Registrations are going fast / Les inscriptions vont bon train

 

Registrations are going fast for the 2018 IAP2 North American Conference, Sept. 5-7 in Victoria, BC! Have you signed up yet? (Register here.) Is money an issue? You may qualify for a scholarship to attend the Conference, if you’re a full-time student, a new community advocate or a staff member at a non-profit group (except for government agencies). Download the application here. Almost as important — have you booked your room at one of our three partner hotels? The hotels are offering us great rates during the Conference and for the 3 nights before and after, but the rooms are booking up quickly, too! Find out more here. What’s on offer? Well, when setting up a public consultation process, have you ever thought that the best practices could be found in a shopping mall? Dave Meslin, originator of the Dazzling Notice Awards (and partner in the Visual Engagement Award, to be presented at this year’s Core Values Awards), posits that P2 practitioners could learn a lot from Apple, Wal-Mart and The Home Depot, in their customer engagement practices. providing welcoming, engaging environments for customers. User Experience Design: What Governments can Learn from IKEA and Apple looks at the way they provide welcoming, engaging environments, and compares that to the often unfriendly and intimidating world of government spaces and programs. Did you know that community participation and community well-being go hand in hand? That’s certainly the case in many developing countries, as they look towards sustainable development as the way of the future. In Community Empowerment through Public Participation Process, Caroline Uoko and Dr Margaret Owuor will share findings of case studies in Kenya, where participatory resource management is still relatively new. These studies demonstrate the importance of inspiring communities next to natural resources to be part of the management of those resources.

Les inscriptions vont bon train pour la Conférence nord-américaine 2018 de l’AIP2, qui aura lieu du 5 au 7 septembre à Victoria, en Colombie-Britannique! Vous êtes-vous inscrit? (Cliquer ici pour s’inscrire). Peut-être n’avez-vous pas les moyens d’y assister? Si vous êtes un étudiant à temps plein, un employé d’organisme sans but lucratif (non gouvernemental) ou un défenseur des droits des collectivités nouvellement en poste, vous pourriez être admissible à une bourse vous permettant d’assister à la conférence. Téléchargez le formulaire de demande ici. Autre point presqu’aussi important – Avez-vous réservé votre chambre auprès de l’un des trois hôtels partenaires de l’événement? Ceux-ci nous offrent d’excellents tarifs pour la durée de l’événement et pour les trois jours précédant et suivant la conférence, alors ne tardez pas et réservez votre chambre avant qu’ils n’affichent complet! Plus de détails ici Que retrouvera-t-on au menu de la conférence cette année? Eh bien, lors de la conception d’un processus de consultation publique, avez-vous déjà envisagé vous inspirer des pratiques exemplaires de certains commerces de détail? Selon Dave Meslin, organisateur des Dazzling Notice Awards (et partenaire du Prix de l’engagement visuel qui sera décerné cette année lors du Gala des prix d’excellence), les praticiens de la P2 auraient beaucoup à apprendre des pratiques adoptées par des entreprises telles que Apple, Wal-Mart et Home Depot en matière d’engagement de la clientèle. L’atelier User Experience Design: What Governments can Learn from IKEA and Apple (« Expériences clients : ce que les gouvernements peuvent apprendre d’IKEA et d’Apple ») se penche sur les façons dont ces entreprises offrent des environnements accueillants et stimulants, et compare ceux-ci aux climats hostiles et intimidants qui caractérisent souvent les espaces de travail et programmes gouvernementaux. Saviez-vous que la participation communautaire et le bien-être communautaire vont de pair? C’est certainement le cas dans de nombreux pays en voie de développement, où le développement durable est vu comme étant une voie d’avenir. Lors de la séance intitulée Community Empowerment through Public Participation Process (« Les processus de participation publique, outils de renforcement communautaire »), Caroline Uoko et Margaret Owuor, Ph. D., partageront les résultats d’études de cas réalisées au Kenya, où la gestion participative des ressources est une pratique relativement récente. Ces études mettent en lumière la nécessité de stimuler et d’influencer les communautés situées à proximité des ressources naturelles afin qu’elles participent à la gestion de ces ressources.

