While it’s hard to believe that another year is coming to an end, I am foremost grateful to have the opportunity to reflect on this momentous period with all of you.
Like many of our members, a few of IABC/BC’s 2021-22 Board members got the pleasure of meeting in person for the first time at this year’s holiday social.
As we turn the page from virtual to a public-safety informed hybrid/ in-person programming model, our west-coast-strong Chapter continues to deliver on the transitional year strategy we began pursuing this past summer.
As I reflect on 2021, I am truly humbled by the resilience, grit and empathy each of you have shown to yourselves and one another as members of this community. Your dedication to our like-minded group of professionals has lifted us through a challenging period: last week, we co-hosted our first in-person event in more than 20 months!
IABC/BC and CPRS Vancouver members ringing in the holiday season together. From L to R: Adam Brayford, SCMP, from IABC/BC Sponsor Bananatag – soon to be Staffbase (and IABC/BC Past President); Catherine Ducharme, CLC, ACC, co-founder of Fluency Leadership (and IABC/BC Past President); Carla Shore, APR, FCPRS, Principal at C-Shore Communications Inc.; and Laurie Dawkins, ABC, MC, SCMP, Vice President, Comms & Stakeholder Engagement at the Provincial Health Services Authority of BC (and IABC/BC Past President)
“Let’s Get Toasty”, an IABC/BC and CPRS Holiday Social, provided an opportunity to reconnect, embrace one another (while masked, of course) and, for once, not have our conversations interrupted by internet outages or mute buttons. We were delighted to also be able to recognize our newly-certified members, Nicole Adams, SCMP, and Alfie Penfold, CMP.
Nicole and Adam join a talented and dynamic group of BC-based strategic communications professionals who have chosen to elevate their careers while keeping their skills fresh and applicable through the Global Communication Certification Council (GCCC) program.
As we look ahead at the start of the year, we’ll be hosting Special Interest Group, also known as SIG, events in January around mental health in the communications profession and in February for our senior communicators. We are also in the midst of our Gold Quill Awards submission period, which has recognized and awarded excellence in strategic communication worldwide for more than 40 years.
We will have plenty more opportunities for you to get involved and give your professional development a boost in 2022 and beyond. So, please stay tuned.
To our more than 370 members, I want to thank you for continuing to choose IABC/BC as your professional community. Over the past 20 months, we have faced challenges never seen before by our association.
Our incredible holiday social event day volunteer team. Back-to-front, L to R: Kristel David, Mona Lee, Rebecca Kesler and Mandy Chow.
It is thanks to each of you—with your wisdom from past generations and relentless energy from generations of leadership still to come—that we are entering an era equipped with renewed determination, tools and an endless fountain of kindred spirit.
My biggest hope for this holiday season is that you’ll have a chance to breathe out, disconnect from an online world and connect with loved ones in the traditions you hold dearest. From my family to your loved ones, a happy holiday season! Stay safe!
Ava and Noah Vargas. They inherited their mother’s eyes; I provided the antlers and last name.
