Today, information is shared at speeds that are so fast it continues to amaze us. A few hundred years ago another revolutionary mass media tool, the printing press, allowed us to print large quantities of documents to disseminate information to whomever we could reach. However, each time information was printed there was a production cost, a delivery cost, and it took time. Now, the digital age allows us to put information out into the universe and reach an almost infinite number of people at relatively no cost and in real time. A great illustration of this is the 2011 uprising in Egypt where anti-government activists came together and used Facebook and Twitter to plan events that brought together tens of thousands of people to protest against the existing Egyptian government. The Egyptian government tried blocking all social media, but was not successful. Ultimately, there is no denying that the ability of social media sites to enable users to share information creates an unparalleled amount of information exchange that is changing the way we communicate... more
For more than six years, Communica Public Affairs has worked alongside Enbridge Pipelines Inc. helping to shape the public involvement and stakeholder engagement strategies and initiatives associated with the Enbridge Northern Gateway Project (Northern Gateway)... more
Carbon capture and storage — CCS — is a process that has significant potential to help reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) at industrial sites, transporting it via pipelines, and injecting it into storage sites deep underground... more
What does stakeholder engagement mean to your organization? Is it proactive or reactionary communication? Is it something you are committed to or something you haven’t quite gotten around to or fail to see the value in? With the latter approach, it isn’t until organizations find themselves over their head in public scrutiny that a stakeholder engagement plan becomes front of mind. Information – and misinformation – spreads fast, and reputations can be severely damaged before corporations get around to investing time, money and resources to try to “fix” a problem that is already out of control... more
On September 1, 2011, the Alberta Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) announced the release of a new edition of Directive 056: Energy Development Applications and Schedules, which became effective September 26, 2011, and replaces all previous editions. The full text is available from the ERCB at www.ercb.ca... more
On June 30, 2011, Communica relaunched its website - communica.ca. The new site provides additional information about who we are, what we do and our experience and expertise. It is also more visual, with more images depicting what we do, photos of our employees and our new Calgary office... more
At the end of March 2011, Communica moved, lock, stock and barrel, into new office space in the Beltline. While final finishing touches are still to be made to the new facility, we are up and running and feeling right at home... more
Despite the many online communications options that are now available, there are still times when the old tried-and-true method of mailing printed materials is not only the best way to go – it’s the required way. “Snail mail” is required by regulatory agencies for a variety of reasons, including initial notification of a proposed project, or updating an existing project that is under way... more
Risk communications sage Peter Sandman has produced some thoughtful analysis and theory, but the notion of public “outrage” and what triggers it is one of his most useful concepts... more