Communications +   Public Relations Foundation

2015 Ruth Hammond Scholarship Winner Announced

Toronto, November 9, 2015……. Katherine Baird, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, is the 2015 winner of the $1,000 Ruth Hammond Scholarship, awarded annually to a public relations student in his/her final year of the Bachelor of Public Relations program at Mount Saint Vincent University (The Mount), Halifax. She has been on the Dean’s List since 2013. She was nominated for the 2014 Co-Op Student of the Year by Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC).

The Ruth Hammond Scholarship was established by Hammond’s friends and colleagues in the Canadian Public Relations Society (Toronto) to honour her lifetime commitment to public relations education in Canada. The Scholarship recognizes a student who has completed at least two public relations co-op work terms and who has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, leadership abilities and dedication to establishing a career in the public relations field.

Baird’s first public relations co-op placement in 2014 was with Public Works and Government Services Canada, Halifax, where she maintained and edited its intranet site, developing content and creating visuals as well as distributing the weekly electronic newsletter. She was also involved in event planning, photography and the development of communications plans for a variety of programs and initiatives.

Her second co-op placement, completed in May 2015, was with the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) PEI & Tourism, Charlottetown. There she planned, organized and implemented Ministerial events including the funding announcements for various projects. She wrote media relations materials, provided copy for the intranet site, created and distributed weekly newsletters as well as working with the Wellness Committee where she developed a quarterly newsletter including research, writing, editing and design.

“Katherine was a productive member of our communications team, demonstrating abilities that will make her a valued asset within any organization who hires her,” said Christopher Brooks, Acting Director, Communications, ACOA PEI & Tourism.

Baird has also worked part-time at the Food Action Research Centre (FoodARC), a research centre at the Mount, where she assisted with social media promotion, copy editing, web site management and development of a variety of communications materials. She is currently completing her final co-op placement at the Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce, where she is responsible for communications planning, social media, event planning and media relations.

She is a member of the Canadian Public Relations Society.

Recognized as a leader in distance and experiential learning, and based on a strong tradition of social responsibility, Mount Saint Vincent University takes a personalized approach to education to nurture socially responsible global citizens. Founded in 1873, the Mount has been nationally recognized for having one of the lowest student-to-professor ratios, for providing students early access to valuable research opportunities, for its legacy in the advancement of women, and for facilitating critical advancements in food security, healthy aging, literacy, and childhood development.

The Ruth Hammond Scholarship funds are managed by the Communications + Public Relations Foundation. The Foundation promotes the advancement of communications and public relations as vital functions in society, is dedicated to the public interest, and is committed to increasing public knowledge and awareness of the role of communications and public relations in daily life. The Foundation accepts individual and corporate contributions towards research and educational initiatives nationwide.

For more information about the Foundation and its public relations education initiatives, contact Barbara Sheffield, Executive Director, Communications + Public Relations Foundation, Suite 1515, 73 Widdicombe Hill Blvd., Toronto, Ontario, M9R 4B3, or phone 416 242-6146, or e-mail b.sheffield@rogers.com.

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Contact:

Steve Crombie

(604) 982-2451

steve.crombie@icbc.com

Barbara Sheffield, APR, FCPRS

(416) 242-6146 or (416) 557-3858

b.sheffield@rogers.com

Ashley Haraburda Wins the

David Milliken Media Communications Award

Toronto, November 18, 2015…. Ashley Haraburda, a fourth year Bachelor of Public Relations (BPR) student at Humber College, Toronto, is the winner of the second $1,000 David Milliken Media Communications Award. Established by CNW to celebrate senior vice-president Milliken’s thirty years’ service to the company, the Award recognizes his commitment to the important relationship between journalism and public relations. Milliken served as chair of the BPR development committee at Humber.

“It is an honour to present this award to Ashley, an exceptional student who has demonstrated a thorough understanding of best practices in media relations,” said Nicole Guillot, CNW president and CEO.

