The Pro Bono Group has ramped up work for worthwhile causes and charities in a huge way the last few years, starting with supporting the Canadian Red Cross and its humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. Today the Group has Radio PSA campaigns airing nationally for food banks, a homeless organization, the "Pro Radio Project" and the "Pro Canada Project". But none of this would be possible without the generous support of Wanted! Sound + Picture, now under the new banner, difuze.
Rich Jones is the voice of The Pro Bono Group's very first Pro Canada PSA titled "Stand". He has been an integral part of countless international award-winning advertising campaigns. And in the spirit of this campaign, Rich is of course Canadian. Vancouver-born, to be exact.
Recording session at difuze (formerly Wanted!) for the first Pro Canada Project PSA, titled "Stand", urging everyone to "Buy Canadian". The Pro Bono Group's Creative Director Larry MacInnis on the left, audio engineer Thom O'Neil (middle), and Executive Producer Mike Occomore. Missing from the photo is our wonderful voice talent, Rich Jones.
(Click photo to hear the PSA.)
For the "Dimes" PSA for Feed Ontario, The Pro Bono Group set out to dramatically demonstrate the mind-boggling number of ordinary Ontarians who require food banks to survive. The foley effects were created with the help of The Pro Bono Group's Mike Occomore - and a few rolls of Canadian dimes. Click photo to listen in.
Canadian actress and former television host, Camilla Scott, came out of (acting) retirement today to play an important lead role in The Pro Bono Group's Pro Radio Project. She has worked with us before on campaigns for The Stephen Lewis Foundation and the Canadian Red Cross. Camilla is in the booth at Toronto's Wanted! Sound. What a talent.
We can't say enough about Wanted! Sound's Jeff Styga, our world-renowned audio engineer extraordinaire. When Jeff is not patiently keepingThe Pro Bono Group happy, he spends a lot of time getting the sound mix just right on the wildly popular Dora the Explorer series.
Paul Miller is no stranger to The Pro Bono Group, having voiced award-winning PSAs for the Canadian Red Cross. He is perhaps best known for playing Connor Doyle on the TV series "Psi Factor", and for his work on "Due South", "Good Witch" and "Suits". He's a veteran Stratford Festival stage actor too. Listen for Paul in the early part of 2025 on the new Feed Ontario PSA titled "Dimes". Or just click the photo above to listen in. Paul's with The Pro Bono Group's Mike Occomore (L).
Paul Miller in the soundproof booth at Wanted!, with ace producer Jeff Styga.
Having way too much fun in the studio.
Larry MacInnis (L) and Mike Occomore of The Pro Bono Group.
That's The Pro Bono Group's Mike Tennant, prayerfully directing radio PSAs back in 2014 at Wanted! Sound for THEMUSEUM in Kitchener and their exhibit "The Science of Sexuality". Check out all three PSAs in our archives. Or just click on the photo above.
In late 2024, we recorded with these two wonderful actors, Kiff VandenHeuvel (left) and Ben Turner Dixon, on a pair of new PSAs for the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness. Kiff's film credits include Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Nightcrawler and La La Land.
Ben has worked on countless feature films, animated projects and video games- and has the keen ability to voice-match for actors like Ryan Reynolds, Michael Fassbender and Brad Pitt, when producers are in a pinch.
Bob Bainborough, centre, is an actor/comedian perhaps best known for playing the role of Dalton Humphrey in the comedy series The Red Green Show, and his appearances on History Bites. He was nominated for a Gemini Award in both series.
This is not the first time Bob has helped out The Pro Bono Group. He appeared in our Amnesty International PSA titled "Torture" over 20 years ago. In September 2024, Bob drove two and a half hours just to record his lines and be part of our "Pro Radio Project".
Our 2023 award-winning PSA campaign for Canadian Food Banks would not have been possible without the wonderful performances by these six individuals. Clockwise from top left: Dominic Catrambone, Nicole Balick-Karrer, Elenna Stauiffer, Lindsey Alena, Marie Westbrook and Zac Fine. You can listen to their powerful work in our archives. Look for "Pretend", "For Anyone", "Heart" and "Not Retail". Special thank you to Jason Marks Talent Management.
Former Toronto and Vancouver radio personality turned voiceover pro Kat Carter (aka 'The Radio Nerd'), shared her personal struggle with food insecurity in a Food Bank PSA created with The Pro Bono Group and launched nationally in early 2024. Click the photo above and listen to "Help You".
In case anyone's wondering if a radio commercial is done in one easy take.
Beginnings for The Pro Bono Group:
Telling radio stories at the Kit Kat restaurant on King Street West in Toronto back around 2000. A great little eatery, sometimes overshadowed by the 70-year old tree growing right smack in the middle of the seating area, and stretching up through the roof!
Sadly, both the restaurant and the tree are no longer.
L to R: Larry MacInnis, Mike Tennant, Mike Occomore, Terry O'Reilly
The Pro Bono Group's Creative Director, Larry MacInnis waiting in the Green Room at The Coach House studio for the talent to arrive and the fun to begin. Or, maybe he's just praying that he didn't get the date messed up.
We couldn't wait to have her back. Toronto actress Kristina Nicoll's second visit to the recording studio to voice a pair of PSAs for Feed Ontario. Kristina is passionate about this important cause and was quick to help out again. She's with The Pro Bono Group's Creative Director, Larry MacInnis, left, and Executive Producer/Writer Mike Occomore.
The 'just printed', unspoiled script on the music stand is ready for the voice talent to arrive. Well, unspoiled until the Creative Director sharpens his pencil and the "Record" light goes on.