Swift and skillful, perceptive and resourceful, we are a team of uniquely talented PR, marketing, and design professionals. We are driven by our desire to think outside the box and deliver newsworthy and memorable moments. We offer fresh ideas and customized strategies that bring your brand to life.
Our team hails from across all industries, bringing diverse experience and expertise that make our clients unstoppable. We challenge ourselves to continually redefine new industry standards of excellence because “good enough” isn’t good enough for us.
Our Team
Fearless leader, client counselor, urban rapper
Shauna is a PR powerhouse. When she announced she was opening her own firm, the consistent response was “It’s about time!” Known for her unique approach and breadth of experience, Shauna provides strategic public relations expertise to companies of all sizes throughout North America.
Prior to starting Brookline, Shauna was Vice President and Managing Director of Western Canada for an international public relations firm, as well as the Marketing Communications Practice Leader for its Canadian operations. Shauna has been at Brookline’s helm for 18 years and has cultivated long-standing client relationships and developed game-changing campaigns across all major business sectors.
What is your PR Superpower?
Memory Maven – there isn’t a name, detail or date that Shauna can’t pull up at the drop of a hat!
Adventurer, office MacGyver, hockey enthusiast
Kelsie joined Brookline PR with over a decade of administrative experience, having successfully managed daily operations across both the energy and cannabis industries. Her excellent communications skills have been key in fostering lasting relationships with coworkers, vendors and clients alike. Known for her organizational capabilities, knack for prioritizing tasks and meeting deadlines, she’s solidified her title as the go-to office guru.
Always one to never stop growing, she loves the dynamic and hustle of agency life. Kelsie’s perfect day outside the office involves taking in the views from Canada’s most beautiful mountain peaks and a great cup of coffee.
What is your PR Superpower?
Crisis Firefighter – Kelsie’s superpower is her ability to see smoke and problem solve before it becomes a fire.
Multitasker, talented wordsmith, big box thinker
Lisa may be small, but she loves to think BIG, seeing fresh opportunities for clients in areas they might not have thought of before. Her passion for her work means she takes on everything in full-force, leaving a memorable impact on clients and colleagues alike. Lisa is a visionary with a strong background in crisis communications and digital strategy, she excels at finding creative ways to help companies fight through the media clutter with smart, effective and strategic solutions. When she’s not checking out the online world, Lisa can be found in the real world cozied up with a book.
What is your PR Superpower?
Teleportation – being able to expertly manage multiple teams and projects at any given moment!
Creative strategist, amateur chef, eternal optimist
Enthusiastically laughing her way through life, Leanna started her career in agency working for a variety of top-rated PR firms and associated clients. Leanna is always seeking the next big idea for her clients and is never one to shy away from a challenge to ensure her ideas become a reality. Continually pushing the status quo, Leanna strives to provide her clients with fresh, creative and out-of-the-box suggestions to generate interest and buzz in a complex media landscape. As an account lead for several of Brookline’s clients, she brings a positive, confident approach and is always ready with a great idea – or a great joke – to brighten the day.
What is your PR Superpower?
Creative Adventurer – expect the unexpected when it comes to engaging, out-of-the-box campaigns and ideas!
Calm collaborator, solution seeker, dog’s best friend
Amanda’s expertise spans across both the private and public sectors, from pioneering startups to established organizations, and everything in between. With extensive experience in the dynamic world of agency, she excels at adapting to the ever-evolving PR landscape. A firm believer in the power of continuous growth – Amanda is always striving for excellence, both personally and professionally.
She tackles every new challenge with enthusiasm and a relentless drive to achieve exceptional results. Amanda never underestimates a good brainstorming session with her team and has never met a dog she didn’t like.
What is your PR superpower?
Detective Prowess – learning a lot about any given topic in a short amount of time.
Seasoned communicator, culturally curious, interiors enthusiast
A recently migrated Brit, Laurie comes to Brookline with more than a decade of experience in PR and Communications across the pond. She has managed a wide array of B2B accounts primarily across technical and industrial sectors, crafting compelling narratives and messaging for a wide variety of audiences.
With a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Relations from Birmingham City University, Laurie’s key strengths include her considered, thoughtful approach to brand storytelling. She excels at understanding technical topics and transforming them into engaging, high-quality content. When she’s not hard at work, Laurie loves to spend time transforming her new home. Whether that’s decorating, gardening, or starting another DIY project, there’s always something else to be made beautiful.
Brand magician, master strategist, thought provoker
A native of Montréal and fluent in both English and French, Richard Bartrem is a seasoned marketing and communications executive with over 35 years of proven leadership and management experience.
