BLOG

For many of us, staying committed to a New Year’s resolution can be difficult, especially when it comes to looking after our health. That’s why Communica has challenged its employees to Leap into a Healthy Year starting this February 1, 2016. We understand that looking after your health involves more than working out, so our challenge will have four different themes for each week of the month. Each week employees will set a different personal goal to match the theme of that week. Health & Wellness The weekly challenges are as follows: Week One: Mindfulness The objective of mindfulness is to bring awareness to the present moment, thoughts, feelings, sensations and surrounding environment. Examples of a goal for week one are making a commitment to put your phone down during face-to-face conversations, choosing to eat lunch with co-workers, journaling, meditation, etc. Week Two: Physical Activity Physical activity is anything that gets your body moving. It is recommended adults get 2 hours and 30 minutes of physical activity each week, which can be hard to squeeze into your busy life. Examples of a goal for week two are walking to work this week, going for a walk every day at lunch, committing to attend a class at the gym every day, or following a workout video at home. Week Three: Healthy Eating A well balanced meal is critical to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Starting in 2016, our Calgary office has replaced sugary junk food snacks with fresh produce to promote healthy eating, a balanced diet and productivity at the office. Examples of a goal for week three are drinking enough water throughout the day, eat the recommended serving of vegetables, or cut sugar from your diet. Week Four: Work/Life Balance The objective of finding or maintaining a work/life balance is to ensure the needs of your physical and mental health are being fulfilled. Examples of a goal for week four are building in chunks of time throughout the week to unplug/relax, shutting off email past a certain time in the evening, make time to read, set a sleep schedule to ensure enough hours of rest, etc. The Leap into a Healthy Year challenge will empower Communica employees to think about maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and to try something new that can be applied to their day-to-day routine after the challenge is done. Does your organization have a health challenge going? How have your engaged your employees for optimal success? We’d love to hear about it! Continued

I regularly partake in networking meetings and informational interviews with peers who are either starting a career, want to re-launch a career, or are looking for more information about a career in public relations, communication or stakeholder engagement. The most reoccurring question I’m asked in these chats is “where do I go to connect with people, build professional contacts, find job leads, and learn new things in our industry?” Well, the great thing is that BC (and Vancouver in particular) has many avenues for this. While different organizations will meet different needs, I share with you here my top four recommendations of associations you may wish to consider if you are asking yourself these same questions. Note: these are based on personal opinion and experience. The Vancouver Board of Trade Going to a Vancouver Board of Trade luncheon and speaker presentation is always so telling to me in terms of who is working on what, where people are focusing their efforts, which companies and consultants are interested enough in the topic to buy a table, etc. It is here you learn how small our community actually is. The other thing I like about #VBOT (besides it’s exceptional ability in attracting top-notch and relevant speakers) is the amazing programs and benefits offered to members. For example, the Women’s Leadership Circle and new member networking events. CPRS Christmas Event The 2014 CPRS holiday event with my colleague Kyla Humphreys Canadian Public Relations Society – Vancouver chapter Okay full disclosure of my bias. I currently sit on this chapter’s Board of Directors as Vice-President. Back in 2009 I joined CPRS because I wanted the membership discount to attend the organization’s National conference in Vancouver (about 6 months after moving to YVR from YYC) to make new friends. It wasn’t long before I was hooked. I have mentors who have worked in communications for 25+ years who are still members of CPRS to this day. So after obtaining my Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) and attending many more conferences, I finally decided to take the leap and dedicate my volunteer efforts to joining the local chapter Board in 2013 and I haven’t looked back. This group is fun and approachable, but what I really value is getting to do stuff I love and am passionate about that has really nothing to do with work – this is my professional development outlet. Whether it’s CPRS or not, find an association that meets this need for you. International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) Yes, I know it’s a mouthful. IAP2 was one of the very first associations I was introduced to back in Alberta when I started my career in stakeholder engagement/public consultation over a decade ago. To this day, I still recommend IAP2 and its training programs as “baseline” knowledge in public engagement. If you want a taste of what this line of work is all about in