Upcoming Events
IAP2 Canada AGM Webinar - April 25th
Starting at 10:00 Pacific, 11:00 Mountain, 1:00 Central, and 2:00 Atlantic
Thanks to the hard work and leadership of many, our first full year as an Affiliate is over. Our 2012 AGM is a chance for the Board to report back to members on activities and listen to your priorities for the year ahead. We hope you can join our webinar AGM on April 25. This will be your chance to hear what the Board has been doing for the past year and some of the plans for the future of IAP2 Canada. We will be reporting back on our finances and answering any other questions you have for the Board. We encourage you to register online today. AGM materials will be posted on the members’ section of the website on April 11. The meeting will need 30 members to make quorum so plan to be there!
Webinar: Building Effective Cross-Sector Collaborations on a Foundation of IAP2 Core Values
Tuesday, May 8, 12:00-1:00PM EDT, with Speaker, Anne Harding, Suncor Energy
Drawing on the recent research of Aboriginal Relations practitioner and IAP2 Canada board member Anne Harding, this webinar explores the how cross-sector partnerships have emerged as a way to engage communities. In the last decade, partnerships between groups from different economic sectors—be they corporate-community, government-nonprofit, or community-nonprofit initiatives—have increasingly been touted as an effective tool for bringing together different perspectives and strengths to solve complex social issues and build sustainable trust-based relationships.
Through this webinar, Anne will review what the academic community has to say about the ups and downs of cross-sector partnerships, and will give an overview of her research on a specific kind of partnership: Aboriginal-corporate collaborative initiatives.
The results of her research—key criteria for success in Aboriginal-corporate collaborations—will be presented using the IAP2 Core Values as a framework to show how IAP2 principles can be used to support many different types of community engagement (even those where the goal may be to build a relationship rather than make a decision!).
Municipalities Increasingly Leverage Social Platforms to Engage Residents
By: Marko Pajalic, Delaney and Associates Inc.
The Interactive Advertising Bureau declared in 2008, “If you’re not on social media, you’re not on the internet.” Eight years after the launch of Facebook, municipalities across Canada increasingly are integrating social media into their online operations. The business case is clear:
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over 80% of Canadians have online access,
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86% have Facebook profiles, and
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54% say they would engage more with government if they could do so online.
Increasing, use of social media means public participation specialists need to pay attention because these trends dramatically impact engagement strategies. For municipalities, social media is a valuable tool to address residents’ expectations for real-time information, on-demand access to services, and quick response times.
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President’s Message
Leadership
By: Amelia Shaw
As I prepare for the upcoming AGM, it is a time for reflections and observations. I can honestly say that I am proud to be a member of IAP2 Canada and it has been an honour to work with the current IAP2 Canada Board.
During my year as President I have talked and worked with a lot of our members. The Board has been reaching out and listening to what you want. The top two priorities remain professional development and networking. Over the past year, our newsletter has changed to include industry insights, the webinars are successfully responding to hot topics members want to learn more about, and we have received numerous responses to our first North American IAP2 Conference Call for Proposals. Through your feedback and involvement, we will continue to raise the bar in providing our members with the services they want. .
We are also looking to create partnerships that will support our members and IAP2 Canada’s goals. We are thrilled to be hosting the North American Conference with IAP2 USA and C2D2 in Halifax, September 30 to October 2, 2012. We look forward to welcoming the International Federation Board members as they have their Board meeting in conjunction with the Conference. We will be partnering with the International Association of Facilitators and CIVICUS at their upcoming events and we are exploring options of sharing resources with NCDD and IAP2 USA. Can we do more? Please send your ideas.
So what is next? At the recent February face-to-face Board meeting in Calgary, your directors focused on completing the draft 2012-2013 Strategic Plan. Based on the feedback from members we identified a potential new vision (the world as we want it to be)—“IAP2 principles are used to build, sustain and advance democratic and participatory communities” and a mission (our role in that world) “IAP2 Canada champions the practice of people-focused approaches to support sustainable relationships and outcomes.” Three main areas for action were proposed: “Build a Sustainable Organization,” “Develop Value for Membership,” and “Advance the Practice of P2.” I encourage each of you to review this draft document and share your thoughts about our proposed directions. Please visit the IAP2 Canada website and help the Board to finalize the document for the AGM in April.
Last but certainly not least, a sincere congratulations to the Great Lakes and Prairies Steering Committees for taking the initiative to create chapters for the members in their region. Thank-you to the BC and Wild Rose Chapters for delivering events their members have come to expect. To all committee members, thank-you as a volunteer organization we couldn’t do it without you.
A Strategic Thanks!
Our draft Strategic Plan is the result of much hard work from many people. Thank you to everyone (especially board members) who contributed to the high-level thinking that has gone into the document.
A special thanks to Curt Hammond from Pearl Street Communications who helped organize and facilitate the board planning session in March. Curt is a new IAP2 member from the Guelph area and skillfully guided the board through a full day of conversation about the mission, vision, and values of the organization. His facilitation also helped us bring more structure and clarity to our strategic plan.
IAP2 North America Conference
Keynotes Announced
The IAP2 Conference Committee is proud to announce that Dr. Joan McArthur-Blair and Dr. John Gaventa will be our two keynote speakers for the North American IAP2 Conference being held in Halifax, NS from September 30 to October 3, 2012.
