A 35 years’ LGBTQ+ media and marketing expert, Antoine Elhashem has had, and continues to
have, one of the most successful careers in the industry.
In Toronto (and Canada in general) Mr. Elhashem has worked at all the major LGBTQ+ publications over the years during his media career, including a 12-year stint at The Pink Pages Directory, and was an integral player in opening many doors between mainstream businesses and the LGBTQ+ community, as well as advocating for respect and inclusion.
His wide range of experience gave him the tools and skills to deal with all aspects of promoting, marketing, advertising, and sales needed for any business to thrive. With that, Antoine opened his own advertising, marketing, graphic and web design firm in 2004, and called it INspired Creative.
In 2007, Antoine brought on board a team of passionate and experienced individuals to form INspired Media Inc., which by this point became a corporation, and he acquired The Pink Pages Directory, the number one directory of its kind in Canada, and one of the oldest publications in the history of the LGBTQ+ community in the world, and since then has expanded it to all of North America. Over the years Antoine and his team launched three very successful magazines PinkPlayMags and theBUZZ for the LGBTQ market, and The Local Biz Magazine for mainstream families across Durham Region. He also produces and hosts the longest running LGBTQ+ entertainment talk show in Canada’s queer history ON the COUCH on ROGERS tv across Ontario. Recently he launched an online talk show called “the Queer Bunch” with a panel of hosts and guests discussing important and relevant community topics.
Antoine has been called a “force to be reckoned with” and “the man who puts ‘inspire’ in inspiration”.
His insistence of diversity and everyone being represented, and his passion and love for the industry, for the power and influence of positive media, for every client he worked with over the years, and for the communities he belongs to, as well as the big world in general, is the key to his success in work and in life.
Major Highlights
- In 2011 Antoine championed the launch of a not-for-profit organization, INSPIRE Awards Corporation. He invited the most influential local queer organizations to partner together on presenting the Awards, and he serves as President and Chair of the Board, and works with a very passionate and community spirited team. The INSPIRE Awards over the years became a greatly respected LGBTQ community organization that celebrates the accomplishments of individuals, youth, businesses, and community organizations who do good work in the community.
- In 2024 Antoine will be leading a team of app and web developers who will be working with the City of Toronto on “The Q Experience”, that will be part of George virtual tour to locals and visitors to Toronto, aimed to preserve the history of our community and the stories and accomplishments of our local community heroes.
Other work
- Antoine was recruited to volunteer time for five years on WorldPride 2014 Planning Committee, and was asked to be the Chair of Marketing & Communications Committee. He also sat on the WorldPride 2014 Community Engagement Committee – Business & Workplace division.
- Antoine has served on the board of directors of Pride Durham for five years, and was elected the Vice President of Pride Durham for four of those years.
- Antoine has lent support and numerous volunteer hours to many organizations in the Durham Region to make the region a better place and safer place for LGBTQ+.
- Antoine was the volunteer chair of Fife House’s Branding Committee for their signature fundraiser “Spotlight” for a period of fife years, and has donated the services of his company to help the organization with their event.
- Recently he was invited to accept the role of Vice President of the Ontario LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce, which he gladly accepted.
Awards
- Antoine was awarded “Community Business Leader of the Year Award 2020” by the Canadian LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce.
- Along with what he calls “the most awesome team in the world” INspired Media has been awarded “LGBTQ+ Media Innovators of the Year”, and The Pink Pages Directory has been awarded “Best International LGBTQ Business Directory”.
- Antoine was awarded “Durham Region’s Champion Against Homophobia & Transphobia” for the year 2010, he was nominated by Toronto Leather Pride for the “Francis Robichaud Award” as defender of Human Rights, he was honoured by PFLAG Canada for “Outstanding Community Awareness and Corporate Support on the Local and National Levels” as well as “Outstanding Community Awareness and Support”, and was awarded the POZ TO award for his activism and support with fighting HIV/AIDS and erasing the stigma surrounding it.
Recent Nominations:
Nominated for “Entrepreneur of the Year 2023” and “Inspirational Leader of the Year 2023”
INspired Media placed as a finalist for “2SLGBTQI+ Inclusive Excellence 2023”