theory, look here. At its core, IAP2’s values are based on best practices of involving the public in meaningful ways about decisions that impact their community. You don’t hear a lot about IAP2 BC – they’re quiet, but active. I sat on the Board of IAP2 BC from 2009-2011 when it was a 4-person board. Today, it’s over 12! The membership of the BC chapter is filled with so much talent and experience you would be remiss in not tapping into it. Attend an event! BC Chamber of Commerce / Prince Rupert and District Chamber of Commerce The BC Chamber of Commerce represents over 110 local chambers. They truly are “the voice of business in BC,” an ally, an advocate, and have I mentioned super friendly? Just attend one of their AGMs and you’ll see what I mean. Because Communica works throughout western Canada, we are also members of local chapters where we are doing business. Currently, we’re a member of the Prince Rupert and District Chamber of Commerce and I’ve found them to be a great source for community information and current events, and one of the best resources to disseminate information to the community and promote your own event. Win-win right? Mutual back-scratching. If you want a quick way to tap into a community and find out what’s going on in town, get involved with the chamber. The chamber knows all! Gold pan Networking events provide great opportunities for learning new skills – like gold panning These organizations have done more than just build my personal and professional network; they drive innovation and inspire me. They have provided me the opportunity to hear and learn from others who “have been there” while swapping stories of failure and success. My conversations with fellow association-goers frequently revolve around that project that went sideways, or the fresh battle scars earned from that last public engagement exercise. I have to say, it’s nice to have these stories met with nods of understanding and appreciation. Does this read as a call to action? It should! If you are not already involved in a professional association that advocates for the work you do, I strongly encourage you to join a club. If you’re feeling kind of awkward about going to an event on your own for the first time, reach out to us at Communica – we’ll be your wingman/wingwoman. Got a recommendation for us on an association to check out? Leave a comment, we’d love to hear it. Emma Shea, General Manager, BC Continued

Empathy, Attention and Respect – Calming Upset People Conflict is everywhere. It is best to expect it and be prepared for it. Whether it transpires in a personal relationship, at home or at work, all of us have experienced conflict in our lives. It can be awkward, stressful and hard to deal with, but it can also be an important part of the human experience. If conflict is proactively addressed, it can be the catalyst for positive change. October 15th is conflict resolution day in Canada. To honour the day, Communica team members participated in a workshop put on by the Alberta Justice and Solicitor General called, Calming Upset People. The central theme of the workshop was to practice empathy, attention and respect, or E.A.R., to connect with a distressed person. Most often, conflict ensues when someone feels their interests have been challenged or threatened. The most powerful of these consist of our need to feel accepted, competent, to belong and to feel appreciated and secure. It is important to acknowledge these feelings before engaging in a conflict situation, as they can help us reframe our approach and respond with more empathy, attention and respect. EMPATHY. Displaying empathy to a distressed person shows that you can connect with and understand the pain and frustration they are experiencing. This human interaction comes naturally for most of us, and we are often easily triggered to feel empathetic toward people we are close with, such as co-workers, family and friends. When we show empathy for others we open the door to productive dialogue. Examples of empathetic statements include: I can see how important this is to you. I understand that this can be frustrating. I know this process can be confusing. I’d like to help if I can. Let’s see if we can solve this together. ATTENTION. Following an empathetic response to a conflict scenario, it is important to show attention to the distressed individual by giving them your time. When someone is upset it is often because they feel ignored and are simply looking for attention and assistance to help solve their issue. You can show attention to someone verbally by saying: Tell me what’s going on. Have a seat – let’s talk about this. You can show attention non-verbally with the following gestures: Establish eye contact. Nod your head. Lean in. RESPECT. The most distressed people tend to be those who continuously feel disrespected and ultimately just want to be heard and appreciated. When we show respect to others in a conflict situation, we help calm them down. Examples of respect statements include: I can see that you are a hard worker. I respect your commitment to solving the problem. You have important skills that we need to solve this problem. I respect your efforts on this. If you are preparing to deal with a conflict situation ask yourself: how could the other individual have reached their current position on the issue? Why haven’t they made the same decisions or conclusions I have regarding the situation? It is also important to remember: The situation is not about you. Monitor what you are thinking and feeling (what assumptions am I making, do I have a bias, etc.) Tell the truth. Look after yourself (you do not have to tolerate abuse or inappropriate behavior). You do not have to agree or disagree with the distressed person. When you put it all together, E.A.R. can be an effective process that helps alleviate frustration and leave one with a sense of openness, relief, peace of mind, and in the end, can help strengthen relationships. E.A.R. photo Congratulations to Samantha Hudec, Natasha Kappell, Bridget Honch, Jenna McMath, and Karlene Pitze for successfully completing the workshop. (Pictured here from left to right). Bridget Honch Continued

