About The Prairie ChapterWhat We Do"IAP2 Canada Prairies Chapter is the leader in our region advocating for the practice of public participation. We aspire to engage P2 practitioners and communications professionals throughout Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Northern Ontario by supporting the delivery of professional training, networking events and learning opportunities." Members and non-members in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Northwest Ontario, from beginner to expert are welcome! Our ValuesWe work to connect with practitioners to ensure a strong public participation community. We work to foster and develop skills through all stages of practitioners’ careers. We promote the importance of public engagement and skills practitioners amongst decision makers, colleagues and partners. Our PrioritiesIn 2023/2024, the Prairie Chapter Board is focused on the following priorities:
Annual ReportLearn more about what the Prairie Chapter has been up to in the 2022-2023 Prairie Chapter Annual Report. Stay ConnectedJoin Our Mailing ListIf you would like to receive notifications for upcoming Prairies Chapter events, please join our mailing list! |
Join us at a Prairie Chapter Chat!Share knowledge and network. Join our recurring Chapter Chat sessions to connect, recharge, and become inspired. Build your skill set, share your experiences, and learn from other local practitioners with the shared goal of advancing the practice for all. Both IAP2 members and non-members are welcome! |
MORGAN VESPA (SHE/Her)Winnipeg Chapter President Morgan has been the Manager of Public Engagement at the City of Winnipeg since 2016. With a background in environmental and First Nations engagement prior to moving into municipal engagement, Morgan’s research and professional experience has led to a keen interest in how public participation has the potential to strengthen communities and democracy. |
Erin MckayWinnipeg Chapter Vice President Erin is Director of Strategy and Governance with the Government of Manitoba’s Communications and Engagement Division. In her role, she supports Manitoba’s commitment to open government and including the public in decision-making. With a background in policy and a keen interest in making government more accessible to those it serves, Erin is excited to join the Board and to promote P2 principles wherever decisions that affect the public are made. The Government of Manitoba received Organization of the Year at IAP2 Canada’s Core Values Awards in 2021 for launching the online EngageMB portal. EngageMB facilitates meaningful input from the public into provincial decisions. |
Matt LongRegina Treasurer Matt is a Senior Consultation Advisor with the Government of Saskatchewan. In this role he provides advice and training to Ministries and Crown Corporations to support their fulfilling of their Duty to Consult and Accommodate First Nation and Métis communities. He also provides training to proponents on how engagement with communities can support and inform Government’s Duty to Consult process. Before joining the Government of Saskatchewan, Matt worked as a Consultation Advisor for Métis Nation - Ontario (MNO) where he prepared communication materials and organized meetings, community gatherings, webinars, and teleconferences with more than 300 participants to facilitate communication between government, proponents, Regional Consultation Committees, and communities. He holds a BSc in Environmental Science form Brandon University and a Master’s degree in Sustainable Environmental Management from the University of Saskatchewan. |
Shawn SilzerRegina Chapter Secretary Shawn’s career – which includes work in the public and private sectors in both Canada and the US – has seen him develop experience in customer experience and corporate strategy, business process management, marketing /communications, change management, project management, and stakeholder facilitation. Shawn has served on the Regina Board of the International Association of Business Communicators, is certified with the Customer Experience Professionals Association, has earned his Hammer business process mastery, and is a Prosci Change Management Professional. |
Daniel Waycik (one/ones)Winnipeg Chapter Liaison with National Office Daniel Waycik brings 10+ years experience working in the non-profit sector leading projects focused on operational capacity development. Daniel specializes on projects that leverage internal capacity and focus on empowering the individual. Daniel specializes in community and organizational safety and security practice from working from both an operational and a cultural perspective. He has over a decade of experience in the commercial security industry including event security, event traffic management, private investigations, crime prevention, community safety &wellbeing planning. Working with business improvement zones, music festivals, as well as small and large municipalities. Daniel has a proven capacity for flexible project management & support, working within unique organizations and multi-stakeholder joint operations. Daniel takes a systemic change approach to creating solutions, supporting the inherent functions within a community instead of displacing them. |
Alexis DoyleRegina Chapter Communications Throughout her career, Alexis has always prioritized transparent communication and effective engagement to move initiatives forward. In her current role at SaskPower, she is responsible for engaging with the public and municipal representatives on the utility's Small Modular Reactor development project. This work is an extension of the future power supply planning that explores long-term power generation options that can meet the evolving provincial energy needs beyond 2030. Complementing her IAP2 training, she holds a Master of Arts in Professional Communication from Royal Roads University, a Climate Risk Management Diploma from the University of Waterloo, her Project Management Certificate through Simon Fraser University and a Life Sciences undergraduate degree from the University of British Columbia.
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LindsAy MierauWinnipeg Member at Large |
Kate MoirWinnipeg Member at Large Kate has almost 20 years of diverse experience in community Planning throughout Manitoba, Ontario and British Columbia with a passion for complete communities where people can live, work and play. She is a public engagement specialist with a passion for inclusive and sustainable communities by looking at the social, environmental and economic factors of any development. Kate completed a Bachelor of Arts with major in Geography and minor in social anthropology from the Vancouver Island University and Master’s degree in Environmental Management from Royal Roads University. She is passionate about public engagement and completed her Masters Thesis on meaningful stakeholder engagement in the Sustainable Community Plan process with the City of Thompson. Kate is an advocate for community development that is based off meaningful engagement. Her degree has allowed her to take her profound interests and education in environmental management, social anthropology, and urban planning and understand how appropriate policy can be implemented to achieve sustainable development and the community's desired outcomes, benefits, and goals. Kate recently completed her CP3 with IAP2. She is a current member of the Professional Development and Training Committee for IAP2 Canada, and a returning member to the Prairie Chapter Board. She currently is the Director of Planning for M Richard and Associates based out of Winnipeg, Manitoba. |
Olakunkle OladipoRegina Member at Large Olakunle Oladipo has been in the filed of public engagement for very over 12 years working across different local, national and international projects in several fields. Such includes infrastructure, social assistance, education, health, public health and flood management. He has worked with different organizations such as the World Bank, United Nations Development Project, United Nations Operations and Project Services (UNOPS) United Nations International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth, African Development Bank (AfDB). He has also worked with different consulting firms across a number of projects across different continents. He has master degrees in Research and Public Policy, Project Development and Implementation and a first degree in Philosophy and Sociology. He brings a wealth of experience in public participation and a solid background in project monitoring and evaluation to the Prairies Chapter. He loves travelling, teaching and reading. |
Jyllian KaliciakRegina Chapter Communications Jyllian possesses extensive experience in community and stakeholder engagement, as well as communications. She has consulted on projects of various scales encompassing education, infrastructure, community development, and strategic planning. Her work spans nonprofit organizations, and the public and private sectors. Jyllian holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) with Joint Honours in Global Development Studies and Political Studies from Queen’s University. |