Membership Fees Go Up July 1, 2018 / Augmentation des droits d’adhésion à compter du 1er juillet 2018

 

First increase since IAP2 Canada was established. Did you know that IAP2 Canada membership fees have not increased since 2011 when IAP2 Canada was established. But your organization has continually expanded and improved its services to members. We’ve instituted the monthly Learning Webinars, Mentorship Program, Professional Certification, Research, Job Postings and — new this year — the IAP2 Canada Skills Symposium. We support your local chapters, co-host the annual North American Conference, and help you keep in touch with other members through our Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter presence. And we want to do more, including ramp up advocacy for good P2, establish a resource library and continue to work towards becoming a truly bilingual organization from coast to coast to coast. You can find out about all these initiatives to support and enhance your practice here. IAP2 Canada needs to grow in order to support these initiatives, so as of July 1, 2018, the price for an annual individual membership will rise $25 to $175.00 per year. Bundle memberships will also increase by an average of 15% per year; student memberships will stay at $50/year. You’ll see the increase when your membership comes up for renewal. If you have any questions about this increase please contact us at info@iap2canada.ca.  Thank you for your ongoing support of IAP2 Canada and of good public participation in Canada.

La première hausse depuis les débuts de l’AIP2 Canada. Saviez-vous que les droits d’adhésion de l’AIP2 Canada n’ont jamais augmenté depuis les débuts de l’AIP2 Canada en 2011? Cependant, votre organisation a élargi et amélioré les services offerts aux membres de façon continue. Nous avons mis sur pied des webinaires mensuels de formation, un programme de mentorat, un programme de formation professionnelle, des projets de recherche, un babillard d’offres d’emploi et – pour la première fois cette année – le Symposium des compétences de l’AIP2 Canada. Nous appuyons vos sections locales, co-organisons la Conférence nord-américaine annuelle et vous aidons à rester en contact avec d’autres membres par le biais de notre présence sur Facebook, LinkedIn et Twitter. Et nous souhaitons en faire encore plus, notamment intensifier la promotion de bonnes pratiques dans le domaine de la P2, mettre sur pied une bibliothèque de ressources et poursuivre les efforts déployés afin de devenir un organisme véritablement bilingue d’un bout à l’autre du pays. Cliquez ici pour vous renseigner sur ces initiatives destinées à soutenir et à améliorer votre pratique. Pour appuyer ces initiatives, l’AIP2 Canada doit continuer de croître. Par conséquent, à compter du 1er juillet 2018, le prix d’une adhésion annuelle individuelle augmentera de 25 $, pour un coût annuel de 175 $. Les adhésions de groupe connaîtront également une augmentation de l’ordre de 15 % par année, tandis que les droits d’adhésion des étudiants seront maintenus à 50 $ par année. Ces augmentations figureront sur votre avis de renouvellement. Pour toute question concernant cette augmentation, n’hésitez pas à communiquer avec nous à l’adresse info@iap2canada.ca. Nous vous remercions de votre soutien continu à l’AIP2 Canada et à la promotion d’une saine participation publique au Canada.

Volunteer Opportunities with IAP2 Canada (May/June 2018)

Do you want to get more involved with IAP2 Canada? We have a number of openings for volunteers on our committees: Communications & Marketing; Training; On-Site Volunteers for the 2018 IAP2 North American Conference. 

Communications & Marketing Committee

Do you have marketing and communications skills to share?

As a Communications and Marketing Committee member, you can help Canadians know the value of IAP2 Canada. You will participate in the development and implementation of new and updated tools and programs based on the 2017 IAP2 Canada Communications and Marketing Strategy Plan. And you can work in a team environment with like-minded people with a passion for promoting IAP2 Canada. This is a one-year renewable volunteer position.

Deadline for applications is June 11, 2018.  Communications & Marketing Committee Application.

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IAP2 North American Conference on-site Volunteers

Would you like to be a part of an exciting conference?

As a member of the on-site team of volunteers, you will create an inviting atmosphere for event attendees, a successful experience for the sponsors and exhibitors, and meet P2 people from across North America. The conference is held in Victoria, B.C. at the Victoria Conference Centre. On-site volunteers are needed for registration desk and conference hosts from September 5 to 7, 2018.