As the former Vice-President, Communications, Brand and Community Investment for WestJet,
Richard’s communications work includes strategy development, as well as issues and crisis management in one of the most dynamic, fast-paced and media intense global industries. Richard led a variety of teams while launching numerous brand campaigns, including WestJet’s annual Christmas Miracle. At Brookline, Richard applies his valuable experience and boundless energy to strategy conversations, big picture thinking and compelling storytelling to help grow strong brand identities for our clients.
What is your PR Superpower?
Seeing the silver lining in every situation.
Designer, Innovator, Minimalist
Punita is a creative graphic designer with a passion for all things design. A graduate from the University of Calgary with a Fine Arts degree, she has worked with various industries from agencies to home builders. Saying goodbye to a structured career path, Punita found her true passion for design as an on-demand graphic designer who boasts professional design experience in brand design, logo design, print and digital.
What is your Design Superpower?
Imagination – Pushing pixels until a design is perfect
Strategic thinker, dynamic leader, political junkie
With experience in both the public and private sectors, Laila Adam has committed her career to building sustainable capacity in Indigenous communities. Laila has established an unmatched reputation for her expertise in building programs that focus on ‘win-win’ relationships for communities, governments, and corporate clients across the country.
With Brookline, Laila works with clients to align progressive and Indigenous values with their business objectives.
Within this field, Laila recognizes there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ technique for any project, which has solidified her experiential approach: Thriving in complexity and embracing the challenging social responsibility that drives Indigenous relations.
What is your PR Superpower?
Animator Extraordinaire – she turns ordinary into extraordinary!
Creator, strategic thinker, numbers whiz
Susan thrives on challenges and making order of chaos. With over two decades of financial communications expertise across industries, Susan is a nimble communications powerhouse who uses creativity and knowledge to identify unique solutions for investor relations (IR) clients.
With Brookline, Susan applies her concentrated knowledge of IR for clients striving to be heard in public markets. She can then slide effortlessly into the PR realm getting stories heard above the noise. Susan’s passion for communications is equaled by her love of theatre – behind or in front of the curtain. Whether with a script, a paintbrush or a pen, Susan brings enthusiasm and creativity to every project!
What is your PR Superpower
Quick Change Artist – wears several diverse hats at once for creative solutions across industries and professions.
Innovative strategist, community connector, marketing expert
Jessica is a dynamic communicator who thrives on the fast-paced nature of public relations. Jessica’s innovative strategies have been featured in top-tier media outlets where she has successfully managed campaigns in the energy, healthcare, fashion and beauty, technology, nonprofit, government and commercial development sectors.
Her expertise in crisis communications has seen her navigate complex situations with poise and precision and her experience in marketing and influencer collaborations has driven successful campaigns and elevated brand presence.
When she’s not crafting compelling narratives or collaborating with her talented colleagues, Jessica can be found spending time with her close-knit family, or volunteering and advocating for special needs, autism, and neurodiverse causes.
What is your PR Superpower?
Unearthing hidden stories and giving a voice to the unheard.
Disruptive brand evangelist, retired journalist, kindness ambassador
Hailing from the hometown of Brookline Public Relations’ namesake, Boston, Wendy’s Public Relations career began in Silicon Valley’s technology corridor and evolved within Boston’s 495 beltway. Her innovative communications strategies helped a Kickstarter-backed company achieve 200 per cent above goal funding, and landed clients as guests on national daytime (TODAY, Kelly Clarkson, Good Morning America) and evening (NBC Nightly News, CNBC, CNN) news programs. Wendy has also earned public relations accolades for campaigns including Verizon Wireless’ “Can you hear me now…good!” Test Man campaign and Lasagna Love, a viral community impact movement supported by more than 45,000 volunteers across all 50 states in America, Australia, and Canada. A natural born storyteller, Wendy is also an award-winning journalist, whose broad-reaching voice on inclusion and special needs topics, helped bridge editorial content and the underserved special needs community.
When not collaborating with disruptive brands and Brookline’s talented team of communicators, Wendy can be found in her kitchen whipping up seasonal New England favorites like clam chowder and whoopie pies, or outdoors discovering hidden gems and hiking trails with her family.
What is your PR Superpower?
Uncovering the most creative story angles and compelling brand narratives.
