About me

Derek Blais is Chief Creative Officer at Lifelong Crush and the only Indigenous creative executive in Canada. Since joining in 2023 alongside co-CCO Christina Yu, the agency has won back to back podiums at Strategy's Small Agency of the Year and was named #2 Fastest Rising Agency in Canada on The ICA's Power List. As one of only three Canadian agencies to win a Gold Effie this year, the work, is working. With hundreds of advertising awards including 13 Cannes Lions and some industry firsts - including the most awarded Canadian campaign ever at the One Show, Derek has cemented himself as a globally recognized but distinctly Canadian creative leader. Derek has decades of experience - from starting his own web design company in high school to becoming the #1 ECD globally at the One Show, his creativity knows no bounds. Outside of advertising, Derek's photography has been featured at Art Basel, his music videos have been recognized in Cannes and his seasonal restaurant on Georgian Bay landed him on the cover of Cottage Life magazine. He shares the same Forbes 30 Under 30 list as fellow Torontonian Drake and gave a TEDx talk on creativity at a university despite never having attending one.