Michael Demone is a communications professional and strategic advisor with over a decade of experience in media relations, stakeholder engagement, and public affairs.
Issues and Media Relations Analyst
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
January 2025 to Present
Toronto, ON
Provided senior strategic counsel to executives and ministry leadership on complex, high-profile, and politically sensitive issues, supporting informed decision-making and effective risk mitigation.
Led the identification, analysis, and management of emerging issues, stakeholder concerns, and media developments, delivering actionable intelligence and recommendations to protect and advance ministry objectives.
Directed the development of executive briefing materials, media lines, issues notes, Qs & As, and strategic communications products for senior officials, the Minister’s Office, and central agencies.
Coordinated ministry-wide responses to contentious and fast-moving issues, fostering collaboration among program areas, communications teams, Cabinet Office, and external stakeholders to ensure aligned messaging and timely action.
Anticipated reputational, operational, and policy risks through proactive environmental scanning and issues forecasting, shaping communications strategies and response plans for complex government initiatives.
Issues & Media Advisor
Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services
August 2023 to January 2025
Toronto, ON
Strategic Communications Counsel: Served as a trusted advisor to the Minister, Deputy Minister, and executive leadership, providing high-level strategic counsel on contentious issues and designing comprehensive communication frameworks to navigate complex political landscapes.
Proactive Risk Mitigation: Architected data-driven environmental scanning and media monitoring systems to forecast emerging issues, enabling leadership to transition from reactive crisis response to proactive narrative management.
Reputation & Crisis Management: Directed the development of robust remediation strategies and high-stakes government messaging—including Housebook Notes and executive briefings—safeguarding corporate reputation and mitigating potential fallout from sensitive portfolios.
Cross-Functional Stakeholder Alignment: Led complex, multi-branch information synthesis by coordinating with senior managers and program specialists to streamline data collection, ensuring absolute alignment and precision in all high-level ministerial briefings.
Capacity Building & Media Relations: Championed organizational readiness by designing strategic issues management training modules for staff, while simultaneously managing high-profile media relations and shaping public discourse around key policies and programs.
Communications Lead
Canadian Scholarship Trust (CST) Foundation
May 2022 to May 2023
Toronto, ON
Developed and implemented integrated communications strategies that increased stakeholder engagement and elevated organizational reputation among key internal and external audiences.
Provided strategic communications counsel to leadership and program teams, developing messaging, issues management approaches, and outreach initiatives that supported organizational objectives.
Crafted compelling stories and media materials that secured stakeholder attention, strengthened brand recognition, and showcased the impact of foundation programs and partnerships.
Led digital communications and social media strategy, overseeing content planning, website management, audience engagement, and performance monitoring across multiple channels.
Cultivated strategic partnerships with media, community organizations, and corporate stakeholders to expand communications reach, enhance brand visibility, and support successful events and fundraising initiatives.
Communications and Public Affairs Advisor
Holly-Frontier (HF Sinclair)
August 2021 to November 2021
Mississauga, ON
Developed and executed strategic internal and external communications, including issues management planning for the often-contentious petrochemical manufacturer
Managed relationships with key community stakeholders including corporate-citizen groups
Developed crisis response strategies for an industrial environment designed to process and manufacture petrochemical products
Produced company policies and reports that supported local operations and fulfilled regulatory requirements
Developed annual stakeholder engagement plans and key messages for immediate and emerging issues
Managing Director
Canadian Working Group on Industrial Hemp
January 2018 to March 2020
Hamilton, ON
Led a privately-funded association with advocacy, education, and innovation to build Canada’s industrial hemp economy
Served as spokesperson and industry advocate at events, speaking engagements, and media opportunities
Worked with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) to develop educational and promotional material
Assisted small businesses with strategic planning, business development, and communication
Meet with the Trade Commissioner of Canada and US counterparts to address cross-border issues
Communications Director
Financial Executives International Canada
February 2018 to June 2018
Toronto, ON
As part of the National Leadership Team, I led internal and external communication planning and strategy, overseeing media, government, public relations, and social and digital media for a 1500-member, 12-chapter national organization
Developed annual Strategic Communication Plan covering internal communication and external relations strategy (Adopted by the Board of Directors)
Developed and executed media relations plans for large-scale events including the CFO of the Year Awards, national conferences, and other events with key stakeholders including Price Waterhouse Coopers, Certified Professional Accountants (CPA Canada), and the Globe and Mail
Led successful stakeholder relations initiatives including surveys, roundtables, research projects, and forums resulting in the publishing of the 'Draft Framework for Reporting Corporate Performance' and 'Are Canadian Businesses Aware of the Need to Manage Greenhouse Gas Emissions?
