Our Ad Policy

We recognize that many organizations have developed thoughtful, responsible advertising policies. Our policy sets out the standards and guidelines for advertising that may appear on Neighbours Outdoor billboards. For technical advertising specifications, please contact us.

As a member of the communities we serve, Neighbours Outdoor reviews advertiser creative to confirm that it meets our company standards and the Advertising Standards Canada (ASC) Canadian Code of Advertising Standards (the Canadian Code). Through this review, we aim to ensure that advertising on our platforms is honest, truthful, accurate, fair, and appropriate for the community in which it will appear.

All advertising creative is subject to review and approval by Neighbours Outdoor before publication. We reserve the right to decline advertising that, in our view, does not meet our standards. The views and opinions expressed in advertisements on our billboards do not necessarily reflect those of Neighbours Outdoor.

If all or part of an advertising message is written in a language other than English or French, the advertiser must provide an independent third-party translation into English or French before the advertisement is displayed. If an acceptable translation is not provided, Neighbours Outdoor may have the message translated at the advertiser’s expense. Our review will be based on the accepted translated copy.

Where appropriate, we will work with advertisers to adjust creative so that it meets our advertising standards. Our guidance will generally focus on creative content and presentation, rather than the underlying advertising message.

Advertising intended for certain locations may require additional review and approval by third parties, such as municipalities, transit authorities, or private landowners.

Advertisers are solely responsible for ensuring that their advertising creative, content, images, and branding comply with all applicable trademark, copyright, patent, and other intellectual property laws in Canada.

Advertising must not include language, symbols, illustrations, or images—whether real, fictional, cartoon-like, or lifelike—that are likely to offend a significant segment of the population in the markets we serve. Advertising must also not use graphic sexual language or depict sexual or body images, nudity or semi-nudity in a sexual manner, cartoon images of sex acts, or silhouettes depicting sexual activity.

All advertising must comply with the Canadian Code and, in particular, must not:
 

1. Condone any form of personal discrimination, including discrimination based on race, national origin, religion, sex, or age;

2. Realistically exploit, condone, or incite violence; condone or directly encourage bullying; or directly encourage, or show obvious indifference to, unlawful behaviour;

3. Demean, denigrate, or disparage one or more identifiable persons, groups of persons, firms, organizations, industries, commercial activities, professions, entities, products, or services, or attempt to bring them into public contempt or ridicule; or

4. Undermine human dignity, or display obvious indifference to or encourage, gratuitously and without merit, conduct or attitudes that offend standards of public decency prevailing among a significant segment of the population.

Guidelines for acceptance of advocacy advertising

Advocacy advertising is defined in this policy and in the Canadian Code as “advertising which presents information or a point of view bearing on a publicly recognized controversial issue.” In addition to complying with this policy, the Canadian Code, and any other applicable guidelines, advocacy advertising must:

1. Clearly and prominently identify the advertiser and the individual, organization, or other entity responsible for paying for the advertising space, regardless of the stated, underlying, or implied objective of the advocacy advertising;

2. Clearly and prominently provide accurate contact information for the advertiser;

3. Not discredit, disparage, or attack any group that may hold a point of view that contradicts or opposes a view expressed or implied in the advocacy advertisement; and

4. Ensure that all claims, statements, and representations are not misleading.

5. Advocacy advertising campaigns are sold at Neighbours Outdoor’s standard media rate value and must meet the minimum weight level for the applicable advertising channel.
 

Neighbours Outdoor does not accept advertising related to current, past, or ongoing geopolitical events. We also do not accept pro-choice or pro-life messaging.
 

Respecting community standards

 Out of respect for the communities in which we operate, Neighbours Outdoor makes every reasonable effort to help prevent unwanted consequences for communities where our advertising billboards are located.