Deadline for applications is June 30, 2018. 2018 IAP2 NAC On-Site Volunteer Job Description and Application.

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Training Committee
Do you have a passion for encouraging lifelong learning?

As a Training Committee member, you can help inspire better public participation. You will participate in the development and implementation of new and updated tools and programs based on IAP2 Canada Training Strategy Plan. And you can work in a team environment with like-minded people with a passion for promoting P2 through IAP2 Canada. This is a one-year renewable volunteer position.

Deadline for applications is June 11, 2018. 2018 Training Committee Job Description and Application

The 2018 IAP2 North American Conference — what’s on tap?

(P2 is a Team Sport)

What happens when your city’s growth suddenly explodes and new initiatives demand public participation? “Engagement fatigue” and staff burnout follow — that’s what. The city of Austin, Texas, has seen its population grow over the last decade to the tune of 100 people per day, and the situation has not been helped by often vitriolic divisions of opinion.

The solution? The Conversation Corps: a team of trained volunteer facilitators, dedicated to promoting civil dialogue and pushing the envelope of P2 best practices. We’re excited to welcome folks from Austin with P2 is a Team Sport, the story of their five-year journey. You’ll get some on-the-ground insights on promoting a culture of civil discourse and how to work with other agencies to grow a P2 culture.

(Inclusive Engagement with Vancouver’s Chinatown)

Vancouver, BC, is famous for its Chinatown, but that historic community has felt itself in danger of being swallowed up by the rapid growth of the city. Public processes have failed to be inclusive, leading to distrust and loss of community support for projects and plans.

In Inclusive Engagement with Vancouver’s Chinatown, Miranda Eng of Context Research will share their recent collaborative work with community members from Vancouver’s Chinatown to co-create a model to guide culturally respectful planning and design of engagement processes.

(Using Directed Storytelling and Journey Mapping ….)

“Storytelling” has become more popular in recent years for drawing out opinions and ideas, but how do you put it to work effectively in a P2 process? The session, Using Directed Storytelling and Journey Mapping For Deep Engagement, uses the Salt Lake City Library as its object lesson. The Library uses world cafes, focus groups and storytelling to determine what its customers need, want and hope for — and it appears to be working: the Library recently got an historic increase to its budget. Peter Bromberg of the Salt Lake City Library and Stacee Adams of Somers-Jaramillo + Associates will provide you with tools you can use right away in your own practice.

(Public Engagement on Critical Public Policy ….)

When emotions run high in any issue, a proper public engagement approach is often the only road to a solution. The Province of Ontario is tackling racism head-on, and Public engagement on critical public policy: Managing Ontario’s Anti-Racism Consultation describes the P2 process used to develop a constructive dialogue around this vital issue. Roanne Argyle and Brendan Agnew-Iler designed and implemented an engagement strategy for Ontario’s Anti-Racism Directorate. They invited the community to help lead the process and welcomed conflict and emotion into the process, so that energy could be harnessed. Plan to attend this session to learn how they did it.

(Prevent “Truth Decay”)

Do public participation professionals have an obligation to help stakeholders find the truth or are we only obligated to capture their “truth?” That’s a good question, and in Prevent “Truth Decay,” Sam Imperati and Devin Howington will show how the P2 profession is in the perfect position to ensure that issues are explored – not debated, and decisions are informed – not reactionary. You’ll come away with insights and approaches for separating opinions from facts and better able to promote trust and encourage stakeholder collaboration.

(User Experience Design)

When setting up a public consultation process, have you ever thought that the best practices could be found in a shopping mall? Dave Meslin, originator of the Dazzling Notice Awards (and partner in the Visual Engagement Award, to be presented at this year’s Core Values Awards), posits that P2 practitioners could learn a lot from Apple, Wal-Mart and The Home Depot, in their customer engagement practices. providing welcoming, engaging environments for customers. User Experience Design: What Governments can Learn from IKEA and Apple looks at the way they provide welcoming, engaging environments, and compares that to the often unfriendly and intimidating world of government spaces and programs.

