Terry O'Malley Fonds
Terrence J. O’Malley is an internationally acclaimed advertising executive, more fondly known as Terry in his hometown of St. Catharines. Coining the term Team Canada for the 1972 hockey summit series between Canada and Russia, designing the patriotic Maple Leaf uniforms, as well as supporting local sports teams and education, O’Malley has etched his place in Canadian history.
He spent most of his career with the advertising agency Vickers & Benson. They had a longstanding relationship with the Liberal Party at the federal and provincial levels that began with Pierre Trudeau's ascendancy to Prime Minister in 1968 and lasted into the 1990s. The publicity work encompassed election campaigns, Canadian reformation and unity issues, constitutional reform, fundraising, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and much more. The ties between V&B and the Liberals were professional, productive, and amiable. Terry O'Malley was there every step of the way.
One particularly memorable campaign was the 1988 federal election between Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and John Turner. The campaign was called ‘Red Leaf’. It was in response to the Conservatives' favouring free trade with the United States and for their use of American style political attack ads. Two Liberal television ads in response to the Conservative campaign include one depicting an American arrogantly erasing the Canada-U.S. border, and another showing Prime Minister Mulroney saluting the American flag. Both proved to be very memorable.
There is more information available on the campaign to raise awareness of constitutional reforms, and the 1988 election campaign.
