NEW PERSPECTIVES

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April 22, 2013
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THANK YOU TO THE CPRS TORONTO 2013 ACE AWARDS SPONSORS

https://cprstoronto.com/wp-content/themes/fildisi/images/empty/thumbnail.jpg 150 150 Admin Admin https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/3dd7a197309cfb5bfd324292688ca51e?s=96&d=mm&r=g April 22, 2013 May 7, 2013

By: Natasha Nitsopoulos

The prestigious ACE Awards gala is just two days away. As we’re putting the finishing touches on what promises to be a memorable night, CPRS Toronto and the ACE Awards committee we would like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors who have helped make this celebration of communications excellence possible!

On behalf of CPRS Toronto, we appreciate your support and would like to say thank you to:

AVW TEL-AV, a full-service audio visual resource rental company for corporate events, exhibit programs, trade shows and conventions of all sizes.

Marketwired, a customized communications solutions provider, offering targeted coverage across all media and measurement services.

Leger Marketing, the largest Canadian-owned polling, research and strategic marketing firm, with offices across Canada and the United States.

CNW Group, Canada’s leading newswire service specializing in media monitoring, photography and video services, translation, webcasting, conference call services, regulatory filling and measurement.

Canadian Press, Canada’s trusted news leader, multimedia news agency and creator of our favourite book: CP Style.

Cision, a leader in public relations planning, media monitoring, reporting and communications analysis.

News Canada, a leading provider of ready-to-use, timely, credible, newsworthy and copyright-free news content for editors, broadcasters, web and video content providers.

Infomart, a division of Postmedia Network Inc., is Canada’s leading media consultancy providing media monitoring services, research, brand solutions and corporate data.

See you on Wednesday for the 2013 ACE Awards gala!! Tweeting at the Awards? Make sure to hashtag #CPRSACE.

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April 19, 2013
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Why attending the ACE Awards is a must for Toronto’s PR professionals: Insight from a past attendee

By: Miranda Germani

Haven’t bought your ACE Awards gala ticket yet? What are you waiting for? The ACE Awards, the Toronto PR must-attend event, is fast approaching. Tracey Bochner, President of Paradigm Public Relations, helps us break down the benefits of attending the gala.

“It is important to support CPRS and the PR industry in Toronto in general, and attending the gala is good way to do this,” says Tracey. “The ACE Awards is a place to recognize the innovative work of the PR industry in Toronto.”

The gala isn’t just a fun event, it’s also a learning opportunity. “The ACE Awards showcases some of the best work being done by communications professionals in the city. Whether the award-winning work is from agencies, corporations, government or not-for-profits, there is always something that we can learn from the creative thinking and success of others,” says Tracey.

It is also a great opportunity for networking. Each year at the gala Tracey reconnects with industry colleagues.

“The ACE Awards is an important night for us at Paradigm PR. My business partner Mike Abbass and I look forward to the gala every year,” says Tracey. “We celebrate with our amazing clients, who give us the latitude to execute creative campaigns, which result in award-winning programs, we recognize our incredibly talented staff, and we connect with colleagues to toast their successes. We never miss it.”

Ready to reap the benefits of attending the ACE Awards? Hurry, tickets are almost sold out. More information is available on the ACE Awards page.

Tweeting about the ACE Awards? Follow @CPRSToronto and use the hashtag #CPRSACE.

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April 17, 2013
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One more week to get your ACE Award tickets!

Don’t wait any longer before getting your tickets for the 2013 ACE Awards gala, which will be held one week from today! It’s the Oscars of PR – a chance to recognize and celebrate the excellence in public relations and communications. It will be a fabulous night of networking with colleagues, while enjoying a delicious three-course dinner. Tickets are selling fast, so make sure to reserve your spot at this prestigious event you don’t want to miss.

Our host for the night will be Global Toronto’s Sean O’Shea, award-winning investigative and consumer reporter who is regarded as one of the most tenacious reporters on local television.

Date:

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

5:15 p.m. Registration and Cocktail Reception
6 p.m. Dinner and Awards Ceremony

Location:

Arcadian Court
401 Bay Street
Simpson Tower, 8th floor
Toronto, ON
M5H 2Y4

Ticket costs:

Member: $130
Table of 10: $1,250
Non-member: $165
Student member: $70
Student non-member: $85

For more information, and to buy your ticket, visit the CPRS Toronto website.

