Workshop

Communications

Effective Stakeholder Communications and Engagement

March 26–27, 2026• 9:00 am - 12:30 pm • Check for more dates available

Online

Cost: $750

Have questions about cancellations, rescheduling, or substitutions? View our workshop policies.

Why should you attend?

Imagine you’re about to launch a new policy, regulations, program or a project that can have a wide-ranging impact on your work and on your internal and external stakeholders. You need the collaboration and support of a variety of people. To get things done at work and to sustain continued successes, one must rely on the goodwill and support of others. Securing support from well-informed, influential, and powerful stakeholders can help win the much needed resources (human, financial, physical and other) for the successful completion of a program or a project. In order to gain stakeholders’ active and sustained support, it is essential to communicate with them early, frequently, regularly about what you are doing and the benefits of your project for them.

The ability to build effective rapport and relationship with stakeholders provides managers with a distinct advantage in managing expectations, dealing with difficult situations and negotiating their way to a positive end result. Understanding the stakeholders’ communication and decision-making styles and personal preferences as well as what motivates them, creates an effective pathway for a committed and results-driven business relationship. Stakeholder communication and engagement is a valuable strategy that successful people use to win others’ support. The workshop outlined below will help you learn how to identify the key stakeholders who have to be won over and kept informed and involved in a way they like, prefer and appreciate so that your efforts lead to success.

What will you learn?

Successful completion of this workshop will enable participants to:

Identify influential stakeholders for a project or program
Gather critical information about stakeholders’ communication needs
Determine stakeholders’ communication and decision-making styles
Establish rapport and develop mutual understanding with stakeholders
Create persuasive stakeholder presentations
Determine your power or sphere of influence with each stakeholder group
Apply best practices in stakeholder engagement and communication
Understand the importance of moving from “transactions” to “relationship” mode

What will you take away?

Participant notebook consisting of presentation slides
Exercises and handouts
A link to post-workshop resources available for download
Certificate of completion

Professional Competencies

Engagement: Working effectively with people, organizations and partners

Leah Jurkovic, President CEC

Leah has over 25 years of experience working at the intersection of communications, organizational change, and cultural transformation. As a former executive at Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan), Leah led both the communications and human… Read full bio

Sample Agenda

Activity
Introductions and Workshop Overview
Stakeholders: Definitions and Roles This segment includes discussion of: • Stakeholders defined – who they are • Internal vs. external stakeholders • Vertical, horizontal and other stakeholders and implications • Distinguishing stakeholders as “political”, non-political, others • Factors influencing stakeholder relations • Stakeholder roles and influences • Differences between communications, engagement and relationships
BREAK
Stakeholder Identification and Analysis • Profiling stakeholders — characteristics, power, interests, postures • Groups as stakeholders — opportunities and challenges • Prioritizing stakeholders • Approaches to stakeholder analysis Case Study Exercise: Prioritizing stakeholders based on established criteria.
Communicating with Stakeholders: Value in building a Relationship • Engaging the stakeholders • Determining their communications and decision-making style • Using appropriate communications protocol • Building interest (stakeholders’ interest in the program project) • Asking the right questions and active listening • Determining stakeholders interests Case Study Exercise: Assessing Risks and Impacts.
LUNCH
Stakeholder Communications: One Strategy or Many? • Understanding and planning stakeholder communications • Communications tools and methods • Ascertaining the appropriateness of different communications and stakeholder engagement models, tools and techniques Case Study Exercise: Responding to Senior Management Needs.
BREAK
Moving Stakeholders from Supporters to Advocates • Guiding principles • Moving stakeholders along the change continuum • Approaches to managing stakeholder expectations • Influencing skills and styles • Tips for effective stakeholder communications Case Study Exercise: Stakeholder Communications Strategy
Wrap-up and Evaluation

You continue to offer exactly what government workers need to learn – at the right time!

Workshop Participant, Health Canada

Workshop

Communications

Effective Oral Briefings to Senior Managers

December 8–9, 2025• 9:00 am - 12:30 pm • Check for more dates available

Online

Cost: $750

Have questions about cancellations, rescheduling, or substitutions? View our workshop policies.

