Alberta Resorts
British Columbia Resorts
Alberta Resorts
British Columbia Resorts
For Immediate Release
- June 1, 2010
Industry demand launches Seekers Media
Edmonton, AB – SnowSeekers Inc. is moving under a new corporate umbrella, Seekers Media, to become a bigger part of the travel and media industry. “We have been getting many production requests that were outside our SnowSeekers TV, online, and mobility interests,” explained President Jim Barr.
Seekers Media will act as a “production for hire” company and work with clients to see through their video, online, and mobility needs, while continuing to improve the foundation of its own media interests at www.snowseekers.ca.
“As a team, SnowSeekers has become very savvy in the art of quality content creation (video, editorial, and photographs), content campaigns capitalizing on social media, and in the production of mobility applications for smart phones. We are excited to pair up this experience with our catalogue of over six hours of broadcast grade HD b-roll from 16 destinations around Alberta and BC. Now, this knowledge and bank of eye-popping video allows for opportunities year round,” said Barr.
Seekers Media will work with clients to see through their interests to produce stellar corporate videos, content campaigns, and/or mobility applications.
SnowSeekers™ Inc., with its parent company, Seekers Media, is a new-media company that utilizes innovative means to deliver its content through TV, internet, and mobile. SnowSeekers is working to help spread the wealth of interest in Western Canada. Recently recognized by the Canadian Government as one of Canada’s most innovative companies, SnowSeekers was founded by journalism industry veterans. Operations include a nationally televised production series (carried by SHAW Communications to four million people per week), a major web presence at snowseekers.ca (now home to 540+ pages of content), a line of iPhone applications and relationships with an international array of new media companies that pull its content into their on-line spaces.
Seekers Media works to produce its own content for the above and in addition does “for hire” video and mobility app production for corporate clients. A sample of those include The North Face, Travel Alberta, The Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance, Parks Canada, The Public Affairs office of the Alberta Government, Afexa Life Sciences (the makers of Cold-FX), and dozens of tourism boards and destination attractions throughout Alberta and BC. In March, SnowSeekers was awarded an Alberta Innovates Voucher from the Alberta Government, furthering its position in becoming a North American leader in utilizing smartphones for the delivery of content.
| Contact: | Jim Barr |
| President – SnowSeekers Inc./Seekers Media Inc. | |
| 780.983.9913 mobile | |
| jim@snowseekers.ca | |
| www.snowseekers.ca |
 |
SNOWSEEKERS' 2010 WRAP REPORT
- Produced 5.3 hours of published video
- Produced 350 pages to snowseekers.ca (editorial of 300-400 words each with photos & links). Out site is now home to 540 pages of content on 30 destinations.
- Launched 15 SnowSeekers Go-Guides (iPhone apps)
- Delivered content to an audience of 34 million people
- Launched a new website & experienced a 600% increase in traffic – 4:37 mins per visit!
- Secured corporate clients including:
|
|
- Olympic content campaign with Travel Alberta resulted in the highest numbers of engagement they ever experienced
- Forged relationships with international tour operators, bloggers & new media companies who are now pulling our content into their online spaces
- Recognized by Canadian, Alberta & local Governments: one of Canada’s most innovative companies
- Unlocked huge potentials and followers within Facebook & Twitter and over 140 blog posts
- Amassed an impressive collection of HD B-Roll
 |
- Continue to improve content quality
- Conversion of 7% from TV to web = 24,000/visits month – just from TV efforts
- Continue triple digit growth of web traffic & length of online stay
- Website evolution: community launching Oct ‘10
- Become a leader in content delivery via smartphones
- $.25 of every sponsorship/ad $ invested into digital media campaigns
- Expand relationships with international new media & tour operators = additional exposure for all destinations showcased
SnowSeekers recognized by Digital Alberta as a finalist for best new mobile app and its mobile interests awarded a sizeable investment from the Alberta Government.
