Saint Mary’s University is one of Atlantic Canada’s leading post-secondary institutions, with a diverse community of students, faculty, staff and alumni and a reputation that reaches well beyond its Halifax campus.
For more than a decade, Up has worked alongside Saint Mary’s as a trusted communications partner, supporting projects across the institution as its needs, audiences and communications channels have evolved. What began as project-based support has grown into a long-standing relationship spanning university-wide initiatives, presidential communications, faculties and departments, digital strategy, social media, storytelling and content development.
Our work has included developing digital and social media strategies designed to strengthen Saint Mary’s online presence and create a more coordinated approach to engaging its many audiences. We’ve helped translate institutional priorities into practical communications tools, content and campaigns that work across channels while remaining distinctly Saint Mary’s.
SCOPE OF WORK
strategic communications
digital strategy
social media strategy
brand rollout + implementation
content development
video production
executive communications
editorial support
campaign development
GOALS
strategic
collaborative
digital-first
engaging
When Saint Mary’s introduced a refreshed brand in 2020, we supported the rollout by helping bring the new identity to life across communications and digital channels. From developing content and resources to supporting teams across campus as they adopted the refreshed brand, our role helped create consistency while ensuring the university’s communications continued to feel authentic, engaging and connected to its community.
Our work has also extended to executive and institutional communications, including supporting communications from the Office of the President and providing editorial and copywriting support for Maroon + White, Saint Mary’s alumni magazine. Across these projects, we help take complex ideas, initiatives and accomplishments and turn them into clear, thoughtful communications that reflect the university’s voice and reputation.
Storytelling has been another important part of our partnership. We’ve helped Saint Mary’s share the people, milestones and moments that define the university across a wide range of formats and platforms. This has included leading multiple editions of the university’s Report to the Community, overseeing the development of both print (2021 & 2022) and digital editions that bring together institutional achievements, impact and stories from across campus.
Our work has also included planning and producing video content for major institutional announcements and milestones, including the $18 million gift from the Sobey family and the launch of the Sobeys Inspiration Hub, as well as profile-driven storytelling, a number of videos featuring President Rob Summerby-Murray, and an introductory video welcoming the university’s new President, Dr. Michael Khan. From high-profile announcements to more personal stories, our role has included shaping the narrative, coordinating production and ensuring each piece feels distinctly Saint Mary’s.
Over the years, we’ve had the opportunity to work with faculties, departments and teams throughout Saint Mary’s, adapting our role to whatever the project calls for. That flexibility, and the trust built over more than a decade, has allowed us to become an extension of their team when strategy, creativity or communications capacity is needed.
It’s the kind of client relationship we value most: collaborative, evolving and built for the long haul.
The Sobeys Inspiration Hub - Construction (in partnership with Joshua Saunders)
The Sobeys Inspiration Hub - Launch (in partnership with ROVE)
Celebrating the university’s historic $18 million gift (in partnership with Threesixfive)
Sobey School of Business - Recruitment 2023 (in partnership with ROVE)