News Article

CNA launches mascot blog


2/13/2009 2:24:46 PM


Building on the success of its recently launched Facebook page, College of the North Atlantic (CNA) continued to implement its social media strategy today by launching a blog written from the perspective of its mascot Nanuk.

Nanuk’s Notebook features a unique look at the life of the college’s polar bear mascot, and incorporates the latest in website technology and trends.

“This is very much a non-traditional blog… it’s more like a micro site,” says Glenda McCarthy, the college’s Public Relations Assistant, one of the lead developers of the site. “What we have created is different from what people would expect to see from a normal blog – we’ve created a visually stimulating, interactive site that has many more features than just the simple journal you see on many blog sites.”

“The site is rooted in the college’s institutional colours and includes other stylized graphic elements,” adds Darren Doucette, the college’s graphic artist who designed the site’s structure and interactive features. “However we have also developed the page around Nanuk’s habitat. Since he’s a polar bear we have incorporated ice and water into the design.”

In addition to the journal (blog), CNA has incorporated such things as Nanuk’s Scrapbook, an interactive display of notes and letters written to the mascot, and an interactive photo album called Nanuk’s Memories containing photographs from events the mascot has attended all across the province. There are several other interesting elements already on the site, such as an FAQ, Nanuk’s email address, a calendar of events that Nanuk will be attending, and a form for college staff and community groups to request the mascot’s presence at their event… and the college is planning to add even more!

“When I first saw the site all I could say was – wow,” says Corinne Dunne, the college’s Vice-President of Development/College Advancement. “It’s a really great a way to broaden Nanuk’s reach and by extension the reach of the college and to communicate with our learners and potential learners in a fun and exciting way.”

Dunne says the new site also builds on the college’s commitment to stay fresh with new ideas and trends and to utilize new technologies to show a side of the college really speaks to the college way of life and the total learning experience.

“Nanuk attends many events throughout the province,” adds Stephen Lee, the college’s Manager of Marketing and Communications. “But until now, only those taking part knew of his involvement. We wanted an avenue where our current students, potential students, alumni and college employees were able to experience where Nanuk’s travels take him, and get a sense of the kinds of activities in which college students take part. With this new site, they can experience a first-person account.”

Lee says he hopes the site can help expand the sense of community involvement throughout CNA and in the regions served by its 17 campuses province-wide.

Nanuk’s Notebook can be accessed from College of the North Atlantic’s main page, from the college’s official Facebook page or directly at www.cna.nl.ca/nanuk.

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For more information contact:
Glenda McCarthy
Public Relations Assistant
College of the North Atlantic
(709) 643-6408
glenda.mccarthy@cna.nl.ca