2017 Conference Workshops
The 2017 Conference workshops are being finalized, the most up to date list of workshops and course description can be found below:
iPhone Videography
Facilitated by Anna Jover Royo
Utilizing recommended apps for both Apple iOS & Android platforms (including iPad), you’ll learn core filming techniques such as panning, zooming, and longshots to make that perfect video. This workshop also covers storyboards, editing, adding themes, music, photographs, final production and uploading.
Born in Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain) in 1984, Anna Jover Royo, began her career as a journalist working as a reporter for the public radio and television network, Televisió de Catalunya. In September 2010 she moved to Toronto. In August 2012 she became the first full-time in-house videographer of the Ontario Public Employees Union (OPSEU).
Digital Organizing: A deep dive into the strategy and tactics of successful digital campaigns (Part 1)
Facilitated by Ethan Clark
Part 1: Emails, websites, social media, text messaging, and online advertising are important tools. But how do labor communicators integrate them into a comprehensive strategy for winning, building, recruiting and electing?
This workshop will review some of the basics, and then use recent digital campaigns (large and small) to illustrate tips that labour communicators can use in their work. This is a 2 part workshop – participants should plan to attend both sessions.
Ethan Clarke, President of the campaigns company CampaignGears.com, helps progressive organizations build better campaigns. He offers a perspective born of someone striving for better results in tough campaigns with limited budgets. Ethan’s career includes working as the Organizing Director for a national union. Currently, he serves as Vice President of the Canadian Freelancers Union (UNIFOR).
Write better headlines
Facilitated by David Climenhaga
A snappy headline attracts readers. An awkward headline can drive them away. This is as true on the Internet as on a piece of paper. In this workshop, David Climenhaga, a former Globe and Mail and Calgary Herald headline writer, will tell participants about the “conventions” of modern headline writing, how to use them to write better headlines, and how to avoid the pitfalls of saying embarrassing things you didn’t intend to say.
David J. Climenhaga is an award-winning journalist, blogger, author, post-secondary teacher, poet, and trade union communicator who has held senior writing and editing positions at the Globe and Mail and the Calgary Herald. He has published the AlbertaPolitics.ca blog, also found at rabble.ca, since 2007.
Mais je ne suis pas photographe!
Atelier par Paige Galette
La documentation est un aspect important du militantisme. Elle nous permet de convoquer des émotions, des frustrations, de donner un portrait des enjeux en action, notamment quand nous sommes limités de mots. Le plus important de la documentation c’est de raconter les faits de l’action, en utilisant nos propres compte. Que vous utilisez votre téléphone intelligent, ou une caméra, Paige Galette explorera diverses trucs qui permettra l’élévation de vos photos, de basic à extraordinaire.
Digital Organizing: A deep dive into the strategy and tactics of successful digital campaigns (Part 2)
Facilitated by Ethan Clark
A continuation of part one. Participants should plan to attend both sessions, though it isn’t mandatory
Ethan Clarke, President of the campaigns company CampaignGears. com, helps progressive organizations build better campaigns. He offers a perspective born of someone striving for better results in tough campaigns with limited budgets. Ethan’s career includes working as the Organizing Director for a national union. Currently, he serves as Vice President of the Canadian Freelancers Union (UNIFOR).
Video Editing
Facilitated by Anna Jover Royo
The modern smartphone has evolved into a surprisingly effective platform for creating short movies. From capturing a friend’s wedding, documenting your baby’s journey into childhood, to editing holiday footage to music, videographer Anna Jover will guide you through the process.
Born in Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain) in 1984, Anna Jover Royo, began her career as a journalist working as a reporter for the public radio and television network, Televisió de Catalunya. In September 2010 she moved to Toronto. In August 2012 she became the first full-time in-house videographer of the Ontario Public Employees Union (OPSEU).
Crisis Communications
Facilitated by Camille Ross MediaCoachCam.com
Handling a crisis situation can be tough. It can be even harder to be the spokesperson during the crisis. When crisis happen, it is often without warning, or time to prepare. This workshop will walk participants through some common mis-steps, as well as some do’s and don’ts that will help make sure you don’t get caught unprepared.