(Community Empowerment through P2 Process)

Did you know that community participation and community well-being go hand in hand? That’s certainly the case in many developing countries, as they look towards sustainable development as the way of the future. In Community Empowerment through Public Participation Process, Caroline Uoko and Dr Margaret Owuor will share findings of case studies in Kenya, where participatory resource management is still relatively new. These studies demonstrate the importance of inspiring communities next to natural resources to be part of the management of those resources.

Member Profile – May/June 2018: Shawn Bravender, CP3

POSITION Community Engagement Lead, Edmonton Office, ISL Engineering

How long have you been in P2, and where have you worked?

I’ve been in P2 about 8 years solid, and then before that, I was a planner, where most of what I did was P2 – so I’ve been involved with public participation for a total of just over  17 years. I worked for the City of Twin Falls, Idaho, then went to Stantec, and then a couple of years ago, I went to ISL.

What turned you on to P2 in the first place?

I just gravitated towards it through the planning stream. I’m most interested in long-range projects, and those are the ones tend to have support for more meaningful P2– so I get to “play with the public”.  Just working with people, collaboratively coming up with solutions and facing challenges. Usually at the start of a project, there’s a lot of negative emotion but by the time the project is finished, people are generally happy and it’s fun to be a part of that.

At ISL, I get to work on a lot of municipal policies such as development plans, transportation master plans, parks and recreation planning, and active modes planning – where I get to work with the public. I also have been privileged to work with the Alberta Government on Regional and sub regional plans such as the recent Caribou Range plan.

Have you had any “big wins”?

Yes. Those come when you’re working with clients over the years that were reluctant at first to do engagement. They felt confined by the idea of having the public actually participate in their projects; but I was able to bring them to see the benefits of public participation projects that were more collaborative with communities.

When you were working as a planner, did P2 seem to be a novel concept?

Not that long ago, public participation  was a novel concept for many, but to me, that was the only way to do it. I’ve always been passionate about P2 and the role it can play. In fact, the Province of Alberta has recently updated the Municipal Government Act, including a requirement for every municipality to have a public participation policy. In Alberta, there’s certainly a lot of growth in the awareness of the need. That’s a big change from ten or fifteen years ago: back then, only the really progressive municipalities were doing meaningful engagement.

Have you had any “golden learning moment”?

I found myself in the middle of a discussion that was increasing in intensity and I realized that it wasn’t going where it needed to. But I was able to shift gears in the conversation to validate their experience and watch the emotions subside. People need to be heard and validated, not run through a process and patronized.

What are your interests?

I have a large family that I’m very proud of and I do a lot of volunteer work with youth groups. As well anything to do with cycling excites me. I was involved in 2007 when Edmonton did its cycling plan update, and in 2012, I was project manager for cycling infrastructure engagement for several different neighbourhoods. I worked on the Lethbridge cycling master plan, the Medicine Leisure Trail Master Plan, and led the engagement for the first phase of Calgary’s city centre cycle track, to name a few.

Why do you suppose there’s so much animosity towards increasing cycling infrastructure?

Change, for one thing; and it’s also perceived to serve a very small percentage of the public. Now, if you just count cyclists, you could say that. But good cycling infrastructure not only supports cyclists, it reduces motor vehicle traffic,  improves transit, and increases pedestrian activity. There are a lot of spinoff benefits to the greater community.  Studies have proven again and again that the best communities … the ones with the highest quality of life, have advanced cycling infrastructure.

You are one of only eight P2 practitioners to have the CP3 designation – Certified Public Participation Professional. What does that mean for you?

I find it’s invaluable. It’s the opportunity to have credentials that match the experience and knowledge and to showcase that to clients. As well, it’s exciting to be on the leading edge of CP3 for the IAP2 community across the country. I believe in the value of having the CP3 certification and to be on the front end of it. It’s also a huge benefit for the team I work with, because it enhances our ability, as an engineering firm, to win contracts and show that we’re on the leading edge of P2. My employer – Connstance Gourley – knows those benefits. She started engagement back in 2004, adding staff and training. She’s made the atmosphere and the culture here at ISL conducive to P2 – and made it well worth my making the move when I did, including corporate support for my CP3 efforts.

