A new organization has been launched in Canada: the Canadian Council of Public Relations Firms (CCPRF). The Council, which has grown from a discussion group of PR consulting firm principals based in Toronto, will provide a voice for PR consulting firms operating everywhere in Canada.

The CCPRF’s draft mission statement establishes it as:

…a national organization of principals of leading public relations consulting firms dedicated to promoting the role of public relations in business strategy and organizational performance.

The goal of the Council is to promote the professionalism and development of public relations consulting and provide leadership in areas that influence growth such as professional development, measurement, awards and standards of practice.

Both the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) and the Canadian chapters of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) work hard to support individual practitioners in Canada. But they do not address the interests of public relations consulting as a BUSINESS. And of course, PR consultancies must be successful as businesses if we are to provide growth-oriented career opportunities for PR practitioners.

I believe the Council will fill this essential role. But it can only do this if it is a truly national organization whose membership includes the leading firms in every region of the country.

If you run a PR consulting firm that operates in Canada and has a minimum of $1 million in annual fees, you should consider joining the CCPRF. Support the industry. Support consulting. Help create a voice for our industry.

If you are interested in talking about why your agency should be part of the Council, contact me at joseph.thornley[at]gmail.com. We want you!