Chapter Membership
Chapter President Eduarda Hodgins, ABC
Chapter Membership 250
Chapter President Erika Wah
Chapter Membership
Chapter President Sue Bugos
Chapter Membership
Chapter President Harold Simons, ABC
Chapter Membership
Chapter President Laurie Dawkins, ABC, MC
Chapter Membership
Chapter President Maureen Healey, ABC
Chapter Membership
Chapter President Maureen Healey, ABC
Chapter Membership
Chapter President Brandy Delves (Shymanski)
Chapter Membership
Chapter President Chris Freimond, ABC
Chapter Membership
Chapter President Angela Wilson, ABC
Vancouver was again in the spotlight with the World Conference being staged here to start not only the next decade but also the Millennium.
Jennifer Wah, ABC, MC, IABC Fellow, conceived the idea and planned and implemented the first ever Accreditation Completion Program (ACP) in the BC chapter for the previous IABC International Accredited Business Communicator (ABC) program. Having gone through the accreditation process on her own, Jennifer identified that some members were having difficulty prepping for the very intimidating and comprehensive accreditation exam. She spearheaded this vanguard program, which led to BC growing from 13 ABCs to 80 in 10 years, one of the highest per chapter in the IABC world. The program helped guide applicants through the entire process from application to the written and oral exams, and required hundreds of hours of time on her part, including recruiting other accredited members to provide lectures on specific topics and to proctor exams. The program started by Jennifer became the international standard and remained in place, yearly, until the new certification program was launched.
Ron Shewchuk, ABC, MC, had a 30-year track record of delivering positive results. Ron served in senior positions in corporate public relations, employee communications, marketing, and PR consulting. Ron’s handbook, Writing and Editing the Internal Publication: Delivering Employee Communications with Impact, Integrity and Style, was published by the IABC Knowledge Bank.
Long-time member Tudor Williams, ABC, already honoured as a Master Communicator in Canada, was named an IABC Fellow in 2004 by IABC International.
Hundreds of volunteers came together to deliver outstanding hospitality excellence at the time, breaking records and setting high standards for future events. • Developed first-ever conference website that led to a new record for full conference registration. • 230 volunteers who worked ~690 hours. • All-time high cash sponsorships. • Welcoming reception that featured a community arts group, the Jazz Festival, and a local film company. • A revitalized Dine-Around that featured a first-ever publication of restaurant choices, 90 Dine-Around hosts and transportation arranged for guests • Two locally-produced sessions that drew rave reviews for their lively and interactive ways of presenting crisis communication and the IABC code of ethics Pictured here from left to right, Tudor Williams, Ryan Williams, Brian Mitchell, Elise Roaf, Peter Roaf, Gary Carr, John Almond, Laurie Dawkins, Gail Pickard.
The printed materials for the 2000 International Conference Hospitality Committee featured a colourful hand. Gail Pickard, ABC, said: "I was the co-chair of Sponsorship with John Almond. The committee had decided on the theme “The Art of Communication” and wanted a way to demonstrate that our art is part of who we are, even at a very young age. At the time my second child was less than a year old, so we dipped her hands, and my three-year-old son’s hands, in paint and then our designer added more colour to create the dynamic template for our materials!"
President Eduarda Hodgins, ABC (pictured top left) said IABC/BC meant she was happy in her ‘adopted home’. “When I left Toronto, all my friends kept saying ‘there are no jobs out there, it’s a hinterland, it’s horrible – you’ll end up being a pickle queen at McDonalds!’. So when I came out west and went to the first IABC/BC event, it was a turning point. I found ‘my peeps’, I found my posse, I found my profession – I found it all. And it grew from there.”
Ragged Right continued to be printed and sent to members in the new millennium.
Laurie Dawkins (pictured bottom, centre) reflects on putting the volunteer team together for the 2000 conference: "It was my first big volunteer gig. We had a meeting. Everybody is putting on the table all their volunteer needs. We were really starting to panic, that's more volunteers than we have members. What are we going to do? We ended up reaching out to do some creative modelling of how we could get people to help - what can we give people in exchange? And then being completely overwhelmed in a good way when we managed to get over 200 volunteers. And it being such an amazing vibe with so many people involved. It was wonderful seeing the power of that community and what people were willing to give."
