Our Story

Never under estimate the power of a story….

The Blend is a company that almost never was…
it’s two principals met when Tim interviewed for a job
at the hospital where Kathilee was on the panel
of interviewers. She voted against Tim.
Lucky for everyone – Kathilee lost the vote,
Tim got the job, and the rest is the stuff of fairy tales.
Someday they may tell you the whole story but for now…

Owners, Kathilee & Tim, fell in love, blended their family,
combined their professional expertise and harnessed
their passions to create the Blend.

Our media company uses story to translate knowledge,
foster connections and spark engagement to change
the trajectory of lives.

Believing that you can change the world is
the first step towards making a difference.

Uniquely Qualified

Writing, producing, directing for television and educational clients has garnered Kathilee
over 50 international awards.

Programs broadcast around the world on networks specializing in childrens, health and education are recognized for their high production value, creative approach and effective messaging.

As a visual artist Tim understands how to paint with light. On a personal level Tim’s years as a medical photographer/videographer and newspaper photographer has honed his ability to make our subjects feel comfortable and confident in front of his lens.

“What a wonderful end product we received which has already received many positive compliments.”
Frances Abela-Dimech, RN
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, CAMH

“It was my pleasure to work with you two and the whole crew this past week.
You have a very special way with children and the folks of the early childhood world.”
Carolyn Parkes, Seeds of Empathy

“The video was very effective in clearly communicating the importance of the study.
It also effectively addressed important teacher concerns about confidentiality
and how much administrative work would be involved for them. You did a great job.”
Laura Duncan, Ontario Child Health Study, OCHS/SMHS

Our Services

Media Production

The Blend creates media content. We tell stories designed to inform, influence behaviour and inspire. We use whatever form best meets the need; image, video, digital or print. Our content has won numerous international awards, and our systems, personal style and professionalism has kept clients coming back again and again.

Consulting Services

The Blend offers consulting services in branding, marketing, education, communication or strategic. We collaborate with you to help develop ideas or enhance your objectives. We also connect organizations or individuals whose goals intersect, blending messages for maximum impact. Our consultation can be a collaboration, a partnership or a straight up service.

Educational Services

At the Blend we believe that education
is a powerful tool for change. Great education reaches the mind and the heart and the Blend uses story to create media that does just that. We create media resources with and for those who educate and we teach too. Kathilee is a part time College faculty member, a guest lecturer and a conference presenter.

The Latest

Take a moment to view one of our most recent productions.
We update often so we are looking forward to seeing you again.
Check back soon!

During these difficult time we are working with organizations to help get important messages to the right audience.

Why We Do It

At it’s heart the Blend is based on the belief that we can accomplish greater things together than we can on our own. By combining our strengths, with the knowledge of our clients and partners, and the talents of our team, what we create can help to change the world.

“The ones who are crazy enough to think they
can change the world are the ones who do.”
Steve Jobs

There is power in art, the application of creative skill and imagination. There is power in story. Scientists explain that our species is literally hard wired for storytelling. We seek experiences that spark our imaginations and kindle the spirit. Stories are the pathway in and digital technology has created universal access.

Great innovators understand that the real potential for transformation lies in the way that ideas are shared. Silos don’t create change connections do.

Samples Of Our Work

MacHealth

One in a series of short videos to demonstrate games to play with children created by experts in child development.

Langs

A Community Health Centre’s information and fundraising video.

Dr. Jean Clinton

A video series where Dr. Clinton speaks about specific topics regarding babies, toddlers and teens.

CVHF

A short video for a Fundraising Campaign for the new Special Care Nursery.

Ontario Child Health Study and School Mental Health Study

A public service announcement was part of a promotional campaign the Blend consulted on with a consortium of health organizations and Statistics Canada. The project included strategy, communication plan, editorial work, web consultation, radio spots, social media consultation and five videos.

