We are a community of deeply experienced strategists, writers, designers, coders, filmmakers, researchers… unique characters from different disciplines and cultures who unite to deliver cohesive creative solutions that drive consumer, employee, community, and social impact.

With over three decades of experience, we partner seamlessly with our clients to bring transparency, identity, community, and continuity to their business. We build meaningful communication for consumers, employees, citizens, and investors driven by purpose, sustainability, and positive impact. We create the strongest collective, when we sit at the table with our clients as one team in an authentic way, working in partnership to make a difference in the world.

Meet The Core Collective

  • Bonnie Lester

    FOUNDER & CEO

  • Cynthia Benedek

    PARTNER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR

  • Karima Mawji

    ACCOUNT DIRECTOR

  • Brian Chung

    DIGITAL STRATEGY ADVISOR

  • Julie Webster

    QUEEN OF NEXT STEPS

  • Sheila Gray

    COPYWRITING

  • Nathaniel Anderson

    PHOTOGRAPHER

  • Elisa Paloschi

    DIRECTOR, IMPACT PRODUCER, CINEMATOGRAPHER

  • Karen Beach

    DIRECTOR OF MERCHANDISING DESIGN

  • Christine Liber

    COMMUNICATIONS

Our work has an impact on society and the environment. We accomplish this by:

  • Placing ethics, corporate responsibility, and sustainability at the heart of our operations

  • Treating sustainability as an essential business imperative and embedding it at the core of our strategies to create transformational change with our clients

  • Demanding integrity, honesty, and trustworthiness in our work; courage in our decisions; and dedication to Higher Ground Collective’s values and beliefs

  • Demonstrating our care, support and respect for each other and the community through equitable decision-making that is mindful of its impact on other groups and people

  • Developing a diverse team in talent, skills, gender, race, age, sexual orientation, and ability

  • Working with purpose-led businesses, sustainability innovators, and not-for-profit organizations who are prepared to address the biggest issues facing humanity today

  • Partnering with the not-for-profit sector to raise money for and awareness of charities

  • Supporting our communities: we hire locally whenever possible, provide work experience and placement opportunities to local people, and source local services across Ontario whenever available

  • Undertaking initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility; and encouraging the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies

  • Assessing and purchasing products from local independent suppliers across Ontario whose performance meets environmental and ethical credentials as well as costs, ability to meet deadlines, quality and service

  • Working remotely to avoid unnecessary daily commutes and business travel

  • Prioritizing mental health and work-life balance

  • Limiting the use of printed materials, and printer use and recommending environmentally sound papers, inks, and printers for all our products and services