Haraburda completed her internship with the Canadian Hearing Society (CHS) where she worked on communications and events. She focused her 750-word submission to the award competition on educating journalists about the appropriate way to refer to the Deaf and hard of hearing. She applied what she learned to the development of a social media strategy promoting campaigns using a number of social media channels. She highlighted, through a special event that connected guests through social media, technologies that have broken down barriers to re-connect Deaf and hard of hearing individuals with the world around them.

The jury, comprising both journalists and senior public relations practitioners, was impressed with the depth of Haraburda’s understanding of her role in facilitating media stories that demonstrated not only respect for her community but also education around important issues.

According to Marie-Lauren Gregoire, Communications Manager at the Canadian Hearing Society, “A very professional communicator, Ashley was able to guide our organization’s growth on social media and multiple channels. It is increasingly important for us to increase participation and audience engagement on social media.”

Dr. Gordon McIvor, Chair of the award jury this year, said that “While all of the submissions were of high quality, Haraburda’s was creative, well written and clearly demonstrated her understanding of the important relationship that must be established between PR professionals and members of the media, including influencers on social media sites”.

In addition to her 2015 CHS intern placement, Haraburda also served in 2014 as a public relations co-ordinator with CDS Studios, Toronto, where  she developed strategic social media plans from ideation through execution    to measurement.

The David Milliken Media Communications Award funds are managed by the Communications + Public Relations Foundation. The Foundation promotes the advancement of communications and public relations as vital functions in society, is dedicated to the public interest, and is committed to increasing public knowledge and awareness of the role of communications and public relations in daily life. The Foundation accepts individual and corporate contributions towards research and educational initiatives nationwide.

For more information about the Foundation and its public relations educational initiatives, contact Barbara Sheffield, Executive Director, Communications + Public Relations Foundation, Suite 1515, 73 Widdicombe Hill Blvd., Toronto, Ontario, M9R 4B3, or phone 416 242-6146, or e-mail foundation@prmediaconnection.com.

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Contact:                                                                           November 18, 2015

Barbara Sheffield, APR, FCPRS

(416) 242-6146

foundation@prmediaconnection.com

Note to Media:   A photo of Haraburda is available by contacting the Foundation.

Ruth-Ann Dafoe Wins the David Milliken Media Communications Award 

Toronto, December 1, 2014…. Ruth-Ann Dafoe, a fourth year Bachelor of Public Relations (BPR) student at Humber College, Toronto, is the winner of the first $1,000 David Milliken Media Communications Award. Established by CNW to celebrate senior vice-president Milliken’s thirty years’ service to the company, the Award recognizes his commitment to the important relationship between journalism and public relations. Milliken served as chair of the BPR development committee at Humber.

“It is an honour to present this award to Ruth-Ann Dafoe, an exceptional student who has demonstrated a thorough understanding of best practices in media relations,” said Nicole Guillot, CNW president and CEO.

Dafoe’s 750-word submission to the award competition addressed A Two-Way Symmetric Communications Model and its relevance to media relations. She demonstrated how her education taught and instilled in her the importance of establishing media relationships and how she incorporated this knowledge at her internship placement with DDB Public Relations, Toronto.

The jury, comprising two journalists and two senior public relations practitioners, was impressed with Dafoe’s work and the calibre of instruction being offered in the BPR program at Humber.

According to PM Rendon, account supervisor at DDB Public Relations, Dafoe understood the importance of niche media list development, how to identify strategic story angles, the best way to pitch a story, and how to conduct smart follow-ups. “She also helped organize a launch event for media where she was able to get to know even more about their specific needs,” he said. “Her education and intern placement are a solid base on which to build a strong career as a media relations practitioner and beyond that as a public relations professional.”

In addition to her intern placement at DDB, Dafoe has worked with Humber College’s Humber Launch Incubator as Research Assistant-Public Relations and Communications, and has worked with Daisy Mae Public Relations in New York, where she was assistant to the director of public relations. She continues at DDB doing media relations for a variety of clients.