During this chapter year, the previously separate chapter committees of Internal and External Communications were combined to ensure all messages sent to members and non-members were consistent and accurate. Pictured here, from left to right, are Fred Morley, Lori Last, Meagan Olsen, Amanda Baggett, Raeann Co, Melanie Tiefenbach, and (seated) Harold Simons.
Philip Hassen, President and CEO, Providence Health Care, was the Communicator of the Year. He said that building one community of staff, leaders and physicians from the merger of eight health care facilities was his mandate, and he made communications an essential accountability for all leaders.
The Goods and Services Tax was launched, and IABC/BC added the tax as required.
Jennifer Wah, ABC, MC, IABC Fellow, conceived the idea and planned and implemented the first ever Accreditation Completion Program (ACP) in the BC chapter for the previous IABC International Accredited Business Communicator (ABC) program. Having gone through the accreditation process on her own, Jennifer identified that some members were having difficulty prepping for the very intimidating and comprehensive accreditation exam. She spearheaded this vanguard program, which led to BC growing from 13 ABCs to 80 in 10 years, one of the highest per chapter in the IABC world. The program helped guide applicants through the entire process from application to the written and oral exams, and required hundreds of hours of time on her part, including recruiting other accredited members to provide lectures on specific topics and to proctor exams. The program started by Jennifer became the international standard and remained in place, yearly, until the new certification program was launched.
Dr. DeNel Sedo, a longtime IABC/BC member, left Vancouver to pursue an academic career on the East Coast. She is pictured here with Karen Lee, ABC.
IABC/BC took on the organization of the national Silver Leaf Awards program, with Erin Driscoll, ABC and Clay Adams, ABC, co-coordinating.
The chapter was searching for a sponsor to pay for the cost of mailing the Ragged Right newsletter to members. Ruthless Editorial Services designed the newsletter, and Benwell Atkins printed it. Ruth Raymond, ABC, received the President’s Award for volunteer of the year.
Ron Shewchuk, ABC, MC, had a 30-year track record of delivering positive results. Ron served in senior positions in corporate public relations, employee communications, marketing, and PR consulting. Ron’s handbook, Writing and Editing the Internal Publication: Delivering Employee Communications with Impact, Integrity and Style, was published by the IABC Knowledge Bank.
President Erika Wah didn't go far without her IABC/BC pencil case and calculator.
Harold Simons, centre, is shown here with long-time member Spencer MacGillivray (left) and Paul Mlodzik.
Long-time member Tudor Williams, ABC, already honoured as a Master Communicator in Canada, was named an IABC Fellow by IABC International.
Laurie Dawkins, ABC, MC (pictured) reflected on her time as president. “We live in a time and place where few people have a true sense of ‘community,’ but that’s what IABC has been to me – it’s my community. It’s a group of people who have wrapped their arms around me personally and professionally, prodding me over more than 20 years to be brave and take on more than I ever thought possible, be it volunteer roles or career opportunities. And in the moments where I doubted myself and felt that maybe it was all too much, these people were the first to buy me a drink and say ‘you got this!’”
The BC chapter celebrated its 25th anniversary with special celebrations at the annual awards event.
Dave Mowatt, CEO, Vancity Credit Union, was awarded the Communicator of the Year.
The 2006 IABC World Conference was hosted in Vancouver and led by a Hospitality Committee consisting of: • Laurie Dawkins • Gary Carr • Jennifer Wah • Jennifer Hamilton • Charlene Chiang • Viviana Zanocco • Erika Wah • Megan Verchere
Laurie Dawkins, who had been pregnant during her presidency at IABC/BC, brought her infant son Benjamin along with her to the 2006 conference. "I was past president and chair of the international conference hospitality task force and helping my then 16-month son, Benjamin, mark the occasion!"
