8:30AM - 9:00AM       

Registration and networking

9:00AM - 9:10AM      

Opening remarks from Co-Organizers

9:10AM - 9:15AM      

Remarks from CPRS Ottawa-Gatineau President and introduction of Master of Ceremony

9:15AM - 9:30AM        

Welcome Messages from Master of Ceremonies

9:30AM - 10:30AM       

Keynote: Leading Intentionally (English presentation)

Franklin A. Holtforster

You are in an elevator when the person you've been trying to meet steps in. Do you have your 30 second elevator pitch ready to go? You are asked to give a presentation to an important client. Are you scared or prepared?

10:30AM - 11:00AM

Morning Break 

11:00AM - 12:15PM

English Breakout Session: Cutting through the noise of a federal election campaign:  How strategic communications delivered the biggest win in the New Democratic Party’s history

Brad Lavigne, NDP

As National Campaign Director for the 2011 Federal Election, Brad Lavigne, currently serving as Principal Secretary to the interim-leader of the NDP, quarterbacked a groundbreaking campaign for the New Democratic Party, achieving its best election result in a 50 year history.  The party gained over 4.5 million votes and went from 36 to 103 seats in the House of Commons, launching the NDP from the 4th party into Official Opposition status.  This overnight success was eight years in the making and, as Lavigne will outline, the New Democrats had a winning strategic communications plan already in-motion when the election was called.

French Breakout Session: Handling the media when it's time for change

Anick Losier, Canada Post

For decades, letters and lettermail service were the foundation of Canada's largest transportation and logistics network. The introduction of electronic alternatives is forcing the company—a Crown corporation—to begin making significant changes to ensure long-term viability. Communication is integral to change management, and media relations are part of the equation. Anick Losier, Director, Media Relations at Canada Post for the past two years, will provide an overview of media work within a company that has more than 6,400 postal outlets, delivers to 15 million addresses a day and employs more than 65,000 people.

Presented By: 

12:15PM - 1:30PM

Lunch

1:30PM - 2:45PM

English Breakout Session: Marketing a Brand in Politics & Brand Marketing in the World Beyond Politics

Dimitri Soudas, Canadian Olympic Committee

Whether you work in government, in politics, the not-for-profit sector or private industry, effective communications and branding are pivotal to an organization’s success. Dimitri Soudas, Executive Director, Communications for the Canadian Olympic Committee, arguably understands this better than anyone. Using specific examples and anecdotes from his time in the Canadian PMO, as well as insight from his current work and recent experiences, Dimitri will: reveal similarities and differences in branding exercises in politics versus the private sector; explain how tactical planning and marketing play a key role in determining whether or not your brand succeeds or fails in achieving strategic objectives; and from an especially unique perspective, explore the impact that social and digital media have had on brand positioning and communication in the 21st Century. 

 Presented By: 

French Breakout Session: One-on-one with an international brand: I’m lovin’ it!

Jason Patuano, McDonald's Canada, & Bruno Guglielminetti, National Public Relations

Now that companies have adopted social media, today they must learn how to manage the considerable flow of information that results. Jason Patuano, Director of Communications for Eastern Canada for McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Limited, and Bruno Guglielminetti, Director of Digital Communications at NATIONAL Public Relations, will explain how multinationals manage their online conversations in One-on-one with an international brand: I'm lovin' it!

2:45PM - 3:15PM

Afternoon Break

3:15PM - 4:15PM

Discussion Panel: Shaping the media: how social media is changing our daily content (English presentation)

Scott Hannant, former CTV Ottawa News Director; Joseph Thornley, Founder, Thornley Fallis; Melanie Coulson, Ottawa Citizen. Christina Lawand, moderator.

With the growing popularity of social media as a news aggregator, our daily news content has shifted and aligns more with consumers' needs and interests then ever before. For example, the growing popularity of the Huffington Post has placed them ahead of all other news sites as the source that provides the most viral news stories (ahead of the BBC, the Guardian, ABC News and Mashable). Does it reiterate the importance of investigative journalism? Many think it cannot be replaced by popular/trending news stories. The convergence of social and traditional media is here. Our panel will evaluate where we are in this change, and what to expect in the years ahead.

4:15PM - 4:30PM

Closing Remarks & Door Prizes

4:30PM - 8:00PM

Networking activity; #PRMixer at the Metropolitain Brasserie