The federal government of Canada implemented an e-petition platform that will allow petitions to be signed and circulated online. Petitions made through this tool will require a government response after a minimum of 500 signatures are obtained. This e-petition platform was launched Friday December 4. However, this does not mean that all online petitions currently circulating now hold legal standing. The e-petition platform has a thorough review process which includes sponsorship from a Member of Parliament and a review of the wording surrounding the petition to meet petition guidelines. Once these criteria are met, the petition can be circulated online for 120 days. If you sign the petition, your information is permanently published and needs to include your name, address, telephone and email. This is a great step forward to make petitions more accessible and the tool has already seen a few petitions go live. There are petitions for everything these days; petitions to express outrage towards foreign investors, transportation programs, artists performing at festivals, menu items, dislike of a television show’s ending, deporting celebrities, declaring the day after the Superbowl a national holiday… . These pop-culture petitions seek to garner attention by mimicking the format of a traditional petition, which set out to gather names in support of asking a government to revisit an issue around a certain topic while in session. During our daily media monitoring we’re seeing an influx of online petitions supporting or denouncing different aspects of British Columbia’s natural resource industry. This raises the question, what constitutes a petition? And does your online “signature” mean anything?Word scratch Requirements from the House of Commons and Legislative Assembly of British Columbia state, that in order to be accepted, petitions must be hand delivered, hold original signatures, and contain verification that the signatories are Canadian citizens. The description of the petition is also important and must include the specific bill or law the petition is regarding. The Canadian House of Commons has proposed the acceptance of an e-petition system in the past; however, it is unclear when this process might be in place. Currently, the only governments in Canada accepting online petitions are the Northwest Territories and the Province of Quebec. Both jurisdictions require the online petition to be created and distributed through their individual e-petition websites, not through any website platform. In effect, online petitions do not contain the appropriate information to be legally recognized. They do not present original signatures and many do not address a specific bill, rather asking for an opinion on a public issue. Furthermore, it is impossible to verify who the signatories are with just an email address and without in-person verification of identity, there is a risk of false information. Taking these legalities into consideration we have to be careful when we encounter online petitions, which can be more appropriately categorized as declarations. They can raise awareness and gain the attention of media and government officials, but they are not a formal submission. While the legalities surrounding identification prevent these online campaigns from formally engaging in the political context, it still provides a venue to engage and express a point of view. Amanda Jarl Continued

The inaugural Women as a Catalyst for Growth forum occurred last year as an initiative to support British Columbia (B.C.) women in business and advance the conversation into action strategies for economic growth. The second annual B.C. Economic Forum: Women as a Catalyst for Growth hosted by the Vancouver Board of Trade takes place this Friday, October 23 and Communica is excited to attend.The foundational event resulted in feedback to create the Women as a Catalyst for Growth: A B.C. Action Plan. The key recommendations in this action plan are designed to grow the impact of women and their economic output in B.C. and Canada. The recommendations include:Promote and advocate diversityChampion womenFoster positive & self-affirming mindsetsIncorporate a diversity focus in early educationActivate menWe’re eager to attend the forum this Friday to learn more about these recommendations and how they are being implemented.Funded in part by Status of Women Canada, the Catalyst for Growth project is organized by the Women’s Enterprise Centre in collaboration with the WEB Alliance, the Premier’s Women’s Economic Council and other supporting organizations throughout B.C. The project seeks to find solutions to increase the impact of women in the B.C. economy by growing women in senior leadership roles, entrepreneurship, and in trades and other emerging sectors.If you cannot attend in person, join us as we tweet along @CommunicaPA using the hashtags #econwomen and #VBOT.Kyla HumphreysCanadian women represent 47% of the workforce, yet only 5.3% are CEOs and 15.9% are board directors. This imbalance of women in senior leadership roles has a significant impact on the competitiveness and success of Canadian companies across all sectors and industries – Catalyst for Growth Project Continued