Why should you attend?

Oral briefings have never been more important

Time is a precious resource senior managers and decision makers faced with multiple issues and events competing for their attention. And the issues are ever more complex and multi-layered, often involving an expanding range of interests and stakeholders, while playing out in a communications universe that shrinks response times as it simultaneously drives media competition for the latest story. The oral transmission of information, analysis and policy/action recommendations and their rationale through briefings and presentations has never been more important in the operation of government.

Your effectiveness depends on how well you plan, prepare and deliver

The effectiveness of anyone responsible for preparing and/or delivering briefings or presentations to meet the needs of ministers, executives, management or the requirements of committees, public hearings and consultations, is dependent upon two sets of competencies: preparation and planning and delivery.

Developing your competencies pays off

Preparation and planning include:

defining issues and key messages,
identifying and understanding audience needs;
structuring the briefing or presentation;
focusing on clarity, simplicity and brevity;
identifying likely questions and responses;
determining and taking account of the physical setting and its impact upon delivery.

Delivery is concerned with:

voice level, speaking style and adaptation to the audience;
posture and body language;
use of visual aids;
keeping on message and ensuring key messages are transmitted;
dealing with distractions, interruptions and questions;
practising and rehearsing.

Developing these competencies and associated skills and techniques will enable you to develop and deliver any briefing or presentation with confidence.

What will you learn?

The common factors responsible for ineffective briefings and presentations
How to apply audience analysis – perspectives, needs and priorities – as a key determinant of briefing or presentation content, structure and delivery style
How to identify and craft key messages to be transmitted
How to identify and develop a clear position on issues that will or are likely to arise and identify and prepare for traps, e.g., what not to say, what to say
How to transmit technical concepts, information and data at a level appropriate to the audience and event concerned
How to comfortably deliver different types of presentations for different audiences or events
How to apply delivery techniques and use speaking notes and visual aids
How to use verbal and non-verbal techniques for effective communication
The strategic importance of and techniques for “staying on message” and focusing on outcomes
How to deal effectively with questions – including unexpected questions – from an audience
How to apply techniques for dealing with a hostile audience; and for maintaining calm, composure, confidence and situational control
How to deliver diverse types of briefings and presentations with confidence
How to undertake a structured review of a briefing or presentation to identify lessons learned

What will you take away?

Participant notebook consisting of presentation slides
A video clip of your briefing presentation with instructor critique
A link to post-workshop resources available for download
Certificate of completion

Professional Competencies

Thinking Things Through: Innovating through analysis and ideas
Engagement: Working effectively with people, organizations and partners

Claude Panneton

Claude Panneton is a former public service executive with over 20 years of communications experience including risk and crisis communications, issues management, strategic communications and oversight of departmental public environment analysis,… Read full bio

Sample Agenda

Note: This agenda is designed to outline basic coverage of the subject matter and is adjusted and customized for the specific needs of individual participants and small groups.

Activity
Introductions and Workshop Overview
Planning and Developing Briefings and Presentations A strategic approach to briefings and presentations; differences between written and oral communication; audience analysis “who am I talking to” and “what’s in it for me;” setting results and the different types of briefings and presentations; determining and crafting key messages and the “residual message” – the main point or points your listener or an audience should take away from the briefing or the presentation; structuring the briefing and/or presentation; determining content – what and how much.
BREAK
Individual (Homework-Based) Presentations, Structured Peer Review, Discussion and Instructor Feedback.
LUNCH
Delivery, Use of Language and the “Snapshot” Presentation (Oral Executive Summary) Techniques for remembering material; using speaking notes; choosing your words and using your voice; simple and proven techniques for overcoming nervousness; dealing with questions; a system for staying “on the message”; using plain language; being conversational; developing and using the “Snapshot”.
BREAK
Individual Presentations, Structured Peer Review, Discussion and Instructor Feedback.
Wrap-up and Workshop Evaluation

You continue to offer exactly what government workers need to learn – at the right time!

Workshop Participant, Health Canada

Workshop

Communications

Effective Messaging

9:00 am - 12:30 pm •

In-House, Online

Cost: $750

Have questions about cancellations, rescheduling, or substitutions? View our workshop policies.

