Posted by Keelan on January 19th, 2012 
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As per my previous post, on January 27th, my son Peyton and I will be participating in the Ottawa Senators Foundation first ever Energizer Night Skate along the Rideau Canal as part of the NHL All-Star Weekend. Thousands of skaters wearing Energizer LED Headlights will light up the Canal as they skate 5km from Somerset Street to Bank Street and back.
All funds raised from this event will assist the Senators Foundation (the sole benefactor) with their plans to construct outdoor, NHL sized ice rinks in priority neighbourhoods throughout eastern Ontario and western Quebec.
So far, thanks to the generous contributions of friends, family and colleagues, Peyton has raised $505 and is listed as the second highest fundraiser on the Energizer Night Skate website. Having raised roughly half of that amount ($275), I am accepting defeat and throwing support behind my 3 year old. I encourage you to do the same. You can donate to the Sens Foundation through Peyton here: http://energizernightskate.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1003640&supId=350029343.
This is a great project targeted at providing under privileged children and youth in our region with access to the sport of hockey and increased recreational opportunities in their neighbourhoods.
Any amount you are able to contribute would be greatly appreciated and help the Sens Foundation achieve their goal for this fundraiser.
Posted by Pierre on January 19th, 2012 Leave a Comment
The emergence of the social web and the changing expectations around public participation in decision-making are coming together to create the online public engagement ecosystem. The confluence of these forces is changing the practice of public involvement and public participation.
As you prepare to consult or engage on a public issue, here’s a quick overview of the pieces of the online public engagement ecosystem and some thoughts on the implications for practitioners and communicators.
The pieces of the online public engagement ecosystem
I would propose that the online public engagement ecosystem is composed of:
- face to face consultation events (f2f);
- your consultation website;
- stakeholder and community websites;
- news media websites and blogs; and,
- social media websites and tools – Twitter, blogs, Facebook, discussion forums, and more.
The pieces are connected
The pieces of the online public engagement ecosystem are interconnected. What happens on one channel will impact and influence what happens on another channel. Understanding these connections and interactions will provide unique insight into people’s perspectives and attitudes.
Here’s an example of how this works in practice. Your local newspaper posts a story about your issue on its website. People use Twitter to share the story and a short thought on it. Someone engaged in your online consultation learns about the story on Twitter and posts a comment about the story on your consultation website. This comment sparks a conversation thread that sheds insight into one of your consultation issues. You then use the insight generated to help your consultation and communications team prepare for the next evening’s f2f public forum.
What does this mean for practitioners?
These connections are changing the practice of public involvement. Here’s what this means for you and me:
- public involvement planning must plan for the ecosystem;
- listening to and engaging with the ecosystem provides opportunities for intelligence, insight and advice; and,
- the ecosystem is “blurring the lines” between communications and public involvement.
Next up, thoughts on planning for the online public engagement ecosystem.
I’d welcome your thoughts. Please post a comment, or reach out to me online.
Posted by Keelan on January 13th, 2012 Leave a Comment
On January 27th, my son Peyton and I will be participating in the Ottawa Senators Foundation first ever Energizer Night Skate along the Rideau Canal as part of the NHL All-Star Weekend. Thousands of skaters wearing Energizer LED Headlights will light up the Canal as they skate 5km from Somerset Street to Bank Street and back.
All funds raised from this event will assist the Senators Foundation (the sole benefactor) with their plans to construct outdoor, natural NHL sized ice rinks in priority neighbourhoods throughout eastern Ontario and western Quebec.
The Senators Foundation believes in creating community resources, delivering programs and funding charitable organizations that provide healthy and safe sport & recreation opportunities to children and youth so they learn and grow outside of school hours.
You can show your support for this initiative by sponsoring me here: http://energizernightskate.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1003640&supId=350029343
If you don’t like me (highly possible), but still want to support the initiative, you can sponsor my son Peyton, who is 3 and will spend more time in a stroller than skating, here: http://energizernightskate.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1003640&supId=350029344
Any contribution you can make is greatly appreciated.
