Fundamentals of Public Participation

Build Trust. Drive Better Decisions

Hands-on workshop for public participation professionals

Foundation Course · IAP2 Training

Fundamentals of
Public Participation

Build Trust. Drive Better Decisions.

A dynamic, hands-on workshop equipping practitioners with the core principles, tools, and confidence to design and deliver meaningful public participation initiatives.

Course Details at a Glance
Duration
1 day or 2 half-days
Delivery
Virtual & In-Person
Level
Foundation — No Prerequisites
Language
English & French sessions
Register for a Session ›
Max Class Size
25 participants
Sessions per Year
30+ across Canada
CEUs Awarded
0.75 IAP2 CEUs
Pathway Credit
Counts toward CP3
Member Discount
Save 15% as a member
About This Course

The essential starting point for every P2 practitioner

Fundamentals of Public Participation and Engagement is a dynamic workshop that equips practitioners with the core principles, tools, and confidence to design and deliver meaningful public participation initiatives.

Through interactive lectures, real-world case studies, hands-on exercises, and facilitated peer coaching, participants engage deeply with the foundational concepts underpinning effective public participation — from ethical leadership to applying IAP2’s internationally recognized frameworks.

Whether you’re stepping into a P2 role for the first time or formalizing an existing practice, this course delivers immediate, practical value you can apply the very next day.

What You’ll Learn
  • Define what public participation and engagement are, and what makes them genuinely effective
  • Explore benefits, risks, common myths, and the role of ethical leadership in participation processes
  • Apply IAP2’s Core Values, Spectrum, and Practice Framework to real-life scenarios
  • Reflect on equity, diversity, inclusion, power, and influence in shaping participation outcomes
  • Strengthen your ability to assess and design more intentional, values-based participation processes
Why This Course

Four reasons practitioners choose this course

Grounded in internationally recognized standards, designed for immediate application, delivered by Canada’s leading P2 professionals.

Internationally Vetted Methods

Ground your work in IAP2’s Core Values and Spectrum of Public Participation — the globally recognized framework trusted by practitioners in over 30 countries.

Practical, Immediately Applicable Learning

Apply concepts through group workshops and receive real-time feedback. Leave with templates, checklists, and facilitation guides you can deploy the very next day.

A Network of Engagement Professionals

Share challenges, insights, and best practices with fellow practitioners from across sectors. The connections you make here often last a career.

Real Return on Your Investment

Better-designed processes, stronger stakeholder trust, and fewer costly missteps. Practitioners report measurable improvements in their engagement outcomes.

Learning Outcomes

After this course, you will be able to

Measurable skills and competencies you’ll develop and take back to your work.

1
Define what public participation and engagement are, and identify the conditions that make them genuinely effective
2
Articulate the benefits and risks of engagement, dispel common myths, and lead with ethical clarity
3
Apply IAP2’s Core Values, Spectrum, and Practice Framework to plan and evaluate real-life participation scenarios
4
Reflect on how equity, diversity, inclusion, power, and influence shape participation outcomes
5
Design more intentional, values-based participation processes that build trust and lead to better decisions for communities and decision-makers alike
Who Should Attend

Built for practitioners at every stage

Whether you’re entering the field or formalizing an existing practice, this course meets you where you are.

Emerging Practitioners

New to P2 in government, non-profits, utilities, or the private sector who need a solid foundation

Project Leads

Professionals who need structured public input to guide decision-making on complex projects

Communications Specialists

Those transitioning from one-way broadcast communications to meaningful two-way dialogue

Consultants

Advisors seeking a repeatable, values-based engagement framework for clients across sectors

Community Organizers

Stakeholder managers and organizers aiming to build trust, resolve conflict, and amplify community voice

This course completely changed how I approach community engagement. I came in thinking I already knew the basics — I left realizing how much more intentional my process design could be. The IAP2 framework gave me a shared language to bring back to my whole team.

Danielle R.
Engagement Manager, Municipal Government
Upcoming Sessions

Find a date that works for you

Sessions run throughout the year in English and French, virtually and in-person across Canada.