Why should you attend?

In a complex communications environment with thousands of messages from diverse sources, government communicators face increased pressure to ensure their messages are received, understood and acted upon. Developing and delivering messages in support of an organization’s mission, policies, programs and expected results has become one of the most important and challenging areas of strategic communications. The ability to develop a comprehensive message system that will successfully respond to both their organization’s and their target audiences’ needs amidst today’s communications “clutter” is one of the essential elements in being an effective communicator.

What will you learn?

The workshop will focus on:

Linking messages to strategic communications and expected results
Developing and applying a comprehensive message system
Different types of messaging for different communications media
The attributes of successful messages and how to incorporate them
Developing and crafting effective messages for diverse audiences
Testing messages for optimum impact
Monitoring and measuring the success of messages

What will you take away?

Workbook and checklists, how-to procedures/reminders and templates
Exercise handouts

Professional Competencies

Engagement: Working effectively with people, organizations and partners

Leah Jurkovic, President CEC

Sample Agenda

Activity
Introductions and Workshop Overview
Strategic Communications Planning Context Being strategic – thinking strategically; strategic communications. The planning process and technique; linkages between messaging and strategy. The importance of situational analysis. Understanding objectives and results. The importance of knowing audiences and targets. Different types of audience segmentation. Understanding the Strategic Communication Message Pyramid.
Case Study Exercise: Understanding our Audiences Participants working in groups will develop the first elements of audience segmentation and a set of communications themes based upon a scenario distributed to them and will report back with their results. Instructor-led feedback and discussion.
BREAK
The Importance and Impact of Positioning and Messaging Developing and applying the “message pyramid”. Defining our positioning statement. Linkages to messaging. Relationship between messaging, positioning and branding.
Case Study Exercise: From Positioning to Themes and Core Messages Participants working in groups will develop a set of core messages based on the previously developed communications themes and will report back with their results. Instructor-led discussion and feedback.
Message Engineering – The Right Basics The traditional “R’s” of message engineering – the “right” message, audience, vehicle, messenger and timing. The holistic “R’s” – relevance, resonance and responsiveness. The practical “R’s” – repeatibility, reviseability and reinforceability.
LUNCH
Messages and Mediated Communications Understanding that messages are mediated. Speech; text; video and TV; Web. Impact of different types of messaging on diverse audiences. Which type of message to use when and with whom. Importance of visual messaging.
Case Study Exercise: Applying Visual Messaging Participants working in groups will identify and correlate different types of visual messages with each of the previously prepared communications themes together with suggestions for visual message enhancements and will report back with their results. Instructor-led feedback and discussion.
BREAK
Tailoring Message for Diverse Audiences Crafting specialized messages. What do we have to know. Learning from our research. Putting the “meat on the bones”. Revisiting the key “R’s” of message engineering.
Case Study Exercise: From Core to Specialized Messages Participants in groups of two will develop a series of specialized messages for specific audiences based upon the previously prepared core messages and will report back with their results. Instructor-led feedback and discussion.
Getting it Right and Knowing it – Testing and Measuring Messages. Pre-testing. What makes a message successful. Choosing the right tools and techniques to measure the success of our messages. When and what to measure. Linking measurement to the strategy’s expected results.
Wrap-up and Evaluation Participants will complete a short evaluation

Thank you very much for your presentation to our national management team. We were so fortunate to tap into your vast knowledge and expertise. We will definitely be back to talk tools and approaches.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Workshop

Writing

Writing Effective Briefing Notes

9:00 am - 12:30 pm •

In-House, Online

Cost: $750

Have questions about cancellations, rescheduling, or substitutions? View our workshop policies.

Why should you attend?

The briefing note is an essential communication and decision-making tool in government and other organizations. It is written to present emerging issues, explore plans of action and inform decisions.

Today’s senior managers are overloaded with ever-increasing information, and they need to know what is important as they make decisions. The ability to provide concise, clear and relevant analysis in writing is a key skill.

What will you learn?

