ACA Gold Medal Awarded to T1 Agency Founder Mark Harrison

With over 30 years of experience as a sponsorship and marketing leader, Mark Harrison has dedicated his career to working with purpose. Recognized for uniting brands with people, Harrison is the founder of T1, an award-winning marketing agency, and the global sponsorship conference, SponsorshipX.

As a lifelong volunteer and entrepreneur at heart, Harrison also founded The MH3 Collective – a group of ventures that span the gamut, from advertising and sponsorship marketing to integrated communications and education. The MH3 Collective also shares a consciousness that focuses on empowering people, promoting social equity, and reimagining a world where entrepreneurial passion and purpose come to life.

Harrison’s impressive track record of success over his three decades in marketing leadership has made him the unquestionable choice for ACA’s 2022 Gold Medal Award winner. The Gold Medal recognizes individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of marketing communications in Canada.

“After a two-year pandemic hiatus on issuing this award, we couldn’t be more pleased to recognize Mark Harrison in this way” said Ron

Lund, President and CEO of the Association of Canadian Advertisers. “The impact of Harrison’s career in marketing and on the community, and the purposeful ways in which he has led in this ever-changing landscape make him most befitting of this recognition” Lund continued.

“I am grateful for the recognition and am very proud of the purposeful impact our teams and our work have had in the marketing landscape,” said Harrison. “I recognize every day that with being a Black entrepreneur comes the responsibility to keep making meaningful changes in our society, and this recognition from the ACA helps me to keep going on this journey” Harrison concluded.

In addition to Harrison’s work in marketing and his commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in society, he founded the Black Talent Initiative, a movement dedicated to facilitating change and creating opportunities for young, Black Canadians in the business. Through partnerships, internships, mentorships, and networking, BTI empowers Black leaders for the future.

Harrison also co-founded Park Street Education, the first non-profit school of its kind, which offers experience-based, hybrid learning and works to provide accessibility and remove all barriers to children’s education.

Staying true to his commitment to working with purpose, he is also Board Chair at Big Brothers Big Sisters Toronto, co-chair of the Black, Biracial, Indigenous Task force for Ontario University Athletics, and a Board Member at CAMH Foundation – three organizations that are near and dear to his heart. Harrison serves as a Board Member of Playmaker Capital, an advisor to Crankworx Events and wonderMakr.

Harrison will receive the Gold Medal Award at this year’s Strategy Awards on September 29 at The Symes in Toronto.

About the ACA Gold Medal Award: The ACA Gold Medal Award is:

• Open to all individuals in activities that have an impact on marketing communications in Canada (client marketers, agencies, media, researchers, academics, associations, etc.)
• Awarded for a single achievement, or for accomplishments over time
• Awarded to a candidate whose contribution represents a measurable, distinctive advancement in the practice of marketing communications in Canada
• Since its inception, the ACA Gold Medal Award has been presented to a distinguished list of industry leaders and visionaries. View the full list of past honorees.

About ACA: ACA is the independent voice of Canadian marketers and the champion of a fair and transparent marketplace. A national, not-for-profit association, it speaks on behalf of more than 200 companies and divisions. More: www.acaweb.ca