June 2026
Jun
17
Online
Fundamentals of P2 — Hosted by A. Shaw
Virtual · 9:00 AM PT
Jun
29–30
2-Session Virtual
Fundamentals of P2 — IAP2 Canada (Sessions 1 & 2)
Zoom · 12:30 PM ET each day
July 2026
Jul
8
Online
Fundamentals of P2 — Hosted by A. Shaw
Virtual · 9:00 AM PT
Jul
13
Online
Fundamentals of P2 — Hosted by Neill
Virtual · 9:00 AM MT
Jul
13–14
2-Session Virtual
Fundamentals of P2 — IAP2 Canada (Sessions 1 & 2)
Zoom · 12:30 PM ET each day
August 2026
Aug
11
Online
Fundamentals of P2 — Hosted by Engage Delaney
Virtual · 9:30 AM PT
September 2026
Sep
1–2
2-Session Virtual
Fundamentals of P2 — IAP2 Canada (Sessions 1 & 2)
Zoom · 12:30 PM ET each day
Sep
9
Online
Fundamentals of P2 — Hosted by Engage Delaney
Virtual · 9:30 AM PT
Sep
9
Online
Fundamentals of P2 — Hosted by Quinn-Nichols
Virtual · 3:30 PM PT
Sep
17
Online
Fundamentals of P2 — Hosted by Neill
Virtual · 9:00 AM MT
Sep
28–29
2-Session Virtual
Fundamentals of P2 — IAP2 Canada (Sessions 1 & 2)
Zoom · 12:30 PM ET each day
October 2026
Oct
5
In-Person
Fundamentals of P2 — Hosted by Tracey Ehl
Oakville, Ontario · 9:00 AM ET
Oct
5
Online
Fundamentals of P2 — Hosted by Engage Delaney
Virtual · 9:30 AM PT
Oct
13–14
Français
(FR) Principes fondamentaux — AIP2 Canada
Zoom · 12:30 PM ET chaque jour
Oct
19
Online
Fundamentals of P2 — Hosted by Engage Delaney
Virtual · 9:30 AM PT
Oct
20
In-Person
Fundamentals of P2 — Hosted by Hyshka
Regina, Saskatchewan · 9:00 AM CT
Oct
26–27
2-Session Virtual
Fundamentals of P2 — IAP2 Canada (Sessions 1 & 2)
Zoom · 12:30 PM ET each day
November 2026
Nov
3
Online
Fundamentals of P2 — Hosted by Quinn-Nichols
Zoom · 3:30 PM PT
Nov
9
Online
Fundamentals of P2 — Hosted by Engage Delaney
Virtual · 9:30 AM PT
Nov
18
In-Person
Fundamentals of P2 — Hosted by A. Shaw
Calgary, Alberta · 9:00 AM MT
Nov
23–24
2-Session Virtual
Fundamentals of P2 — IAP2 Canada (Sessions 1 & 2)
Zoom · 12:30 PM ET each day
Nov
30
Online
Fundamentals of P2 — Hosted by Engage Delaney
Virtual · 9:30 AM PT
December 2026
Dec
7
In-Person
Fundamentals of P2 — Hosted by Quinn-Nichols
Victoria, British Columbia · 9:00 AM PT
Dec
14–15
2-Session Virtual
Fundamentals of P2 — IAP2 Canada (Sessions 1 & 2)
Zoom · 12:30 PM ET each day
P2 Learning Pathway

This is your starting point.
Where will you go next?

Fundamentals of P2 is the foundation of IAP2 Canada’s structured Learning Pathway — a curriculum designed to take practitioners from first principles to CP3 certification and beyond.

1
Fundamentals of P2
2
Applying Methods
3
Elective Courses
CP3 Certification
Keep Learning

Courses that build on this foundation

Applying Methods in P2 & Engagement

Deepen your toolkit with a range of engagement methods and learn when and how to deploy each one for maximum impact.

Learn More
Facilitating Groups in P2 & Engagement

Master the art of facilitation — from designing agendas to managing difficult dynamics and drawing out meaningful input.

Learn More
Designing Public Participation & Engagement

Learn to craft engagement plans that are strategically aligned, context-sensitive, and set up to succeed before you begin.

Learn More
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