The purpose and structure of a briefing note
How to approach and organize a briefing note
How to write in a clear and concise manner
How to express the issue succinctly and summarize information
How to produce briefing notes that meet departmental requirements

What will you take away?

Presentation slides in the form of a participant notebook
Useful templates, exercises and checklists

Professional Competencies

Thinking Things Through: Innovating through analysis and ideas

Claude Panneton

Sample Agenda

Activity
Introductions and Workshop Overview
Why We Write Briefing Notes Participants consider the fast-paced environment and discuss why senior decision-makers require timely, accurate, concise information and advice.
Writing Clearly Participants review tips for writing clearly, and practice in a series of exercises.
BREAK
The Writing Process Participants discuss the steps to take as they prepare to write a briefing note. Participants study how to write in plain language.
What is the Context of your Briefing Note? Participants discuss how to address the Who, What, Why, and When of any briefing note they are asked to prepare.
LUNCH
Structure of the Briefing Note Participants examine the main sections of a briefing note (Issue, Key Considerations, Options, Recommendation). Using a scenario, the class discusses the possible content for each section.
Writing the Briefing Note Recap of principles and practices in crafting the briefing note. Participants read a case study and discuss the issue. Participants work in groups to prepare a briefing note.
BREAK
Briefing Note Group Presentations Each group presents its completed briefing note. Participants discuss the notes and lessons learned.
Wrap-up and Workshop Evaluation Instructor sums up the key points and participants complete a short evaluation.

Several people made a point of telling me how well the presentation went, how useful it was to them and how well I did, leading the presentation. I frankly owe these kudos to you and an excellent training session. This was, in fact, the first time I have ever delivered a presentation in such formal circumstances. My ability to perform (without nerves!) in front of a high-powered group was entirely due to the learning I received from you at the “Effective Oral Briefings and Presentations to Senior Officials” session in March (2014). So thanks, Josef!

Strategic Communications Advisor, Environment Canada

Workshop

Writing

Writing Effective Briefing Notes

October 2–3, 2025• 9:00 am - 12:30 pm • Check for more dates available

Online

Cost: $750

Have questions about cancellations, rescheduling, or substitutions? View our workshop policies.

Why should you attend?

The briefing note is an essential communication and decision-making tool in government and other organizations. It is written to present emerging issues, explore plans of action and inform decisions.

What will you learn?

The purpose and structure of a briefing note
How to approach and organize a briefing note
How to write in a clear and concise manner
How to express the issue succinctly and summarize information
How to produce briefing notes that meet departmental requirements

What will you take away?

Presentation slides in the form of a participant notebook
Useful templates, exercises and checklists

Professional Competencies

Thinking Things Through: Innovating through analysis and ideas

Sample Agenda

Activity
Introductions and Workshop Overview
Why We Write Briefing Notes Participants consider the fast-paced environment and discuss why senior decision-makers require timely, accurate, concise information and advice.
Writing Clearly Participants review tips for writing clearly, and practice in a series of exercises.
BREAK
The Writing Process Participants discuss the steps to take as they prepare to write a briefing note. Participants study how to write in plain language.
What is the Context of your Briefing Note? Participants discuss how to address the Who, What, Why, and When of any briefing note they are asked to prepare.
LUNCH
Structure of the Briefing Note Participants examine the main sections of a briefing note (Issue, Key Considerations, Options, Recommendation). Using a scenario, the class discusses the possible content for each section.
Writing the Briefing Note Recap of principles and practices in crafting the briefing note. Participants read a case study and discuss the issue. Participants work in groups to prepare a briefing note.
BREAK
Briefing Note Group Presentations Each group presents its completed briefing note. Participants discuss the notes and lessons learned.
Wrap-up and Workshop Evaluation Instructor sums up the key points and participants complete a short evaluation.

You folks have the best materials! I thank you and your colleagues for your continued support. It’s one of the reasons we continue to come back!

Manager, The Canadian Medical Protective Association

Workshop

Writing

Speechwriting Simplified

November 20–21, 2025• 9:00 am - 12:30 pm • Check for more dates available

Online

Cost: $750

Have questions about cancellations, rescheduling, or substitutions? View our workshop policies.

