Programmation – Symposium des compétences (Regina, 4 – 8 mai)
Le Symposium des compétences de l’AIP2 Canada se déplacera dans les Prairies en 2020! L’occasion annuelle d’acquérir de nouveaux outils, d’apprendre de nouvelles techniques et d’actualiser vos connaissances dans le domaine de la P2 – le tout en compagnie de personnes qui partagent votre passion et votre intérêt pour la participation publique – aura lieu à Régina, du 4 au 8 mai 2020. Consultez le programme détaillé pour connaître les formations qui seront proposées.
Voici quelques-uns des cours offerts cette année :
The annual opportunity to learn new tools and techniques and refresh your P2 thinking — all in the company of other P2-minded folks — is set for Regina, May 4 – 8, 2020. Check out the Schedule-at-a-Glance to see this year’s lineup.
Here is your opportunity to make sure the 2020 IAP2 North American Conference is the best experience yet! We have three committees that need YOU and your skills! Check out these personal messages from the committee chairs!
PROGRAM COMMITTEE — Jane Purvis
Have you ever dreamed about having a bigger impact in the P2 world? If yes, then please join me on the Program Committee for the 2020 Conference. We will get to create the call for session proposals, look through proposals from cutting edge practitioners, and decide what conference-goers will learn at the premier P2 professional development opportunity in this part of the world.
Here is your chance to spend a few quick but intense months that will have lasting impacts on the practices of our colleagues. As the Chair of the committee, I’m hoping for lots of diverse viewpoints and lenses to our practice – the only consistent criteria I’m thinking about for the team are commitment, curiosity and a willingness to work collaboratively.
Take a read of the call and let us know if you are interested. I’m looking forward to connecting and hearing about your vision for our conference program and how we can work together to make Banff 2020 a dynamite experience!
Do you enjoy building relationships and finding opportunities to bring shared value – I sure do, which is why I signed up to lead the Sponsorship Committee. It means that as a team – we will put together relevant, compelling opportunities for potential conference sponsors so that we can support a diverse conference program. It also means our attendees and vendors get to meet and experience some of the best people, firms, organizations and products in the field.
So I’m asking you to join me on the sponsorship committee. If you are new to the field – this is a great opportunity to meet people – if you are long in the field I’d love to lean into your wisdom. Yes this role does mean asking for money but with a history of long standing sponsors, excellent support from IAP2 Canada staff, I’m confident we’ve got it covered.
Hello, my name is Terry Koch and I’m proud to be the Fun Committee Chair for Banff 2020, where there will be mountains of opportunity for learning, networking and fun. IAP2 has been the ‘go to’ organization for engagement practitioners like me wanting to improve their skills for nearly 30 years. And an annual conference has been a mainstay. I’ve participated in 17 of them in 4 different countries on 3 different continents. Thousands of delegates like me have benefitted from the hard work of volunteers and staff to stage these valuable events.
But is not always about education and learning when you attend the conference. Delegates take the time to network, celebrate success at the annual gala and explore the host community and have some good old fashioned fun. So, if you are like me and want to help delegates enjoy the social aspect of conference and really enjoy the Banff area, why not join us? Apply to be on the Banff 2020 Fun Committee today! Thank you.
Is your appetite sufficiently whetted? Remember: you can get involved in any of these committees from anywhere in North America, so read the descriptions, find your fit, and let’s get busy!
Deadline to apply is October 24th, 2019. If you have any questions please contact info@iap2canada.ca
Victoria Encore: Navigating Culture Wars through Thoughtful P2
The last webinar of the “season” brought together four longtime P2 practitioners to reprise their presentation from the 2018 IAP2 North American Conference. John Godec, Debra Duerr, Wendy Green Lowe and Doug Sarno have seen a lot in their careers, including an alarming decline in trust in public institutions. This has coincided with the increase in cultural divisions, and has reached a point where, according to a Pew Research survey, only 18% of American trust their government. A similar survey in Canada pegs that number at 36%, and in Australia, it’s 21%.