Camille Ross is a former News Anchor and Morning Television Host who spent a decade working in the high-pressure, deadline-driven world of breaking network news with CTV and Global News. She has conducted thousands of interviews- often putting politicians or leaders embroiled in scandals on the hot seat.
Today, she works with professionals from all walks of life- and empowers them to approach the media with confidence, clarity and class using a series of powerful strategies.
Militantisme s’appuyant sur les médias sociaux : tendances, conseils de pros, meilleures pratiques et mises en garde.
Atelier par Emily Visser
Passez à la vitesse supérieure avec vos médias sociaux.
Ce cours est pour les militants syndicaux intéressés à améliorer leur jeu sur Facebook, Twitter, Instagram et Snapchat. Même si ce n’est pas obligatoire, on encourage les participants à se munir d’un téléphone intelligent.
Emily Visser a une fascination obsessionnelle pour les médias sociaux, tempérée par la nécessité de protéger la vie privée. Elle est actuellement Agente intérimaire de formation bilingue au SEFPO et, à ce titre, est défenseuse méfiante mais passionnée des médias sociaux en tant qu’outil de campagne et de renforcement du mouvement syndical. Elle a été chargée de mettre en place les comptes de médias sociaux du SEFPO, qu’elle a gérée jusqu’en 2015. Emily est également membre exécutif élu de son syndicat, OPSSU.
Editing without losing friends
Facilitated by Rosemarie Bahr
In this workshop, participants will discuss techniques for working with writers. Find out how to combine the goals of keeping your editorial standards and keeping your contributors writing.
Rosemarie Bahr is a former CALM editor. She has also written, edited or designed many, many communications items for a wide variety of unions and not-for-profits. Currently she is trying to retire and to give up running election campaigns.
Social media activism: trends, pro tips, best practices and warnings
Facilitated by Emily Visser
Take your social media to the next level. This workshop is intended for labour activists who are interested in upping their game on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. Participants are encouraged to bring a smartphone with them, although this is not required.
Emily Visser has an obsessive fascination with social media, tempered by consuming fears about privacy. She is currently an Acting Bilingual Education Officer at OPSEU, and in this capacity is a wary but passionate advocate for social media as a tool for campaigning and strengthening the labour movement. She was responsible for setting up the OPSEU social media accounts, which she managed until 2015. Emily is also an elected executive member of her staff union, OPSSU.
Des mots qui sonnent: Trucs et astuces pour faire passer le message dans des campagnes de recrutement
Atelier par Roxanne Dubois
Le succès d’une campagne de syndicalisation dépend de la force et de la portée d’un réseau de militants à l’intérieur d’un milieu de travail. Leur capacité à informer leurs collègues des avantages de la syndicalisation peut faire la différence entre une campagne réussie et une campagne qui se prolonge indéfiniment. Dans tous les cas, le développement de messages clairs et percutants peut aider les militants à faire leur travail de terrain. Cet atelier explorera des trucs et astuces pour identifier les messages et arguments qui résonnent bien et qui permettent de créer les conditions propices à une campagne favorable.
Roxanne Dubois est représentante nationale au département de recrutement d’Unifor où elle travaille sur une panoplie de campagne de recrutement. Elle coordonne le projet des sections communautaires qui permet à des gens qui ne peuvent pas se syndiquer de quand même devenir membres, par exemple les pigistes, contractuels et autres travailleurs précaires. Roxanne habite à Toronto et est une fière franco-ontarienne qui se passionne pour le contenu et la culture en français. Elle travaille auprès des jeunes pour les initier au mouvement syndical et les mener à une longue vie de militantisme. Vous la trouverez sur Twitter à : @roxannedubois .
…But I am not a photographer!