EDMONTON, Apr. 19, 2010 – A recent report by Morgan Stanley forecasted that by 2014 more people will access the internet via mobile devices than by desktops. SnowSeekers is working to meet these upcoming demands by utilizing mobile technology to improve a guest’s experience on the slopes.
Earlier this month, the SnowSeekers Go-Guides – SnowSeekers’ line of digital guidebooks available on smartphones – were recognized by Digital Alberta as a finalist for best new app in the province, with the awards taking place at the end of the month. “Just to be recognized as a finalist is a huge honour, especially considering this is our first entry into the market,” said SnowSeekers’ Mobility Manager Rick MacDonnell.
It was in March that SnowSeekers received another nod for its mobile interests from the Advanced Education and Technology Ministry of the Alberta Government, when it was awarded a substantial Alberta Innovates Voucher. “The investment we are receiving from the Province through this Innovation Voucher will help position SnowSeekers and its parent company, Seekers Media, as a North American leader in content delivery via smartphones,” explained MacDonnell.
It was in Dec. 2009 that SnowSeekers ventured into the mobile market, launching 12 iPhone/iTouch apps. These digital guidebooks allow smartphone users to utilize a digital trail map, feeds with current weather and snow conditions, and full restaurant, shopping and resort attraction listings. The goal of a SnowSeekers Go-Guide is simple: to provide all the information a guest will need in order to unlock the best a resort has to offer, as well as increase SnowSeekers’ net promoter score and encourage new and repeat visits. For further details into its options please visit www.snowseekers.ca/iphone
Some of the bells & whistles in the SnowSeekers Go-Guide upgraded version launching in the fall of 2010 could include the ability to track the number of vertical feet and runs skied, enhanced snow reports, community & location-based incentive/advertising delivery options.
SnowSeekers™ Inc., with its parent company, Seekers Media, is a new-media company that utilizes innovative means to deliver its content through TV, internet, and mobile. SnowSeekers is working to help spread the wealth of interest in Western Canada. Recently recognized by the Canadian Government as one of Canada’s most innovative companies, SnowSeekers was founded by journalism industry veterans. Operations include a nationally televised production series (carried by SHAW Communications to four million people per week), a major web presence at snowseekers.ca (now home to 540+ pages of content), a line of iPhone applications and relationships with an international array of new media companies that pull its content into their on-line spaces.
Seekers Media’s corporate clients include The North Face, Travel Alberta, The Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance, Parks Canada, The Public Affairs office of the Albertan Government, Afexa Life Sciences (the makers of Cold-FX), and dozens of tourism boards and destination attractions throughout Alberta and BC. In March, SnowSeekers was awarded an Alberta Innovates Voucher from the Alberta Government, furthering its position in becoming a North American leader in utilizing smartphones for the delivery of content.
For the full read of the Morgan Stanley report, released Apr. 12, 2010 on internet trends, click here.
| Contact: | Jim Barr |
| President – SnowSeekers Inc./Seekers Media Inc. | |
| 780.983.9913 mobile | |
| jim@snowseekers.ca | |
| www.snowseekers.ca |
For Immediate Release
– Jan. 11/10
ALBERTA, CANADA — The Olympic Torch is back in Alberta on its way to Vancouver for the 2010 Olympic Games!
Travel Alberta is following the Olympic Torch as it makes its way through Alberta. Roving reporter Jim Barr will be on site at each stop of the Torch Relay, covering the unique celebrations, documenting stories and interviewing ‘people on the street’ in the midst of all the action. Albertans will see him starting in Lloydminster and going the distance all the way to Lake Louise.
Throughout the course of the Torch Relay (Jan. 13 – 21) Barr will use a multitude of social media channels to follow the Olympic Torch through Alberta. From blogging on Blogspot.com to “tweeting” on Twitter, taking pictures to post on Flickr, and capturing vignettes on HD video to post online each day to Travel Alberta’s YouTube profile, Barr will bring the course of the Torch to Albertans, and the world, right inside their homes.
