We had this dream.

We dreamed that as Canada changed, our media would become a rainbow of different colours, backgrounds, views, knowledge, and experiences. People, different people, all people would join together to build an inclusive and diversified media community.

Some of that dream has come true. Much of it remains unrealized.

So we created Innoversity.

Innoversity History

Innoversity was founded early in the year 2000 and has become a model for positive change. It has thrived because of the volunteer contribution of hundreds of individuals, the sponsorship of several organizations, the commitment of executives from the Canadian media industry, the enthusiasm of the delegates, the expertise of a small consulting company and the sacrifices of one Canadian family.

The Reyes-Grange family and DiversiPro

Cynthia Reyes and Hamlin Grange, two veterans of broadcasting and print media envisioned an exciting place in which innovation, creativity and diversity were linked. They created the name "Innoversity", a new way of thinking about the opportunities of diversity. Their daughter Nikisha Reyes-Grange, with expertise of her own, agreed to help them develop the vision.

(Grange and Reyes had just started their diversity consulting company ProMedia International - now known as DiversiPro Inc - and Innoversity was the company's first big undertaking.)

With years of media experience between them, Reyes and Grange saw an urgent need for Canada to find effective ways to reflect and integrate its fast-growing cultural diversity. They believed that the mainstream media, the industry in which they had both "been raised", had a special role to play in setting the tone for the whole country.

A Time of Uncertainty and Risk

A group of executives from broadcast and print media supported the Innoversity vision almost immediately and began giving excellent advice. Innoversity launched its sponsorship campaign in the summer of 2001 - just weeks before the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York.

With the whole world facing uncertainty, the media industry was hit hard and sponsorship commitments for Innoversity fell through within weeks. In the wake of the September 11 attacks, a sombre Innoversity planning team gathered around the boardroom table and contemplated whether to cancel the first ever Creative Summit. But Hamlin Grange said: "Now, more than ever, we need Innoversity." Everyone around the table agreed. The Reyes-Grange family and their young company made the tough decision to plough ahead, acknowledging that it was a risky business decision that could cost them everything they owned. Many prayers were said.

Original Sponsors

Thankfully, several media organizations became sponsors and partners in the critical months ahead, giving Innoversity a much-needed boost. The final list of sponsors that first year included:

Outside Support

Media and Community support

Nearly 100 media and community volunteers helped to run the first summit in May 2002, and some even brought their spouses and families to help. Talk about a communal effort!

It has taken a village to launch Innoversity and sustain it. Innoversity's sponsors are valued and respected members of the Innoversity team. Our sponsors contribute money and help to both shape the creative summit and run it. Innoversity's board and committees have provided valuable foresight and oversight.

Volunteers

Innoversity's volunteer team is second to none. The team includes CEO's and community leaders, trainers and leaders of unions and associations, as well as media and creative professionals at all levels and branches of the industry. They deserve much praise for their commitment and hard work.
Innoversity

Delegates

Innoversity delegates are also a special group. In an environment with none of the conventional barriers, they are encouraged to squeeze every ounce of benefit available - to talk to each other, sell their ideas, improve their strategies and build their companies and their skills. Already there is a long and growing list of Innoversity success stories. It thrills us when someone writes or calls to tell us about another one.

Innoversity - Growth and Change

In 2001, the Innoversity team adapted author Malcolm Gladwell's theories about how "tipping points" are created. Gladwell, Innoversity's guest speaker in 2002, got an unexpected reward when Innoversity helped put his book back on the bestseller list in Canada, and Innoversity has, indeed, helped to "tip" diversity in the Canadian media.

Fresh thinking

The atmosphere surrounding Innoversity then and today is "fresh thinking, open doors, no whining, no excuses." We hope to see you at the summit on March 9 & 10, 2009 in Toronto. Meanwhile, keep watching this website for interesting developments in the weeks ahead...

Keep checking this website for regular announcements.

WHY WE ARE