CurioCity Hair

Let’s Talk Science is a non-profit science advocacy organization that wanted to create a vehicle that teachers could use to stimulate conversation around the importance of staying in high school science. A series of videos humorously brought to life the disastrous consequences of dropping high school science for a puppet called Flash.

Milton Ethel Harris Research Institute

MEHRI was created as a cutting-edge cognitive and social neuroscience centre and preliminary results showed promising effects. Stuart Shanker asked the Blend to create a video that could be used to help potential investors understand the potential value and impact of the study.

Student Achievment Awards 2019

Every year the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation awards students for writing and creative arts. This is one of the winning profiles.

World of Possibility

This podcast pilot is what happens when a child psychiatrist, a parenting author, and an education/parenting journalist enter virtual space together for a conversation about surviving and thriving in the most uncertain times in a generation.

‘World of Possibility’ – the podcast – is about the opportunity to face, question and rebuild the structural cracks that have been revealed by a society working its way through a global pandemic. How can we rebuild, reframe, refresh our relationships both within our families and our communities? It was inspired by Dr. Dan Siegel who says that ‘a synonym for uncertainty is possibility.’ What is possible? What can we MAKE possible if we grab the opportunity for change that is in front of us?

Parenting author/speaker Ann Douglas, child psychiatrist/knowledge translator Dr. Jean Clinton, and journalist Cheryl Jackson, who specializes in parenting and education, believe anything is possible if we stay open to new ideas, talk about them, and work together to make change. This is a series of conversations about reconnecting and reimagining a world of possibility.

Episode 1 ‘Bouncing Back’

During times like these what does resilience look like? Is bouncing back from adversity something we can foster and build in ourselves and our children? This episode is offered in two parts.

Bouncing Back Episode 1 Part1 Bouncing Back Episode 1 Part 2

Bouncing Back Episode 1 Part 1

Our conversation is sparked by the profound words of Elder Tom Porter of the Bear Clan of the Mohawk nation at Akwesasne, as he speaks about how respect and resilience connect families and communities in First Nations people. We also hear from world-renowned resilience expert Dr. Michael Ungar, Director of the Resilience Resource Centre at Dalhousie University, who weighs in with what his decades of world-wide research has revealed about resilience and what it means to us and our children in the face of the global pandemic.

Bouncing Back Episode 1 Part 2

Leyco Wilson from The Resilience Project and Family Services of Waterloo Region launches our second discussion on how important community is to a child’s resilience. Her fascinating program helps children develop resilience within a community framework – allowing the child to reach out for support, proving once again that resilience isn’t an individual trait – that it works best in a community that understands and offers support.

Show Credits

Co Hosts: Dr. Jean Clinton, Ann Douglas, Cheryl Jackson
Story Editor: Nicola Pulling
Technical Producer: Tim Chevrier
Producer: Kathilee Porter
Production Company: the Blend Media Group

This is a pilot and we’d like to know what you’d like to hear next. So send us your feedback. We are open to possibilities and no idea is too far fetched. You can reach all of us on social media:
@DrJeanforKids

@AnnDouglas

@CherylJackson

@theBlendMedia

Co-Host Bios

Dr. Jean Clinton:
Dr. Jean Clinton is a Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster, division of Child Psychiatry. Dr. Clinton is renowned nationally and internationally as an advocate for children’s issues. Her special interest lies in brain development, and the crucial role relationships and connectedness play therein.

Ann Douglas:
Ann Douglas sparks conversations that matter about parenting and mental health. She is a bestselling parenting author and the weekend parenting columnist for CBC Radio. She is the creator of The Mother of All Book series and the author, most recently, of Happy Parents, Happy Kids and Parenting Through the Storm.

Cheryl Jackson:
Cheryl Jackson has focused on the education, health and wellness of children and families for most of her career as a journalist and communications director. She produced and hosted news and current affairs at CBC TV in Saskatchewan and Toronto, produced and hosted TVO Parents, produced video and other content for the non-profit sector.