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April 10, 2013
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Special notice to members about the AGM

Hello, everyone. A few weeks ago you were mailed the notice of our Annual General Meeting, and I would like to inform you of two updates to the information you received.

First of all, the location has been finalized. The AGM will take place at the Toronto Region Board of Trade, 77 Adelaide St. West, ABCD Room, Fourth floor, Toronto.

Secondly, in the information that was provided on the proposal to change the year-end, it was indicated that our next fiscal year would start April 1, 2013 and end June 30, 2014. In fact we cannot have a fiscal year that lasts 15 months.

Therefore, if members agree with the proposal to change the CPRS Toronto year-end date, and if CRA subsequently agrees to the change, we will have a “regular year” of April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2014, then we will have what is termed a “stub period” of April 1, 2014 to June 30, 2014 and then start the next full year on July 1, 2014 to end on June 30, 2015 and continue as such.

The stub period will incur an auditing cost of approximately $1,800 which is less than a full-year audit, but still necessary if we want to open the year beginning on July 1, 2014 with audited opening numbers.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

I hope you are able to attend the AGM on May 28 at 5:30 p.m. I look forward to seeing you there, where our guest speaker will be Jamison Steeve, former Principal Secretary to Premier Dalton McGuinty.

Vincent Power, APR

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April 9, 2013
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President’s message: A national coaching experience

The 17^th hole is a straightforward Par 3. That is, the hole is on a green right out in front of you, 125 to 175 yards away depending on the tee box you use with nothing but grass in between you and the hole. However, this hole really plays with your head. It’s a hole where the mental part of the game is almost entirely at play.

Bobby Jones, one of the most famous golfers of all time, said “Competitive golf is played mainly on a five-and-a-half-inch course…the space between your ears.” Arguably the most successful golfer ever, Jack Nicklaus, said, “Golf is 90% mental and 10% physical.” One of Nicklaus’ teachers, Jim Flick, used to take that quote one step further saying “Golf is 90% mental and 10% mental.”

There is a forest on the left of the 17^th hole that drops down into a deep ravine. Not in your way at all, but you can’t help but think about it as you’re teeing off. Then, there are sand traps around most of the green…again, not in your way at all, but you can’t help but think about it. These are trouble spots that you shouldn’t even be able to get into, but we do. And that’s the 17^th hole.

Golf coaches spend a lot of time with professional golfers helping them master the mental part of the game. Many of the golfers who play at the highest levels have separate mental coaches and swing (physical) coaches.

From time to time, all professionals need help to sharpen their skills and help them perform their duties to optimum levels, no matter how successful they are. And, PR professionals are no different. In our own ways, we play our game at the highest levels. We need to keep our skills honed, our attitudes positive, and our behaviours and actions in line with what is expected of our profession today.

The annual CPRS national conference is like a mega coaching session. This year, the theme is “Change the Conversation” and it takes place in the national capital region which, relatively speaking, is quite close to the GTA, certainly drivable for those who choose to travel that way.

I have had the good fortune of attending some of the recent conferences and I always get a great deal out of them. Victoria in 2012, Saint John in 2011, Regina in 2010…these were all great conferences, yet they were far enough away and therefore perhaps not easy to attend by everyone. The 2013 conference being in Ottawa provides an opportunity to get some high level coaching and enhance your skills as a PR professional, provide great networking opportunities, and get motivated and even rejuvenated in a meaningful way.

EARLY BIRD DEADLINE THIS FRIDAY

It’s timely that we arrived at the 17^th hole at this time because the deadline for early bird registration is this Friday, April 12. Members can save $200 off the regular conference rate, and there’s a special rate for those who choose to renew their memberships when they register for the conference too. And there’s a Kobo Glo eReader to be had for one lucky registrant. It could be you! Registration information is available online.

If you can, have a look at the website and check out the program, featuring keynote speakers Evan Soloman, Terry Fallis, Ira Basin and Alexandra Samuel. I trust you’ll find a few events in the program that will help you in your work as a PR professional.