Don’t know where the Liberals, Conservatives and NDP stand on Aboriginal issues during this Canadian election campaign? You’re not alone. Don’t want to sift through the massive amounts of information available online? No problem. We’ve done it for you. The following table outlines where each party stands on the various issues concerning Aboriginal peoples in Canada. Issue Liberal Conservative NDP Education $2.6 billion investment in First Nations students to help close the education gap (including funding committed to by the Conservative government) $50 million in addition annual funding to the Post-Secondary Student Support Program $200 million over five years to improve First Nations education $12 million over three year for post-secondary funding for First Nations and Inuit students Invest $1.8 billion over four years in First Nations education $4.8 billion over eight years in First Nations education Culture Funding to help Indigenous communities promote and preserve Indigenous languages and culture Increasing funding to support the preservation and promotion of traditional Aboriginal languages $68 million over four years to revitalize Indigenous languages Economic Develop a Métis Economic Development Strategy and invest $25 million over five years to implement this new strategy Investing $30 million over five years for the expansion of the First Nations Land Management Regime to create further opportunities for economic development on reserve Investing $248.5 million over five years in Aboriginal labour market programming $215 million over five years to the Skills and Partnership Fund to provide skills and development training for Aboriginal peoples Work with Indigenous communities to ensure local jobs, training and contracts for infrastructure projects Renew and improve the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy Social Launch a national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women Enact the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission starting with the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Remove the 2% funding cap on social transfers Will address some of the key themes set out in the preliminary recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Will launch a national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women Implement the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Consult and act on the findings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Remove the 2% funding cap on social transfers Governance Will work with Indigenous communities on a nation-to-nation basis Establish a federal claims process that recognizes Métis self-government and resolves outstanding claims Enacting and continuing the First Nations Financial Transparency Act to increase accountability and transparency of First Nations governance Will work with Indigenous communities on a nation-to-nation basis Infrastructure $500 million over the next three years for building and refurbishing First Nations schools $500 million dedicated to construction and renovation of schools on reserve $170 million per year will be provided to First Nations to support the construction, rehabilitation, and renovation of affordable housing on reserves $375 million over four years to improve infrastructure, such as housing, roads, and drinking water on First Nations reserves Health & Wellness Close the gap in health status between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians $2 million per year ongoing for mental wellness teams in First Nations Communities $30 million in Aboriginal health research to improve and promote the health of Aboriginal peoples in Canada Improve health services available for indigenous people living in urban centres with an investment of $120 million Do you think any main issues have been missed? If so, let us know in the comments below. And above all, don’t forget to vote on Monday, October 19. For the polling station closest to you, visit the Elections Canada website. Natasha Kappell Continued

The Company Communica Public Affairs (Communica), with offices in Calgary and Vancouver, is Western Canada’s largest stakeholder engagement specialist firm. Our company supplies a distinctive suite of consultation, communication and information management support services to help our clients develop the strategies and plans they need to establish and manage external relationships. General Manager, Prairies Communica has a unique opportunity for a senior professional to lead the Communication, Consultation and Stakeholder Information Management practices within the Prairie region. This position will be based in our Calgary office. The newly created General Manager, Prairies position’s primary responsibilities will include: Identifying and securing new business opportunities Leading market specific business development initiatives Managing client support Coordinating