MONTREAL, June 1, 2015 /CNW/ - The Canadian Public Relations Society's (CPRS) President and Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Dr. Joanne Liu, International President, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins sans frontières (MSF), is the recipient of the 2015 CPRS President's Award for Outstanding Public Relations and Communications Management. The prestigious public relations honour is awarded to an individual who demonstrates outstanding leadership through communications.
Dr. Liu received the award for recognition of the work that Doctors Without Borders has done to raise awareness about Ebola and engage governments in a global call to action. An international Board member with Doctors Without Borders accepted the Award on Dr. Liu's behalf at the CPRS National Conference in Montreal on June 1, 2015.
"In accepting this award, I want to honour the work of my colleagues who work tirelessly alongside West African health care workers in the public health system to help stop Ebola," said Liu. "For MSF, built into our mandate is the concept of temoignage – or bearing witness. We seek to amplify our patients' voices by speaking out on their behalf on the world stage. Tragically, those voices were too often unheard or unheeded. But it is my hope that lessons have been learned, and that those responsible will complete the task of stopping Ebola and restoring access to life-saving medical care in West Africa."
CPRS President, Sean Kelly APR, FCPRS, said he was deeply honoured to award the 2015 CPRS President's Award to Dr. Liu for the outstanding work done by Doctors Without Borders in raising awareness of the ongoing threat of Ebola and the human cost of this disease.
"Dr. Liu and Doctors without Borders continue to play a critical role in communicating to the world the devastating impact of Ebola in West Africa and leading governments to take action to address the threat," said Kelly. "With straight talk, clear facts and messaging that leaves no doubt as to the urgency of the situation, Dr. Liu and her colleagues are making a difference in the fight against this terrifying and deadly disease."
This is the sixth time that the CPRS President's Award for Outstanding Public Relations and Communications Management has been awarded to an individual. Past recipients of the award include: retired General Rick Hillier, Canadian Forces; Kellie Garrett, Senior VP, Strategy, Knowledge & Reputation, Farm Credit Canada; Rick Hansen, Chief Executive Officer, The Rick Hansen Foundation; Clara Hughes, Olympian, humanitarian, motivational speaker; and Col. Chris Hadfield, retired astronaut and author.
About CPRS
Founded in 1948, the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) is a not-for-profit organization whose members are engaged in the practice, management or teaching of public relations. Members work to maintain the highest standards and to share a uniquely Canadian experience in public relations. CPRS is a federation of more than 1,800 members across 14 Member Societies based in major cities or organized province-wide. The annual Canadian Public Relations Conference will be held in Banff, AB, May 25-27, 2014. For more information, visit our website: cprs.ca.
SOURCE Canadian Public Relations Society
Image with caption: "Dr. Joanne Liu (CNW Group/Canadian Public Relations Society)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150601_C2854_PHOTO_EN_17301.jpg
Media Contact: Bryan Sparks, Communications Specialist, Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS), T 416 239 7034, E [email protected]
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