We're delighted to begin work on a new interpretive experience for one of Canada's most beloved landmarks: the Rideau Canal. As a collaboration between the National Capital Commission, the City of Ottawa, Parks Canada, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Rideau Canal Promenade project will capture the symbolic and cultural importance of the Canal and elevate its profile as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our team has been asked to design three innovative interpretive nodes spanning the 8 kilometre stretch between Hartwell's Lockstation and the Ottawa Locks, as well as a system of discovery features threaded in-between.

The studio's abuzz with planning a comprehensive wayfinding program for British Columbia's North Shore Spirit Trail. Spanning 36 kilometres through the communities of West Vancouver, North Vancouver, and the District of North Vancouver, this trail will feature a clear, methodical sequence of directional, identification, and assurance elements for visitors and residents alike. Together a vibrant Spirit Trail brand, visually intuitive designs, and guiding messages ensure guidance to primary and secondary trail entry points, as well as identify key destinations and attractions along and adjacent to the trail system.

Our Mo Bros returned for another year of fine moustachery in the name of men's health. More than $104 million was raised worldwide for the 2011 Movember campaign—and some of those dollars were ours. This year the Ekistache | Mo Media team raised more than $2300 (as well as a few eyebrows) growing moustaches for the month of Movember. Congrats to all those who stuck out their stubble for this worthwhile cause and flaunted their 'staches for 30 days of hair-raising fun.

Marc and Tara were on hand for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony at Thinkers' Lodge National Historic Site – recently restored and reopened to the public. The day was crisp, the air rife with excitement, and the company splendid. Congratulations to every hand and heart involved in realizing this important initiative! It was our privilege to help interpret the incredible legacy of this special place.

Form:Media has begun work on the North Shore Spirit Trail wayfinding strategy. A collaborative effort between the Squamish First Nation, the City of North Vancouver, the District of North Vancouver, and the City of West Vancouver, this extensive trail system will create physical, social, and cultural linkages between places, people, and experiences. We are very excited to contribute to such an important project and look forward to creating a wayfinding experience that evokes the spirit of this trail environment and creates lasting, memorable journeys for visitors.

The City of Brandon, Manitoba, has initiated a highway signage project to realize a longstanding desire to develop welcome signs at the six entry points into the city. Our job will be to ensure that these signs let visitors know they have entered a unique place, in addition to instilling a sense of civic pride in Brandon residents. Once complete, the program will also remind residents and visitors that Brandon is a community that fosters and maintains a fresh, positive corporate image rooted in the City's agrarian heritage.

Form:Media has been contracted to create a visual identity and signage program for the Town of Innisfil, Ontario. The program will integrate the Town's visual identity with an intuitive road signage program within Innisfil and on Highway 400, as well as on municipal building signage and vehicles.

Alan White and Marc Bélanger recently attended the Vive La Diversité – Designing the Difference SEGD Conference in Montreal - Can ideal setting for more than 500 designers to consider the following question: "Can designing our constantly changing environments become a catalyst for social and cultural change?" After four days of events and reflection, our response would be an enthusiastic "Yes!" Thank you, SEGD, for hosting this inspiring, thought-provoking, and fun-filled event. See you all in New York next year!

Form:Media and Ekistics Planning & Design have been involved in refining a vision for the Tecumseh Monument in Chatham-Kent, Ontario. This site interprets the story of the Battle of the Thames – a key turning point in the War of 1812 – and Tecumseh, the great Aboriginal warrior who championed the dream of a pan-Indian nation in the early 19th century. Our work defines clear goals, relevant themes, and dynamic visitor experiences that will enable the Friends of Tecumseh Monument to meet immediate goals as well as plan for future development.

Form:Media was recently tasked with developing an intuitive, sustainable signage system for visitors travelling throughout the province's beautiful Fundy region. When implemented, this initiative will serve as a visual guide to tourist-based amenities and destinations within the region, including directions to and through its various communities. It will also entice visitors to leave the highway and stay on the Fundy Shore route, providing a clear, methodical sequence of directional elements to all of the area's distinct destinations.

Form:Media was retained by the Ministry of Tourism & Culture to refine a comprehensive tourism-based signage system for Regional Tourism Organization 7 (RTO7), which encompasses Ontario's Bruce, Grey, and Simcoe Counties. The system was designed to enable visitors to successfully navigate the entire region, while also permitting communities to incorporate their visual identities on signage units within their municipal boundaries. The development of fabrication specifications that meet the needs of local signage fabricators was fundamental to this system.

On March 11th, the world's largest earthquake (9.0-magnitude) and a massive tsunami washed tons of houses and people away in the northeast part of Japan. We have successfully received $381.77, which will be transferred to the Canadian Red Cross to support ongoing relief efforts in Japan - helping those who lost homes, jobs, and loved ones in this devastating disaster.

Gathering a small team from Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, Form:Media has been tasked asked to develop an interpretive plan for the Random Passage site in New Bonaventure, Newfoundland and Labrador. The site was built as a film set over ten years ago and has since become a valued tourism attraction, featuring tours and programs around the buildings erected as part of the set. Working with local stakeholders, staff, and tourism operators, Form:Media will refine and enhance public experiences offered at the site to balance fictional and authentic heritage interpretation, emphasize live programming, and create a feasible tourism product that can be marketed as a part of the regional Trinity and Bonavista experience.

Form:Media is delighted to be contracted by Provincial Historic Sites of Newfoundland and Labrador to develop full exhibit designs for the Colonial Building in St. John's. This building is an important landmark in the history of the province - from its days as an independent colony through the tumultuous eras that led to confederation and provincial status. Over the next few months our team will consult with stakeholders, host workshops, explore stories and resources, and undertake pre-design studies that will help guide the visitor experience at the building. A full design process is expected to follow later this year, with final design for the interior and exterior interpretive design completed in late 2012.

Collaborating with A.L. Arbic Consulting, Genesis Consulting, MT&L Public Relations, and WHW Architects, Form:Media was recently tasked with developing an interpretive master plan for Thinkers' Lodge. Located in Pugwash, Nova Scotia, this National Historic Site played host to a legendary conference in 1957 that brought together scientists from both sides of the Iron Curtain to discuss the threat of nuclear weapons at the height of the Cold War - ultimately setting in motion an international movement for world peace that continues to this day. At the request of CREDA and the Pugwash Park Commission, our team will develop a long-term plan that envisions the site as both a heritage destination and an active educational retreat for hosting meetings on important social and environmental issues.

Our friends at the Nova Scotia Museum are presently enjoying the company of a rather old, but venerable visitor: Sue, the world's largest, most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton. It is very exciting to have Sue in our midst here in Halifax, and we encourage all our clients, colleagues, and friends to pay the old gal a visit. Sue is truly a remarkable sight and the associated interpretation provides some fascinating facts to sink your teeth into.

Form:Media has been asked by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to develop displays related to the St. Andrews Biological Station (SABS) for installation at the new Huntsman Marine Science Centre: a multimillion dollar development slated to include live animals and marine species, displays, and programming spaces. As one of several partners in the process, SABS is actively involved in highlighting the ecology and economy of the Bay of Fundy, which is intimately linked to the Huntsman visitor experience. Fabricated and installed in the coming months by Skyline Atlantic Canada, the SABS displays will feature a thematic ship icon, modular kiosks, and hands-on opportunities for young visitors that integrate seamlessly with other exhibits inside the centre.