What does that mean for a P2 practitioner?
For one thing, it means that trust in “expertise” is eroding. Where planners, engineers and other professionals used to be regarded as people who Know What They’re Doing, they’re viewed more and more with suspicion, simply because they work for them. Trust, as John points out, is no longer a given.
It’s also important to understand how people’s minds work, and the presentation points out that there are differences in “wiring” between those who self-identify as “progressives” and those who call themselves “conservatives”. Neurological studies suggest that the brains of “conservatives” have larger “fear centers” than those of “progressives”, and therefore, the “fight-or-flight” response has a greater impact on their worldview. (Source: bigthink.com – “Liberal Brains are Different from Conservative Brains”)
In other words, decisions are made more by emotional factors than reason. For a P2 practitioner, that means emotion-driven people don’t “play well with others”. It’s hard to get people to participate or engage if they’re not interested in another point of view, and, in fact, it’s often preferable to dispute hard facts than alter one’s beliefs.
P2 practitioners also need to be aware of the impact a desire for control has on people’s mindsets. It’s the job of the P2 practitioner to give people confidence that their opinions count, their voices will be heard and they’ll know how their input has affected the outcome of a process.
That’s all in line with the IAP2 Code of Ethics and Core Values (#4 and #7).
It’s also important to keep in mind that humans, by nature, have a biological need for choice. Even if there’s no difference in the outcome or reward, animals and humans alike have a preference for choice: tasks involving choice are more enjoyable and see better performance; removing the element of choice increases the stress level.
In short, the webinar shows that we, as humans are wired to
Prefer choice
Trust those who are “like us”
Want control over things — for better or for worse
Hate confusion and ambiguity
Receive a hit of dopamine in our brains — a spiritual reward — when we finally understand something — the great AHA! Experience.
Depuis dix ans, chaque conférence de l’AIP2 à laquelle j’ai assisté se distingue de la précédente. Je rencontre de nouvelles personnes, j’apprends des expériences de mes collègues et je recueille de précieuses informations qui enrichissent mon travail. Les conversations, le ton et les séances de formation sont influencés par le thème de la conférence; de même que les contributions des praticiens, des pédagogues, des formateurs, des fournisseurs et du contexte social plus large dans lequel se déroulent les processus d’engagement public.
Certaines
éditions réfléchissent plus sur la pratique, alors que d’autres, mettent l’emphase sur un appel à l’action. Chaque année, la Conférence offre
des séances pour enrichir et approfondir les compétences des participants incluant comment bien rédiger des résumés de processus d’engagement,
s’informer sur des nouvelles techniques de la
participation publique et des nouvelles tendances en participation publique,
etc. Cette année à
Charlotte en Caroline du
Nord, le thème «
Utiliser la P2 comme
levier pour favoriser l’émergence de collectivités dynamiques et prospères »
a inspiré de nombreuses séances.
Celles-ci ont mis l’accent sur le rôle
de l’engagement du public dans le but de renforcer la diversité et l’inclusion à travers
les
différents secteurs tout en adoptant une variété de perspectives.
Les Canadiens étaient bien représentés à Charlotte — plus
de 57 de nos collègues ont assisté à la Conférence. En écoutant les conversations, j’ai entendu nos collègues américains parler de l’impact de Black Lives
Matter, de la privation de droits historiques, de la race, de l’équité, de l’inclusion et de la problématique de la polarisation dans leurs communautés. Nos collègues
canadiens ont partagé
des
expériences différentes mais similaires qu’ont
vécu et vivent encore les peuples
autochtones. Pendant les différentes séances de la Conférence et pendant les pauses, j’ai entendu des collègues parler de la direction que notre travail doit
prendre afin de guider et d’aider les dirigeants à entamer des conversations difficiles et importantes sur
la diversité
et l’inclusion au Canada. Ces conversations doivent révéler les conséquences de l’indifférence, de la minimisation, du racisme voilé, de la discrimination et de la violence à l’égard des peuples autochtones et des autres personnes
marginalisées. Les processus de P2 sont plus
importants que jamais pour créer des espaces inclusifs et sécuritaires afin de créer un climat de confiance pour l’expression des
différences et des accords divergents. Il reste encore
beaucoup de travail à
faire.