Technical translator, culture connector, sports aficionado
Based in Montreal, Francis Dupont manages Brookline’s French and bilingual communications needs. Francis is a PR professional with over twenty years of media relations, earned media experience and an expert in the Québec media landscape. His background in communications and media relations in athletic and wellness spaces includes notable work in the NHL, Hockey Canada, the Montreal Canadiens and the Montreal Alouettes. As the press attaché for the Montreal Alouettes Francis managed daily interviews with players, staff and executive members, wrote press releases and key messages, organized press conferences and communications plans. His previous work in media relations and communications with the NHL and the World Cup of Hockey demonstrates his methodical and purposeful approach to his work. Prior, Francis worked with Hockey Canada and held significant positions such as Head of Media relations and Head Press Attaché. Francis’ impressive achievements throughout his career make him a highly sought after communications expert in managing Brookline’s clients’ Québec and bilingual communications needs.
Relationship builder, content creator, coffee enthusiast
Amy comes to Brookline with a wealth of hands-on experience in marketing and social media and has a keen interest in digital marketing and content creation. She has worked with various organizations to enhance their online presence, drive engagement and achieve their business goals. As a recent graduate from Mount Royal University with a degree in public relations, Amy has a passion for media relations and digital storytelling, immersing herself in the art of crafting compelling narratives.
Her enthusiasm is as strong as her morning coffee. She tackles any task or opportunity that comes her way with readiness and excitement. Amy thrives in a fast-paced work environment and recognizes the crucial role of fostering genuine connections and networking.
What is your PR superpower?
Juggler Extraordinaire – Amy can juggle multiple projects and priorities without breaking a sweat.
Community connector, content strategist, matcha-minded
As a recent graduate of Mount Royal University, Shahd joins Brookline with enthusiasm and a readiness to make an impact. With a strong interest in copywriting, influencer relations, and crisis communications, she’s prepared to take on any challenge with a positive outlook. With her, she brings experience in stakeholder communications, content development, email marketing and event planning support.
Shahd is passionate about building connections and values every opportunity to foster meaningful relationships by demonstrating empathy and authenticity. Her background in customer service has fueled her excitement for fast-paced environments, and she’s set to dive in—matcha in hand.
What is your PR superpower?
Tech savviness — Shahd can quickly analyze and master any software or platform.
Our Commitment
Brookline endeavours to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of our company culture, the ideas we generate, the services we offer, and the industries we serve.
Guided by our four pillars – Fresh, Solid, Creative and Professional – we believe that diversity drives innovation and that an inclusive workplace fosters a sense of belonging and enhances our ability to serve our clients and communities effectively.
Brookline strives to create a culture where all voices are heard and valued, cultivating an environment where everyone feels safe to express their true selves and contribute to their fullest potential.
Our Network
We are proud to call Alberta home but also work with a global network of affiliate agencies to support our clients anywhere, anytime. You won’t find a one-size-fits-all approach with us. Each market, like each client, is distinct.
We utilize our network and deep understanding of key media markets to ensure that, wherever you are, your message is being communicated to the right people, at the right time.
Our current affiliates are located in the following cities:
- Edmonton
- Vancouver
- Toronto
- Montreal
- Boston
- New York
- Los Angeles
- London, UK
Our Community
We are fiercely committed to supporting our community. From volunteer activities and mentoring PR up-and-comers to working with valued pro-bono clients, we are constantly looking for ways to give back.
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Pro-Bono
We tirelessly go the extra mile and deliver impactful results for our pro-bono clients. Each year, we work to push boundaries and create cutting-edge campaigns for a number of not-for-profit organizations that are close to our hearts.
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Volunteering
We are passionate about making a difference. We work with students from Canada’s top post-secondary institutions to provide hands-on learning experiences. We love making ourselves available to perform mock interviews, guest lectures, and presentations.
Our Awards
We are humbled to be recognized locally, regionally, and nationally for our outstanding PR campaigns, communications strategies, and business acumen. These awards and accolades include:
Winner | Account Director or Supervisor of the Year – Leanna Kruk
Winner | Agency Account Manager of the Year – Amanda Upshaw
Winner | Account Director of the Year – Leanna Kruk
Winner | Account Director or Supervisor of the Year – Leanna Kruk
“Backwoods Energy Services has worked with Brookline on many initiatives in recent years. We appreciate their expertise within the energy sector, and have assisted us with event management and media relations.
Brookline is a strong, versatile partner and we trust them for our communications needs.”
“Brookline PR has been a key partner in helping us build a communications strategy to drive awareness for Harvest throughout the Canadian Prairies. They quickly learned our
business, our language and our brand. Their media relationships have been instrumental in driving coverage for us in our priority markets.”
“I have had the pleasure of working with Brookline Public Relations for the past four years specifically on ICE District and Rogers Place Arena in the capacity of media relations, crisis and issues management and event planning. No one works harder or executes to the detail that this team does. Brookline is stellar when dealing with C-suite executives and has solid media contacts, I would highly recommend their services.”