Communications + Public Relations Foundation announces new board members

TORONTO, June 5, 2014 /CNW/ - The Communications + Public Relations Foundation (CPRF), Canada's leading charitable organization in support of public relations education and research, has elected its new board members and officers for the 2014-2015 term. The CPRF will be governed by:

Officers

• Chair, Bruce MacLellan, APR, FCPRS; President and CEO, Environics Communications Inc., Toronto
• 1st Vice-Chair, Robert Paddon, APR, MA, MBA; Executive Vice President Strategic Planning and Public Affairs, Translink, Vancouver
• 2nd Vice-Chair, Marlene Klassen, APR; Assistant Vice President, Great-West Life, Winnipeg
• Secretary-Treasurer, Laura Balbinot, CPA, CMA, BCom, Financial Management Accountant, Toronto

Directors

• Nancy Arab, APR, ABC, FCPRS, Vice President, NATIONAL Public Relations, Calgary
• Robert Batherson, BPR, Sr. Vice-President, Colour, Halifax
• Lydia Boyko, APR, PhD, Professor, Bachelor of Public Relations Program, School Media Studies and Information Technology, Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning, Toronto
• David Brodie, Vice-President, Western Canada, Citizen Relations, Vancouver
• Yanik Deschênes; APR, LL.B, Independent Consultant, Montreal
• Joel Levesque, APR, FCPRS, Public Affairs Counsel, Saint John
• Gordon McIvor, PhD, APR, FCPRS; Independent Consultant, Cambridge
• David Milliken, Retired Vice President, CNW Group, Toronto
• Andrew Molson, BA, MSc., Chairman, RES PUBLICA, Montreal
• Blair Peberdy, BA, APR, Associate, Corporate Practice, Weber Shandwick, Toronto
• Chitra P. Reddin, PhD, President, Communications Solutions, Toronto
• Mark Seland, APR, Government & Public Affairs Advisor, Calgary
• Norman Stowe, BA, Managing Partner, PACE Group, Vancouver

"I would like to thank Gordon McIvor for his leadership and all that he has contributed to the Foundation," said Bruce MacLellan, incoming Chair. "Our activity and engagement with the industry under Gordon's tenure has reached new heights," he added.

"The practice of public relations is changing faster than at any time in our profession's history. Our Foundation has an important role to play in the research and discussion of these challenges and opportunities, helping to define the 21st century communicator," added MacLellan. "Our Board of senior industry leaders is excited to take part in the conversation that is shaping our industry."

Ongoing initiatives by the Foundation include:

• The support of budding communications professionals in the form of a variety of scholarships and bursaries given to students at some of Canada's top universities
• Funding original Canadian communications research by academics and graduate students
• The annual Diana and Charles Tisdall Lecture during the Canadian Public Relations Society national conference – in partnership with the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS)

The 2014 Diana and Charles Tisdall Lecture on Tuesday, May 27, hosted Gabe Zichermann, Founder and Editor of Gamification.Co and EQ magazine, who spoke about "gamification" and how to use its principles to better target the millennial generation and modern markets.

The Foundation is able to realize its goal with the financial support of donors such as APEX Public Relations, Tim Hortons, Great-West Life, CP Rail, Environics Communications, Bombardier, CNW Group, CPRS, NATIONAL Public Relations, Argyle Communications, Cision Canada, GCI Canada, Desjardins and others.

About the CPRF
The Communications + Public Relations Foundation is a not-for-profit charitable organization that is committed to increasing public knowledge and awareness of the role of communications and public relations by providing support to educational initiatives that advance the profession. It promotes an advancement of communications and public relations as a vital function in society and is dedicated to the public interest.

SOURCE: Communications + Public Relations Foundation

Barbara Sheffield, APR, FCPRS, Executive Director, Phone: [phone], Email: [email protected]