As a volunteer, she works with Start2Finish, Toronto, where she helped motivate 52 children at North Kipling Public School to improve fitness and reading abilities, and also handles media relations activity.

The David Milliken Media Communications Award funds are managed by the Communications + Public Relations Foundation. The Foundation promotes the advancement of communications and public relations as vital functions in society, is dedicated to the public interest, and is committed to increasing public knowledge and awareness of the role of communications and public relations in daily life. The Foundation accepts individual and corporate contributions towards research and educational initiatives nationwide.

For more information about the Foundation and its public relations educational initiatives, contact Barbara Sheffield, Executive Director, Communications + Public Relations Foundation, Suite 1515, 73 Widdicombe Hill Blvd., Toronto, Ontario, M9R 4B3, or phone 416 242-6146, or e-mail foundation@prmediaconnection.com.

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 December 1, 2014

Contact:

Barbara Sheffield, APR, FCPRS

(416) 242-6146 or (416) 557-3858

foundation@prmediaconnection.com

Note to Media: A photo of Dafoe is available by contacting the Foundation.

CPRS Toronto selects Phil Soper, President and CEO, Royal Lepage to receive 2014 CEO Award of Excellence in Public Relations

Toronto, Ontario (Marketwired – November 12, 2014) – The Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) Toronto is pleased to announce that the recipient of the 22nd CEO Award of Excellence in Public Relations is Phil Soper, President and Chief Executive Officer, Royal Lepage Real Estate Services.

Mr. Soper’s work in defining the company’s vision and communicating it with impact across Canada has been a demonstration of how communications can be a game changer in business strategy and business results. Since assuming his current role at the helm of Royal Lepage in 2002, the business has more than tripled revenue and doubled agent count. In 2003, Mr. Soper directed the restructuring of the company into a publicly traded enterprise and expanded into multi-brand operations. He is a frequent commentator on economic issues and the North American real estate industry. He was an early adopter in leveraging social media channels to enhance his firm’s effectiveness and communications reach. U.S.-based Swanepoel Trends Report recently named Phil the most influential leader in Canadian residential real estate and Canada’s leading industry publication, Real Estate Marketing magazine, declared him one of the 25 most important leaders of the past 25 years.

Prior to joining the real estate industry, Mr. Soper was a senior executive with technology giant IBM where he held various national and global leadership roles in professional services, business development, finance, marketing and sales. When he left IBM, Soper was General Manager, Information Technology Consulting & Services – the largest such business in the country.

Mr. Soper’s Board responsibilities include the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation, Brookfield RES Foundation, and Ryerson University’s Ted Rogers School of Management. He is a former governor for the University of Alberta. Mr. Soper graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Commerce, and from the University of Western Ontario’s Ivey Executive Program.

Mark your calendars and join us to commemorate this occasion:

WHEN:                                  Wednesday, January 28, 2015, 12:00 Noon

WHERE:                                Eaton Chelsea Toronto

ADDRESS:                             33 Gerrard Street West, Toronto, Ontario. M5G 1Z4

TICKETS:                               Tickets available online

or contact Lois Marsh at 416-360-1988, marshl@marsh-executive.com.

Created in 1991, the CEO Award recognizes communications excellence and advocates that a successful CEO must be an excellent communicator who can express a clear mission and shared values with a broad range of stakeholders. Past Award recipients include John Betts, McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada, Jim Leech, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, Robert Deluce, Porter Airlines, Galen G. Weston, Loblaw Companies, Frances Lankin, United Way of Greater Toronto, Michael Budman and Don Green of Roots Canada, and Piers Handling of the Toronto International Film Festival. The CPRS Toronto award, presented annually, is determined by a selection committee comprised of the Society’s past presidents. Members are encouraged to submit nominations throughout the year.

About CPRS Toronto

CPRS is a national association representing the public relations profession through the establishment and maintenance of high professional, educational and ethical standards. CPRS Toronto is one of the largest member societies comprising over 600 members. For more information please visit: http://www.cprstoronto.com

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact: