Check-out our 60th Anniversary video that  premiered at our Celebration event on April 26th!

As members of CPRS Calgary for over three decades, Sheridan McVean and Diane Rennie have seen plenty of changes, on both a local and a global level. Amidst the ups and downs of the Calgary economy and the technological shifts in the field of public relations, however, there have been some constants, one of them…

    CPRS Calgary is now live on YouTube. Click on the YouTube icon on the top right corner of the website or click here. Check out the channel and subscribe today!

Here’s your chance to make a difference! At CPRS Calgary’s 50th Anniversary, we proudly established the Calgary Legacy Scholarship. This $1,000 annual scholarship supports a student member of CPRS Calgary entering second year in a recognized PR program at either Mount Royal University, the University of Calgary or SAIT Polytechnic. Ten years later, we still…

    We are proud to announce that Calgary had five successful APR candidates out of the 21 across the country this year! Congratulations to Calgary members Tracie Feist APR; Peter Ryan, PhD, APR; Cassie Naas, APR ; Gina Teel, APR ; Laura Worsley-Brown APR. For more information see  CPRS’ National announcement  

Dear Members, As 2018 comes to a close, we have positioned our Society well for a strong 2019. PD & Events Attendance at our recent Holiday Party with IABC Calgary was excellent, with many new faces attending from CPRS. We also had a large turnout at our last PD event, which was a breakfast event…

December 6, 2018 Chapter President Tom Ormsby shares holidays wishes – from Dublin

Dear Members, Today is an historic day for CPRS Calgary as we celebrate our 60thAnniversary. As one of the oldest professional public relations chapters in the world, we have an excellent opportunity to build on our past. In the coming year, we look forward to drawing on the institutional knowledge and expertise of our long-term…

Calling all  Student Members and Practitioners to participate in the 2018/2019 CPRS Mentorship Program! Students Interested in learning more about the public relations industry in Calgary? Would you like to receive support from a senior level practitioner and build your network? Then the CPRS Calgary Mentorship Program is for you. This is an amazing opportunity…

Dear Members, Summer is the time of transition for many and it has been no different for CPRS Calgary as the Board welcomes new members, committees restructure and we reset our strategic direction for the Society based on your input from the annual Member Survey, the AGM and your participation and feedback from our various…

  By Lisa Rushka, APR   Approved at the CPRS AGM in Charlottetown in June, the CPRS Strategic Framework “is a collective commitment to creating a community of public relations professionals dedicated to professional development, delivering strategic value to our organizations and supporting and promoting ethical public relations in Canada and around the world.” It…

APR Maintenance is easier than you think by Shawn Davis, MBA, BA Comms, APR     As PR people, there are very few of us who would consider ourselves to be “process” people – myself included. I am more of an ‘organic’ person, and at times I feel that processes just seem to get in…

CPRS Membership Pays Get a  $100 credit for every new member you refer  If your membership in CPRS Calgary has led you to get your APR designation, helped you find your dream job or inspired you with one of our guest speakers, you know the value of belonging to a professional organization. During this March membership drive, we’re…

Congratulations to Calgary APRs by Deborah Remus, CPRS Calgary, Communications Committee   Calgary, February 1, 2018 – Huge congratulations to the Calgary PR pros who earned their APR (accredited in public relations) this year. Of the 17 successful APR’s across Canada four of them are from Calgary, giving the city more new inductees in 2018…

The Canadian Public Relations Society announces 17 new APRs. The Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) has granted accredited status to 17 of its members after successfully completing the Society’s 2016-17 accreditation program. 2018 APRs: (left to right) Top Row – Andria Adams, APR, Danielle Eugénie Cloutier, APR, Michelle Crossland, APR, Jonathan Dyck, APR, MA and…

  CPRS Calgary Message from the President – Stay Connected Connections is one of my big focuses for the 2017-18 year. As I mentioned in a previous blog post, CPRS Calgary is here to be a connector, to be a collaborator. We are here to support you and help you succeed in the communications industry.…

Remembering Cynthia Balfour, APR Contributed by Don Boynton, APR   January 19, 2018 — Cynthia Balfour was the first woman President of the Canadian Public Relations Society’s Calgary Chapter (1974-76) and the first woman to sit on the national executive of CPRS in 1981. Cynthia passed away on January 12 in her New Zealand homeland at…

2017 Year in Review   With another busy holiday season behind us, January is a good time to take a breather and reflect on all the CPRS Calgary community achieved last year. Throughout 2017, a number of professional development and networking events offered something for every member. In March, we held the CPRS Calgary Presents:…

by Chantal Macleod Fake news abounds. Public trust is at an all time low. PR practitioners increasingly find themselves in the C-suite but unprepared. Yet, Dan Tisch, APR, FCPRS, author of the white paper, The elevation of public relations: A discussion paper on a profession’s present – and its possible future, is more optimistic and excited than…

So, you’ve been working in PR for about five years. You’ve had your first job, and it might have been good, but probably wasn’t fantastic. That’s why it’s a first job and not the last. You’re probably settled into your second job, feeling fairly confident in your day-to-day work and gaining increasing responsibility every day.…

The leaves are turning and the mornings are cool as we head out the door to drop the kids off at school and carry on to the office. While September always comes with its own kind of chaos with new routines, it also brings about a sense of normalcy and regularity that goes by the…

The CPRS Calgary – Education & Students Committee invites you to participate in our 2017/2018 mentorship program. This program will provide an amazing opportunity for students to connect and engage with esteemed public relations practitioners as well as help them navigate their future careers. What’s in it for you as a mentor? Receive accreditation maintenance points (worth…

I’ve always had a passion for communications. Early on, it was more of a verbal exercise than strategic approach. “The student socializes too much in class,” was a permanent fixture on high school report cards. As my career evolved, so did my understanding of strategy, and my appreciation for collaboration as a fundamental piece of…

CPRS Calgary conducted a membership survey in early 2017. The CPRS Calgary Board of Directors has evaluated the results, and has started implementing the feedback received in the 2017 program year. The Board will continue to use the guidance provided in the coming program year to help us make decisions to improve member engagement and…

On April 28, 2017, the CPRS Calgary Education & Students portfolio hosted Passport to PR YYC. The event allowed students the opportunity to catch a glimpse of what it’s like to work in PR for various companies around Calgary, spend time learning from esteemed public relations practitioners and build their network. In groups of three,…

There are always lots of reasons to avoid attending an AGM. I’ve got too much to do, the kids have soccer that night, I’ve got a report due at the end of the week, I’ll be on the road, AGMs are SO boring. You know them. You live them. As communicators, our work is truly…

Calgary, August 21, 2012 – The Calgary chapter of the Canadian Public Relations Society along with the Communications + Public Relations Foundation have announced the creation of a new scholarship, the Susan Francis Prize in Public Relations/Communications. The $1000 Susan Francis Prize will be awarded annually to a student studying in his or her final…

The Scholarship is awarded annually to the student who best exemplifies the spirit and practice of bilingualism in the Canadian communications and public relations profession. It is inspired by the career of Armand Torchia, who co-founded The Houston Group with Stan Houston, and Torchia Communications with his son Jean-Claude. The Scholarship adheres to the values…

Ryan Ferguson, Mount Royal University, is the second winner of the Calgary Legacy Scholarship awarded by the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) Calgary in partnership with the Communications + Public Relations Foundation. This $1,000 scholarship is awarded annually to a second year student studying public relations/communications in a recognized program in one of Mount Royal…

Hailey Laycraft, Calgary, is the 2013 winner of the $1,000 Susan Francis Prize in Public Relations, awarded annually to a public relations student in his/her final year of a public relations/communications program at Mount Royal University, University of Calgary or SAIT Polytechnic. The Prize was established by the Francis family and Canadian Public Relations Society…

By Laura Wright I must admit, I was a bit nervous. The idea, unfortunately, hadn’t even been my own.  You see, a few weeks ago in my Intro to Public Relations course at MRU, our instructor, Sheridan McVean, advised our small certificate class that IABC and CPRS held a joint annual holiday party and that…

The early bird registration deadline for the 2014 AB Communications Forum is January 31, 2014. The 2014 AB Communications Forum takes place at the Calgary Marriot Downtown on February 24th and 25th.

Apply today to be considered for the 2014 CPRS National Awards of Excellence. Winners will be recognized at the 2014 CPRS Awards gala dinner at the CPRS National Conference in Banff on May 27, 2014.

The application process for the 2015 Susan Francis in Public Relations/Communications has been announced. This $1,000 award is presented by CPRS Calgary to a student in a recognized Public Relations/Communications program at Mount Royal University, The Univesity of Calgary or SAIT. The deadline for applications is October 15, 2015 with the winner announced by December…

With over 2,00 attendees and 25+ speakers, DesignThinkers is Canada’s largest conference of visual communicators. It is held November 12 & 13 at the Sony Center in Toronto, Ontario. For a list of speakers and further information, please click Read More to be directed to the site.

Last spring, we announced that as a part of our new initiative, #YYCPR-Communications for a Cause, CPRS Calgary would provide communications support to the not-for-profit organization, Making Changes Association. Making Changes is a volunteer-based organization that supports women and teenage girls during life transitions and provides them with skills and resources, encouraging their pursuit of…

As we move into late fall, we are faced with an interesting environment in Alberta – a challenging economy and new provincial and federal governments.  These changes can cause uncertainty and it can affect our day-to-day lives in many ways.  Now, more than ever, it is important to leverage your membership in CPRS and CPRS…

The $1,000 scholarship is awarded annually to a second year student studying public relations/communications in a recognized program at one of Mount Royal University, University of Calgary or SAIT Polytechnic.  Deadline for application is January 30, 2016 and the winner be notified on or before March 1, 2016.

MARCH into Membership Month!  With the exception of a few frosty days, it feels like YYC’ers are starting to see the end of winter. Spring is officially here in three weeks and what better way begin anew than to join CPRS or encourage friends and colleagues to sign up! Benefits of joining CPRS In addition…

Making Changes Association was named CPRS Calgary’s partner for #YYCPR – Communications for a Cause, after being voted as the organization of choice by CPRS Calgary members. Our dedicated CPRS Calgary volunteers, approximately 10 strong, have been hard at work lending their skills and talent to help Making Changes communicate about its role and vision,…

Less than a Week until WPRF Early Bird Deadline! Not only is March Membership Month for CPRS but it’s also a big month for the World PR Forum. The biggest milestone, March 15th’s Early Bird deadline, is now less than a week away, which doesn’t leave much time for CPRS members to save $200 off…

We want you to join the Board! CPRS Calgary wants you on our Board of Directors! We’re looking for experienced communicators, who want to make a difference in our profession to join the CPRS Calgary Board in 2016. As a board member, you can play a key role in shaping the services we provide members…

SAIT reveals first new brand in almost two decades By  Melanie Simmons, Public Relations Specialist, SAIT What is your brand? How do you stand out from the crowd? Today, brand is the essence of a product or service — how an audience relates to it. Earlier this month, the third largest post-secondary in Alberta pulled…

Come Prepared for Glenna’s ‘Chose Your Own Adventure’ Session on Building Your Personal Brand Wednesday, president of Cross Wise Communications Glenna Cross, ABC, MC will be presenting Building Your Personal Brand, an audience-driven evening of learning geared towards job searchers – both those who are currently looking and those who will be looking in the…

Does the PR accreditation matter? We asked employers Experienced communicators across the country often ask themselves an important career question this time of year; is it time I finally pursue public relations accreditation?   The deadline to apply for the Accredited in Public Relations (APR) is Dec. 1. Information about the accreditation process can be…

by Jenn Gardiner   For any public relations practitioner., evaluation measures the effectiveness of a message, proves the value of the practitioner, and gives insight into how to better communicate with audiences. Few opinions on how best to evaluate have been as widely accepted as the Barcelona Principles.   The Barcelona Principles are a set…

With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season upon us, it’s important to reflect on the goals we set for ourselves in 2016. As President of CPRS Calgary, my primary mandate is to ensure members are getting value from their membership. At our 2016 Annual General Meeting, the Board committed to providing more opportunities…

Welcome to 2017! I hope all members enjoyed some down time with family and friends over the holidays and are ready and energized to take on the New Year.   This year, CPRS Calgary will continue to focus on providing value to members as we work to achieve the objectives set out at our 2016…

March is Membership Month at CPRS CPRS Calgary is hard at work to bring our members even more benefits and value than last year. New to CPRS? If you join CPRS in the month of March there are added benefits for you to enjoy: You’ll receive a 12-month subscription to PRSA’s Public Relations Tactics courtesy…

Calgary Legacy Scholarship Deadline: March 30, 2017 Click Here for an Application  The Scholarship The $1,000 Scholarship is awarded annually to a student studying public relations/ communications in a recognized program at one of Mount Royal University, University of Calgary or SAIT Polytechnic. In addition, the winner will receive complimentary CPRS membership for year three…

The Top 4 Benefits of Joining CPRS The end of March as Membership Month is fast approaching. Whether you are thinking about joining yourself or you need one last nudge to send that encouraging email to friends and colleagues to sign up, here are the top benefits of joining CPRS. 1) Networking Networking is arguably…

You like a challenge. An experienced professional communicator, strategic thinker and problem solver, perhaps the Accredited Public Relations (APR) designation is something you’ve considered pursuing in the past. Maybe your goal is to expand your network of experienced professionals locally and across the country. Or broaden your knowledge and understanding of the profession, displaying ambition, competence, ethics and…

The Top 3.5 Benefits of Joining CPRS The end of March as Membership Month is fast approaching. So whether you are thinking about joining yourself or you need one last nudge to send that email encouraging friends and colleagues to sign up, here are the top four benefits of joining CPRS. 1) Networking Networking is…