CPRS Toronto

As September comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to appreciate the people who make the CPRS Toronto community what it is.

Our profession brings together people at different stages of their careers and from many different areas of communications — and there is always something to learn from one another.

Whether you joined a conversation, attended an event, shared an idea, supported a colleague, connected with someone new or simply kept learning this month, those contributions matter.

Thank you to everyone who continues to be part of the CPRS Toronto community.

Before we head into October, we’d love to hear from you:

What’s one professional moment, lesson or connection from September that you’re taking with you?

🧡 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 🧡

September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day.

This day honours the children who never returned home, survivors of residential schools, their families and communities. Public commemoration of this history is a vital part of the reconciliation process.

Wear orange today to show that Every Child Matters.

Strong communications strategies don’t always begin with the right answer.

Often, they begin with the right question.

Before developing a campaign, message or communications plan, consider asking:

• What does our audience actually need?
• What do we know — and what are we assuming?
• What concerns or questions are we not addressing?
• What would make this matter to the people we’re trying to reach?
• Are we solving the right communications problem?

Taking time to ask better questions can prevent us from jumping too quickly into solutions.

For communicators, curiosity is a strategic skill.

What’s one question you think every communications professional should ask more often?

September can be one of the busiest months of the year for communications professionals. New projects begin, priorities shift and the pace quickly picks up after the summer.

Before we move into October, it’s worth taking a moment to reflect.

What worked well this month?
What would you approach differently?
Which conversation, project or experience taught you something new?

Reflection doesn’t always need to be a formal exercise. Sometimes it’s simply taking a few minutes to recognize what we’ve learned while the experience is still fresh.

As September comes to a close, what’s one lesson you’re taking with you into October?

Cities, like organizations, have stories to tell.

With World Tourism Day coming up on September 27, we’re thinking about what makes Toronto compelling from a communications perspective.

It’s not simply the skyline or the list of attractions. It’s the people, neighbourhoods, cultures, businesses, artists, events and experiences that give the city its character.

For communicators, destination storytelling offers an interesting lesson: reputation is built through many individual stories, not one message.

The way a city is experienced, talked about and represented all contributes to how people see it.

What Toronto story would you put in the spotlight?

Networking is often described as something we need to be “good at,” but meaningful professional connections rarely begin with a perfect elevator pitch.

They usually begin with curiosity.

Ask someone about their work.
Find out how they got into the profession.
Comment on something they shared.
Introduce yourself without immediately asking for something in return.

For students and emerging professionals especially, networking can feel intimidating. But it doesn’t have to be transactional.

A genuine conversation today can become a professional relationship, mentorship opportunity or friendship years from now.

What’s the best piece of networking advice you’ve ever received?

Today's the day!

We're looking forward to seeing CPRS Toronto members at our Annual General Meeting today at 12:00 p.m. ET.

Join us as we reflect on the past year, hear chapter updates, elect directors and look ahead to what's next for our community.

See you soon on Zoom!

Two days to go!

We're looking forward to welcoming CPRS Toronto members to our Annual General Meeting this Friday.

Thank you to everyone who has already registered. If you haven't yet, there's still time to save your spot.

📅 Friday, September 25
🕛 12:00–1:00 p.m. ET
💻 Virtual via Zoom

Register today through the cprstoronto.com AGM page here: https://buff.ly/2H0EKS0. We'll see you online!

Following up is part of communications work — but there’s a difference between being persistent and simply adding to someone’s inbox.

A thoughtful follow-up should ideally give the recipient a reason to engage.

Before sending one, consider:

• Is there new information to share?
• Have I made the value clear?
• Is the timing appropriate?
• Am I respecting the recipient’s time?

Sometimes the best follow-up is a concise reminder. Sometimes it’s adding useful context. And sometimes the right decision is not to send another message at all.

Good media and stakeholder relations are built on relationships, not just responses.

What’s your best follow-up practice?