Dean Harrison

The 2024 CFL Playoffs kicked into overdrive during the East and West Semi-Finals—two games that didn’t just move teams forward, they shifted the whole postseason narrative.

In the East, the defending Grey Cup champs—the Montreal Alouettes—hosted the Toronto Argonauts at Percival Molson Stadium. The Als came in with swagger and a mission: to prove last year wasn’t a fluke. But Toronto showed up with something to prove. The Argos played fast, physical, and focused, walking out of Montreal with the win—and a ticket to the Eastern Final. It wasn’t without drama, though. Star quarterback Chad Kelly went down with a nasty leg injury, casting a shadow over an otherwise massive statement.

Out West, it was classic CFL theatre: the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers locked into a prairie slugfest. Tension. Hits. Noise. History. You name it. The Bombers leaned on playoff experience and composure to outlast the Riders and keep their Grey Cup dreams alive.

Two games. Four teams. No second chances.

The road to the Grey Cup got a lot narrower—and a lot more real.
And when you’re cutting spots for your hometown teams?
Yeah… that’s a damn good day at work.

I had a fantastic experience working with the incredible design team at Bell Media on this project. An established campaign package needed a facelift, and I was excited to help bring it to life. I started by rewriting the script to add more punch. Then, we refreshed the on-air talent photos using updated shots I had captured on set during Free Agent Frenzy on TSN in July. I also found a great moment from last year’s TradeCentre that proves an eight-hour show about hockey trades can be fun.

Of course, having an entertainer like Leafs alumnus Jeff O’Neill on set only added to the positive vibes.

Collaborating with the talented Enrique Josephs, we crafted a dynamic voiceover before handing it off to the post-audio team for the final polish. From script to screen, every stage of this project showcased the incredible talent of the entire team – proud to have been a part of it!

Last year, the PWHL didn’t just launch—it arrived. Sold-out crowds, highlight-reel moments, and a level of play that forced the hockey world to pay attention. 

Now? 

Season two is here, and the league isn’t slowing down—it’s turning up the volume.

This season, the league has names, identities, and a vibe that’s locked in. Say hello to the Toronto Sceptres, Ottawa Charge, Montréal Victoire, New York Sirens, Boston Fleet, and Minnesota Frost. Six teams, six brands, and six fanbases growing louder by the week.

The schedule’s bigger—30 games per team. That means more storylines, more rivalries, and more moments that matter. And with the Takeover Tour bringing games to cities like Seattle, Vancouver, Denver, and Québec City, the league is expanding its footprint and introducing elite women’s hockey to new fans across North America.

Let’s be clear: this isn’t just a step forward for the women’s game—it’s a leap. The pace is fast, the hits are real, and the stakes are rising.

Breaking ground. Raising bars. Nowhere near done.

When Flashpoint returned to CTV for its final season, it wasn’t just closing out a series — it was wrapping up one of Canada’s most acclaimed dramas. 

Over five seasons, the show delivered high-stakes tension, emotional depth, and standout performances. Shot with a cinematic style rarely seen in Canadian TV at the time, 

Among its many awards, Enrico Colantoni won a Gemini for Best Actor, and the series earned a Canadian Screen Award for Best Dramatic Series.

There’s always something special about cutting trailers for a Canadian show on a Canadian network. 

mtv.ca/thestew was an odd little corner of the internet—a Canadian offshoot of MTV that leaned into animated content with a darker, more adult edge. Stuff like Wonder Showzen, Clone High, and The Maxx. It wasn’t mainstream, and it wasn’t trying to be. That’s what made it work.

When Coors Light teamed up with MTV for a branded content campaign, I was brought in to write and direct it.

I was all in—until I sat down with the brand partnership team and they told me: we weren’t allowed to use any show footage.

So I asked the obvious question: “You want me to create a spot about animated TV shows without showing a single frame?”

“Yes,” they said.

So—I got to work.

We chose to create three custom spots– my favourite shown above. Despite working with a tight budget and an even smaller crew, our cinematographer truly brought the vision to life. Drawing inspiration from Homicide: Life on the Street, they leaned into handheld movement and a stripped-down, documentary style.

The campaign went on to win a Promax Silver Award the following year—one of the top honours in the world of on-air TV promotion.
What lesson did learn? Just have fun. 

   On January 12, 2023, TSN introduced a new player to its already impressive digital lineup: TSN+.

The vision for TSN+ was captured perfectly by our marketing team with the message: 

“Get More of the Sports you Love.” 

TSN+ is now the ultimate destination for sports fans, offering exciting content like NFL RedZone, PGA Tour Live, tennis, Formula One racing, and so much more. It provides viewers with live games, exclusive coverage, and unique features that bring fans closer than ever to their favourite sports.

   To celebrate the launch of TSN+, we teamed up with the award-winning design team at Bell Media to create a dynamic 30-second ad. The ad showcased the  variety of sports available on the platform in a fun, creative, and visually engaging way. 

It was the perfect opening-spot for the TSN+ campaign.