CALGARY, Alberta & TORONTO--(Business Wire)--Critical Mass (www.criticalmass.com), an interactive services firm, part of the Omnicom Group, has launched downtown Toronto's St. Felix Centre's (www.st.felixcentre.ca) Web site. The Web site, which provides the non-profit community centre with a new, online gateway to reach donors and volunteers, also offered a team of college interns with valuable hands-on work experience in interactive Web site design.
The St. Felix Centre, located in downtown Toronto, provides social outreach and advocacy for Toronto residents facing challenges in their lives ranging from homelessness to malnutrition. Critical Mass learned of the centre's need following eMarketing Manager Catherine Broughton's volunteer work at a centre-organized summer camp. Broughton mentioned the centre's need for donations for the camp to her colleague, Critical Mass Vice President, Managing Director Jennifer Robinson and searched online for information on the centre to no avail. Realizing that a new online presence could spur volunteer recruitment and donations, Robinson asked Broughton if Critical Mass could offer a recently hired team of college interns from the agency's cross-discipline internship program for the project and the centre accepted.
With Robinson and Broughton's backing and under their direct supervision, the interns completed the new Web site over the course of their two-month internships. Mirroring an actual Critical Mass account team, they rebuilt the entire Web site from the ground up, handling all research, information architecture, user experience, copywriting, design, web development, SEO optimization, and project and account management.
The new, professionally-designed online portal provides the centre with a platform to inform the public about its work, highlight its existing programs, update the community about planned activities, and tell its story to the Toronto community in its own words.
"This was truly a unique project that not only benefited a team of young professionals looking to gain real life experience," said Broughton, "But, it also provided a valuable community member to tell its story."
"Our new Web site will help us educate the public about our work and mission," said A-J McKechnie, Vice President, Board of Directors, St. Felix Centre. "We'll also be able to reach out to a whole new generation of volunteers looking to improve their community for the next 100 years."
About St. Felix Centre
St. Felix Centre (www.st.felixcentre.ca) is a community centre located in downtown Toronto dedicated to compassionate service of those experiencing challenges including homelessness, mental illness, addictions, violence, malnutrition, abuse, insufficient education, and lack of positive role models. They work to provide an inclusive spiritual presence, social outreach, direct service, and advocacy for those in need.
About Critical Mass
Critical Mass (www.criticalmass.com) is an interactive services firm that helps the world's leading companies use digital media to increase revenue, reduce costs and deepen customer relationships. Founded in 1995, Critical Mass has offices in Calgary, Toronto, Chicago, New York, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Austin, Geneva, and London. For additional information, visit www.criticalmass.com.
About Omnicom
Critical Mass is a part of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com). Omnicom is a leading global advertising, marketing, and corporate communications company. Omnicom's branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, interactive, direct and promotional marketing, public relations, and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.
