Recommendation Celebrating 60 years

It's our Diamond Jubilee! This year, 2008, CPRS will mark its 60th anniversary. It is a time to reflect on our history and celebrate our accomplishments, as well as an advantageous opportunity to elevate the status of the public relations profession.

The CPRS Board of Directors has established a 60th Anniversary Committee under chair Mary Barker, APR, LM, FCPRS(H). The committee has started planning for the event and is seeking support, input, materials, feedback, etc. from all 16 member Societies (Chapters), as well as individual members including student, active and retired. We want to ensure the Diamond Anniversary is a memorable event across the country -- one that leaves a legacy to build upon in the coming decades.

Already you've been introduced to the 60th logo, which appeared on the cover of the recent membership directory. And work is progressing on the collection of historical data, notes, stories, etc. Some of that work is posted on our website now, and that will be expanded upon as new material becomes available. You are invited, indeed encouraged, to contribute to that documentation.

Among the planned events and activities is a special 60th anniversary presentation during the Awards Gala at the 2008 National Conference in Halifax, June 8-10. Other proposals include a book of six decades of history and achievements and a short video (including photos/footage, stories, anniversary messages, etc.), a special 60th anniversary memento or keepsake, and a cross-country professional development presentation engaging internal and external stakeholders.

We welcome your support, ideas, names of potential sponsors, etc. Please contact Mary Barker, Halifax (902-492-2368 or email barkergilkie@ns.sympatico.ca) or Karen Dalton, APR, Executive Director (416-239-7034 or email kdalton@cprs.ca). Or speak with one of the current committee members near you including: Don LaBelle. APR, FCPRS (Edmonton), Mark LaVigne, APR (Toronto), Tarina Palmer (Vancouver), Luc Beauregard, APR, FCPRS (Montreal), Jan Henderson, APR (Calgary), Beatrice Pepper, ARP (Montreal), and Len Canfield, APR (Halifax). Keep tuned to the CPRS website for further developments. You'll be hearing more about the 60th as the year unfolds.