Communications + Public Relations Foundation

Who We Are
The Communications + Public Relations Foundation, established in 1979, is a recognized, not-for-profit, charitable organization that:

  • is committed to increasing public knowledge and awareness of the role of public relations and communications through support to educational initiatives and conduct of original communications research;
  • promotes the advancement of public relations and communications as a vital function in society; and
  • is dedicated to the public interest.

What We Do
We work with partners through the gifts of individuals, foundations, organizations and corporations to develop and implement educational initiatives that focus on the value and power of public relations. We

  • accept gifts toward the development of scholarships, awards, lectures, publications and the conduct of original communications research;
  • issue income tax receipts for all gifts;
  • encourage the establishment of educational initiatives to honour public relations practitioners.

The Past
In its early years, the Foundation raised money to advance the profession through:

  • Donating public relations texts to public libraries
  • Sponsoring a Foundation lecture at the CPRS national conference
  • Publishing of a public relations reference text book
  • Establishing the Jack Yocom Profile Collection with the CPRS College of Fellows

The Present
Currently, the Foundation manages a number of initiatives established in partnership with individuals and organizations and has initiated a national fundraising campaign to expand its support to original communications research:

  • Ruth Hammond Scholarship in co-operation with Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
    [2012 Recipient: Hillary MacEachern, Antigonish, Nova Scotia]
  • Lou Cahill Scholarship in Communications in partnership with the Enterprise Group, Toronto, and Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario.
    [2012 Recipient: Khadija Lee, Kitchener, Ontario]
  • Torchia Scholarship in Public Relations/Communications in partnership with Torchia Communications
    [2012 recipient: Zulfar Azimi, Gatineau, Quebec]
  • Calgary Legacy Scholarship in partnership with CPRS (Calgary), Calgary, Alberta
    [2012 recipient: Hailey Laycraft, Calgary, Alberta]
  • Denis Racine Bursary in partnership with CPRS (Vancouver Island), Victoria, British Columbia
    [2012 recipients: Lyndi Shaw and Christine Southern, Victoria, British Columbia]
  • APEX Scholarship in Public Relations in partnership with APEX Public Relations and Humber College, Toronto.
    [2012 recipient: Cole Douglas, Toronto]
  • Susan Francis Prize in Public Relations/Communications in partnership with John Francis and family, Calgary, Alberta; and in collaboration with CPRS (Calgary).
    [2012 recipient Sanita Dhillon, Calgary]
  • Launch of $50,000 research project in collaboration with corporate donors across Canada to be conducted in 2012 by a university in Canada chosen through a Request for Proposal:
    Focus of research — to establish important baseline information about what the public relations workforce looks like in terms of academic background, skills and experience. The research will investigate what employers in different sectors of public relations and communications management are looking for now, and in the future, to ensure the employees they hire have the required education, training and experience to contribute to overall corporate or organizational objectives.
    [2012 recipient: McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont., Terry Flynn, PhD, team leader]
  • Diana and Charles Tisdall Lecture in Communications in partnership with Tisdall family, Toronto, and donors nationwide, and in collaboration with Canadian Public Relations Society.
    • 2005 - Substance Sells: Aligning Corporate Reputation and Corporate Responsibility
      Bennett Freeman, Global Corporate Responsibility, Burson-Marsteller
      June 16, 2005, Calgary, AB.
      Transcript (PDF)
    • 2006 - The Power of Communications in Society
      Chantal Hebert, Political Columnist
      June 13, 2006, Niagara Falls, ON
      Audio (MP3) (35 minutes)
    • 2007 - You Can't Spin Mother Nature
      Jim Hoggan, APR , President, Hoggan and Associates
      June 14, 2007,Edmonton, AB
      View the video
    • 2008 Getting Kicked While You Are Down - The Truth About Citizen-Generated News & Its Role in Public Relations
      Leonard Brody, Chief Executive, NowPublic
      June 9, 2008, Halifax, Nova Scotia
      View the video
    • 2009 - Vision, Mission and Leadership - A CEO's Perspective on Communicating Tough Messages in Tough Economic Times
      Courtney Pratt
      Chair and CEO, Toronto Region Research Alliance
      June 8, 2009, Vancouver, BC
      View the video
    • 2010 - Communications in a Policing Environment: It's Complicated
      Sheila Bird
      Executive Director, Public Affairs
      Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
      June 15, 2010, Regina, SK
      View the video
    • 2011 - Getting to Maybe
      Eric Young, Founder and President, E-Y-E | The Social Projects Studio
      June 7, 2011, Saint John, New Brunswick
      View the video
    • 2012 - Financial Sector Communications in an Uncertain Economic Environment
      Lindsay Gordon President & CEO, HSBC Bank Canada
      June 12, 2012, Victoria, British Columbia
      View the video
  • Collaborative projects with Victoria Foundation and CPRS (Vancouver Island) featuring professional development and contribution of books to Greater Victoria Public Library