Dr. Joan McArthur-Blair is an inspirational speaker and facilitator. She brings to her consulting practice over twenty years experience in higher education in formal and informal leadership roles, most recently as the President of Nova Scotia Community College. Over a broad ranging career she has worked as a leader in higher education, in faculty development, international projects, women in development, and the mentorship and education of other leaders. She has particular expertise in the development of leaders, appreciative inquiry in strategic planning, diversity, women in leadership, and is a sought after speaker in the areas of leadership risk, innovation, change and the development of the inner life of leaders and generating positive change. Recently her focus has been on the notion of hope, despair and forgiveness in leadership as three tenets that can guide leaders over time. She is authoring two books: The Quivering Heart; Hope, Despair and Forgiveness in Leadership and co-authoring Appreciative Inquiry in Higher Education: A Transformative Force which will be released in August 2012.
Dr. John Gaventa is a political sociologist, educator, and civil society practitioner with extensive experience of research, training and organizational leadership across the globe. As an academic researcher, he has worked extensively on areas of international development, citizen participation and action, participatory methods of research and learning; power and empowerment; participatory governance; global citizenship and social movements; and grassroots organization. He has organized and led several large-scale international research programs and action learning networks, including the Development Research Centre on Citizenship, Participation and Accountability, and LogoLink. He has also served as a leader of civil society organizations, including director of the Highlander Center in the United States, and chair of Oxfam Great Britain. He has a particular interest in linking research and education to development practice and social change. A former Rhodes Scholar and MacArthur Prize Fellow, he was most recently a Professor in the Participation, Power and Social Change team at the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex.
You do not want to miss this event! Be sure to register early and check the Conference Website for ongoing updates as session proposals have been received and to vote for your favorite sessions! Any questions or comments about the conference can be sent to the Conference Committee.
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P2 articles you don't want to miss!
The National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation
Five Assumptions Academics Make about Public Deliberation, and Why They Deserve Rethinking
National League of Cities
New NLC Tool Kit Seeks to Strengthen Local Democracy
Social Media & Public Engagement
Thanks to All who Participated!
We are happy to share that the webinar on social media held on March 6th was a great success. The event boasted 71 guests (63 members, 8 non-members) who eagerly engaged with guest speaker Joseph Peters, from Ascentum.
Through various examples of social media participation, Mr. Peters illustrated:
- Why governments and other organizations should consult and engage their communities (stakeholders, citizens, employees, shareholders) using social media;
- How social media and other collaborative online tools have changed the way in which engagement takes place; and
- What they have learned from using social media to engage communities.
Thank you to everyone that participated! Be sure to check out the events section of this newsletter to learn more about the next webinar taking place on May 8, 2012.
Events and Training
Chapter Notices
IAP2 Canada Seeks St. Lawrence Revitalization Squad!
IAP2 Canada is looking for a group of passionate and dedicated members in the Ottawa region to help revitalize the St. Lawrence chapter. We are looking for five to ten individuals to form a steering committee to breathe new life into this chapter.
If you are in or around the National Capital Region and would like to see IAP2 Canada active in your neck of the woods, please email Brenda Pichette or Anne Harding by April 15th.
Introducing IAP2 Canada's newest emerging chapter: Prairies
A steering committee has been formed and first meeting held for the Prairies Chapter. This is an interim body that will move things forward towards establishing a chapter. Focus is on chapter formation/launch by fall. We welcome people to join the steering committee from Saskatchewan and Northern Ontario. Contact Michelle Holland if you're interested in helping out.
BC Chapter Update
We are pleased to be supporting Dialogue Partners who will be offering three programs “Group Facilitation Skills,” “Analyze This,” and “Standing the Fire” in Vancouver April 16-20, 2012.
On May 28 to June 1, 2012, Delaney and Associates will be delivering IAP2 Certificate in Public Participation in Vancouver.
We have tentatively scheduled the IAP2 BC Spring Symposium for Thursday, May 10th. Planning is underway for an educational day for members. More information will be announced through IAP2 BC’s newsletter and email broadcasts.
Great Lakes Chapter Update
The Great Lakes Chapter held its first Networking, Learning and Collaboration event on March 8, 2012 in Port Credit. We are happy to say that the turnout was excellent with over twenty members attending to hear our engaging speakers! We would like to thank our speakers Corey Ryan and Loren Polonky for joining us and sharing some of their success stories.
The Great Lakes Chapter is planning a spring event at the City of Burlington. Stay tuned for more details.
Wildrose Chapter Update
AGM and Program, April 27 11:00–2:00, Grant McEwan College, Edmonton. This event will include our Annual General Meeting, Lunch, and a panel discussion. Save the date for now and details will be distributed shortly.
Networking Night: IAP2 Wild Rose will be hosting a networking evening in both Calgary and Edmonton in the spring. We are hammering out the final details, so watch for event notifications in the next few weeks.
Crowdsourcing is rapidly gaining popularity as a tool to engage the public in decision-making processes. Experience crowdsourcing for yourself when we partner with one of Canada’s leading crowdsourcing providers to engage Wild Rose membership in our-own process. Watch for details in the coming weeks.
IAP2 Canada hires a Management Firm
It is with pleasure that the Board announces the hiring of Dalton Communications Inc. to provide IAP2 Canada with administrative support services. Please join us in welcoming Karen Dalton and her team.
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