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

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