Why should you attend?

Speeches are one of the oldest methods of communicating information from one to many, and little has changed about the speechmaking process. People still gather together, and one person stands in front of them and shares information, usually from a prepared text. By the same token, little has changed when it comes to speechwriting. One person sits with a blank sheet of paper and decides what will be said. Technology has helped both processes: Microphones mean the speaker no longer has to shout to be heard, and computers have made speech preparation easier. But the essential speechmaking function has not changed, and the need for people to write speeches has not diminished.

Whether you write speeches on a regular basis, now and again, have been assigned to “produce a draft” or simply want to add to your skills, this course offers a straightforward approach to crafting a successful speech. Don Smith shares the knowledge he acquired and lessons he learned while working on more than 1,200 speeches for ministers and senior executives in the Government of Canada. The course provides a step-by-step guide to speechwriting that takes you from a blank piece of paper to the final product.

What will you learn?

How to:

Use a step-by-step approach to develop a speech
Assess and address the needs and expectations of the audience
Work with your client – the person who will be making the speech
Think strategically in selecting the focus of the speech
Decide what to include and leave out
Develop relevant messages that resonate
Write the way people talk
Tie ideas together
Use facts and figures and examples to support your points
Leave them talking – generate a buzz after the speech is over
Work to deadlines, sometimes very tight ones

What will you take away?

Workbook
Exercises and handouts
Increased confidence the next time you are tasked with writing a speech

Don Smith

Don Smith is a former broadcast journalist and Government of Canada communications executive. During his ten years in radio Don produced two highly successful talk shows at CFRA Ottawa, and later was senior reporter for CKOY/CKBY Ottawa and a… Read full bio

Sample Agenda

Activity
Introductions and Workshop Overview Why speeches matter and the role of the speechwriter.
Session 1 – The Basics: What Makes a Good Speech? Analyzing some Classics Questions to answer before you being writing: • Why is this speech being made? Why does it matter? • Whose voice am I writing for? Who is the audience? • What are the key elements of the story? • Where do I look for information, ideas and inspiration? • How can I make the speech connect with the audience? • When do I stop writing and turn in the speech?
Exercise 1: Keeping it Simple – Making Bureaucratic Language easily Understandable Using plain language techniques and speechwriting tools, rework awkwardly-written extracts from actual speeches to make them more accessible and relevant to an audience.
BREAK
Session 2 – The Mechanics: How to Structure your Speech into Three Key Segments Start with an outline – Identify your focus, supporting key messages and key facts to substantiate your story Every story has a beginning-middle-end, and every speech has the same: • Introduction • Body • Conclusion
LUNCH
Session 3 – Tips and Techniques: Pulling it all Together • Organize your ideas • Write the way peoiple speak • Appeal to the listener’s head – and heart • Make it real: how to use facts, figures, examples, anecdotes, quotes and metaphors • Do’s and don’ts
BREAK
Session 4: Putting it into Practice Exercise 2: Develop a speech outline, including key messages. Draft an introductory paragraph tailored to the target audience. Discussion
Evaluation and feedback

Strategic Communications Advisor, Environment Canada

Workshop

Writing

Plain Language Writing Skills for Government

March 5–6, 2026• 9:00 am - 12:30 pm • Check for more dates available

Online

Cost: $746

Have questions about cancellations, rescheduling, or substitutions? View our workshop policies.

Why should you attend?

An effective writing style is key to a successful career in the public or private sector. At some stage, everyone is required to produce notes, decks and, of course, e-mails. This workshop reviews the components essential to writing clearly and simply, and provides a range of exercises to refresh and practice those skills.

What will you learn?

How to develop an effective writing style
How to write clear, concise prose
How to organize material in the writing process
How to present attractive, easy-to-read material

What will you take away?