I encourage any Toronto Society members, who are able, to take advantage of this early-bird rate and join me and other local Society members in Ottawa-Gatineau for an educational and networking experience that will be a memorable one. Let’s make the Toronto contingent a presence to be noticed! How much better we’ll all be with all those coaching opportunities.

Better enough to tackle that 17^th hole without getting mentally distracted, that’s for sure!

Vincent Power, APR

P.S. Remember April is ACE Award month for CPRS Toronto. This year’s ACE Awards gala takes place on Wednesday, April 24^th. This is always an exciting evening for all participants and this year’s event at Arcadian Court promises to be the same. See you there!!

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April 9, 2013
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Quick! Time is running out to get your CPRS Toronto 2013 ACE Awards Tickets!

By: Barbara Loureiro

It’s that time of year again – the CPRS Toronto Achieving Communications Excellence (ACE) Awards are fast approaching!

On April 24^th join Toronto’s top PR practitioners to celebrate the best of public relations and communications. Held at the Arcadian Court, the ACE awards will commence at 5:15 p.m. with a cocktail reception, followed by dinner and the award ceremony at 6 p.m. Hosted by Sean O’Shea, award-winning investigative and consumer reporter on GlobalTV Toronto, the 2013 ACE Awards is guaranteed to be a great time.

ACE has always been the hottest ticket in the Toronto PR industry, so don’t miss out. Tickets sell out every year, make sure you get yours now!

Ticket costs:

Member: $130
Table of 10: $1,250
Non-member: $165
Student member: $70
Student non-member: $85

For more information, and to buy your ticket, visit the CPRS Toronto website.

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March 27, 2013
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Inside the ACE Awards Gala – Thoughts from a veteran attendee

By: Miranda Germani

Are you considering attending the hottest PR event in town but aren’t quite sure what to expect? Blair Peberdy, vice-president, marketing, communications and public affairs, Toronto Hydro-Electric System, has attended every ACE Awards Gala for the past decade. Blair gives us the inside scoop on what it’s like to join more than 300 of Toronto’s PR practitioners and students to celebrate the best in PR, network with colleagues, and enjoy a delicious meal.

For those who haven’t attended an ACE Awards gala before, this repeat guest and award-winner describes the event as “one of the few opportunities for Toronto’s PR and communications professionals to get together to celebrate excellence in our business. There’s always a fantastic buzz in the room and the quality of the awards submissions is very impressive.”

Blair thinks it’s important for communications professionals to attend the ACE Awards gala, regardless of whether they’re winning an award.

“Attendees have the opportunity to network with some of the best communicators in the country from the agency, corporate, government and not-for-profit sectors at an event that is fun and well attended by senior, intermediate and entry-level practitioners,” said Blair. “The atmosphere is friendly and it’s the best event in Canada featuring top creative and strategic communications programs, executed exceptionally well.”

The ACE Awards gala is a great way to celebrate with colleagues and friends, and everyone can learn something to use in their professional career. As Blair explains, “Great campaigns are always featured and well-presented in a fast-paced format. I usually come away with one or two great ideas. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to quietly gauge how your own communications programs stack-up against some of the top PR professionals in Canada — and it’s usually a pleasant surprise!”

Blair concluded explaining why he has been a loyal attendee. “I like to attend because I enjoy the networking, but most importantly I find the quality of the awards submissions and the excitement at the event to be inspiring.”

The ACE Awards gala is fast-approaching. This year’s ACE Awards is being held on Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at the Arcadian Court, hosted by Global Toronto’s Sean O’Shea.

Eager to get your hands on the hottest PR ticket in town? More information is available on the ACE Awards page. But don’t delay – this event always sells out!

Tweeting about the ACE Awards? Follow @CPRSToronto and use the hashtag #CPRSACE

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March 25, 2013
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From speech bubbles to public speaking: Giving students VOICES

VOICES 2013 Speech Competition is organized completely by students and for students, to create a platform for the new generation of college students.

“Peace & love,” Monika Przestrzelska and Michal Kocia. This lovely couple is originally from Poland and they are here on an international exchange program.