proposals Leadership and development of the functional Communication, Consultation and Information Management team leaders Actively contributing to the continued growth of the company This position will be responsible to guide staff development through identifying skills needs, delegating tasks appropriately and motivating project staff to provide outstanding client service. This position will report directly to President, and will sit as a member of the Communica Executive Committee. About You You bring 8 to 10 years of related consultancy and industry experience leading the planning process on integrated engagement and communications support. You have demonstrated excellence in generating strategic insights and creative ideas that can advance a client’s business. Your strong leadership qualities allow you to influence and inspire both external client and internal teams. You will: Confidently lead exceptional operational performance in the Calgary office, ensuring quality work, effective processes and that client requests are handled in timely and strategic fashion Thoughtfully counsel clients based on broad communications landscape and business goals; take immediate action on client feedback Demonstrate advanced writing skills and supervise writing of others Capitalize on, and contribute to, the development of Communica’s brand to serve and grow business Lead employee team by mentoring, motivating, coaching, and consistently providing feedback Commit to continuous learning and improvement of leadership and management skills Set and aggressively pursue personal and business related goals If this sounds like a great fit for you, please send your résumé and cover letter to careers@communica.ca by October 30, 2015. We thank all applicants in advance; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Thank you for your interest in working with Communica. Continued

We're growing! Communica Public Affairs (Communica) is pleased to announce the creation of two senior executive roles within our Western Canadian operations. “As part of our long term strategic growth plan we have identified an immediate opportunity to grow our organization and add two senior roles,” says Doug Ford, Principal of Communica. Effective immediately, Emma Shea has been appointed to General Manager, British Columbia (B.C.). Emma will lead the growth and strategic direction of Communica’s internal and external relationships throughout B.C. While playing a lead role in Communica’s business growth and internal management, she will also continue to oversee client services and provide strategic counsel with respect to their Stakeholder Engagement, Consultation and Communication needs. Emma joined Communica in December 2007 and was transferred to the newly established Communica B.C. office in the fall of 2008. “Since moving to Vancouver, Emma has done an exceptional job of both leading the execution of our B.C. based projects as well as building a very strong team of individuals who deliver on those projects every day,” says Ford. Emma is a skilled public affairs practitioner experienced with helping clients successfully navigate complex regulatory requirements. With over a decade of experience working in the resource sector (both in a consulting and non-consulting role) with a focus on community engagement at the local level, Emma has spent the better part of the last 8 years interacting and building relationships with stakeholders across Western Canada. Extra-curricular activities include obtaining her Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) with the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) in 2012, serving as current Vice-President of CPRS Vancouver, and previously serving on the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2) BC Board. In addition to the creation of General Manager, B.C., Communica will augment its current executive team by adding a General Manager, Prairies. The General Manager, Prairies will lead the Communication, Consultation and Stakeholder Information Management practices within the Prairie region. This position will be based out of Calgary, Alberta. We are currently searching for candidates to take on this role, interested applicants can learn more here. Communica Public Affairs, with offices in Calgary and Vancouver, is Western Canada’s largest stakeholder engagement specialist firm. Our company supplies a distinctive suite of consultation, communication and information management support services to help our clients develop the strategies and plans they need to establish and manage external relationships. For Additional Information: Myles Nelson Chief Administrative Officer Tel: 587.955.3024 Mnelson@communica.ca Skyline Continued

