NEW PERSPECTIVES

LIFE MEMBERSHIP RECIPIENTS 2013

150 150 Lois Marsh

Congratulations to this year’s Life Membership Recipients:

John R. Elliott, APR

Karen Dalton, APR

Life membership is granted by a Member Society to Voting Members who made made outstanding contributions to the advancement of the National Society in particular and to public relations in general and have 30+ years membership.

 

Doris Whiteside Award Recipients 2013

150 150 Lois Marsh

Each year, the Toronto society presents the Doris Whiteside Award (biography below) to a graduating student at each of
the community colleges which offer public relations courses recognized by CPRS Toronto.

This year’s recipients are:

Seneca College – Elena Dvoirin

Humber College – Trevor Speechly

Centennial College – Hannah Sunderani

 

BIOGRAPHY

DORIS WHITESIDE 

 Doris began her public relations career in the 1960’s as a part-time secretary with the Girl Guides of Canada.  While there she met Ruth Hammond who sparked Doris’s interest in public relations. 

From the Girl Guides, Doris joined Hilda Wilson at Investor Relations.  Subsequent career moves took her to Berger and Associates and the Metro Toronto and Ontario Lung Associations where she acted as Director, Public Relations.  There, Doris implemented many strategic public relations programs. 

Doris’s many public relations accomplishments included a successful strategy that allowed chiropractors to achieve professional status in Ontario.  And she was one of the first public relations practitioners to bring the concepts of public relations to not-for-profit organizations.  She pioneered the concept of joint sponsorship programs between not-for-profit organizations and corporate sponsors.  Doris also developed the Lung Association’s first public relations manual and provided training programs for volunteers and staff. 

Doris began CPRS’s first speakers bureau in the 1970’s and was a member of the Board of Directors.  She was always an advocate for raising the profile and status of public relations practitioners. 

Doris gladly gave advice to anyone interested in public relations.  She taught public relations and enjoyed various workshops. 

Doris died in 1989.

 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2013-2014

150 150 Lois Marsh

Executive Committee:

President – MaryJane Martin, APR

1st Vice President – Diane Bégin, APR

2nd Vice President – Jilda Lazer, APR

Secretary – Danielle Kelly, APR

Treasurer – Ginny Snow

Past President – Vincent Power, APR

Directors:

Jaclyn Atwood-Powell

AJ Goodman

Vivienne McCuaig

Lauren More

Jeff Rohrer, APR

Ian Ross, APR

Carolyn Schulz

Student Representative:

Jennifer Hayes

President’s message: The final approach

150 150 Admin

The arrival at the 18th hole for golfers always comes with mixed feelings. We are pleased that the round is almost over because, as in most sporting activities, tiredness sets in and you’re glad to call it a day. But if you love the game, it’s also lamentable because something you enjoy doing is coming to an end.

After two years as president of CPRS Toronto, I enter this last period of my term in the same way. I have enjoyed serving as your president, and, like a good golf round, there is much more to be done to continue improving on our game and finding ways to help members in their chosen craft as PR practitioners. I hope you agree that the current board has had accomplishments over the past two years that have been of benefit to you.  The effort will continue under the board that is slated to be elected at our Annual General Meeting (AGM), which takes place on Tuesday, May 28th at the Toronto Region Board of Trade offices.

I want to thank the board members of this year and last year for their commitment to providing you with occasions for professional development, sharing sessions and networking opportunities among other events and member benefits that have been put in place. They have been great to work with, and I appreciate their support in focusing on making CPRS Toronto a society that members feel can help them perform their chosen careers with improved skills and competencies. I will be recapping the achievements they have attained during the annual meeting.

There are two major upcoming events worthy of your attention.  The first is the CPRS Toronto AGM to which I have already referred.  Our guest speaker will be Jamison Steeve, former principal secretary to Premier Dalton McGuinty, who will share experiences and insights gained through his work in Dalton McGuinty’s office over two political terms.

The second is the national CPRS conference taking place in the national capital region.  Compelling speakers have been secured which, coupled with several workshop opportunities, will surely be an educational and networking experience that will be beneficial for all who attend. With Ottawa-Gatineau being so close to Toronto, I hope to see many of you there. I trust you will find it an event that will provide a substantial return on the time you invest to participate.

My work on the board isn’t finished.  Duties await me as past president, and so I now need to take my final approach shot over the creek that flows between me and the 18th green so that I can get on with those very duties.

I hope you’ve enjoyed our round together, and I will see you at the 19th hole (a common term golfers use to describe the clubhouse grill room), that is the AGM, where we can enjoy some much desired food and beverages to properly complete our round.

If we miss you there, I’m sure we’ll see each other at one of the many upcoming CPRS Toronto events that begin again in the fall.

Bye for now.

