event management and sponsorship experience from her working with nonprofit associations.

Liv has a BComm, Hons, in Marketing from Sauder School of Business. She is currently enrolled in McMaster’s Master of Communication Management program where her research interests are in diversity, equity, and inclusion and corporate communication and Web 3.0. She also sits on the Canadian Public Relations Society’s (CPRS) National Task Force on DEI as a member of the research committee.

Liv hails from Hong Kong and lived in Bangkok, Thailand before immigrating to Canada as a child. She has no vices except for an addiction to surfing, preferring surfboards to handbags. Liv has dual homes in Vancouver and Tofino, BC, where you can often find her in the water chasing peaks.

Miguel Eichelberger
Senior PR Consultant

Miguel Eichelberger

Miguel Eichelberger is a communicator, writer, culture consultant, and an optimist. He received his BA in English from the University of Calgary (as a visiting student at UBC) and most recently held senior communications positions at UBC’s School of Biomedical Engineering and BC Cancer. In 2022, he was nominated for a UBC President’s Award for Innovation and Creativity in Communications for his work with the UBC School of Biomedical Engineering.

Miguel Eichelberger is a communicator, writer, culture consultant, and an optimist. He received his BA in English from the University of Calgary (as a visiting student at UBC) and most recently held senior communications positions at UBC’s School of Biomedical Engineering and BC Cancer. In 2022, he was nominated for a UBC President’s Award for Innovation and Creativity in Communications for his work with the UBC School of Biomedical Engineering.

He consults with organizations large and small on brand, messaging, thought leadership, strategy for sustainable, people-first growth, and has written for leaders in the space as well as across a vast range of scientific fields. His work, both as author and ghostwriter, has appeared in the Globe and Mail, the Hill Times, BC Business, and more.

Myriam Valcin
Senior Media Relations Consultant (Quebec)

Myriam Valcin

Myriam has been involved in public relations for over 20 years, mainly in the consumer, lifestyle and business sectors.

She trained in Toronto with Edelman and Strategic Objectives. After a jump to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) Press Office and Cinematheque Ontario, she moved to Montreal when she landed a position as Regional PR Director at Holt Renfrew.

Myriam has been involved in public relations for over 20 years, mainly in the consumer, lifestyle and business sectors.

She trained in Toronto with Edelman and Strategic Objectives. After a jump to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) Press Office and Cinematheque Ontario, she moved to Montreal when she landed a position as Regional PR Director at Holt Renfrew. Myriam has since worked with small and large brands such as high-end menswear retailer Harry Rosen, The National Film Board of Canada, Dispatch Coffee and Power Corp funded tech start-up Wealthsimple.

Myriam is also proud to be the volunteer Communications Director of Groupe 3737, an entrepreneurial innovation hub for ethnically-diverse communities in Québec.

Her results-oriented approach, creativity and infectious enthusiasm make her an outstanding ally with a solid reputation.

Podcasting Consultant

Scott Rintoul

Scott Rintoul has been a fixture in sports broadcasting for the past twenty years, starting at the iconic Sports Page before weaving Sportsnet and multiple sports radio stations into his resume. In addition to reporting on a vast array of local sports during that span, he's had the good fortune of covering a number of major sporting events including multiple Grey Cups & Super Bowls, a Stanley Cup Final and the 2010 Olympics.

Scott Rintoul has been a fixture in sports broadcasting for the past twenty years, starting at the iconic Sports Page before weaving Sportsnet and multiple sports radio stations into his resume. In addition to reporting on a vast array of local sports during that span, he's had the good fortune of covering a number of major sporting events including multiple Grey Cups & Super Bowls, a Stanley Cup Final and the 2010 Olympics.

At Coldwater, Scott works on scripting the Coldwater podcast, working closely with the team at Everything Podcasts.

An active member of the community, Scott currently serves on the RunVan Board and spent a number of years on BCIT's Advisory Board for Broadcast Journalism. Scott maintains an active lifestyle and can often be found out for a run, on his road bike or in the North Vancouver trails.

In saving the best for last, Scott is most proud of his family: his incredible wife Fiona, their vivacious daughters Abigail & Emily, and their energetic new puppy, Leia.

Manager of Operations and Finance

Tarrah Simion

As a healthcare professional with ten years of clinical experience, Tarrah utilizes her clinical expertise, combined with her twenty years of scientific writing experience to produce engaging educational and promotional materials in the Greater Toronto Area.

As a healthcare professional with ten years of clinical experience, Tarrah utilizes her clinical expertise, combined with her twenty years of scientific writing experience to produce engaging educational and promotional materials in the Greater Toronto Area. She works with organizations such as the Canadian Cancer Society and the Canadian Public Relations Society to assist with complex projects on both local and national scales.
Copywriter

Thi Tran

Thi earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of British Columbia, graduated from Simon Fraser University’s The Writer’s Studio, and in 2018, attended a residency for emerging writers at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. After a decade-long career working in financial sales, she returned to her passion for words and ideas.

Thi earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of British Columbia, graduated from Simon Fraser University’s The Writer’s Studio, and in 2018, attended a residency for emerging writers at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.

After a decade-long career working in financial sales, she returned to her passion for words and ideas. Today, with extensive sales and marketing experience under her belt and a formal background in creative writing, she’s a copywriter, editor, and public relations consultant. Thi specializes in crafting clear messaging and developing content strategy that aligns with her client’s brand and connects people. She has worked on a number of campaigns for a wide spectrum of clients in varied industries, including e-commerce, arts and culture, finance and real estate, and more.

Senior Copywriter

Yasmine Shemesh

She has written for such publications as Billboard, MTV News, ELLE Canada, the GRAMMYs, Exclaim!, Alternative Press, MONTECRISTO, and RANGE. Previously, Yasmine was the Music Editor at the Georgia Straight. In addition, she sits on the juries of the Polaris Music Prize and the Prism Prize, and has been a guest speaker on CBC’s The Early Edition.

She has written for such publications as Billboard, MTV News, ELLE Canada, the GRAMMYs, Exclaim!, Alternative Press, MONTECRISTO, and RANGE. Previously, Yasmine was the Music Editor at the Georgia Straight. In addition, she sits on the juries of the Polaris Music Prize and the Prism Prize, and has been a guest speaker on CBC’s The Early Edition.

As a content and copywriter, Yasmine has worked in a number of industries including fashion e-commerce, business marketing, travel, and hospitality. Her diverse background gives her a versatility, and allows Yasmine to craft clear messaging, engaging copy, and tell compelling stories that align with her clients’ goals.

Who we've worked with

Some of our clients include

Get in touch!

Have a project in mind?

Send us a message or call us at 1 844-265-3987

Call Coldwater