One of Maureen Healey's proudest moments was earning a one-of-kind badge. "I was president of the chapter and was lucky enough to have Laurie Dawkins, ABC, MC, as past president. She was also willing to chair the World Conference (just called International Conference back then) and be the liaison on behalf of the chapter board. She was kind enough to make me this IABC Geek badge as a thank you gift when I wrapped up my term. It was so appropriate as I often used my Girl Guide badges poncho as a metaphor for all the 'badges' I'd similarly earned as an IABC member and volunteer over the years."
The IABC Handbook of Organizational Communication was published this year.
On Dec. 24, 2008, Vancouver was hit with a record snowfall of 26.9cm in one day. Communicators were among the thousands of people living on the West Coast who enjoyed a rare white Christmas.
The eight ballplayers having some fun after day one of the 2009 Dare to Lead conference in Saskatoon. Dare to Lead is an annual conference where best practices and learnings are shared to support incoming Canadian chapter and regional board leaders.
Jennifer Wah, ABC, MC, IABC Fellow, operates an independent consulting company that focuses on “ideas, plans, words, results.” She founded the company in 1995 and has built it up to be one of the leading communications consultancies in British Columbia.
This unique event saw a communications professional, charged with a breach of IABC’s Code of Ethics, put on trial. Tudor Williams, ABC, MC, IABC Fellow played the role of the judge. The communicator on trial was played by Karen Lee, ABC. The expert witnesses were played by Shel Holtz and Moses Kanhai.
This unique event saw a communications professional, charged with a breach of IABC’s Code of Ethics, put on trial. Tudor Williams, ABC, MC, IABC Fellow played the role of the judge. The communicator on trial was played by Karen Lee, ABC. The expert witnesses were played by Shel Holtz and Moses Kanhai.
IABC/BC and the Vancouver chapter of the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) jointly hosted a speaker series called, “Communicating our Way Through the Health Care Crisis”.
Laurie Dawkins, ABC, MC was the winner of the President’s Award for volunteer of the year. Laurie was director of student services and chair of volunteer relations for the IABC International Conference that year. The Blue Wave Awards took place in May due to the conference, and Arthur Black from CBC’s Basic Black was the host.
Results from a BC chapter survey completed by 100 members revealed the top two reasons for belonging to IABC/BC were professional development and networking.
The Communicator of the Year was Dr. Ivo Olivotto, a radiation oncologist with the BC Cancer Agency. Dr. Olivotto was described as being "passionate in his quest to improve the quality of life for women living with breast cancer, and to improving communication about the disease". A carpool service was organized for the event in case of a transit strike.
This event was held in the Marine Room.
This chapter leadership conference brought together elected and aspiring leaders from across the District.
Members were offered a $100 USD discount for this workshop with Charles Pizzo.
The chapter hosted a series of in-depth, half-day workshops on setting communication goals for websites, communicating change, working with government, and media myths and realities.
Tudor Williams Inc. won a cultural diversity award for the firm’s consulting work dealing with culture, culture change, and workforce diversity. The win was in the category of businesses with 25 employees or less.
IABC International experienced a financial crisis, which led to the creation of the Five Hundred Club, a lifetime membership program.
Vancouver is selected as the Host City for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games
The Canadian Hospitality Suite event at the IABC International conference included a “Name That Famous Canadian” game. Laurie Dawkins was MC, and greetings were given by Canada District West and East Directors, Gail Pickard and Sue Johnston.
Risk-taking by banks combined with the bursting of the United States housing bubble, caused the values of mortgage-backed securities tied to American real estate to plummet and financial institutions to suffer significant damage globally.
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President Harold Simons showing his chapter spirit.
Chapter President, Maureen Healey, ABC (left) with Karen Fritzlar (Basaraba) and Ryan Williams.
IABC/BC auctioned off actual Royal Canadian Mounties for dances in the Canadian Hospitality Suite.
Laurie Dawkins and Gary Carr at the 2006 World Conference in Vancouver.
Erika Wah at the 2006 World Conference in Vancouver.