Our Story
Our Big Earth is the online community full of conversation and connection for Mherge Media Group – a team of entertainment, media, marketing and tech professionals from every corner of Canada overseeing the development of original events and initiatives to inspire and create threads of culture through the daily lives of Canadians.
As a premiere resource for Canadians we foster community through creating meaningful connections between families, home towns, businesses and organizations that add to our quality of life as Canadians.
We promote the shared values of living light on the earth, promoting literacy, art and culture through kid-centered learning, eating local, supporting quality products and services and encouraging a sense of community.
Library and Archives Canada ISSN #1923-9327
Ourbigearth.com was born out of a need to innovate and collaborate, creating connection points for parents and families of all ages through creativity and telling the stories of our lives.
Veteran journalist Robin Rivers and her husband Ken Henderson – a concept illustrator and art director - launched Our Big Earth Media Co. in 2008 and promptly created their first piece of original programming with the OBE NeighbourWood Walks. They wrapped up in the Spring of 2012 after 20 seasons with hundreds of families participating in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island when then family moved across the country to Halifax, N.S.
Robin then began leading the teams producing Books For Treats Canada and National Costume Swap Day Canada while still writing regularly for Our Big Earth and overseeing content development.
Robin brings with her more than 20 years as a daily newspaper and magazine writer, marketing professional and photographer, working for publications throughout North America. You can check out her projects on LinkedIn.
That is perfectly matched up with Ken’s 25 years of art direction and conceptual design development experience in corporate branding, marketing, film, television and video games for creative companies ranging from Mainframe Entertainment to LucasFilm. That makes for an interesting LinkedIn profile too. He left the company in Robin’s hands in 2012 after landing a gig as a production designer and then becoming the Art Director for the highly anticipated animated children’s series Doozers from the Jim Henson Company and DHX Media.
Writer Susan Urie joined the team as Managing Editor in 2012. Sue is in charge of the day-to-day content of the website and keeping things humming.
In late 2012, the team at Ourbigearth.com came together in collaboration with talented industry professionals from across Canada to form Mherge Media Group – which, while the team is currently working away, will officially launch in the Spring of 2013 with ourbigearth.com as the Mherge online conversation portal.
Our Big Earth is now an online destination for families throughout Canada and a leading family digital events production company, having created and produced dozens of original events from small local projects to national initiatives now growing throughout the country. We are looking forward to this new adventure in creating Canadian content and celebrating the Canadian spirit.
This crew is all about helping to empower families to build inspiring communities, leading the way in creating spaces, moments and content for families to thrive.
