One hundred in 2000.

This is the target figure for the number of Canadians who should attend this year’s Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival, according to the Canuck committee trying to boost the size of the delegation from 77 last year.

Cineplex Odeon, the fest’s official Canadian rep, encouraged the domestic industry via a promotional party last month in Toronto.

Cineplex works to recruit new delegates and entries to the festival and to provide ‘a resource for the Canadian advertising industry to learn more about the festival and [offer] help with entries or with delegate packages,’ says Marci Davies, Cineplex’s senior vp marketing. She says Cineplex is not alone in promoting the festival. ‘We have a committee put together,’ Davies begins, ‘with Paul Lavoie from Taxi, Alan Gee from Gee Jeffery, Michael Schwartz from Avion, Steve Gordon from Radke and Rob Guenette [vp marketing for Molson Export].’

At the party, committee members discussed the importance of international recognition for the Canadian advertising industry and encouraged agencies and production companies to invite their clients to the awards. A delegate survival guide called ‘Have Thong, Will Travel’ was also distributed.

Canadians on judging panels include Lauren Richards, vp and media director for Cossette, on the media jury and Roger Gariepy, vp and creative director at bos in Montreal, on the film jury.

The Cannes Lions will be held June 18-24 in Cannes. Canadian entrants and delegates will be announced mid-May. Dave Lazar