About
7th Annual Saskatchewan Communications Forum
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We are a dynamic marketing and communications firm with a myriad of experience and skills which combine to provide clients unparalleled service. Communication is at the root of who we are as a species; it is what sets us apart from all other creatures in this world and is the force that carries us from moment to moment.
Our goal is to offer a conference experience that will educate, inspire and enable professional communicators from various industries through an environment of professional networking to benefit both delegates and speakers alike.
We are excited to have you join us and hope you return year after year. Questions? please call 1.855.688.0189 or email forums@swanseacommunications.com.
Since 2014, SummersDirect and Swansea Communications have joined forces to present the Saskatchewan Communications Forum. Through SummersDirect’s past experience in creating relevant and engaging conferences and Swansea Communications’ current involvement in the communications field you’re sure to love the end product; an event with quality speakers, tools and techniques you can take away and use, case studies you can relate to and most of all VALUE.
Together we want to build a long-lasting relationship with you!
Venue
Delta Regina, 1919 Saskatchewan Dr, Regina, SK S4P 4H2
Rooms can be booked at a rate of $160/night, via this link: https://www.marriott.com/events/start.mi?id=1574282060678&key=GRP Book by March 6, 2020 for the guaranteed rate.
Sponsor
The International Association of Business Communicators Regina Chapter (IABC/Regina) proudly represents communications professionals based in Regina, Saskatchewan and surrounding area. We proudly hold more than 40 Accredited Business Communicators (ABC), internationally recognized leaders in our industry. Connecting through learning, networking and mentoring opportunities, our organization promotes ethical business communications standards, inspires a passion for learning and helps our members achieve communications excellence in their daily work.
Bang the Table
Forum
Monday, April 6, 2020
8:00 – 8:30 a.m. REGISTRATION AND CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST
8:30 a.m.WELCOME AND OPENING REMARKS FROM THE CHAIR
8:45 – 9:45 a.m. OPENING KEYNOTE: Talk Triggers
Daniel Lemin, co-founder, EatID
Acclaimed global speaker, co-founder & CMO, Selectivor – California
Word of mouth is directly responsible for as much as 50% of all purchases, and influences as much as 90%. Every human on earth relies on word of mouth to make buying decisions. Why is it, then, that even today fewer than 1% of companies have an actual strategy for generating these crucial customer conversations? We can change that. Talk Triggers delivers a clear roadmap that can be put into practice immediately, by any business.
In this exciting session you will discover:
– Proprietary research about why and how customers talk
– Examples from companies that are using talk triggers successfully including Doubletree Hotels by Hilton and The Cheesecake Factory, plus a host of delightful small businesses
– The 4-5-6 learning system (the 4 requirements for a differentiator to be a talk trigger; the 5 types of talk triggers; and the 6-step process for creating talk triggers)
Consumers are wired to discuss what is different, and ignore what is average. Be dared to not only think different, but get the precise formula to do it!
9:45 – 10:00 a.m.
NETWORKING REFRESHMENT BREAK
10:00 – 10:45 a.m. We know, we know…then we heard: Lessons in Listening to Community
Joanne Kozlowski, Senior Communications Strategist, City of Regina
Leah Goodwin, Engagement Strategist, City of Regina
Shifting community from anger to support requires thoughtful, planned conversations, and a great deal of listening. How can a public sector organization rebuild community trust after proposing to close a 72-year old neighbourhood pool? Bringing together best practices in communications and engagement, the City set out to better understand the needs of the community and design a facility that will become the new neighbourhood hub.
In this session you will learn:
- The value of integrating communications and engagement planning from the get-go and throughout projects.
- The importance of understanding audiences before seeking their voices – demographics, variety of interests
- Respecting feedback as data, founded in the belief that residents are experts in their own lives
10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Personality Without: Bringing Personality to Social Media in Places You Wouldn’t Expect it
Scott McGregor, Communications Consultant, SGI Media Relations/Communications
There is nothing more defeatist than the phrase “it is what it is,” and yet, businesses all over the world, regardless of industry, often join in this chant when it comes to their social media. There is always room for personality – even in places you wouldn’t expect it. Join Scott McGregor in his journey through bringing engaging personality to social media during his time at the RCMP, and now with SGI. This presentation will showcase best practices to breathe new life into your social media executions and strategy, while increasing engagement using voice, tone, and executions.
11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
NETWORKING LUNCHEON
12:45 – 1:45 p.m. It’s Yammer Time! Transforming Culture Through Social Collaboration
Paul Newmarch, Senior Advisor, Digital Employee Communications, Suncor Energy
Yammer was Suncor’s first small, but mighty step in shifting its culture, the way it works, and building a community that is open to working and connecting differently. It’s about connecting an entire workforce to the business including non-wired field employees. Within a year, Suncor went from thinking about social collaboration to launching Yammer to its entire employee base around the globe. This presentation will explore how Suncor moved from education and awareness to adoption of this social collaboration tool, the successes and challenges and the mindsets that needed to shift and the change communications required to bring this to life.
1:45 – 2:45 p.m. Creating Video to Amplify Social Media Presence: Building Trust, Connecting with Citizens
Julie Mintenko, Communication/Social Media Consultant II, Strategy & Transformation City of Saskatoon
Sue Martin, B.A, Communication Consultant II, Strategy & Transformation City of Saskatoon
Citizens needs and expectations continue to change. So do the ways we connect with and reach our audience.
Our ongoing goals? To create direct, meaningful, and impactful delivery of information that matters to citizens.
Cue our Your City Video Series…delivering citizen focused information to enhance residents’ quality of life in Saskatoon.
Learn more about how we:
- Broadened our effectiveness and reach by creating timely informative videos to expand our social media presence
- Reinforced our trusted City Brand and improved upon the positive appreciation of our civic services through use of our digital firstapproach
- Created a cost recovery process, earned buy-in from our internal divisions, and spurred teamwork and collaboration
- Highlighted relevant civic services and programs to not only inform citizens, but to also instill confidence in their perception of ‘value for tax dollars’
- Leveraged our ‘in-house’ skills
Perhaps you’ll create your own Your City video series!
2:45 – 3:00 p.m. REFRESHMENT BREAK
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. How to Make a Personal Connection through Storytelling
Cynthia Lockrey, Lockrey Communications
We now have countless technologies and ways to share information. Yet the age-old tool of storytelling is still the best way to make a personal connection so people tune in to what you’re saying. Cynthia will break down the elements of a story, uncover what makes a good story, learn the importance of storytelling as well as how to use it in your social media, presentations, emails, social media and more.
4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
To be announced
5:00 pm CONFERENCE CONCLUDES FOR THE DAY
Click here to Register Now
Workshops
Tuesday, April 7, 2020
OPTIONAL POST-CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS:
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Workshop A: Communications Audit – Taking the Pulse of Your Organization
Cynthia Lockrey, Lockrey Communications
A communications audit is used to take the pulse of an organization’s formal and informal communications processes, while measuring their effectiveness and identifying gaps. In this workshop we will look at the steps to prepare for an audit, the various audit tools available and how to create an audit report that will be read. You will leave this interactive workshop feeling better prepared and more confident so you can figure out what is working, what’s not working and where you can make meaningful improvements to communications processes in your organization.
Cynthia Lockrey is passionate about helping people find their voices so they can share their knowledge, stories and BE HEARD! Over her 20+ year career she has worked as a communications manager and stakeholder engagement advisor for corporate, government and non-profit organizations as well as a corporate trainer and post-secondary instructor. Cynthia is the founder of www.howtocommunications.com, a website dedicated to helping people hone their public relations skills. She is also the author of two patient advocacy books – Bed Rest Mom and Your Child’s Voice. Cynthia lives on Vancouver Island where she works as a consultant, patient advocate and corporate trainer.
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
WORKSHOP B: Creating Impactful Content that Breaks Through all the Noise
Josh Stewart-Van Dusen, Director of Business Development, Tandem X Visuals
In our digital world, the amount of content being produced is increasing at an alarming rate. People are now bombarded with more content than they can consume but the requirement for businesses to be digital has never been more important. How do you create content that is impactful and breaks through all the noise to get in front of as many people as possible? It’s simple! Create shareable videos. You can’t produce viral videos but you can produce shareable videos that go viral.