Facilitated by Paige Galette
Media relations
Facilitated by Aayla Ahmad
Don’t fear the media: learn how to use them to get your message out! Successful media relations is about more than having a good message or soundbite to say. It’s also about knowing how to get your message out for maximum impact. This workshop will offer participants some key skills and concepts, as well as lessons learned in developing a media strategy and communicating with reporters.
Aalya Ahmad has worked for a number of unions, including the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, where she played a key role in recent media strategy including the Save Canada Post Campaign, and the Public Service Alliance of Canada. She is a proud CUPE member and activist.
Secure communications and organizing in the digital age
Facilitated by Graham Cox and Ben Lewis
Digital tools provide new opportunities for unions to organize, service, and communicate with our members. However, these same tools provide new possibilities for employers and governments to intercept and collect sensitive information about our organizing strategies and members. This session will focus on building an understanding of the ways our communications have become less secure, and the steps we can take, both as individuals and organizations, to minimize our vulnerabilities.
Participants in this workshop are encouraged to bring their laptops.
Graham Cox: Graham Cox is the Researcher for the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) assigned to the university sector in Ontario, organizing, and the energy sector. Before working at CUPE, Graham served the student movement as National Researcher of the Canadian Federation of Students and Chairperson of the National Graduate Caucus. He can be found online at cpress.org.
Ben Lewis: Ben Lewis is Communications Lead for the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) and Editor-in-Chief of OCUFA’s journal of higher education, Academic Matters. Before working at OCUFA, Ben served as a member of the New Democratic Party of Canada’s first digital communications team, and as the Communications Coordinator of the Canadian Federation of Students.
Exploring Virtual Reality
Facilitated by Aylwin Lo
How could virtual reality be a part of your next campaign? Recently introduced technology promises innovation and opportunity for creative communications. This open space offers hands-on opportunity with devices such as virtual reality headsets and 360-degree cameras, as well as a space to discuss technology and its usefulness in communications.
Participants who have portable technology such as VR, 3D headsets, and 360 cameras are encouraged to bring them to the workshop, some will be on hand to explore and to facilitate the discussion.
Aylwin Lo is a creative technologist who works with non-profit organizations, filmmakers, and artists. He works with the National Film Board of Canada in Toronto to develop new storytelling techniques for virtual reality, and over the last year has helped produce a number of R&D projects with film and theatre creators in virtual reality – including “Draw Me Close”, which premiered at Tribeca Storyscapes in April 2017. He was the lead developer on Contratados.org, a “Yelp for Migrant Workers,” and currently also works for the University of Toronto Faculty Association as a staff communicator and has previously done so for the Maquila Solidarity Network and the New Democratic Party of Canada.
Design principles
Facilitated by Suze Morrison MorrisonCommunications.ca
This workshop will explore the basic principles of design. Learn how to produce visually engaging posters, newsletters, and other communications products. This workshop will cover basics of brand consistency, font and colour selection, AODA standards, and layout considerations.
Suze Morrison is a communications professional and community activist with roots in Toronto and London, Ontario. She has held a number of roles in nonprofit, healthcare, and Indigenous spaces. She has an Honours Bachelor of Applied Arts in Media Studies from the University of Guelph and a Diploma in Public Relations from Humber College.
Creating a Communications Plan
Facilitated by Peter Birt
Workshop description to follow
Peter Birt attended Carleton University, School of Journalism, and had an illustrious career in labour communications. He is currently enjoying retirement.
What’s worth tracking? Lies, Damn Lies, and Data
Facilitated by Ethan Clarke
Our communicators have access to email stats, web stats, Facebook and Twitter stats, and more. But how do we know what’s worth our time? And how can we separate ‘vanity metrics’ that look good from the information that truly informs our future actions?
Ethan Clarke, President of the campaigns company CampaignGears. com, helps progressive organizations build better campaigns. He offers a perspective born of someone striving for better results in tough campaigns with limited budgets. Ethan’s career includes working as the Organizing Director for a national union. Currently, he serves as Vice President of the Canadian Freelancers Union (Unifor).
Blogs vs. tweets vs. essays: writing for the web
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