All content will also be accessible on TravelAlberta.com as well as www.facebook.com/snowseekers, www.twitter.com/doc_pow, www.snowseekersblog.blogspot.com, http://www.youtube.com/user/TravelAlbertaCanada and www.flickr.com/photos/39850763@N08/show/.
"It was 14 years ago that I first received word of the possibility of the Olympic torch returning to Western Canada. To now be welcoming Albertans, and the world, to travel with me and my team as we report on all the action from the series of Olympic Community Celebrations is an incredible honour. This is an experience we, as Canadians, will remember for the rest of our lives," says Barr, president of SnowSeekers Inc, a snow-minded new media company contracted by Travel Alberta to produce the coverage.
Travel Alberta’s goal is to give each municipality, and their respective publications, access to the Olympic Torch social media content, in order to make the most of their celebrations and experience the excitement of the 2010 games. A link will go out daily to the media – both regional and national - in order to make all of the information easily accessible.
If you have any exciting, interesting, or just plain funny stories that Jim can help share with the world, please contact Karen Keller at Karen.Keller@TravelAlberta.com
Travel Alberta is the tourism marketing agency of the Government of Alberta. For more information on the Olympics and Alberta, visit www.travelalberta.com or http://worldcup.travelalberta.com
Media please contact: Noelle Aune, Director Media, Public Relations and E-Marketing, Travel Alberta, 403-509-2525 Noelle.Aune@TravelAlberta.com
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release
– Nov. 17/09
CALGARY, AB — MoboVivo Inc. – a software company that enables broadcasters to distribute TV shows on laptops, mobile phones, mobile media players and television media devices – today announced that it has begun distributing a series of skiing and snowboarding themed shows produced one of Canada’s pre-eminent snow minded new media companies: SnowSeekers Inc.
"MoboVivo is excited to give skiing and snowboarding fans around the world a sneak preview of what they can expect in Whistler and Western Canada this winter," said MoboVivo founder and CEO, Trevor Doerksen. "Fans can check out a preview of the first episode at http://myscreens.mobovivo.com"
Under terms of the agreement, MoboVivo has begun distributing the first in a series of TV travelogues featuring popular Western Canada skiing and snowboarding destinations, including a tour through The Canadian Rockies, the Powder Highway and an exploration of BC’s West Coast home of the 2010 Winter Olympics.
"In this first episode of SnowSeekers we profile many incredible destinations found within British Columbia’s southern interior," said SnowSeekers President and host Jim Barr, aka Doc Pow. "Our efforts uncover the amazing array of snow filled adventures and unique options that await in Western Canada, allowing our audience to make the most of their travels.”
About MoboVivio
MoboVivo is a software company that enables broadcasters to distribute video for mobile phones, computers and set-top boxes, letting consumers take TV with them. In 2009, MoboVivo was named one of IDC Canada's "10 to Watch." in the mobile category.
About SnowSeekers™ Inc.
SnowSeekers™ Inc. is a new media company recently recognized by the Canadian Government as one of country’s most the most innovative. The company utilizes dynamic means to deliver its content via TV, internet and mobile. SnowSeekers is working to help spread the wealth of interest in Western Canada generated by the Olympics. Founded by ski and journalism industry veterans, this team heads into the mountains every winter season to bring the “best of the best” to its audience.
Contact: Trevor Doerksen
President, MoboVivo Inc.
P. (403) 608-1923 E. trevor@mobovivo.com
www.mobovivo.com
Jim Barr (aka Doc Pow)
President, SnowSeekers Inc.
P. 780.983.9913 E. jim@snowseekers.ca
www.snowseekers.ca
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
– Oct. 15/09
EDMONTON — A three way collaboration between some of Canada’s finest educators will see the development of a motivational and inspiring documentary. The Canadian Ski Instructors’ Alliance (CSIA) has contracted SnowSeekers, a snow minded new media company, to produce the film.