Le
Gala des Prix d’excellence en participation publique est un des moments forts de la conférence. Il s’agit d’une occasion de célébrer et de fêter le travail accompli dans le domaine de la
participation publique. Cette année,
le gala s’est tenu au NASCAR Hall of Fame, un lieu
unique propice à
la célébration des lauréats. Félicitations à tous!
L’impact de la conférence de cette année s’est également
reflété
dans les réunions du conseil d’administration de l’AIP2 International et de l’AIP2 Canada qui se sont tenues à Charlotte. En tant que directrice, mes collègues et moi avons été profondément touchés par les discussions que nous avons entendues. Le
conseil d’administration international s’est engagé à réaliser un audit international sur la diversité, l’AIP2 Canada s’est également engagé à élargir
son travail actuel sur la diversité au-delà de la diversité géographique, autochtone, des jeunes et linguistique par le
biais du prochain travail de planification stratégique. Ces initiatives contribueront à orienter et à façonner notre organisation et nos pratiques dans un monde
qui est en constant changement.
Every IAP2 conference I have attended over the last ten years is different. I meet new people, learn from colleagues, and gain valuable insights that support me in my work.
The conversations, tone, and sessions are informed by the theme; as are the contributions of practitioners, educators, trainers, suppliers, and the larger social context in which public engagement processes occur. Some years reflect on the practice, while in other years, the thread weaving through the conference is a call to action. Every year includes: sessions to broaden skills from writing engagement summaries, to online engagement, new P2 techniques, to understanding engagement trends. This year in Charlotte, North Carolina the theme Leveraging P2 To Create Thriving Communities informed many sessions. These focused on the role of public engagement to strengthen diversity and inclusion through a variety of perspectives and sectors.
Canadians were well represented in Charlotte with over 57 of our colleagues attending the conference. As I listened to the conversations, I heard our US colleagues talking about the impact of Black Lives Matter, of historic disenfranchisement, race, equity, inclusion and the increasing polarization in their communities. Our Canadian colleagues shared the different and similar experiences of Indigenous peoples. In the conference sessions and during the breaks I overheard colleagues talking about where our work needs to go, in order to guide and support leaders to have difficult conversations about diversity and inclusion in Canada. These conversations need to uncover the impact of indifference, minimization, veiled racism, discrimination and violence against Indigenous people and others who are marginalized. P2 processes are more important than ever, to create safe spaces, and to build trust across differences and divergent agreement. There is still a lot of work to be done.
The Core Values Awards are a highlight of the conference. It is a fun opportunity to celebrate the best work being done in public engagement. This year it was held in the NASCAR Hall of Fame, a unique location that was a great backdrop to celebrate the winners. Congratulations to all!
The impact of this year’s conference extended to both the IAP2 International and IAP2 Canada board meetings that were held in Charlotte. As a director, my colleagues and I that attended the Conference were deeply impacted by the conversations we heard. The International Board committed to undertaking an International Diversity Audit. IAP2 Canada also committed to broadening its diversity work beyond geographic, indigenous, youth, and linguistic diversity through the upcoming strategic planning work. These initiatives will contribute to shaping our organization and our practice in a changing world.
Celebrating the Best in P2! IAP2 Canada Core Values Awards honour public engagement leaders
It’s been said that good public participation is like mending clothes: do it right, and nobody notices; do it wrong, and everybody can see it. The IAP2 Core Values Awards are the annual opportunity to put P2 in the spotlight: recognizing those who have taken the practice to a new height and inspiring other P2 practitioners to learn and up their game. This year, we were proud to honour…
Debbi Miller, communications and engagement chief with the City of Kingston, receives the award from Mark Weir and Catherine Rockandel
The City of Kingston, Ontario: Organization of the Year, for its public engagement process to embed public engagement in its civic culture. The City has committed to inclusiveness and transparency in its dealings: IAP2 judges were very impressed with the way the Public Engagement Framework pervades the City’s business, and is not confined to specific projects. Watch the video here. Link to submission.
