- Acumen TeamAcumen prides itself on providing first class service to its clients.
- Our ServicesAcumen offers its clients a complete range of public relations and communications services
- Success StoriesHere are a few of our more recent projects, which we’re particularly proud of.
- Our ClientsAcumen prides itself on providing first class service to its clients.
Back in the Groove
We had a great summer, thanks for asking. Between European vacations (Kim), cottage life in Saskatchewan (Dave), hiking in the mountains of Alberta and BC (Sue) and touring the Oregon coast (Robin) we’ve covered a good chunk of the world these past few months. Now we’re back and doing what we do best – fighting fires.
Acumen News
New Westminster Schools
We like to think we’ve got a well-earned rep for being “that company" – the one that can get your communications back on track, swing public opinion around to your side and deliver stunning creative in record time. Well, we got a chance to prove ourselves in a big way in September, when the New Westminster School District came calling. They’ve got a significant capital plan to build three new schools, which will feature new facilities for the community as well as students. But the delay in actually getting the project going (it was first announced in 2004) has made a lot of residents cynical and less likely to believe in the new plan.
We received a phone call just three weeks before critical public information meetings were planned looking for our help. We needed to turn out a communications plan, key messages, a new website, a series of presentation boards, facts sheets, Q&As and an online survey tool. We helped support a parent’s night about the project that had translators available in over 10 languages and various stakeholders’ meetings in advance of the main public information night.
Despite the hectic timelines, everything was delivered on time, the crowds arrived, asked good questions and most left supportive of the project. It’s not over yet, but things are looking positive and everyone is sleeping a little better now. And while we’re usually happy to let others take credit for success, this time we’re blowing our own horn a bit – Toot! Toot!
Beyond the Hype3 – Nov 5
In our last newsletter, we told you that the Vancouver Island chapter of the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS-VI) was planning for Beyond the Hype 3, its annual professional development conference for senior communication professionals on the west coast. Since then, under Kim’s leadership (she’s back as chair of BTH3) the conference line-up is looking stronger than ever. It all happens November 5th at Royal Roads University. This year’s theme is Trade Talk: Tool Up and Take New Media to the Next Level and features some impressive speakers and hands-on learning.
Back by popular demand is Vancouver’s Alexandra Samuel, who will give us the straight talk on the shifting PR world and how it is a changin’. Also back are Darren Barefoot and Julie Szabo of Capulet Communications who will regale us on a host of social media tools for our local market and how to make sure they hit the mark. We'll hear from Scott McCloy, of WorkSafeBC, on how to set up your communications shop within the new media world, Cody Graham, Director of MediaOne MultiMedia, on how to effectively use video to deliver your message, Della Smith of Q Workshops will guide us through incorporating SM into our communications planning and Rumon Carter, provincial government employee and active social media user will share a case study on his work with the Olympic Torch Relay.
Beyond the Hype is becoming an annual event for mid- to senior-level PR and Communications pros, who spend the day learning from each other, reconnecting with top level professionals and sharing their hard-won experiences. If that excites you, find out more at beyondthehype.ca.
Client Features
Victoria International Marina
They say you can’t fight city hall. OK, but sometimes you can nudge them slightly. Every so often, an effective PR campaign can at least make the playing field a level one. That was the challenge we faced when the proponents of a controversial marina planned for the north shore of Victoria’s middle harbour came knocking at our door in May. To say the plan was controversial is to understate the obvious. A large and vocal opposition group of kayakers, condo owners and environmentalists had lined up against the proposal. But what became clear as we talked to the developer was that the merits of the proposal were not being debated. Instead, hyperbole, exaggerations and misinformation were featured in most of the media coverage and public debate. After some healthy debate at the office, Acumen agreed to help try to counter the negative media waves that were pounding the project.
We created a website called Marinafacts.ca and filled it with the studies, approvals and support the project had already received. We set up editorial boards with all the local media outlets, to let the developers answer questions and present their story. Our mantra was straight out of Sgt. Joe Friday’s toolkit: “Just the facts, ma’am.” It was a challenge – no doubt about it. While City Hall did reduce the scope of the project, a revised version is better than no marina at all. And in general, the tone of the discussion has switched to the merits of the proposal, not the myths around it. We think Joe would have been proud of us.
Kinsol Trestle Update
We’ve been working with the Kinsol Trestle Fundraising Campaign for almost a year now – and things are moving along nicely. Work started on the rehabilitation of the site in July and the crews are going like gangbusters every day. We’ve been handling their media relations, advertising and social media needs. It’s a pleasure to work with such a great group. Like so many clients, they’ve become friends too. It’s a great project and if you want to find out more, visit www.kinsol.ca.
Gossip Corner
Summer Travel blogs
As we mentioned earlier, the Acumen team spread out this summer. If you want to know more about Kim’s European adventures, check out her travel blog. It inspired Sue to keep her own journal of her travels through the Rockies with a series of essays posted on Notes from September and illustrated with photos by her husband John.
Milestones
Our own in-house poet (and blogger extraordinaire!) Sue Gee is convocating in November from the University of Victoria. It takes awhile to get a degree doing one class a semester, but Sue has done it. Congratulations! And in the vein of keeping busy outside of the office, team member Dave Traynor has started his term as President of CPRS-VI, the local arm of the Canadian Public Relations Society.