“We want to show people how available skiing is, how fun the sport can be and how accessible it is for everyone regardless of where you are from or what background you bring to the slopes. We see this film as a huge opportunity to bring all of these factors to light and we, as the part of the industry, share a common goal in introducing and developing the sport of skiing within our communities,” explains Brahm Reinblatt, Marketing and Communications Coordinator for the CSIA. The film will profile the CSIA’s Skier Progression program, allowing for a fun and safe environment while learning to ski.
The 12-minute film and three-minute internet piece, will profile a girl of ethnic background and her toils and triumphs in learning to ski, a journey that covers day one through to enjoying the mountains for her first time.
SnowSeekers, recently recognized as one of Canada’s most innovative companies, is an Edmonton-based firm whose office is within NAIT’s Duncan McNeill Centre for Innovation, a business incubator, affording the company access to an array of amenities including working with some of the school’s top students through this production.
“This is such a great fit because it’s a win - win for all. For me there are two levels to this. On the one level we will take the students and SnowSeekers through the process of making a short documentary. On the second level, it’s an opportunity to work with a growing new media company that has a project ready to go, where the students can attach themselves to the face of where things are going in their industry,” said Cheryl Dalmer, one of NAIT’s Digital Media instructors. Dalmer and her team of ten students from NAIT’s independent video production stream of the Digital Media and IT program will be involved in every process from conception to completion.
“As a filmmaker I want this documentary to inspire people of all cultures and ethnic backgrounds to get out and take ski lessons. If nothing else get out and experience winter. I want to make it clear that anyone can do anything they want if they put their mind to it,” explains SnowSeekers’ Photography Director and NAIT digital media graduate, Brandon Boucher.
Production for the piece begins mid-November for release February 1, 2010.
NAIT is one of the preeminent institutes of technology in Canada, providing real-world education in business, advanced technologies and skilled trades to more than 84,000 learners worldwide. Known for student success, NAIT also engages with business and industry in applied research and innovation and provides corporate training around the world. www.nait.ca
SnowSeekers™ Inc. is a new media company utilizing innovative means to deliver its content including TV, internet and mobile. SnowSeekers is working to help spread the wealth of interest in Western Canada generated by the Olympics. Founded by ski and journalism industry veterans, this team heads into the mountains every season to bring the “best of the best” to its audience.
About the Canadian Ski Instructors' Alliance
The Canadian Ski Instructors’ Alliance is a collective of 23,500 members setting the standards for ski instruction in this country. At the Canadian Ski Instructors’ Alliance (CSIA), they value the sport of skiing, its environment, its members, partners and the skiing public. As the leader in the profession of ski instruction and a most valued and respected contributor to the sport of skiing, they develop a safe and positive guest experience, a progressive approach and set national standards in ski teaching. www.snowpro.com
For more information, contact:
Rayne Kuntz Brahm Reinblatt
NAIT Media Relations Coordinator Canadian Ski Instructors’ Alliance
Department of Corporate Communications Marketing and Communications Coordinator
P 780.471.8450 E raynek@nait.ca P 514.748.2648 E brahm@snowpro.com
Jim Barr
SnowSeekers™ Inc.
President
P 780.983.9913 E jim@snowseekers.ca
– Sept. 9/10
SnowSeekers™ Inc. has been selected by the Federal Government as one of Canada’s most innovative companies.
EDMONTON, AB — SnowSeekers™ Inc, a snow-minded new media company, has been invited by the Canadian Board of Trade to Calgary on Sept. 11 to join this county’s most innovative companies at its California Market Access Boot-Camp. This one-day initiative will feature experienced investors from both the Silicon Valley and San Diego markets to assist in accelerating the plans of accepted companies.
“This is an amazing honour to be recognized, and it’s exciting to think of the doors this (bootcamp) could open for SnowSeekers. The camp will help us hone our interests,” said the company’s president, Jim Barr. “It could also help us place our content into the California marketplace, educating all snow-minded travellers on the great opportunities they need to get in on here in Western Canada.”
