On June 25, CPRS Toronto’s Student Steering Committee ran its first ever Passport to PR summer session. Passport to PR introduces future communications professionals to potential workplaces and brings students closer to companies and organizations that align with their career goals.
In groups of five to ten, students visited three different organizations to learn about the unique challenges and opportunities their communications teams face. In total, 15 organizations participated, giving students the chance to explore the three most relevant to their interests.
We welcomed the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs and the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities as first-time Passport to PR hosts. If the feedback is any indication – this won’t be the last.
Passport to PR participants at the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs
Students bank on top PR tips from the RBC team
“I think the grouping of agencies/departments that we visited was perfect because we got to see a small agency, large agency and government department on the same day. Overall, it was great,” said Kaitlin Reichenbach, student, Guelph-Humber Bachelor of Media Studies in Public Relations.
Students look to ace their conversation with the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, and the Ministry of Education
“The opportunity to meet PR professionals from diverse backgrounds helped put my career goals into perspective,” said Ruby Boamah, student, Humber’s postgraduate certificate in Public Relations. “I enjoyed having the opportunity to hear from individuals who work in different types of companies, businesses and organizations.”
Students learned what a typical day looks like for a communications professional – mostly that there aren’t any – and about the industry’s rapidly changing state.
Throughout the course of the day, students learned about the importance of:
- Networking and attending informational interviews
- Continuing to develop skills
- Understanding the challenges of digital media
- Building strong relationships with colleagues
Learning about agency life at Weber Shandwick
Priyanka Gupta, of Seneca’s postgraduate certificate in Public Relations, spoke to the in-depth knowledge she gained, “It was a highly insightful day. We got a better understanding of how PR works differently in government and agency organizations and we learned about the significance of social media in monitoring and evaluating success.”
A huge thank you goes out to the following organizations for participating in the event:
- Apex Public Relations
- Argyle Public Relationships
- FleishmanHillard HighRoad
- Hill+Knowlton Strategies Canada
- Ketchum
- Maverick
- Ministry of Indigenous Affairs
- Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities
- Narrative Public Relations
- National Public Relations
- Paradigm Public Relations
- Proof
- RBC
- Strategic Objectives
- Weber Shandwick Canada
If you missed out on the summer session of Passport to PR, or can’t wait to go again…we’ve got you. Stay tuned for our next Passport to PR Session, coming fall 2019.
Written by: Daanish Ahamed, President, Student Steering Committee