Air Canada’s Aeroplan x Vancouver Christmas Market

The Client

A large-scale, family-friendly experiential activation that seamlessly integrated into the market’s festive atmosphere while offering true value to guests.

The Challenge

A fully custom, end-to-end activation

When Aeroplan and Air Canada approached us to create a memorable holiday activation at the Vancouver Christmas Market, the goal was clear: build an experience that captured the magic of the season while showcasing the brand to thousands of visitors.

The Market, located at Jack Poole Plaza, draws hundreds of thousands of attendees each year and sits in the heart of downtown Vancouver—a prime location for visibility and engagement. But in such a vibrant and visually stimulating environment, we needed to make Aeroplan stand out in a meaningful way.

Our challenge was to design and execute a large-scale, family-friendly experiential activation that seamlessly integrated into the market’s festive atmosphere while offering true value to guests.

The Result

The activation was a resounding success. The Aeroplan Carousel became one of the most photographed and talked-about attractions of the Vancouver Christmas Market, offering thousands of free rides and lasting memories for visitors of all ages.

Crowds gravitated toward the branded lounge and carousel, creating a steady stream of engagement throughout the market season. The activation not only delivered massive brand exposure for Aeroplan but also reinforced its position as a brand that gives back and adds value to shared community experiences.

The positive response from visitors, the Market team, and the client was overwhelming. Aeroplan and Air Canada extended the partnership into 2024, building on the activation’s momentum and impact.

The Objectives

1

High-impact experiential activation

Create a high-impact experiential activation that integrates seamlessly with the festive atmosphere of the Vancouver Christmas Market.

2

Maximize brand visibility

Maximize brand visibility through creative design and large-scale placement visible within and beyond the market grounds.

3

Unforgettable brand experience

Encourage organic social sharing and sustained engagement through photo-worthy elements and community-driven interaction. Turning a beloved holiday attraction into an unforgettable brand experience

OUR APPROACH

The Approach |

This was a fully custom, end-to-end activation built by Kipling Media—from concept to installation. Our team handled creative design, production, coordination, and on-site execution across multiple vendors and departments at the market.

After several collaborative sessions with Aeroplan and the Vancouver Christmas Market team, we identified the Christmas Carousel as the ideal centerpiece for the activation. Our concept: transform it into a branded experience that every market visitor could enjoy for free, courtesy of Aeroplan.

We branded the entire carousel from top to bottom, creating an iconic visual anchor for the market and surrounding downtown skyline:

A custom-designed carousel top tarp featuring the Aeroplan logo, visible from Thurlow Street and neighboring office towers.
Branded pole flags giving every rider an immersive brand experience.
Carousel skirting graphics with Aeroplan messaging and partner logos, ensuring 360-degree exposure.

To complement the carousel, we also introduced the Aeroplan Outdoor Lounge — a cozy patio space overlooking the ride. The lounge featured branded furniture and playful, photo-worthy props from Aeroplan partners, including a 7-foot-tall Starbucks cup and a 4-foot Uber Eats carbon fiber shopping bag. The result was a visually stunning environment that encouraged visitors to relax, take photos, and share their experience on social media.