Tell Us Your Story. What motivated you to start your business? Why are you passionate about what you do?

For over twenty years, partners Parker Green McLean and Jarren MacDougall climbed up through the creative and executive coaching sectors respectively, but we always knew that we would touch more hearts together than apart. And so, betting on a belief that happy hearts are more creative, we folded up our parachutes and jumped. From the beginning, we knew it was the people part that lit us up. Put simply, both of us find so much joy in helping people untap their own creative magic. Living our lives as proud gay men, we’d noticed the stark before-and-after difference between a closeted life imitating others and a liberated life speaking our deepest truths. So we got really good at helping leaders and their teams move through the all-too-human obstacles that get in the way of meaningful expression, collaboration and progress.

Describe and demonstrate, including metrics, your community support. How do you support and uplift your community, and how do they show that support in return? Minimum 25 words, maximum 2500 characters.

At Harc Creative, we are dedicated to fostering a sense of community through collaboration rather than competition. Our ethos is centered on building collective momentum by working together, supporting our peers, and uplifting those who support us. One example is our co-founding the Rainbow Entrepreneur Collective (REC), a volunteer-led network for 2SLGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs. REC provides a safe and empowering space for members to share their stories and experiences both in person and online. This initiative embodies our commitment to creating supportive environments where entrepreneurs can connect with courage and candor. Our community engagement extends to organizing the Ignite Festival, an annual event in Vancouver that creates a vibrant space for gay, bi, trans, and queer individuals, as well as those on the gender-fluid spectrum, to connect in embodied, sensitive, and playful ways. We have also been active participants in Small Business BC’s pride meetup and have shared our insights on the importance of being a CGLCC-certified diverse supplier. Our ongoing involvement with Accessible Employers Canada through their annual Pledge to Measure Disability in the Workplace, as well as our keynote addresses at RGD Canada’s conferences and upcoming at the CGLCC annual conference, reflects our commitment to inclusivity and authentic representation. Mentorship and relationship-building are core to our values. We dedicate time and resources to support individuals in need and view relationships as integral to our sustainability and success. By choosing to see competitors as peers and investing energy in non-monetary ways, we create a network of trust and reciprocity that enhances our creative potential and strengthens our impact. Our nine years in business have shown us that the energy we invest in building community returns to us manifold, fueling our work and inspiring us to continue making a meaningful difference.

Why do you deserve to win the Business Impact award?

At Harc Creative, we believe we deserve to win the Business Impact Award because our journey is deeply rooted in authenticity and genuine connection. Both founders have transformed our lives by embracing our true selves, and our business is a proud extension of that personal evolution toward visibility and openness. As a creative agency, we lead with authenticity, inspiring our clients and communities to embrace their own truths and fostering a deeper, more meaningful engagement with the people we work with. Winning this award would amplify our efforts to connect more 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals with our vibrant community and would support a movement toward authentic branding across the province and beyond. Vancouver can have a reputation for being cold and insular; in the face of that repution, we’re actively working towards oneness, availability, candour transparency, and warmth. As we continue to push for greater authenticity within big brands, we aim to set an example that inspires others to follow, creating a ripple effect that helps more impactful organizations to shine as bright as they can imagine.

Tell Us About Your Culture. How are you creating a sustainable and healthy workplace where everyone feels welcome? Provide examples of leadership you show in interactions with clients, vendors, contractors, staff and others.

At Harc Creative, we believe in fostering a workplace where every individual feels seen, valued, and empowered. Our approach to client relationships is rooted in relational sales, which emphasizes a human-centered work ethic. This means that we prioritize creating genuine connections and ensuring that everyone—both within our team and with our clients—can show up as their authentic selves. We begin every creative session with a check-in that acknowledges the emotional, physical, and tactical dimensions of each collaborator’s life, reinforcing our commitment to holistic well-being and open communication. Each of our team-members is entrusted with the autonomy to direct their own workday, allowing for a flexible and self-determined approach that aligns with their personal strengths and needs. Further, our creative compassion extends to our clients as well: last year, a client of ours was midway through an exciting brand project for their own startup when her father died. In tears she called us to let us know that she would have to suspend our project until she felt better; we heartfully listened to her story, and offered her the perspective that her grief might in fact be an asset within the work, and have a place within the product. As a result, the thematic depth of her brand deepened towards a reverance for her lineage and an uplifting of the lessons her father had taught her while he was still around. Our dedication to creating a sustainable and inclusive environment extends to our broader cultural practices. As a CGLCC-certified diverse supplier, we proudly uphold a 2SLGBTQIA+-centered culture, ensuring that trust and safety are integral to our interactions with both clients and staff. We draw inspiration from our Indigenous partners to move beyond traditional labels like ‘client’ and ‘vendor,’ embracing a sense of oneness and community. By meeting people where they are and creating space for everyone to bring their whole selves into the creative process, we cultivate a dynamic and empathetic workspace where interconnectedness and mutual respect thrive.