Thank you for supporting this great community initiative by the Senators Foundation.
Posted by Pierre on January 5th, 2012 Leave a Comment
If you work in the field of consultations, public involvement or communications, chances are you are being asked to deliver an online consultation program. Welcome to the field of online public engagement – where communications and public consultation come together.
As a practitioner and presenter on the practice of “Online Public Engagement”, I thought it worthwhile to share the ideas and feedback gathered over the course of numerous presentations and discussions. This is a new and emerging field, and I would appreciate your feedback over the course of the journey.
First, let’s focus on a working definition of “online public engagement”.
A few thoughts on context
Before defining the concept, it’s best to start with the context surrounding communications and public consultations in a connected society. With social media and online news media, people now have the capability to easily and cost-effectively express their ideas and opinions about public issues that matter to them. They do this on their blogs, on community association discussion forums, on local newspaper website, or on the myriad of social networking sites available to them. If they are unhappy with an organization’s consultation process, they can mobilize online and set-up their own consultation.
What does this mean for consultation leaders and communicators?
Consultation leaders and communicators tasked with seeking public input need to understand two things about online public engagement. The first is that conversations about their issues are happening in social media and will be shared in online news media. The second is that if they want to engage people, they need to use the tools and methodologies to sync with society’s current communications and public participation habits. The upside of both of these is that they provide rich listening, learning and engagement opportunities.
A working definition of online public engagement
In light of this, I propose a working definition of online public engagement to be “the use of digital communications tools and public engagement methodologies to involve people in public consultation processes”.
Next up, the public engagement ecosystem
My next post will focus on a description of the constituent parts of the public engagement ecosystem – the pieces in the puzzle. If you would like a copy of the presentation, you can find it here on slideshare or you can send me a note and I will gladly share it.
Posted by Keelan on December 23rd, 2011 Leave a Comment
One of our designers, Melissa Leech, created this holiday e-card for our client Textron Systems Canada. I love it!
Posted by Keelan on December 5th, 2011 Leave a Comment
[Notice from CPRS Ottawa-Gatineau]
When: Thursday December 15th 2011, 5:00pm-7:30pm
Where: The Grand Pizzeria & Bar, 74 George Street, Byward Market
Cost: FREE!
It’s Holiday time!! Can you believe 2011 is almost over?? What a year it has been, time to kick up our heels and have a few laughs at this year’s CPRS Ottawa-Gatineau Holiday Social!
The Canadian Public Relations Society’s Ottawa/Gatineau holiday social will be held on Thursday December 15th at The Grand Pizzeria & Bar, in the Byward Market.
As part of our on-going community involvement, the chapter has extended a special invitation to our friends at the Ottawa Food Bank. We strongly encourage all of you to bring non-perishable food items to donate for people in need during the holiday season.
For a second social in a row, we are happy to host Public Relations Without Borders and it’s volunteers, who are raising awareness about their international aid missions. Cash donations are appreciated to help this most important cause!
Wait there’s more! We will also be making special announcements in regards to our day-long conference, slated for Wednesday February 29th 2012.
Of course, DELICIOUS finger food will be distributed.
This is a FREE event. Add it to your agenda, bring a friend and your smile and help us make this Holiday Social the best one ever! We also extend a warm welcome to student members to come out and network with seasoned communications professionals. Not yet a student member? Check out the benefits on our website!
Sign up now via EventBrite at http://cprsholidaysocial2011.eventbrite.com/
Hope to see you there!
CPRS Ottawa/Gatineau would like to thank its generous sponsors:
Posted by Keelan on November 23rd, 2011 Leave a Comment
[Ford is a client of Thornley Fallis]
When Ford of Canada’s Vice-President of Sales, Scott Cauvel, was in Ottawa in late September to speak at OCRI’s ExecTALKS event, Thornley Fallis Account Coordinator Samantha Hartley (@msshartley) arranged an interview between him and CTVs Kate Eggins, which led to this great report on the health technologies for drivers that Ford is putting in its vehicles.