Presentation slides in the form of a participant notebook
Useful handouts and exercises

Professional Competencies

Thinking Things Through: Innovating through analysis and ideas

Josef Jurkovic, Managing Director CEC

Josef Jurkovic is a founder of the CEC. He has over 40 years of public and private sector experience across diverse areas of internal and external communications, media relations, stakeholder and public consultations, branding and marketing. In over… Read full bio

Sample Agenda

Activity
Introductions and Workshop Overview
Why Write Well? Participants examine the key components of good writing and discuss why writing well pays off.
A Look at Style What do we mean by style and tone when writing? How do we choose effective words, eliminate unnecessary terms and avoid jargon? Participants practice tips and tricks for writing well.
BREAK
Clear and Simple Discussion and exercises for avoiding language traps and building clear, readable sentences.
The Writing Process Participants examine the steps in undertaking a writing project and discuss the drafting and editing of texts.
LUNCH
The Art of Plain Language Instructor-led discussion on the principles and guidelines of plain language. Participants practice making texts clear and easy to read.
Writing Concisely What is “writing short”? Participants learn how to shorten text and write a précis using a five-step process.
BREAK
Writing for Government What is required to write notes, decks and e-mails? Participants learn the essentials of writing government documents.
Wrap-up and Workshop Evaluation Participants complete a short evaluation.

You continue to offer exactly what government workers need to learn – at the right time!

Workshop Participant, Health Canada

Workshop

Digital

Digital Content: From Script to Video Screen (A Script Writing Workshop)

9:00 am - 12:30 pm •

In-House, Online

Cost: $750

Have questions about cancellations, rescheduling, or substitutions? View our workshop policies.

Why should you attend?

When it comes to social media, digital content is king and video reigns supreme. From baby steps caught on smart phones to professional productions, video now makes up close to 80 percent of traffic on the Internet. Government departments and corporations are demanding online video content as part of their Digital Content Strategies. Some have even built their own studios.

Your phone or tablet are video production tools. Video is a cost effective and powerful digital tool for communicating internally and externally.

Every online video needs a plan. It’s called a script. You use the script to capture and organize your ideas, formulating a story. You develop your script to present it to funders and supervisors. You enhance it to include narration and location. You script your shoot and shoot your script. You finalize your script for editing and approvals. Script writing and development are essential parts of producing any video for digital content for the government or the corporate sector.

This is not a workshop for Hollywood screenwriters. It is a practical guide to writing simple and effective scripts for government and corporate videos.

What will you learn?

How to:

Choose your story – Online video must not be an afterthought. It should be an integral part of any digital communications or information strategy.
Write your story – Effective writing for video is plain and simple, but not always easy.
Template your story – what information does a video script need to have and how should it be ordered.
Focus your story – Online videos are short and deal with a single topic, idea or call to action. That 5-minute video you were planning might be better as 5 one-minute videos.
Plan your story – You need a key message, visuals, a location and people.
Structure your story – It will need an opening to get viewers interested, a middle to give information, and an ending with a call to action or a concluding thought.
Visualize your story – Video stories are all about the pictures. Your visual resources can range from video to animation to PowerPoint-style graphics.
Humanize your story – stories about people are compelling.

Who should attend?

Communications professionals who are starting out or currently working in video story production.

Pre-Workshop Assignment

Throughout this workshop I want you to begin the process of writing and planning a real video. In order to do that, I need you to write a Brief about your video. It should be just that… brief.

Please answer the following questions, providing no more than three sentences each, and submit them to me at least a week in advance of the workshop.

What is the goal of your video? In other words, why are you making it?
Who is your audience? Who are you making it for?
What is the topic? The shorter this answer is the better. Be specific!
What are the takeaways? What should you know when you’ve watched it?
What is the call-to-action? What do you want them to do when they’ve watched it?

Scott Hannant

Scott Hannant is a seasoned communicator with extensive experience at the executive-level. Scott has worked across the corporate, government, academic and not-for-profit-sectors. Prior to stepping away from full time work, he was a director with the… Read full bio