“At this summer’s Canadian Ski Council Meeting, Barrett Fisher, president of Tourism Whistler, said that the industry is spending less on traditional advertising and more online,” said Barr. “We feel we are right where the snow sports tourism industry needs us to be and the boot camp, along with the networking possibilities, will help us achieve the goals we are after – which is to promote the ski industry in both Alberta and British Columbia, and ultimately boost tourism overall in Western Canada.”
What started out two years ago as a venture to produce a book and a website showcasing all the incredible options Alberta and British Columbia holds, has evolved into a new media company with many channels:
• The production of SnowSeekers TV distributed in a partnership with SHAW Communications (expected to air this season to a weekly audience of 4.2 million)
• An e-newsmagazine at www.snowseekers.ca (which will be re-launching in October with an enhanced look and added features) – currently home to 150 pages of editorial, photo and video content and connected to an on-line following of over 10,000 people.
• A series of digital guide books – iPhone and Blackberry Smartphone Applications
SnowSeekers™ is working to help spread the wealth of interest in Western Canada generated by the Olympics. Founded by two ski and journalism industry veterans, it is SnowSeekers™ goal to become the most trusted source for information on Western Canada’s winter destinations by January 1, 2010.
For more information contact:
Jim Barr (aka doc pow)
President, SnowSeekers™ Inc.
jim@snowseekers.ca 780.983.9913 office
Now located in the Duncan McNeill Centre for Innovation @ NAIT
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What a killer season
EDMONTON, AB, May 15, 2009 — After a blizzard of activity this winter, SnowSeekers Inc. is proud to announce the success of its inaugural season.
Paired with the January 27, 2009 launch of our e-newsmagazine, www.snowseekers.ca was the debut of SnowSeekers TV, a partnership with SHAW TV that broadcasted 15 episodes profiling Alberta and British Columbia destinations to households across most of Canada.
Brandon Boucher, SnowSeekers’ Director of Photography and Integration, when not behind the camera, has been busy creating a solid community of SnowSeekers Inc. fans on LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, MySpace, Blogger, and Twitter to name but a few.
All of these efforts have generated into an accumulated audience of 609,000 viewers and visitors to the various platforms of SnowSeekers Inc. Our analytics tell us these guests are from throughout Canada, the US, the UK, Germany, Poland, Mexico, South Africa, Finland, China and Australia.
This summer SnowSeekers Inc. will be working hard to take these efforts to the next level by promoting Western Canada’s fantastic winter destinations on two refreshed and expanded platforms, plus one new and exciting opportunity that makes the most of today’s new media technology.
SnowSeekers.ca will be receiving a facelift. It will remain the excellent navigational site that it is, and will continue to provide exciting and entertaining content, but that content will also be expanding to include more contests and information on the resort of your choice, including the Latest Resort News where upcoming events will be promoted in a timely fashion. The newly revamped website is scheduled for unveiling in the early fall of 2009.
Like SnowSeekers.ca, SnowSeekers TV will also be expanding to include more coverage on what makes each resort and destination unique and exciting. As for the third SnowSeekers Inc. platform – like your favourite powder stash, it’s under lock and key for now, but stay tuned and keep watching this website and your inbox for the unveiling.
To the Western Canadian ski resort community, our supporters and our visitors – have a great summer and ... think snow!
SnowSeekers Inc. staff
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Lake Louise Ski Resort
“The Lake Louise Ski Area was very pleased to have Snowseekers.ca visit our mountain during the 2009 ski and snowboarding season. The entire segment was very informative as they not only dealt with current ski conditions and information, but also provided a tidy summary of other interesting information concerning the entire Lake Louise community.
– John Ross, Lake Louise Marketing Director, Lake Louise Ski Resort
Panorama Mountain Resort
“Working with SnowSeekers Inc. was a pleasure for everyone involved. Having worked in the ski industry for so long, they have a vast knowledge and understanding of ski resorts in British Columbia and Alberta, which easily translates onto the screen in SnowSeekers. Their work is vital to growing the ski industry, especially for off the beaten path resorts that are not as familiar to skiers and riders in Eastern Canada."