Posted by Keelan on November 9th, 2011 Leave a Comment
This should be a great event! See you there…
When ? Wednesday, November 30th, 2011 at 11:45am-1:15pm
Where ? Sheraton Ottawa Hotel, 150 Albert Street – Rideau Room
Cost ? $35 for members, $60 for non-members
About the presentation:
The social media wave has taken all communicators by storm. Each sector and industry has felt it to different degrees, but none have been riding it bigger and better than the Sports sector. International competitions, the Olympic Games, all garner worldwide attention and the hopes of millions of fans. Who better than to educate the NCR’s communication and PR professionals than the people working in the sector themselves??
The CPRS Ottawa-Gatineau chapter is proud to host a panel discussion on the use of social media by representatives from the Ottawa Senators, CanoeKayak Canada, and the Canadian Soccer Association.
Join us for lunch for what should be a truly remarkable session, whether you are a sports fan or not!
Moderated by: CPRS Ottawa-Gatineau
Agenda:
11:45am Registration and networking
12:00pm Lunch, standing buffet
12:15pm Panel discussion
1:00pm Q&A
This session will feature a brief presentation by each panel member, followed by a Q&A from the audience.
Panel members:
Jeff Kyle, Vice President Marketing, Ottawa Senators
Lorraine Lafrenière, Director General, CanoeKayak Canada
Michèle Dion, Communications Manager, Canadian Soccer Association
Spaces are limited, please register by Tuesday November 29th on the EventBrite website: http://cprsnovember2011.eventbrite.com/
Posted by Keelan on November 9th, 2011 Leave a Comment
CPRS Ottawa-Gatineau will be hosting a day-long Conference and Networking Event on Wednesday, February 29th at the new Ottawa Convention Centre.
Save the date for a full day of professional development with thought-provoking speakers and great networking opportunities.
See you there!
Posted by Keelan on November 9th, 2011 Leave a Comment
Here’s a good opportunity for Ottawa PR and communications student to learn what it is like to work in an agency and how best to go about getting a job with one….
Joint Agency Information Session – Thornley Fallis and Hill & Knowlton
When? Thursday, November 17, 2011 from 12:30pm to 2:00pm
Where? Thornley Fallis, 55 Metcalfe Street, Suite 730 (session one)
Where? Hill & Knowlton, 55 Metcalfe Street, Suite 1100 (session two)
CPRS student member cost? Free
Student non-member cost? $20
About the Presentation
Are you interested in an intern position with a PR agency? Would you like to know what it’s like to be part of an agency team? Perhaps you’re curious to learn how your PR/communications program is preparing you for agency work? Then this joint information session is designed for you!
Thornley Fallis Communications helps organizations solve business problems using leading-edge communications tools and practices. Hill & Knowlton Ottawa is the nation capital’s leading full-service strategic public affairs, communications and government procurement consultancy. Join us as seasoned professionals and recent graduates employed at both organizations discuss the thrills of working at two of Ottawa’s trailblazing agencies!
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Thornley Fallis speakers:
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Samantha Hartley, Account coordinator
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Kelly Rusk, Consultant
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Kristine Simpson, Account coordinator
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Hill & Knowlton speakers:
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James Kenny, Consultant
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Jennifer Field, Account director 
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TJ Clark,
Consultant 
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Registration
The event is free for CPRS student members. The non-student member fee is $20 (via credit card) for this event. There are 40 spots available on a first-come basis. Please register by Tuesday, November 15, at the following EventBrite link: http://cprsnovember2011student.eventbrite.com/
Visit http://www.cprsottawa.ca/index.php/students-en/ for more information on the benefits of CPRS Ottawa/Gatineau student membership.
