Prairie Chapter
| Prairies Chapter |
What We DoIAP2 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 2025/2026, the Prairies Chapter Board focused on the following priorities:
Annual ReportLearn more about what the Prairies Chapter has been up to in the 2025-2026 Annual Report. |
In-person event in Winnipeg - Join usElevate your Engagement Skills with Improv!Did you just get a pang of anxiety at the thought of doing improv? No need to worry! No prior experience is required, and making mistakes is part of the fun! Join the IAP2 Prairies Chapter and The Improv Company | Winnipeg on Friday, November 13, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. for a fun and informative workshop designed for engagement professionals. Improv techniques can help engagement professionals think on their feet through active listening and building connections. What can you expect?
| 📅 When: Friday, November 13, 3 to 6 p.m. 📍 Where: The Improv Company, 421 Mulvey Ave 🎭 Experience Needed: None! Beginners welcome 🤝 Who Should Attend: Engagement professionals and practitioners 💲 Cost: $50 IAP2 Members | $100 Non-members 🍽️ Bonus: Optional group dinner afterwards Register now |
Join us at a Chapter ChatOctober Chapter Chat: Connect, Share, LearnThank you to those who joined us on October 21 to keep the conversation from the North American conference going. We chatted about the importance of storytelling, the future of Artificial Intelligence in our work, and shared resources and stories that helped us rethink and assess. Early 2027 Chapter Chat details to come in a few weeks! |
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| Calling all students!University of Saskatchewan event on November 2 Join us for a free pizza lunch to talk about how P2 could be part of your future. |
| Join our Book ClubWe welcome you to join our 2026 book club! Over the course of the year, we will read three books together. After each book, we will meet to discuss what we liked, learned, whether ad how we applied what we learned to our engagement practice, and the resulting impact. Sign up today.
Our third book is: Ask Powerful Questions, written by Will Wise and Chad Littlefield We are reading this book now and will meet to discuss it in November. Our first book was: The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters, written by Priya Parker Our second book was: How to Know a Person, written by David Brooks |
Meet the Board |
Erin McKayWinnipeg Chapter 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. |
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Lindsay ThompsonWinnipeg Chapter Vice President |  |
Laena GarrisonWinnipeg Treasurer |
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Morgan VespaWinnipeg Chapter Communications 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. |
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Shawn SilzerRegina 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. |
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Aisha RafiqueSaskatoon Member at Large Aisha Rafique is an environment and quality professional with over 16 years of international experience in Health, Safety, Environment, and Quality (HSEQ) across the fertilizer and industrial sectors. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Metallurgy and a Master of Technology in Industrial Pollution Control. She is a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Chartered Quality Professional (CQP MCQI), Member of the Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management (MCIWEM) and more. Currently a Knowledge Management Specialist in the nuclear industry, with public engagement experience in the municipal environment, Aisha brings expertise in management systems, audit management, organizational learning, public engagement and continuous improvement. Aisha also serves on the board of International Women of Saskatoon, Women in Mining/Women In Nuclear-SK, Citizen Member of the Saskatoon Environmental Advisory Committee and few more. Through her professional and volunteer leadership roles, she champions sustainability, community well-being, and the advancement of women in STEM and resource industries. She actively advocates for mental health, mindful lifestyle and intercultural understanding, promoting awareness and dialogue through collaborative conversations, to build healthier, inclusive and more connected communities. |
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