Gab Group Inc’s Founder and President, Ginger A. Bertrand, is an award-winning publicist with over 15 years of experience in Canadian media. Originally hailing from Ottawa, Ontario, Ginger grew her PRoots in Toronto working with Walt Disney Studios, Disney Junior, Disney XD, Rogers TV, Family Channel, Lifetime, Food Network Canada and other nationally and internationally recognized brands. In 2023, Ginger received the great honour of being named one of Ottawa’s Forty Under 40 recipients.
GINGER A. BERTRAND - PRESIDENT
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Ginger has built a professional network that includes celebrities, chefs, experts and senior executives. She has worked with actor Hugh Jackman, sports host Jesse Palmer, singer/actress Mandy Moore, celebrity chef Lynn Crawford and Netflix star Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, among many others. She has been a behind-the-scenes strategist and a battle-lines implementer for a plethora of media campaigns, including those for television, film, restaurants and small businesses. In fact, she was a key player in making Chopped Canada the highest rated series to ever premiere on Food Network Canada - a feat that still stands to this day.
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A three-time RBC Women of Influence nominee, Ginger’s a big thinker but also a big DOER. And she’s knowledgeable; she knows the box well enough to think outside of it in ways that are grounded and groundbreaking. Indeed, Ginger is a people person...you might say she's obsessed with getting to know you. And with finding authentic ways to build, promote and protect your brand. Did we mention that she’s bilingual?
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With a big heart for the people (and furry friends) around her, Ginger is passionate about helping her community. She is a fierce advocate for women in business, access to education, the Ottawa Humane Society, and multiple animal rescues across the province. Don’t believe us? Just ask her rescue dog, Fred. And yes, together they are Ginger and Fred - but Fred hasn’t quite learned how to tap dance yet. If you can’t find Ginger pitching, negotiating or getting involved in the community, you can find her on the tennis courts and cycling the Gatineau Hills.
CARYN BESSNER - SR. PUBLICIST
With one hand holding a novel and the other exacting the perfect press release, Caryn brings literary prowess to the world of written PR. A grad of English Lit from Queens University and Public Relations from Seneca College, Caryn first joined GAB as an intern before writing her way to Senior Publicist. And that’s where you’ll find her; at the helm of her laptop, ironing out schedules and syntax, with fervour.
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Originally a student of Social Work at George Brown College, Caryn merged her desire to help others with her passion for good storytelling and landed in PR. And what is public relations if not good storytelling? When asked what PR means to her, Caryn quipped, “pitch right” and “proof read.” Amen! Thanks to her ear for prose and eye for detail, those two things come easily.
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With a medley of food industry clients, GAB is a natural fit for Caryn. But what does food have to do with English Lit? This GTA native self-describes as food-motivated. She spearheaded the communications strategies for shows such as Food Network Canada’s Big Food Bucket List, Wall of Chefs and Wall of Bakers, combining her love of entertainment with the culinary world. She also works with a host of personal publicity clients, such as realtor extraordinaire Rizwan Malik and Executive Chef and Owner of Open Concept Hospitality’s Michael Angeloni.
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What would you need to know before shipwrecking with Caryn on a deserted island? If she could have only one object with her, it would be “The Body” by Stephen King; the novella behind the classic film Stand By Me. And assuming she could only scramble together one meal, she would opt for a peanut butter and banana sammie. And if she could use her active imagination to manifest one visitor to the island, Jim Carrey would emerge from the fronds. Watch out, Jim—Caryn does a pitch-perfect Grinch impersonation!
ALI SELLER - HEAD OF PUBLICITY AND TALENT
With a background in public relations and an encyclopedic knowledge of pop culture, Ali guides clients with skill and passion. A graduate of McGill University and Centennial College, Ali launched her career as the Media Relations intern at Sony Music Canada, where she worked with Lunch Money Lewis, DJ Martin Garrix and Walk Off the Earth, among other artists. Since joining GAB, Ali has been a key player on a variety of projects, leading PR initiatives for TV shows and restaurants, while being a point person for our roster of actors, experts, TV personalities and celebrity chefs.