Sample Agenda

Day One

Activity
Introductions and Workshop Overview • The script turns concepts in to content. It evolves through many drafts from an outline, to a detailed shooting and editing guide, to a searchable record of your video • Writing a script is actually the way you conceive, plan and finally produce your video
Getting Started Before you write your script, there are a few questions you need to answer. First, who do want to watch it? What do you want them to know? And what do you want them to do? • Audience • Key Message • Call to action Based on those answers, what kind of video will this be? It could be promotional or testimonial. Perhaps it is a how-to video or a video blog. We will look at the briefs you wrote in advance of the class.
Audio and Visual Elements • A good video story is full of interesting visual and audio elements. The most obvious is moving pictures. If my story is about mowing a lawn, I will use video of someone mowing a lawn. There are other visual elements such as graphics and text, still pictures, and animation • Video is also about what you hear from music and narration to the sounds that are in the background of our videos • A good video script combines all of these elements

Day Two

Activity
Video Writing • Narration for broadcast must be plain and direct. It must be simple and concise. And it must be conversational • You are writing for the ear. You are speaking to the viewer • One thought or one idea per sentence
Script Elements and Templates • There are two main elements in every script. What are we going to see and what are we going to hear as we view the video. That’s why we set up our initial script in to two columns. Audio and video • Let’s watch a video and see what the script looks like as it evolves from concept, to the field through editing to final product
BREAK
Structure • Every story should have a beginning, middle and an end. The beginning is crucial. One successful way to structure your script is to start with the problem. Follow that with analysis of the problem. Go to the solution, its benefit, and round out with the action you want someone to take • Based on your brief, how does that look for your video? • Every video is different. We’ll take a look at possibilities for your video. And we’ll get the writing underway
Recap and Workshop Evaluation Participants will discuss the lessons learned and complete a short evaluation of the course.

Strategic Communications Advisor, Environment Canada

Workshop

Digital

Effective Online Presentations, Briefings and PowerPoints: Best Practices for Engaging Online Audiences

9:00 am - 12:30 pm •

Online

Cost: $750

Have questions about cancellations, rescheduling, or substitutions? View our workshop policies.

Why should you attend?

We live and work in an online world dominated by virtual briefings, presentations, endless PowerPoints and speeches. Online delivery of diverse types of briefings and presentations is a unique experience characterized by absence of physical, face-to-face engagement of all involved. Without a doubt, presenting online to any audience involves a range of additional challenges regardless of the level of experience and confidence we have as speakers, briefers or presenters. Key among these are skills and techniques of engaging online audiences as well as staying engaged and focussed ourselves as presenters, including:

determining and taking account of the physical setting and its impact upon delivery;
online voice level, speaking style and adaptation to the audience;
online posture and body language;
online use of visual aids; and
dealing with online distractions, interruptions and questions.

This workshop brings together diverse strategies and approaches to online presentations and briefing, including Do’s and Don’ts of online presenting, online delivery and audience engagement techniques. The workshop also includes the essential steps to creating, structuring and delivering the right content which takes into account key characteristics of different online audiences and diverse briefing objectives.

What will you learn?

The purpose and structure of a briefing note
How to approach and organize a briefing note
How to write in a clear and concise manner
How to express the issue succinctly and summarize information
How to produce briefing notes that meet departmental requirements

How to:

Use a step-by-step approach to develop online briefings and presentation
Assess and address the needs and expectations of the audience
Decide what to include and leave out
Develop and reiterate relevant messages that resonate in the online context
Apply audience analysis – perspectives, needs and priorities – as a key determinant of briefing or presentation content, structure and delivery style
Comfortably deliver different types of online briefings and presentations to different audiences and events
Deal effectively with questions during and after the briefing or presentation
Incorporate main elements and tips of online body language
Apply the correct online delivery techniques, using speaking notes and visual aids
Prepare for the online briefings or presentations

What will you take away?

A comprehensive set of participant documentation, including presentations slides
Workshop exercises, tips and best practices handouts
Increased confidence for future development and deliveries of your briefings and presentations
Certificate of completion

Pre-Workshop Assignment

Upon registering, participants will receive the pre-workshop assignment details, including a questionnaire and preparation of a briefing or a presentation to be delivered by each participant during the workshop.