Last month, the federal government held its 20th annual Emergency Preparedness Week. In an effort to bring widespread awareness to different risks in your area, this year’s theme was “Know the risks. Reduce them together!” The hope is every Canadian will develop a plan, know the risks and feel comfortable in their surroundings, should they find themselves in a natural disaster. To further our commitment to workplace safety, Communica held our inaugural earthquake drill in the Vancouver office coinciding with Emergency Preparedness Week. Communica is no stranger to natural disasters. Almost two years to the date, Communica’s Calgary office was amongst those affected by the 2013 Alberta floods. Displacing our team for 257 days, it was a sobering lesson on the sheer magnitude of natural disasters. According to Natural Resources Canada, the Pacific coast is the most earthquake prone region of Canada. British Columbia is lying adjacent to the Cascadia Subduction Zone which has been building pressure for thousands of years; pressure that could release at any moment. Out on the west coast, we speak often about the possibility that ‘The Big One’ will rock the shores of our coast. Sadly, in Nepal this past April we saw the devastating effects and the vast amount of destruction an earthquake can cause. With this in mind, we decided to put our team to the test. Everyone followed the Drop, Cover and Hold procedure with “shaking” lasting 90 seconds. Following the shaking, we counted for 60 seconds to account for any aftershocks and the settling of anything that may have been dislodged or fallen. As our office has many large glass windows, we simulated some broken glass made out of red paper to make sure that everyone was aware of their surroundings. Using situational cards, we encouraged team members to locate their desk side earthquake kits. While Communica has a large emergency preparedness kit in the office containing the recommended food, water and necessities for up to 72 hours for each member in the office, we also outfitted all of our workstations with small kits, in case anyone is trapped at their desk. These kits include: Bottled water Flashlight Whistle Non-perishable food item Being mindful of hazards, our designated safety coordinators led the group through the emergency exit route to the muster point. Following the evacuation we came back to the office and debriefed the event to make sure everyone felt comfortable with their role and what to do. We discussed how better to prepare our office, homes and vehicles for potential emergency situations. For more information on this, see these helpful sites from the federal government and the provincial government. Our next office wide drill will be during the “Great British Columbia Shakeout” held on October 15th; we encourage you to join us and hundreds of other schools and businesses! – Shannon O’Byrne safetysafety3 Continued

With over 350,000 tweets sent per minute worldwide (Internet Live Stats) it takes a quite a few people talking about the same thing to get a topic trending on Twitter. While you still get your fair share of selfies and cute animal photos, today’s “trending” posts showcase engagement and major public attention. Through hashtags, keywords and geographic tracking of tweets generates a large amount of data that can be analyzed. When hashtags and words start trending, it’s something that communicators and stakeholder engagement professionals must pay attention to! Boycott Tims 3:00pm June 4, 2015 (image from Trendsmap.com) On June 4, after a decision by Tim Hortons to pull Enbridge advertisements from their in-store televisions, Tim Hortons sent a tweet at 9:10 am informing a concerned patron that the ads had been removed. Soon after, Twitter users took to the hashtag #BoycottTims to engage in conversation and express their opinions. Beating out the #ThrowbackThursday trend, #BoycottTims became the number 1 trending topic in Canada three hours after Tim Hortons sent their tweet. While the potential to encourage action beyond the screen of our smartphones may not happen with every user of the hashtag, it provides a new tool to remotely monitor a conversation over time and place. The hashtag had been used sparingly before in association with quality of product and working conditions. Through our social media analysis tools we saw the trend start at 12:30 pm PST on June 4 and significantly increased over night. The total in 24 hours between June 4 and June 5 was almost 6,000 mentions. In tweets that contained the hashtag #BoycottTims the hashtags #cdnpoli, #SupportCanadianEnergy and #oilsands were the most mentioned in congruence with the hashtag. This demonstrates the context and reach of the topics being discussed around the grassroots hashtag. Interestingly, #RightMoveTims which supports Tim Hortons decision to pull the Enbridge ads, is beginning to trend in Vancouver, Toronto and Ottawa, while #BoycottTims remains prominent in Alberta. Although, #RightMoveTims hashtag users do not currently match the volume of tweets that have gained traction overnight with #BoycottTims, it will be interesting to see if a new trend emerges. #BoycottTims has some additional competition to maintain its top Canadian trend spot. June 5 is also #NationalDonutDay, which is trending worldwide. Even though these trends may just be a short blip in one’s overall social media newsfeed, they show increased engagement and importance of a particular conversation. Overall, Tim Hortons’ decision to pull the Enbridge advertisements has increased their public profile on Twitter and throughout news media immensely. As we watched this topic with interest yesterday, it reminded us of the importance of having well defined social media posting policies and practises within an organization. Social media should be incorporated into an organization’s overall communications strategy to ensure messaging is always reflective of the company’s values, brand, and relevant to your audience. It cannot be implemented ad hoc or separate from an encompassing strategy. Because as we have seen, one tweet goes a long way! -Amanda Jarl Continued