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Ali leads the development and implementation of communication strategies for GAB’s clients and has worked as the Unit Publicist for some of Canada’s biggest reality series including Global TV’s Big Brother Canada, CBC’s Family Feud Canada, and Food Network’s Top Chef Canada. Her attention to detail makes her a natural fit for our clients on the management side as she spearheads negotiation and brand building for some of our roster.
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Right now, she’s got her ear on Harry Styles, her mind on the Top Gun: Maverick/Elvis and her eye on Stranger Things. She might be the biggest Senators’ fan on this side of the capital. With a love for the oldies like Fleetwood Mac, Queen and the Bee Gees, Ali would have to say her favourite band of all time, while tricky, is the Backstreet Boys. Her favourite movies are from the 80s and 90s. Test her on celebrities, music or TV from any decade. She’s got it. Seriously, try her.
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She’s creative, collaborative and obsessively organized. A hockey fanatic and a whiz on the slopes, Ali brings an athletic style of determination to her work. Whether it’s getting you up on waterskis in a splash (she was once an instructor), or directing your media campaign with precision, this fearless leader gets the plays together to make it happen.
LILY THOMPSON - TALENT COORDINATOR
Some may say blondes have more fun but this blonde has more puns. Lily is a bold, creative individual who has a 'glass half full' outlook on life and continuously thinks outside the box. Starting her education at Guelph University in Neuroscience and Psychology, she had a change of heart and enrolled in Public Relations at Conestoga College.
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Lily began her career as a Public Relations intern here at GAB where she spent several months under the guidance of Ali and Caryn, running our social media. Since then, she has transitioned to the management side of Gab Group Inc. as the Talent Coordinator.
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In her free time, you may find her competing at a horse show with her horse Cudo, or sipping a spicy margarita at her favourite Taco restaurant, The Mule. One fun fact about Lily is that she is allergic to almost everything edible but that doesn’t stop her from wining and dining with her friends. When she isn’t out and about, you may find her painting pet portraits with a toothpick, or rewatching her favourite show, How I Met Your Mother for the 100th time (regardless of the horrible ending).
MICHELE YEO - VP, TALENT MANAGEMENT AND BRAND PARTNERSHIPS
TV producer, cat lady and unapologetic Kanye apologist, Michele Yeo joins GAB as director of talent management overseeing our talent division. Coming off a stint producing CBCs The Goods, Michele is a seasoned segment producer, who worked for eight years in-house at CBC, ET Canada and Much Music. She also spent seven years producing shows for Global, W Network, A&E and Movie Central. She jokes that looking back makes her feel #old #arthritis #centrumsilver. Actually, she just got started young.
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Originally from the ‘Peg, Michele worked in Calgary for seven years before becoming a West Queen West hoodrat in Toronto (her words). Somewhere in between navigating film sets, pitching stories, traveling the country and organizing contracts, Michele discovered that her name misleads people. Have you ever met someone and seen that glint in their eye when they realize you’re not who they expected? She calls herself the real life Donna Chang. Remember that episode of Seinfeld? Mhmm, think about it.
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Michele brings a unique perspective to GAB. As someone who spent fifteen years producing television for major media outlets, she has an intimate knowledge of what the media wants from talent. And having worked closely with actors, celebrity chefs and HGTV superstars, among other personalities, Michele knows firsthand how careers are built through proper management. She also survived (barely) seven days on a private jet, touring the world with Rihanna. So, she’s basically seen it all. Did I mention that she has a degree in Communications and training as a standup comic? That’s right. This woman brings wit to work ethic.
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Her biggest guilty pleasure is the Kardashians and her biggest pet peeve is slow walkers. She puts Kanye West in her headphones, Tina Fey on a pedestal and Samantha Bee on the tube. When asked if there is one thing that she would change about pop culture she says: “Fewer housewife shows. They’re great, but you’d have to be a shut-in to follow all of them.”