Professional Competencies

Engagement: Working effectively with people, organizations and partners

Claude Panneton

Sample Agenda

Day 1

Activity
Introductions and Workshop Overview
Planning and Developing Online PresentationsA strategic approach to online presentations; differences between written and oral communication; audience analysis – “who am I talking to” and “what’s in it for me;” setting objectives for different types of online presentations; determining and crafting key messages and the “residual message” – the main point or points your audience should take away from the presentation; structuring the presentation for online delivery; determining content – what and how much; key points to keep in mind before, during and after delivering online presentations.
BREAK
Individual (Homework-Based) Presentations, Structured Peer Review, Discussion and Instructor Feedback – Part I

Day 2

Activity
Review of Day One: Q&As
Online Delivery Techniques, Use of Language and Visuals Do’s and Don’ts of presenting online; key differences between online and face-to-face presentations; using PowerPoint and speaking notes online; choosing your words and using your voice; speed, pace and tone for online presentations; simple and proven techniques for overcoming nervousness; dealing with questions; different approaches to online questions and answers; a system for staying “on the message”; using plain language; being conversational and engaging during online presentations – tips and best practices.
BREAK
Individual Presentations, Structured Peer Review, Discussion and Instructor Feedback- Part 2
Questions and Answers, Wrap-up and Workshop Evaluation

I had a really good experience. I heard good things about your training before, and I wasn’t disappointed.

Manager, Transport Canada

Workshop

Media Relations

Writing Effective Media Lines, News Releases & Media Pitches

March 4–5, 2026• 9:00 am - 12:30 pm • Check for more dates available

Online

Cost: $750

Have questions about cancellations, rescheduling, or substitutions? View our workshop policies.

Why should you attend?

Media Lines: When the media get in touch on a hot issue, you need to answer them with effective responses that put that issue to bed once and for all. This workshop shows you how. The instructor discusses the definition, purpose, approach and structure of departmental media lines and puts you through some informative and useful exercises.

News Releases: A high percentage of new releases end up on the news-room floor because they lack punch, brevity and useful information. In this workshop the instructor shows you how to write an effective news release that will improve your chances of good media coverage.

Media Pitches: Whether we communicate with the media emails, face-to-face or through RSS feeds and other social media channels, we need to understand what journalists need and pitch our news and stories accordingly. This workshop provides participants with the approaches, tips, information and language they need to do just that.

What will you learn?

How to write crisp, concise prose
Why media lines are important and useful
How to write effective media lines
Why some news releases fail and why some succeed
How to write effective news releases
How to assess the newsworthiness of our stories and craft our pitch to the media

What will you take away?

Participant notebook consisting of presentation slides
Link to post-workshop resources and useful information
Morning and afternoon snacks and beverages and lunch
Certificate of completion to add to your professional portfolio

Professional Competencies

Citizen-Centered Communications
Media Relations
Verbal and Written Communications

Don Smith

Sample Agenda

Activity
Introductions and Workshop Overview
Media Context and Need Media today. What media needs from us? What is news and is not? Importance of stories. Understanding media news filters.
Writing Concisely Reason for and approaches to writing concisely. A three-step practical approach to destilling information. Key tips for compressing texts. The wider context: analyzing and synthesizing information, defining issues, and assembling clusters of information into a logical order under tight deadlines.
BREAK
Précis Exercise In pairs, participants work on reducing a specific text to one-fifth of its original length and present the results. Instructor-led discussion on methods of identifying and summarizing key ideas for a document summary.
Writing Media Lines Context, importance, structure and key attributes of effective successful media lines. Key principles of plain language and successful messaging.
Exercise Participants break into groups and prepare media lines using a case study. Instructor-led review and discussion of the results.
LUNCH
News Releases What the media want and need: the various sections of a release and how to prepare them.
Exercise on Preparation of a News Release Participants break into groups of three and prepare a news release based on a case study scenario. Review of release with the instructor.
BREAK
Pitching to the Media The elements of a successful pitch. When and how to pitch your story. What are the elements that will appeal.
Exercise In groups, participants will craft a media pitch based on a case study scenario and report back with their results. Instructor-led feedback and discussion.
Wrap-up and Workshop Evaluation

Thank you very much for your presentation to our national management team. We were so fortunate to tap into your vast knowledge and expertise. We will definitely be back to talk tools and approaches.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada