Our Impact
Our Programs
CPRS Foundation Indigenous PR Student Scholarship
Established in September 2020 for full and part-time students who identify as members of First Nations, Inuit or Métis nations or communities and are working toward a diploma or degree in public relations, communications, social media, or marketing-communications at a recognized community college or university in Canada. The CPRS Foundation partners with Indspire for this National Scholarship Program.
Applications can be made through Indspire’s Building Brighter Futures: Bursaries, Scholarships, and Awards Program.
Deadlines for submission are August 1, November 1, and February 1 at 11:59 p.m. EST
CPRS Foundation BPOC Scholarship
Established in September 2021 for full and part-time students who identify as a member of the black community and is studying towards a diploma or degree in PR/communications at a recognized Canadian community college/CEGEP or university. The CPRS Foundation has partnered with BlackBusiness and Professional Association - BBPA National Scholarship Program.
Applications can be made through Black Business and Professional Association - BBPA National Scholarship Program.
Deadlines for submission are July 3, 2023.
Our Scholarships
Torchia Scholarship in Communications ($1,500)
This scholarship honours Torchia Communications’ co-founder Armand Torchia and recognizes a student who best exemplifies the spirit and practice of bilingualism in the Canadian communication and public relations profession and is studying in one of Canada’s two official languages.
Denis Racine Scholarship ($1,000)
This Scholarship is disbursed by the Foundation on behalf of CPRS Vancouver Island’s Victoria Fund. This bursary was established in honour of Denis Racine, who passed away in January 2009, and was a prominent figure in Victoria’s public relations community and strong mentor for youth. The annual bursary is available to CPRS-VI student members who live on Vancouver Island or the Gulf Islands, are registered in a post-secondary educational program and have completed three or more courses.
For more information on how to apply, please visit cprsvi.org.
Calgary Legacy Scholarship ($1,000)
This $1,000 Scholarship is awarded annually to a student studying public relations /communications in a recognized program at one of Mount Royal University, University of Calgary or SAIT Polytechnic. In addition, the recipient receives complimentary CPRS membership for year three of his/her study, complimentary one-year bridge/affiliate membership upon completion of study, and complimentary registration for one CPRS Calgary event.
For more information on the application process, please visit cprscalgary.com.
Susan Francis Prize in Public Relations ($1,000)
This Prize is awarded to a public relations student in his/her final year of a public relations / communications program at Mount Royal University, University of Calgary or SAIT Polytechnic. The prize was established by the Francis family and Canadian Public relations Society (Calgary) to honour the memory of Susan Francis, APR, who dedicated her life and career to implementing communications programs for causes about which she was passionate.
For more information on the application process, please visit cprscalgary.com.
Our Grants
Professional Development Grant
Through a gift from CPRS Vancouver Island (VI), a grant is made annually to a chapter member, to attend the CPRS national Conference. For more information on how to apply, please the CPRS VI website.
Jack Yocom Public Relations Profile Collection Grant
Initiated by the CPRS College of Fellows and Communications + Public Relations Foundation, the grant supports the recording of the history of public relations in Canada through profiling those who have developed and influenced the profession. Please visit the CPRS College of Fellows webpage for more information.
Grater Victoria Public Library Award
Through a gift from the CPRS Vancouver Island Chapter, a grant is given annually to the library to purchase public relations materials. Any British Columbia resident with a GVPL library card or a BC OneCard can access the collection, which includes e-books. For more information, please visit cprsvi.org.
Our Lectures
Diana and Charles Tisdall Lecture in Communications
Established by the Tisdall family through the Communications + Public Relations Foundation, and in partnership with the Canadian Public Relations Society, the Diana & Charles Tisdall Lecture in Communications demonstrates the societal power and value of public relations.
Charles Tisdall, who died in 2007, was a recognized public relations leader in Canada and the United States having established Tisdall Clark & Partners in the early 1950s. Tisdall Clark became one of the founding members of Canada Newswire and was the majority shareholder until 1986. During his career, he was named one of the world’s 40 outstanding public relations professionals by Public Relations News. Charles Tisdall and his wife Diana were leaders in community service. They were generous of their time to and support of artistic, church, community and charitable organizations. Charles always recognized the importance of education in public relations emphasizing goodwill in the community and an improved understanding of the profession. He encouraged higher standards and accountability among practitioners in addition to increasing overall awareness of the contribution and role of public relations. This lecture furthers that commitment.
2022 - Dr. Niigaan Sinclair
2021 -
2020 - No Lecture due to the Pandemic
2019 -
2018 - How Artificial Intelligence Will Impact Your Organization Today & Tomorrow
Ross Simmonds spoke at the CPRS national conference, Connexions, in Charlottetown, P.E.I. on May 27, 2018 on How Artificial Intelligence Will Impact Your Organization Today & Tomorrow. Ross Simmonds is a digital strategist and entrepreneur with a passion for technology and communications who works with clients on a regular basis to leverage content to drive meaningful results for their brands while doing the same with his own companies.
2017 Trust, Respect and Reconciliation
The Lecture was given by Marie Wilson, PhD, Commissioner, Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) at the CPRS national conference Illuminate in Kelowna, BC. May 28th, 2017. (The Lecture was not taped).
2016 – Building Brands at Home and Abroad
The Diana and Charles Tisdall Lecture featured a CEO panel moderated by Gordon McIvor APR, FCPRS consisting of John Betts, CEO of McDonalds, Dianne Craig, CEO of Ford Canada and Piers Handling, CEO of TIFF at the CPRS national conference World Public Relations Forum (WPRF) on May 31, 2016 in Toronto, Ontario. (The Lecture was not taped).
Previous lectures were given David McLean, Leadership expert and Entrepreneur for the McLean Group on the Significance of Communications in business success, Gabe Zichermann, Chair of GSummit, on Gamification: Strategies and vision for the future, Terry Fallis, Public Relations Practitioner, author and founder of Thornley Fallis Communications, on 25 years of storytelling and Lindsey Gordon, President and CEO of HSBC Band Canada, on Financial Sector communications in an uncertain economic environment, to name a few.