– Hayley Wilson, Marketing Coordinator, Panorama Mountain Village
Resorts of the Canadian Rockies
Skiing and Snowboarding are traditions in Canada. Snowseekers.ca does a fantastic job sharing the joys and benefits of skiing – a sport that the whole family can enjoy together and gets them active in winter! Come on, Canada is a winter nation and snowseekers.ca shares this heritage in a unique and special way.
– Matt Mosteller, Vice President, Marketing and Sales Resorts of the Canadian Rockies
Big White/Silver Star
.... thank you for including our resorts in the SnowSeekers program. The content was accurate, concise and really gave the viewers a good overall impression of what the experiences really are like at Big White and Silver Star. I believe viewers appreciated the more personal approach rather than a sales pitch, and that’s coming from a sales guy! Hope to have you back next year!
– Jim Loyd, Director of Sales, Big White Ski Resort Ltd./Silver Star Resort Ltd.
Island Lake Resort Group
Snowseekers.ca is a great resource for information on snow sports and the various resorts in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. I often check it out for interesting stories and resort information. I am hoping that we can be included on the website at some point.
– Mike McPhee, Director of Sales and Marketing Island Lake Resort Group
Mount Washington Alpine Resort
Snowseekers.ca has proven itself to be a valuable resource for Mount Washington Alpine Resort. The coverage of our resort by the Snowseekers team has been nothing short of outstanding. On top of the far-reaching video and broadcast content, thoughtful on-line stories provide readers and potential visitors with a keen insight into our world on Vancouver Island. Snowseekers will definitely assist in bringing more visitors to Mount Washington and the west coast of Vancouver Island for both skiing and surfing.
– Brent Curtain, PR and Promotions, Mount Washington Alpine Resort
Tourism Ucluelet
As an ocean adventure village on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, we had never heard of SnowSeekers Inc. That is, until ... a brilliant idea for a winter vacation – two days surfing and storm watching in Ucluelet, and two days skiing/snowboarding on Mt. Washington. We were excited by this unique idea. The resulting video and imagery shown on SnowSeekers.ca was first class! We are now waiting for the next opportunity to work with the team at SnowSeekers Inc. – winter or summer!
– Lorne D. Priestley – Chair, Tourism UCLUELET
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release
– Jan. 15/09
SnowSeekers TV brings some winter fun to TV audiences
EDMONTON, AB — The inspiration behind SnowSeekers™ is to fill a void left by most snow-related marketing channels that routinely showcase only the most internationally recognized Canadian destinations, leaving out many other amazing opportunities available to the ski, snowboard and snow enthusiast.
SnowSeekers Inc.™ is proud to partner with SHAW TV to produce 14 episodes of SnowSeekers TV through the 2008-09 ski season. Each week on SHAW’s stations across Western Canada, SnowSeekers Inc.™ profiles what makes Alberta and British Columbia’s snow-bound destinations unique.
“We ran a weekly program this past summer called Big Summer which focused on destinations in Western Canada,” said Mark Dorm, exec
utive producer for SHAW TV Edmonton, “and SnowSeekers TV is a perfect fit for continuing on with Western Canadian destination profiles through the winter season.”
“This partnership really allows us to capture visually some of the incredible beauty that this part of our world holds,” said Jim Barr, director of Business Development for SnowSeekers Inc.™. “We are excited to be able to bring in all forms of media to help tell the destinations story.
"After experiencing SnowSeekers TV on the television, people can head to our site for editorial and photos on their next snow-bound destination of choice. This all adds up in helping us secure our goal in becoming one of the most trusted sources for information on Western Canada’s snow scene by Jan 1, 2010.”
News Feeds
Three great Canadians have been named to the Canadian Ski Hall of Fame. Read more
SnowSeekers
SnowSeekers TV
Advertisers
|
|
|
|
Duncan McNeill Centre for Innovation @ NAIT, W207 11762 106 St Edmonton AB
E. info@snowseekers.ca P. 780.378.6199 F. 780.471.8380
Design by SnowSeekers Inc.