Anila Sunnak accepted the award for the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer
The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer received the awards for Respect for Diversity, Inclusion and Culture and Project of the Year. Working with Hill+Knowlton Strategies, The Partnership launched a process to engage “under-serviced” communities — Indigenous, rural, immigrant, LGBTQ, and others — to determine their needs in cancer diagnosis and treatment and ensure that cancer treatment is available equally, and for all. Watch the video here. Link to submission.
Kingston and The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer will now compete against “national” award winners from other IAP2 affiliates for the world-wide honours. Those awards will be announced at the 2019 IAP2 Australasian Conference in Sydney, Australia, in October.
Mark and Catherine presented the award to Krystyna Lloyd of Context
Context: an Argyle Company received two Core Values Awards. Its work on the British Columbia Flood and Wildfire Review involved gathering input from and collaborating with Indigenous communities, many of which are remote. This project won the Indigenous Engagement Award. Watch the video here. Link to submission.
Context’s Miranda Eng received the “Creativity & Innovation” award (Calgary was unable to send a representative)
Context was also one of two winners of the award for Extending the Practice through Creativity, Contribution and Innovation in the Field, for “‘It’s Time’: the Mobility Pricing Independent Commission’s Engagement Process”. In this, Context engaged residents of Metro Vancouver on the tricky and often emotional issue of road pricing as a solution to traffic congestion. Watch the video here. Link to submission.
The City of Calgary also won the award for Creativity, Contribution and Innovation for “This is My Neighbourhood”, a process in which residents in several Calgary neighbourhoods were invited to help create inspiring neighbourhoods. More than 9,000 people were engaged, 10,000 ideas submitted and over 100 initiatives were adopted. Watch the video here. Link to submission.
The Visual Engagement Award went to CitySpaces, for its work bringing people to the “table” in the City of Nanaimo, BC’s Affordable Housing Strategy. CitySpaces developed a distinctive brand to put the project top-of-mind for residents, as well as fun and instructive tools like a “snakes and ladders”-type game to demonstrate housing affordability challenges. Watch the video here. Link to submission. Lani Brunn (left, holding trophy) and Talia Kerr (also holding trophy) managed to keep the win a secret from their colleagues until it was presented to them at the offices in Vancouver.
The fact that the Inspirational Leadership Award was a total surprise did not shut down Kylie’s quick wit or joyful smile.
The gala, which was held at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, also featured a new award: the “Inspirational Leadership Award”. Presented by the IAP2 Federation Board of Directors, this award was presented to Kylie Cochrane, the Federation’s Presiding Member, for her work in leading the recent governance changes in IAP2, among other accomplishments.
Project of the Year and Winner, General Project Category: Portland (Oregon) Bureau of Transportation, for “PedPDX”.
Runner up: Adams 12 Five Star School District in Thornton, Colorado, for “ELEVATE”
Organization of the Year: The City of Boulder, Colorado.
Research Project of the Year: PRR Inc., for “Measuring Public Engagement Effectiveness: an easy-to-use toolkit”.
Respect for Diversity, Inclusion & Culture: San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, for “#27 Bryant Transit Reliability Project”
Runner-up: Austin, Texas, Parks and Recreation Department for the “Givens District Park Master Plan”
Greater Good / Emerging Leader Award: Isis Lopez, of the City of Austin, Texas.
Greater Good Award: Dan Adams of The Langdon Group
Greater Good Award: Amelia Shaw, retiring IAP2 USA Executive Manager.
We hope you’ll take a few minutes and watch the videos and read over the submissions in detail. You can be inspired by these winners to provide even higher-quality P2 processes and possibly find yourself in the winners’ circle next September in Banff, Alberta.