Register today for CPRS National Conference: Conversations 2013

150 150 Admin
cprs
Join us this June in spectacular Ottawa-Gatineau for Conversations 2013 — the Canadian Public
Relations Society (CPRS) Annual National Conference. This premiere event will be a watershed moment for Canada’s public relations and communications practitioners. Don’t miss the opportunity to join your community of peers and change the conversation about PR in Canada.
Who should attend? Conversations 2013 is the ideal event for:
• CPRS members and non- members from all disciplines
• Association communications executives
• Government communication and public relations professionals
• PR agency practitioners
• Educators and Students in public relations and communication studies
CPRS Toronto Members are encouraged to participate in a range of workshops and learn best practices from
the following highly-reputable communications experts based in Toronto:
Conversations 2013 is your opportunity to:
•Participate in stimulating and dynamic conversations and share your ideas for real change
• Be inspired by some of Canada’s brightest and most insightful keynote speakers and panelists
• Engage in practical learning and take back ideas you can use right away
• Showcase your talents and ideas in open panel discussions and workshop sessions
• Connect with other PR and communications practitioners and build relationships
• Step out of your comfort zone in challenging and provoking practical sessions
• Immerse yourself in relevant issues and share your experiences with others
• Stay and meet at the luxurious five-star Hilton Lac Leamy
• Enjoy special evening events in the Ottawa’s historic ByWard Market and at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum
• Visit Canada’s capital region and discover all it has to offer!
Follow CPRS2013 social feeds for event updates:

Time is running out and registration is filling up. Don’t miss your opportunity to attend the PR event of the year. Register today and change the conversation!

Register here

If you have any questions about Conversation 2013, please contact: conversations2013info@cprs.ca .CPRS – Conversations 2013 Overview

conversations2013.cprs.ca

AGM vote ahead

150 150 Admin
file000704919536

Photo by Southernfried via morgueFile.com.

CPRS Toronto members will be considering a proposal to change the organization’s fiscal year-end at this year’s Annual General Meeting. All members are encouraged to attend Tuesday, May 28. The AGM is free to all current CPRS Toronto members. Join us for networking, hear reports from your elected Board members, and cast your member votes. Light refreshments and a cash bar will be available. Register today.

New wheels for one lucky student member

150 150 Admin

Zipcar membership promoCPRS Toronto is offering all new student members who sign up by June 30th the chance to win a free Zipcar membership for a year. The keys to any Zipcar could be yours as of July 1st when CPRS Toronto pays your annual $65 membership fee. 

If you are eligible to be a student member and you join up now (not later than June 30th), your name will be automatically entered into the CPRS Toronto Zipcar prize draw for the random chance to win! 

It costs just $45 to become a student member for one year.  Learn more about the benefits of belonging to CPRS Toronto and apply online today!

A night of celebrating communications excellence

150 150 Admin

By: Miranda Germani

The ACE Awards, held on April 24 at Arcadian Court, truly lived up to its namesake of Achieving Communications Excellence. Fantastic examples of excellence were celebrated throughout the evening, with top campaign honours going to two particularly outstanding campaigns.

Winner of Best PR Campaign of the Year was Argyle Communications and Free for All for their “30% off Ontario Tuition” campaign.

“Receiving this honour from CPRS Toronto not only makes Argyle Communications and its clients feel proud, but also tells us that our professional peers believe we set and achieve high standards,” said Argyle Communications president Daniel Tisch.

“PR is at its best when practised in the public interest,” said Daniel, speaking to the importance of Argyle’s campaign. “The Ontario government had made its ‘30 per cent off tuition’ a priority, and needed support to get the message to students. PR was critical in getting this done. Like every great PR campaign, there were barriers to overcome, and a creative strategy was critical to success.”

The other star campaign of the evening was Strategic Objectives and Mondelēz Canada’s “100th Birthday of Oreo” campaign, which took home the award for Best Creative PR Campaign of the Year. Judy Lewis, Strategic Objectives co-founder and executive vice president, enthusiastically affirmed that winning the award gives her team the inspiration to continue to develop the most creative, breakthrough, and effective PR campaigns.

These two campaigns particularly epitomized achieving communications excellence for 2013. Who will win next year? The countdown begins now, so be sure to get ready to compile your amazing work into a submission for the 2014 ACE Awards.

REVISED REPORT OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE

150 150 Lois Marsh

 CANADIAN PUBLIC RELATIONS SOCIETY TORONTO INC. 

The Nominating Committee proposed the following slate for the CPRS Toronto Inc. Board of Directors for 2013-2014:

DIRECTORS

ATWOOD-POWELL, Jaclyn (Shaw Media)

BÉGIN, Diane APR (Thornley Fallis) 

GOODMAN, AJ (FTI Consulting) 

HAYES, Jennifer (Student Representative – Humber College) 

KELLY, Danielle APR (Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care) 

LAZER, Jilda APR (Environics Communications Inc.) 

MARTIN, MaryJane APR (MJ Martin & Company) 

McCUAIG, Vivienne (Vividthinking Communications) 

MORE, Lauren (Ford Motor Company of Canada) 

ROHRER, Jeff APR (TVO) 

ROSS, Ian APR (Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, Government of Ontario) 

SCHULZ, Carolyn (Edelman) 

SNOW, Ginny (RBC Group Insurance Services 

Immediate Past President

POWER, Vincent APR (Sears Canada Inc.)

Nominating Committee:

Chairperson:

Susan McDougall, APR

Members:

Mark LaVigne, APR, FCPRS

Christina A. Marshall, APR

If you cannot attend the AGM, please fill out and return the proxy form before May 6.

Photos from the CPRS Toronto 2013 ACE Awards now available

150 150 Admin

This year’s ACE Awards gala was, as promised, a night to remember! Well, now you can reminisce as much and as often as you like because the pictures are available through CPRSToronto’s flickr.

Thank you to everyone who joined us this past Wednesday, and congratulations again to all of this year’s winners.

[flickrslideshow acct_name=”CPRSToronto” id=”72157633353367492″]