If you had anything to say to someone just getting into the P2 business …

Come in with your eyes wide-open and your mind set to “learn”. Both from the professionals and from the public and stakeholders.

 

IAP2 Canada Board Elections ; Élection des membres du conseil d’administration de l’AIP2 Canada

PICTURE THIS: Whom do you see on the IAP2 Canada Board? It’s a huge sign of the growth of IAP2 Canada: so many people, wanting to get involved in its plans – present and future! The election period will run from now through June 5, so, IAP2 Canada members, watch your inbox for an invitation from Election Buddy. So who is in the race? Fourteen people have thrown their hats in the ring to serve on the Board from 2018-2021 — but there are only six seats available. So it’s up to you to choose, and we are pleased to introduce you to … IMAGINEZ UN PEU : Qui verriez-vous pour siéger au conseil d’administration de l’AIP2 Canada? Avec tant de personnes qui souhaitent s’impliquer dans ses projets, actuels et futurs, c’est un signe incontestable de la croissance que connaît l’AIP2 Canada! La période de mise en nomination commence dès maintenant et prendra fin le 5 juin, et nous invitons tous les membres de l’AIP2 Canada à surveiller l’invitation qu’ils recevront par courriel de la part d’Election Buddy. Alors, qui est en lice? Quatorze personnes se sont lancées dans la course pour siéger au conseil de 2018 à 2021 – mais seulement six sièges sont disponibles. C’est donc à vous de faire un choix, et nous sommes très heureux de vous présenter… Rose Bilou – Alberta Suncor, Senior Advisor, Stakeholder & Aboriginal Relations Kristen Farrell – Ontario Canadian Tire Financial Services Chrystal Fuller – Nova Scotia Principal – Brighter Community Planning and Consulting and Consulting Drew Ferrari – BC TransLink- Senior Advisor, Government & Public Affairs Bruce Gilbert – Newfoundland Chief of Staff, NL NDP Caucus Susan Harrison – Ontario Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), Supervisor, Regional & Community Engagement Eileen McCord – Alberta Sr Advisor, Stakeholder Relations, Communica Public Affairs Catherine Rockandel – BC Rockandel & Associates, public engagement specialist & process facilitator Dominic Savio – Saskatchewan SaskPower – Director Michelle Snow – Newfoundland Director, Public Engagement, Government of Newfoundland Labrador Shiona Sommerville – USA-Mass Program on Negotiation, Harvard Law School, Project Manager Anila Sunnak – Ontario The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer Mark Szabo – Alberta Szabo+Partners, Principal Ellis Westwood – Ontario Senior Director and Deputy Group Leaders, Public Engagement, Hill+Knowlton Strategies

Webinar Rewind – May 2018: “Our Community Could Blow Up – Do We Have Time for some Quick Consultation?” (Denver Encore)

Robbie Burns’ famous prayer was for protection from “things that go ‘bump’ in the night”, but in October 2012, near Shreveport, Louisiana, it was no “bump”. It was a colossal explosion, and no one immediately knew the cause. When the cause – and the planned solution – were discovered, it touched off a different kind of fireworks.

The cause was millions of pounds of M6 explosive – the propellent used to fire large guns, like tank guns and heavy artillery – which had been stored at Camp Minden National Guard Base. It was too old to be any use – and highly unstable. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other responsible agencies planned to burn the explosives in the open – considered “best practice”. The community had other thoughts on the matter and in the social and political melee that followed, Kristi Parker Celico and Doug Sarno, MCP3, were called in to facilitate public consultation sessions to find an alternative.

Except they didn’t have the luxury of time.

The military repeatedly reminded everyone that another major explosion could happen at any moment.

So how did Kristi and Doug manage to marshal the military, the environmental experts, the community members, the activists and the various government agencies (none of whom wanted the responsibility) and come up with a solution? The May webinar – a reprise of their presentation at the 2017 IAP2 North American Conference – is revealing, inspiring and at times hilarious (in its own macabre way) as we learn how two experienced professionals took charge of the situation and quickly but methodically brought in a solution before something else went “ka-BOOM!” in the night.

IAP2 members can watch the webinar here. (The IAP2 Webinar Archive is a benefit exclusive to members of IAP2 Canada.)