Research at IAP2 Canada
Strengthening public participation through reflection, evidence, and practitioner insight
Research at IAP2 Canada
Strengthening public participation through reflection, evidence, and practitioner insight.
Leading National Research Initiatives
The IAP2 Canada Research Committee is a volunteer group of practitioners from across sectors who are committed to advancing public participation practice through research and inquiry.
We identify emerging trends, conduct member surveys, explore evolving tools and methodologies, and help translate insights into learning opportunities and professional development offerings.
Our goal is simple: to strengthen the practice of public participation in Canada by grounding it in reflection, evidence, and lived practitioner experience.
Our Approach to Research
Our work is practitioner-informed and field-focused. We:
- Conduct national surveys and environmental scans
- Explore emerging issues affecting engagement professionals
- Document "what we're hearing" across the country
- Identify implications for training, certification, and professional development
- Share findings openly with members and the broader field
We believe research should be practical, accessible, and useful – helping practitioners navigate complexity with confidence. Anchored in IAP2's Core Values and the Spectrum of Public Participation, our research initiatives reinforce the ethical and practical foundations of public participation while exploring how the field continues to evolve.
Under Pressure & Evolving: A 2025 Snapshot of Engagement Practice in Canada
A national summary of practitioner insights exploring key trends, challenges, and opportunities currently shaping public participation practice in Canada.
Download PDFResearch Archive
Our research is focused on identifying trends, best practices and areas of innovation. The Committee has commissioned and published the following reports:
Meet the Research Committee
The IAP2 Canada Research Committee is composed of volunteer practitioners from across Canada representing municipal government, consulting, non-profits, academia, and industry. Our members bring experience in facilitation, engagement strategy, evaluation, communications, systems change, and community leadership.
Lindsay is a community engagement practitioner with over 15 years of experience designing and leading public participation processes in municipal, environmental, and community development contexts. She specializes in creating inclusive, dialogue-based engagement that strengthens relationships, surfaces diverse perspectives, and supports thoughtful decision-making in complex systems.
Valérie is a full professor at UQAM and has been teaching at Sciences Po Lyon since 2017. Her work focuses on participatory project management, stakeholder management, change management, and open innovation initiatives. Valérie has authored numerous academic articles and co-edited several books on participation and engagement.
With eight years in outreach and engagement and over two decades in the museum community, Rebecca brings a strong arts and culture lens to her work. Her engagement practice is people-centric and inclusive, grounded in conversation and relationship-building.
Joseph brings the perspective gained from a forty-year career spanning government, marketing, research and online engagement. He is dedicated to designing and creating tools that engagement managers can use to invite and sustain meaningful public input grounded in relevant information.
Get Involved
Interested in contributing to future research initiatives or sharing emerging trends from your region? We'd love to hear from you.
Explore Our Findings
Stay informed about the latest trends and insights shaping public participation practice across Canada.
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