80% of the worlds internet usage is caused by video consumption. In this workshop we will focus video production and you’ll learn to identify your businesses strengths and converting that into content your audience wants to watch. By learning to spot what works, and what doesn’t, your social media presence will turn into a organic growth powerhouse.
We’ll take a deep dive into what makes videos so important to your business.
- Focusing on producing videos based on business goals and objectives
- Allowing your businesses people & culture to shine into the videos
- Learn to reach a new audience organically
- The future of video in your business
By showing their videos that has reached millions organically and also the videos they’ve thrown out, Josh will break down what works and what makes video suck. This session will leave you with the skills to produce quick and impactful video that will captivate your audience and make your business stand out among the crowd.
Josh Stewart-Van Dusen, Director of Business Development, Tandem X Visuals
Armed with a quick wit, a few bad jokes and a creative mind, Josh helps businesses understand the digital world. Josh is Director of Business Development at Tandem X Visuals, a Social Media Production company based in Regina, Saskatchewan that works with clients to craft compelling visual stories for their audience.
1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
WORKSHOP C: Getting The Message Out: How to Develop a Communications Strategy That Works
Gary Williams, Chief Communications Officer, eSolutionsGroup
Dani Stock, Manager, Communications, eSolutionsGroup
In this workshop you will learn how to create a communications strategy to fit any project or initiative that is effective, measurable and fits your budget.
- Establish goals and achieve them
- Meet the needs of your audience
- Save time and eliminate potential pain points / confusion
- Anticipate and prevent negative reactions
- Help your audience feel involved and informed
Gary Williams, ABC | Chief Communications Officer
Gary is the Chief Communications Officer for eSolutionsGroup and has more than 20 years of municipal government experience working with three progressive municipalities to elevate their stakeholder communications and digital media services. Trained as a journalist and public relations professional at Sheridan College and Ryerson University, Gary has extensive experience in developing award-winning communications and engagement strategies that help communities and organizations better connect with stakeholders.
Gary has positioned the teams he has led as leaders in public sector communications and has been recognized with 30 industry awards for various communications projects and strategies, including the prestigious Don Rennie Memorial Award for outstanding team achievement in communications. As the Chief Communications Officer with eSolutionsGroup, he leads the company’s line of communications services to help our clients better connect and engage with their audiences.
Dani Stock, PhD | Manager, Communications
For over 10 years, Dani has crafted high-quality content and communications strategy across sectors, from non-profits and government to academic research, tech and consumer goods. With a breadth of experience creating compelling stories for audiences and media of all kinds, she contributes a wide range of skills to every project.
Dani has a PhD in English from the University of Waterloo, a Master of Arts in Rhetoric and Communication Design from the University of Waterloo and an Honours Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Ottawa. Her doctoral research studied multimedia storytelling on digital social platforms.
Click here to Register Now
Pricing/Register
| General Registration Types | Early Bird – until
February 28, 2020 |
Regular Rate |
| BEST VALUE! Forum + Two Workshops (April 6 & 7, 2020) | $949.00 | $1,099.00 |
| Forum + 1 Workshop (Monday, April 6 & half day on 7th) | $799.00 | $999.00 |
| Forum Only (Monday, April 6, 2020) | $559.00 | $699.00 |
| One Workshop only (April 7, 2020) | $379.00 | $499.00 |
| Two Workshops only (April 7, 2020) | $549.00 | $649.00 |
| IABC Member Registration Types | Early Bird | Regular Rate |
| BEST VALUE! Forum + Two Workshops (Apr. 6 & 7, 2020) | $899.00 | $999.00 |
| Forum + 1 Workshop (Monday, April 6 & half day on 7th) | $749.00 | $899.00 |
| Forum Only (Monday, April 6, 2020) | $499.00 | $599.00 |
| One Workshop only (April 7, 2020) | $329.00 | $399.00 |
| Two Workshops only (April 7, 2020) | $509.00 | $599.00 |
REGISTER NOW
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Substitution of delegates is permissible without prior notification. Refunds will be given for cancellations received in writing no later than 10 days prior to the conference date subject to an administration fee of $200 plus $10 for GST. After this time, you are liable for the full registration fee even if you do not attend the conference. If you register during this 10 day period, you are also liable for the full fee. Swansea Communications reserves the right to change program date, meeting place or content without further notice and assumes no liability for these changes.