Postcard from Toronto

For the past seven years, Glen D’Souza has worked at Forsman & Bodenfors’ Toronto office as ECD and then head of creative. Following the news that his office will be joining 72andSunny’s ‘Creative Collective’ to become 72andSunny Toronto, he chats to Transform about this transition and the creative scene in Canada.

What do you find to be most distinctive about the branding scene in Toronto, and Canada more broadly?

Toronto is home to so many cultures, diverse perspectives and an incredible creative community working with marketers who genuinely want to break through. That mix has defined our city for decades. When you bring all of those influences together, you get the perfect creative landscape where ideas stay fresh and culturally relevant. I’m a Toronto kid and really believe the diversity here makes the city special. There is an openness that creativity thrives in, and you feel it everywhere from the arts to the food and music scenes across the city.

Toronto is known for its many world-class museums and art galleries. Where in the city do you go for inspiration?

I studied at the Ontario College of Art and Design, which sits right next to the Art Gallery of Ontario. I used to wander through the AGO for hours, discovering art and ideas without having to worry about rushing to class or meeting up with friends. That freedom made it a place where I could really learn and absorb. I still visit today, although with children in the mix, my time is a little tighter. But the inspiration I felt back then is still there. Toronto has so many incredible galleries, but the AGO will always have a special place in my heart because of how fundamental it was to my creative path.

You have been working as a creative in Toronto for nearly 25 years. What would you say have been the biggest changes in the city’s creative scene during that time?

The advertising and design scene in Toronto has always been strong. I’ve always admired agencies like Rethink and Taxi, among many others, that helped build a real international presence for Canadian creativity. Over the last several years, Canada’s showing at global award shows has been even stronger thanks to our talented Canadian marketers and agencies, and that visibility attracts even more creative talent from around the world. The culture of this city combined with a strong local creative reputation makes Toronto a highly competitive market. Clients benefit from the diversity of experience that talent brings. And with major American agencies like Wieden and 72andSunny opening offices in the city, the momentum keeps building.

It was revealed recently that Forsman & Bodenfors Canada would form part of 72andSunny’s new Creative Collective. What impact do you think that will have on your work?

It’s a big moment for us and our clients. We now have access to incredible talent, tools and ways of working. 72andSunny’s founding ethos is optimism, and for more than 20 years the team has combined strategy and creativity to deliver outsized impact for clients around the world. I was immediately impressed by their philosophy around AI and the thoughtful processes behind it, and how both can help move our clients into more dynamic and culturally relevant spaces. With tools like this, now is the best time to be a creative thanks to the level of access we have. And with the scale and reputation of 72andSunny’s offices in New York, Los Angeles, Amsterdam, Sydney and Singapore, we can supercharge what we’re building here in Toronto. We’ve always pushed for breakthrough work, and now we have even more hands to make that happen.

This article was taken from Transform magazine Q4, 2025. You can subscribe to the print edition here.