Founded in 2010, Innovate By Day is a bilingual, certified woman-owned, values-led digital marketing agency. We partner with organizations across corporate, cultural, government, and not-for-profit sectors to turn complex ideas into stories and campaigns that connect with people.
Through strategic marketing, creative content, and proactive project management, we help our clients reach their audiences authentically and create impact. In a digital landscape increasingly shaped by AI, we utilize AI tools to improve efficiency, but we refuse to lose the human side of their story.
Our Core Values 1
Agility
We embrace change and adapt quickly, finding creative solutions that keep projects moving forward, even when the unexpected arises.
Accountability
Transparency, trust, and responsibility guide our work and client partnerships. We take ownership of our commitments and timelines, communicate openly, and celebrate successes in a space where people feel respected and empowered.
Creativity
We bring curiosity and imagination to every project, exploring new ideas and ways to tell stories that connect. We look for fresh ways to solve problems and make room to experiment, continuously elevating our work and refining ideas to meet clients’ goals and reach audiences.
Collaboration
We believe the best ideas come from working together. By collaborating closely with clients, stakeholders, and one another, we bring together diverse perspectives, experiences, and skill sets to create stronger, more meaningful solutions.
Empowerment & Leadership
We trust our people to lead, take ownership, and bring their strengths to every project. By supporting their growth and giving them room to make decisions, we give clients a team that takes initiative, solves problems, and keeps the work moving.
Open Communication
Complex projects depend on clear, open communication. We keep clients and stakeholders informed throughout the process, raise questions and challenges early, and create space for open, respectful conversations that support better decisions. We keep everyone aligned at every stage of the work.
Our Core Values 2
Agility
We embrace change and adapt quickly, finding creative solutions that keep projects moving forward, even when the unexpected arises.
Accountability
Transparency, trust, and responsibility guide our work and client partnerships. We take ownership of our commitments and timelines, communicate openly, and celebrate successes in a space where people feel respected and empowered.
Creativity
We bring curiosity and imagination to every project, exploring new ideas and ways to tell stories that connect. We look for fresh ways to solve problems and make room to experiment, continuously elevating our work and refining ideas to meet clients’ goals and reach audiences.
Collaboration
We believe the best ideas come from working together. By collaborating closely with clients, stakeholders, and one another, we bring together diverse perspectives, experiences, and skill sets to create stronger, more meaningful solutions.
Empowerment & Leadership
We trust our people to lead, take ownership, and bring their strengths to every project. By supporting their growth and giving them room to make decisions, we give clients a team that takes initiative, solves problems, and keeps the work moving.
Open Communication
Complex projects depend on clear, open communication. We keep clients and stakeholders informed throughout the process, raise questions and challenges early, and create space for open, respectful conversations that support better decisions. We keep everyone aligned at every stage of the work.
Our Core Values 3
Agility
We embrace change and adapt quickly, finding creative solutions that keep projects moving forward, even when the unexpected arises.
Accountability
Transparency, trust, and responsibility guide our work and client partnerships. We take ownership of our commitments and timelines, communicate openly, and celebrate successes in a space where people feel respected and empowered.
Creativity
We bring curiosity and imagination to every project, exploring new ideas and ways to tell stories that connect. We look for fresh ways to solve problems and make room to experiment, continuously elevating our work and refining ideas to meet clients’ goals and reach audiences.
Collaboration
We believe the best ideas come from working together. By collaborating closely with clients, stakeholders, and one another, we bring together diverse perspectives, experiences, and skill sets to create stronger, more meaningful solutions.
Empowerment & Leadership
We trust our people to lead, take ownership, and bring their strengths to every project. By supporting their growth and giving them room to make decisions, we give clients a team that takes initiative, solves problems, and keeps the work moving.
Open Communication
Complex projects depend on clear, open communication. We keep clients and stakeholders informed throughout the process, raise questions and challenges early, and create space for open, respectful conversations that support better decisions. We keep everyone aligned at every stage of the work.
Our Core Values 4
Agility
We embrace change and adapt quickly, finding creative solutions that keep projects moving forward, even when the unexpected arises.
Accountability
Transparency, trust, and responsibility guide our work and client partnerships. We take ownership of our commitments and timelines, communicate openly, and celebrate successes in a space where people feel respected and empowered.
Creativity
We bring curiosity and imagination to every project, exploring new ideas and ways to tell stories that connect. We look for fresh ways to solve problems and make room to experiment, continuously elevating our work and refining ideas to meet clients’ goals and reach audiences.
Collaboration
We believe the best ideas come from working together. By collaborating closely with clients, stakeholders, and one another, we bring together diverse perspectives, experiences, and skill sets to create stronger, more meaningful solutions.
Empowerment & Leadership
We trust our people to lead, take ownership, and bring their strengths to every project. By supporting their growth and giving them room to make decisions, we give clients a team that takes initiative, solves problems, and keeps the work moving.
Open Communication
Complex projects depend on clear, open communication. We keep clients and stakeholders informed throughout the process, raise questions and challenges early, and create space for open, respectful conversations that support better decisions. We keep everyone aligned at every stage of the work.
Meet the Team
We are an agile team of creative people with diverse backgrounds, unique perspectives, and big ideas. We collaborate as much as we cheer each other on and share a love for storytelling in all its forms.
Deb Day
Deb Day
she/her/elle
Deb is the founder, President, and Chief Strategist of Innovate By Day. As a marketing strategist with a long history serving the entertainment and cultural industries, Deb is known as “the storyteller that the storytellers hire” to build their brands. Deb leverages her experience to lead teams that create effective social media strategies and engaging video content for brands, companies, broadcasters, not-for-profit, and public sector organizations. Deb works with media networks, executives, and business owners to accelerate their ideas and shape their narratives in the digital space.
As IBD’s founder and lead storyteller, Deb brings over two decades of experience as an award-winning film and TV director and producer. Her expertise as a creative strategist is the heartbeat of our agency, driving our mission to turn high-stakes mandates into deeply resonant narratives. With a keen eye for opportunity and lasting social impact, Deb oversees the strategic frameworks that allow our clients to tell their stories safely and powerfully. Known for her infectious dynamism, she brings energy and dedication to everything she does—whether she’s leading a complex marketing strategy, dipping into a cold lake, or dominating the pickleball court. Need a visionary to look at your strategy? Ask Deb.
Calvin Winter
Calvin Winter
he/him
An incredibly talented web developer and coding master, Calvin has been a cornerstone of the IBD team since 2017. He specializes in turning complex digital requirements into seamless, secure, and highly accessible website experiences. No architecture is too big or codebase too long for this multi-talented digital storyteller. Calvin makes the technical backend look easy, translating complex tech terms into clear, actionable strategies for our clients. When he isn’t engineering flawlessly structured websites, this all-around great guy can be found enjoying nature or cheering on his favourite hockey team.
Doug Benn
Doug Benn
he/him
No IBD video project is complete without Doug's care and strategic oversight. As an award-winning videographer and director, he keeps integrity and authenticity at the absolute forefront of his work. He is instrumental in delivering our documentary-style storytelling, ensuring every piece of content is emotionally resonant and perfectly aligned with our clients' needs. Since 2016, his thoughtful leadership, creativity, and fantastic sense of humour have elevated our team dynamic in the best ways possible. He’s also a massive fan of musical theatre and cats.
Joe Parente
Joe Parente
he/him
Every elite creative team needs a brilliant visionary who possesses a unique edge, and ours is Joe. Since 2017, Joe’s award-winning shooting and editing skills have been in high demand across our most complex client work. His obsession with cinematic detail and pacing makes him the perfect editor to ensure your narrative is flawlessly executed and deeply compelling. Outside the editing suite, Joe is a skilled musician with a massive vinyl and film collection, and he remains our resident expert on horror, music, and the colour black.
Laurie-Anne Villeneuve
Laurie-Anne Villeneuve
she/her/elle
When it comes to executing seamless, national campaigns, nobody handles bilingual project management better than Laurie-Anne. Since 2023, she has expertly managed all bilingual IBD projects, ensuring our storytelling remains culturally nuanced, legally compliant, and impactful across both English and French markets. Laurie-Anne regularly impresses us with her agility, graphic design skills, and unmatched customer service. She provides our clients with invaluable strategic insights into Canada’s francophone culture, supports our coast-to-coast business development, and keeps the team laughing with her hilarious jokes. Merveilleuse!
Sharmin Oomatia
Sharmin Oomatia
she/her
A true web wizard, Sharmin brings over four years of specialized experience crafting robust WordPress and Shopify platforms to the team. With a Bachelor of Computer Applications and education in UX Design, she masterfully blends great technical skills with a creative design flair. Sharmin ensures our clients' websites are not just visually stunning but functionally secure and optimized for performance. Fluent in English, Hindi, and Gujarati—as well as JavaScript, PHP, HTML, and CSS—she builds seamless multilingual sites and tackles every complex development challenge with a bright smile.
Sharon McDonald
Sharon McDonald
she/her
With nearly a decade of specialized experience in digital strategy and storytelling, Sharon is the driving force behind our clients' community engagement. She doesn't just manage platforms; she brings purpose-led brand voices to life with absolute clarity, creativity, and strategic intention. Known for her razor-sharp, audience-first mindset, Sharon excels at translating highly complex organizational ideas into compelling, authentic narratives that drive measurable momentum. When she isn't executing flawless campaigns, Sharon is usually exploring local farms, whipping up plant-based meals, or recharging near the water with her beloved fur babies, who also proudly serve as her highly demanding, unofficial co-workers.
Torin Stefanson
Torin Stefanson
he/him
Filmmaker, writer, director, tabletop game creator, and mobile app designer, Torin is a polymath of digital innovation. Since joining IBD in 2015, Torin has grown from our Head of Production to Director of Finance & Production. He is the vital link between creative ambition and financial reality, ensuring complex projects are delivered on time, on budget, and fully compliant. Whether navigating old-school production techniques or new-school tech advancements, Torin’s problem-solving skills are unmatched. He is our Saskatoon-based digital innovator and a deeply trusted leader who keeps the agency thriving.
VC Crapsi-Krisiuk
VC Crapsi-Krisiuk
she/her they/them
VC leads with calm confidence, sharp instincts, and a colour-coded spreadsheet. With over a decade of experience in strategic marketing and project leadership, they joined IBD in 2022 and quickly became the operational force behind big ideas, complex teams, and the kind of organized chaos they secretly love. Equal parts problem-solver, dog lover, and professional wrangler, VC knows how to spot opportunities, keep momentum moving, and make meaningful work happen. Off the clock, VC is all about making meaningful things happen and bringing both heart and hustle as a core volunteer for Save Our Scruff, helping rescue pups find their forever homes.
Meet Deb Day
As founder and lead storyteller at Innovate By Day, Deb Day brings more than two decades of experience as an award-winning film and television director and producer. A recipient of the WIFT-T Digital Trailblazer Crystal Award, she draws on that background to help clients make complex ideas clear, compelling, and meaningful to the people they need to reach.
Deb guides the agency’s strategic direction, including digital production work on projects such as Stronger Together/Tous Ensemble, Mohawk Girls, Corner Gas, Mittens and Pants, The Bachelor Canada, and the Official Languages Programs. She has also worked with organizations such as Council of Ministers of Education, Canada, APTN, Just for Laughs, Telefilm Canada, the TELUS Fund, and the Canadian Film Centre.
She brings a sharp eye for narrative, audience, and opportunity, helping clients navigate ambitious and sensitive mandates with care and confidence. Known for her infectious energy, Deb brings as much enthusiasm to a project as she does to a cold lake or a spirited game of pickleball.
Our Commitments
Accessibility
We are committed to creating digital experiences that are accessible to everyone. From video production and website development to digital campaigns and social content, our work aligns with AODA and WCAG standards while supporting inclusive audience engagement across platforms.
Diversity & Inclusion
We celebrate diversity across our team, culture, and creative practices. By embracing different backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences, we foster an environment that strengthens creativity, collaboration, and innovation.
Environmental Impact
We recognize the importance of environmental stewardship and continue working toward more sustainable workplace practices, mindful production approaches, and ongoing organizational awareness.
Our Office Pets
Andy
Blue
Cheddar Gorgeous
Kassys
Manor
Mika
Nemo
Nesta
Ollie
Thor
Unis
Our Expert Ecosystem
At Innovate By Day, we believe in radical transparency and building the right team for every project.
Our core team is supported by a trusted and values-aligned network of specialists, creators, strategists, and production partners across Canada. Depending on the project and deliverables, we bring in collaborators who are locally, culturally, and linguistically aligned with the audiences we’re trying to reach.
This flexible, intentional approach brings the right perspective to the work while keeping strategy, quality, and accountability firmly with Innovate By Day.
Accessibility
At Innovate By Day, we build accessibility into how we work. We believe everyone should be able to access, understand, and engage with digital content.
Trained by Accessible Media Inc. (AMI), our team creates video, digital, print, and web content with AODA and WCAG standards in mind. We provide SRT and SCC caption files for video and use WCAG checklists to audit our work against AA accessibility standards.
Our goal is to create content that is inclusive, respectful, and welcoming to all.