Taking place on March 28, 2013 at The Great Hall on Queen St. West, the event is to express students’ concerns and hopes for the future, as well as an opportunity for them to get public speaking experience in a public setting.

Jeff Douglas, co-host of As it Happens on CBC Radio One; Bruce Hunt, the founder of Toronto Speakers Academy and president of the acclaimed Downtown Toronto Toastmasters Club; Nancy Milton, a certified co-active coach accredited by the International Coaches Federation; and president and CEO of The Lavin Agency, David Lavin make up the judges for the competition.

Literally taking the initiative to the streets to create awareness, for the past month the event’s organizers have been out around Toronto asking people to fill out a mobile speech bubble describing their hopes for the future.

These individuals could share a photo of their personalized speech bubble on the VOICES Twitter and Facebook pages. Check out all the photos we’ve taken so far.

From “Middle East Peace,” to an “All Vegan World,” to more “Group Outings,” to “Mental Health Prevention,” to “Save the Bees,” the VOICES team heard a bit of everything, and got to speak with some of the most interesting individuals along the way.

The competition will include 12 competitors from Seneca, Centennial and George Brown College.

Competitors will be preparing speeches that discuss their thoughts, ideas and emotions towards the future that awaits them.

“No more violence #saferTO,” Marco Ricciardi. @TPS_Marco is a Toronto police constable and hopes to see no more violence in Toronto.

Overall, the competition has given the managers (like me) experience securing sponsorship, judges, media coverage, and learned how to create an interactive website and buzz-worthy social media campaign.

Please help support VOICES by liking our Facebook, Twitter and checking out our website and blog.

And join us this Thursday, March 28!

Admin
March 11, 2013
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Storify: Building Media Relationships

Missed our March 11, 2013 event? Here are some highlights from the panel discussion:

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March 11, 2013
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Social to-do: Top 5 moves for 2013

By Julie Geller
@JulieGeller
VP Marketing
Cision Canada

Before we get too deep into 2013, here’s an all-important top 5 to-do list that will invigorate your plans for the year ahead.

Review your metrics: Accurate research is everything. Review your key performance indicators annually, and confirm that your research and reporting are in line with the organization’s stated goals. If your reports aren’t illuminating useful trends, make adjustments that fit your strategy. Also, examine the forms and data-collection criteria you use to ensure you aren’t missing a chance for gathering new information from clients. Consider creating visually driven reports that will engage your team in meetings and give senior management at-a-glance analytics.
Refresh your homepage and blog: This no-brainer easily falls off everyone’s list. It’s great if your site has been recently re-designed, but you have to keep it fresh for visitors. Stale homepages discourage regular traffic from exploring your content on a deeper level. Fresh visuals, automated slideshow functionality and “related content” widgets are among the ways you can engage people in your organization’s latest news. If you can meet the demands of delivering content on a regular basis, a weekly blog is a great hook for pulling in traffic.
Think mobile, act local: Pay attention to your mobile stats. Remember the 2010 Morgan Stanley report that predicted mobile’s dominance over the desktop by 2015? Well, we’re getting close, and you need to be sure that your content and its delivery are optimized for this exploding audience. If your mobile stats are low, find out why you are lagging and fix it. Maybe it’s time for an app, which provides instant access to your message and is the go-to solution for reaching audiences on the move.
Embrace marketing’s convergence with social: Communications today depends on social media. As social matures, we’re seeing that it’s more than a Web 2.0 technological novelty. We all still need media releases, press conferences and media contacts, but it’s also time to build serious strategy around social tools. Social is more than a delivery system — it’s a marketing platform with unlimited potential for engaging audiences. Take the time to develop creative solutions for sharing your PR message and implementing your marketing plan. Set aside budget to hire dedicated social personnel for your team. Use social media to build value with your audience.
Understand new technologies: Four years ago, we were all scratching our heads about Facebook’s value to business. Now there’s LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram, Vine and more. Many of them are indispensible PR tools. You may not find a need for every social platform today, but it is absolutely necessary that you know how the channels work. Marketing strategies morph with time, and you never know what social tool will be useful to your campaign in the future.

Originally posted in the Cision Canada Insights for Influencers blog. Also join CPRS Toronto sponsor @Cision_Canada at the Social Media Ref.