Oversaw the writing and editing of press releases, reports, scripts, speeches, QAs, stakeholder documents, employee communiques, briefing notes, key messages, and presentations
Communication Lead
Xerox Research Centre of Canada (Xerox Corp.)
September 2015 to February 2018
Mississauga, ON
Led communication planning and strategy (internal and external) for 100+ staff of scientists and engineers
Built a powerful communication function that helped to raise the Centre's profile from corporate R&D house to internationally recognized innovation hub (key messaging, corporate positioning, reputation and profile, brand identity)
Served as trusted advisor and Chief of Staff to Vice President and Centre Director on internal and external communication, media, government affairs, events, and issues/crisis management
Implemented major communication, administrative, and operational projects including relaunch of the corporate website, development of employee Intranet, ISO 9001:2015 awareness campaign, and Xerox Innovation Group's first e-commerce platform
Managed communication for National Research Council of Canada interactions, the Industrial Research Assistance Program, and the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters Innovation Roundtable
Developed strategic external partnerships with key stakeholders in government, media, industry, academia, investor communities, and Ontario’s startup, incubator, and innovation ecosystem
Bachelor of Arts, Political Science
University of Toronto
Graduated: 2022
Post-Graduate Program in Public Administration and Leadership
Toronto Metropolitan University
2024 to present
Certificate in Strategic Communication
University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies
Completed: 2010
Secure and Responsible Technology Policy Foundations
Toronto Metropolitan University
Completed: 2023
Media Analyst, The Canadian Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy
Editor, The Digital20 Project and the Global Summitry Project, Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy
Analyst, Civil Society and Expanded Dialogue Unit, G7/G8 Research Group
Editor, Centre for Industrial Relations and Human Resources, University of Toronto
Editor, Framework for Reporting Corporate Performance. Accounting Standards Board, Canadian Financial Executives Research Foundation, 2018.
Editor, Are Canadian Businesses Aware of the Need to Manage Greenhouse Gas Emissions? Chartered Professional Accountants Canada, Canadian Financial Executives Research Foundation, 2018.
Editor, Macroeconomic Impacts of Canadian Immigration: Results From a Macro Model. Centre for Industrial Relations and Human Resources, 2014.
Editor, Labour Market Outcomes for Persons With Debilities. Centre for Industrial Relations and Human Resources, 2014.
Editor, Canadian Aboriginal Wage Differentials Over Time: 1996-2006. Centre for Industrial Relations and Human Resources, 2014.
Editor, Labour Force Participation and Unemployment: An Empirical Analysis of Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Canadians. Centre for Industrial Relations and Human Resources, 2008-2009.
Canadian Curriculum Research Project, Critical Digital Humanities International Conference, University of Toronto. September 2022.
Public History, Ethics, and Reconciliation, Centre for Ethics Annual Conference, University of Toronto. July 2022.
Advanced Manufacturing and Industrial Hemp, Next Generation Manufacturing Canada, Technology Showcase. Kitchener, ON, March 2019.
Hemp: Its Applications and Coverage Needs, Insurance Business Canada. Toronto, ON,
February 2018.
Excellence Award (Nominated)
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Nominated in the Service Excellence award category for work with the Issues, Media Relations and Correspondence Unit.
Impact Award, 2024
Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services
Awarded in the category of Transformation Champion for contributing to the successful development and passage of the Supporting Children's Futures Act, 2024
Special Recognition Award, 2016
Xerox Research Centre of Canada
Awarded for communication strategy