Annual Reports
The Foundation publishes an annual report that includes an outline of initiatives and its financial statement.

Governance
The Foundation is governed by a national board of communications professionals and those from the business sector. It is a separately incorporated organization with a strong relationship with the Canadian Public Relations Society through its founders.
Directors are elected annually at the organization's annual general meeting held in June,and may serve up to three, three year terms.

Officers:
Gordon McIvor, PhD, APR, FCPRS; Toronto
Robert Paddon, APR, MA, MBA; Vancouver
Bruce MacLellan, APR, FCPRS; Toronto
Jim Medeiros, CA, CMA; Toronto
 
Directors:
Nancy Arab, APR, ABC, FCPRS; Calgary
Luc Beauregard, CM, ARP, FSCRP; Montreal
Scott Bonikowsky, APR, FCPRS; Oakville
David Brodie; Vancouver
Hélène Gagné, ARP, MBA; Montreal
Walt Judas; Vancouver
Marlene Klassen, APR; Winnipeg
Joel Levesque, APR, FCPRS; Saint John
Blair Peberdy, APR; Toronto
Chitra Reddin, PhD; Toronto
Mark Seland, APR; Calgary
Carol Sharpe, BA; Montreal
Amy Thurlow, PhD, APR; Halifax
 
Ex-officio
Karen Dalton, APR; Toronto
Director Emeritus:
Ruth Hammond, B.A., APR, ABC, FCPRS(H); Toronto
Executive Director:
Barbara Sheffield, B.A., APR, FCPRS; Toronto
 

Foundation Sponsors
The Foundation acknowledges, with thanks, the following sponsors who make our operational work possible:

Annual Report translation – Centrik, Montreal, Quebec    
Annual report art and design – CREDO Communications, Toronto, Ontario
Brochure art and design – CREDO Communications, Toronto, Ontario
Brochure printing – CNW Group, Toronto
News release distribution – CNW Group, Ottawa
Web link - Canadian Public Relations Society Inc., Toronto

 

Foundation Donors
The Foundation acknowledges, with thanks, the following research donors:

  • Platinum - $10,000
    Great West Life Assurance Company, Winnipeg
    NATIONAL Public Relations, Montreal, Quebec
  • Gold - $5,000
    CP Rail, Calgary
    Environics Inc., Toronto
    Imperial Tobacco Canada, Montreal
    North Uist Communications Inc., Toronto
  • Silver - $2,500
    Bombardier Inc., Montreal
    CNW Group, Toronto
    Canadian Public Relations Society Inc., Toronto
    Hudbay Minerals, Toronto
    Leger Marketing, Toronto
    Tim Hortons Inc., Oakville
  • Bronze - $1,750- $1,000
    Agence LG2, Montreal
    Alliance des Cabinets de relations publiques du Quebec, Montreal
    APEX Public Relations, Toronto
    Argyle Communications, Toronto
    CN, Montreal
    CISION Canada Inc., Toronto
    Cohn & Wolfe, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal
    Desjardins, Montreal
    Fondation Daniel Lamarre, Montreal
    Morin relations publiques, Montreal
    Teck Resources Ltd, Vancouver
  • Diamond - $500
    ACJ Communication, Montreal
    GCI Canada, Toronto
    Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec
    Communication Casacom, Montreal
    Ecole de technologie supérieure, Montreal
    Marlene Klassen, APR, Winnipeg
    Colleen Killingsworth, APR, FCPRS, Calgary
    McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada, Toronto
    Molson Coors Canada, Toronto
    Newalta Corporation, Calgary
    Maureen Payne & Associates, Calgary
    Rider & Company Communications, Thornhill
    TD Financial Group, Toronto
    Ernest Yee, Vancouver
  • Other
    Diane Begin, APR, Toronto
    Dalton Communications, Toronto
    Don LaBelle, APR, FCPRS, Ottawa
    Joel Levesque, APR, FCPRS, Saint John
    Philip Mulder, APR, St. Albert
    Blair Peberdy, APR; Toronto
    Janet Sherman, Toronto
    Deb Trouten, APR, Toronto
    Guy Versailles, ARP, Montreal

The Foundation acknowledges, with thanks, the following donors who have made gifts to our work in 2011/12:

  • Individuals
    Nicole Beauchamp, Ottawa
    Elaine Susanna Brown, APR, Calgary
    John Challinor, APR, Milton
    Roberta Corey, Toronto
    Karen Dalton, APR, Toronto
    David Eisenstadt, APR, FCPRS, Toronto
    Robert Ellis, APR, FCPRS, Regina
    Frank Florio, APR, Stoney Creek
    Jean Freeman, APR, FCPRS(H)
    David Grier, APR, Toronto
    Judi Gunter, APR, FCPRS, Calgary
    Elizabeth Hirst, APR, FCPRS, Montreal
    Ginny Jones, APR, Ancaster
    William Koch, APR, FPRSA, Cobourg
    Corinne LaBossiere, APR, Toronto
    Jeff Lake, Burlington
    Antoine Landry, ARP, FSCRP, Laval
    Daniel Leger, Beaconsfield
    Joel Levesque, APR, FCPRS, Saint John
    Marilee Tisdall MacFarlane, Toronto
    Patrick Macleod, APR, FCPRS(H), Spain
    Janet MacMillan, APR, FCPRS, Halifax
    Ev McCrimmon, APR, Picton
    Gordon McIvor, APR, FCPRS, Cambridge
    Jim Medeiros, CA, CMA, Georgetown
    John Muldoon, APR, Oakville
    Edmund Murray, APR, FCPRS(H), Halifax
    Robert Paddon, APR, Vancouver
    Margaret Pearcy, APR, Ottawa
    Daniela Pizzuto, APR, Montreal
    Vincent Power, APR, Burlington
    Louise Racine, Victoria
    Louise Rousseau, Montreal
    David Rowney, APR, Georgetown
    Wayne Roznowsky, APR, Grande Prairie
    Don Savaria, Regina
    Tammy Schwass, Calgary
    Barbara Sheffield, APR, FCPRS, Toronto
    Peggy Sheffield, APR, Toronto
    Martha Tisdall Smith, Toronto
    Amy Thurlow, PhD, APR, Halifax
    Sydney Tomchenko, APR, Coquitlam
    Anita Wasiuta, APR, Victoria
    Martin Waxman, APR, Toronto
    Ernest Yee, Vancouver
  • Corporations or organizations
    APEX Public Relations, Toronto
    Barrick Gold Corporation, Toronto
    CPRS (Calgary), Calgary
    Enterprise Canada, Toronto
    Molson Coors Canada, Montreal
    RES PUBLICA, Montreal
    Torchia Communications, Montreal

How you can become involved
Consider a gift to the Foundation to support one or more of its many initiatives. You might make a bequest to the Foundation in your will to support communications education or research; you might, in collaboration with others, establish an award, scholarship or educational offering in memory of one of our pioneers or honour a current leader in our profession. We can help you with ongoing management and funding. Your ideas and suggestions are most welcome.

Any new initiative requires the donation of gifts to support its launch.

Contact Us
To contact the Communications + Public Relations Foundation for more information, or to how to make a gift, or how to establish an educational offering:

Barbara Sheffield BA, APR, FCPRS
Executive Director
Communications + Public Relations Foundation
Suite 1515
73 Widdicombe Hill Blvd
Toronto, Ontario
M9R 4B3
Phone: (416) 242-6146
FAX: (416) 242-6146
Email: foundation@prmediaconnection.com or b.sheffield@rogers.com.

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