The Simon Tonekham Statesman

After much speculation to some people, it seems that we finally got a conclusion to the Obay ads – it seems that Ontario Colleges were to blame for making this viral advertising campaign.

According to a news release, the particular ad campaign is targeted to mostly parents when it comes to post-secondary education.

“Students across Ontario can breathe a sigh of relief today with the news that a new product, ‘Obay’, purported to stop them thinking for themselves, or about their future, isn’t for real and won’t be appearing in their parents’ medicine cabinets anytime soon. A teaser campaign, featuring fictional ads and humorous, provocative messages about parental ‘mind control’ has been running across province for the past few weeks. They are part of the lead up to today’s official launch of a new marketing campaign by Colleges Ontario – the advocacy organization representing the 24 colleges of applied arts and technology – that is targeted primarily to parents, the group identified as having great influence when it comes to post-secondary education.”

It seems that everyone had got the message, but some of them got pointless…lol According to a representative of the Canadian Federation of Students, this is what he/she has to say:

“It’s ironic that Colleges Ontario has chosen to market itself this way If the colleges want to talk about obeying anything, students ask them to explain why they refuse to obey the law.”

According to another press release, two former post-secondary students filed a lawsuit against Ontario colleges to put a stop the collection of tuition-related ancillary fees and secure at least $200 Million CDN in compensation for current and former post-secondary students. Ancillary fees are charged in conjunction with tuition fees. These fees are used to fund student centres, athletic facilities, health/dental care insurance or other services that are supplementary to the basic operations of a college or university.

Edit at 8:40p.m.: The Torontoist blog made their own view about the Obay ads. It can be viewed here: http://torontoist.com/2008/02/obay_phase_two.php

Ontario Colleges was able to provide a section dedicated to those ads, which can be viewed here: http://whycollege.ontariocolleges.ca/en/obay.html

There were also some Youtube Videos dedicating to the campaign such as a new baby becoming a lawyer, a mother telling a young girl a bedtime story about anatomy and the group of kindergarden students divided into three groups: lawyers, doctors and chartered accountants. The ads can be viewed here: http://ca.youtube.com/user/obayCamp

Since the McGunity government has removed a freeze on tuition fees, the costs began to rise significantly. The biggest hit is for people with disabilities, they have to find a way on how (and their caregivers) to finance their post-secondary education. I’m not making any negative opinions, though. Just like when Billy “Fish” O’Neill said in an interview about his horrific ordeal while doing a rollerblading stunt in Barcelona, Spain:

“Seriously be careful. Obviously what had happened to me is avoidable, so just be aware it can happen and avoid it.”

To read the rest of that interview, please click here.

On another note, I will be away to Montreal with my mom and I will promise to provide an update about the current events that revolve around us. Keep up to date with my blog.

References:

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2008/25/c5491.html

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2008/25/c5551.html

http://angeladuncan.wordpress.com/2008/02/25/nobay-obay/

http://onlineprcourse.wordpress.com/2008/02/25/obay-explained-part-2/

http://torontoist.com/2008/02/obay_phase_two.php

http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/306749