B.A. English and Political Science ’98
Shannon Bain is a results-oriented, self-motivated and creative thinker with more than twenty years of experience in the communications and marketing field. Shortly after graduating from Carleton University with a B.A. in English and Political Science, Shannon secured a fulltime position with the Ottawa Sun, working as a reporter and columnist. Her portfolio, which included stories covering general interest, fashion, television and Ottawa’s philanthropic community, garnered local, national and international attention.
After working from more than a decade in the newspaper business, Shannon was contracted by ECW Press to write the first biography on Ottawa comedian Tom Green. The book was published in 2000, and was sold in Canada, the United States and internationally.
Having a solid foundation in print, Shannon decided it was time to follow her true passion and began work in the television industry, at CHRO-TV. The dynamic and fast-paced newsroom environment proved to be a perfect fit for Shannon’s energy and creativity. She began as writer for the 6pm News and was quickly promoted to a producer role.
In 2001, Shannon and her colleagues launched Ottawa’s first local morning news and entertainment show – Breakfast @ The New RO. The three-hour long daily morning show featured news, sports, entertainment and weather.
In 2009, Shannon joined the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation after volunteering with the organization for more than a decade. She served in various marketing and event-fundraising roles before being names as Vice-President of Strategic Marketing and Business Innovation. Along with helping to raise millions of dollars for cancer care and research, she also worked to elevate the Cancer Foundation brand. In 2016 she successfully launched the Social Enterprise – Grounded Nutrition – a new revenue stream for the Cancer Foundation which directly supports the expansion of the Cancer Coaching health and social care service.
Today, Shannon is the CEO of her own business – Bainstorm Creative. Through Bainstorm Creative, she works with not-for-profit and charitable groups to develop communications strategies and content that connect people to the cause, and demonstrate the impact of their investment.
Shannon was named a recipient of a ‘Top Forty Under 40’ Award in 2007, in recognition of her community investment and business achievements. She was presented with the Cancer Foundation’s Rabbi Bulka Award in 2006 for outstanding work in raising funds for cancer care and research in Eastern Ontario. And in 2005, her work producing the annual Cancer Foundation Telethon garnered top honours with a Canadian Association of Broadcasters Gold Ribbon Award. These awards are among the most prestigious in the Canadian broadcasting industry and recognize outstanding community involvement in radio and television productions.