#6Dad
Any (in the know) Torontonian knows that Drake is the 6 God. So who is the 6 Dad?
A couple years ago you could show this picture to a group of Toronto teens and there would be a good chance they would not know who this is. Now, you ask and there’s an immediate answer:
Norm Kelly. 6 Dad.
Norm Kelly is Toronto’s city counsellor. Within the last couple years, he has become an online icon for the city of Toronto. In fact, he’s basically Toronto’s best meme.
Most people think memes are strictly funny viral videos shared on platforms like Facebook and Twitter. This is ficton. A meme is actually “an element of a culture or system of behavior that may be considered to be passed from one individual to another by nongenetic means, especially imitation” (dictionary.com). While, yes, Norm is funny and entertaining, he often uses the tactic of imitation to become or produce a meme. Buzzfeed shared the tweet he’s most proud of, and it revolves around imitating Drake.
Norm found his fame jumping into this part of Toronto culture and imitating it. He got the attention of Twitter quickly and held on to it.
As soon as his online presence became more popular, Norm recognized his meme-status. He was fully aware that he was being talked about, retweeted, liked, etc. Instead of missing this opportunity, he used it to his advantage. He kept producing funny content to engage with Toronto’s Twitter community. This caught the attention of Drake and they became friends. This led to Norm being a part of the Raptors’ Drake Night and other various Drake events.
While these all could’ve been normal appearances for a city counsellor, Norm did them in a fashion that made us all forget he was a politician. We saw him as more of an icon or celebrity, and still do.
Personally, I think Norm Kelly is a genius. Sure, the beginnings of his fame could’ve been pure luck, but the extension was strategy. As a politician, Norm tapped into the young market of teens and related to them on a personal level. He provided them with entertainment while building himself a fanbase and an image. Our Toronto city counsellor is now seen as @norm or #6Dad. Now, he ALREADY has the attention of these teens when he wants to push politics or his platform. People listen to him because he is recognized. He has built their trust and now he can run with it. Also, he basically has Drake as his personal endorser. While the older generation may not understand any of this, the younger generation does and supports it. Norm has found himself a very unique competitve advantage.
Norm Kelly has built himself a personal brand that aligns with a “cool” crowd. He even has a clothing line and merchandise. He keeps his politician profile low key so that he can secure a follow base. Then, he has the audience when he needs them for the politics. He has built himself up as a meme and found success with it.
