Join us this May in Hamilton at the Sheraton hotel for our joint conference
with our colleagues and friends from the Canadian Church Press.
REGISTRATION DETAILS
To register for the conference, please click on the following link: https://catholicregister.org/ccp
Please note: Be sure to select the option “Pay without a PayPal account.”
HOTEL RESERVATIONS
Discounted hotel accommodations are available until April 6 at the Sheraton Hotel by clicking HERE.
Reservations can also be made by contacting the 24 hour, toll-free reservations line at 1-888-627-8161
(ask for the “CPP and ARCCC Conference” group block).
TRAVEL SUBSIDIES
ARCCC will be providing $100 rebates to cover part of the cost of travel for all ARCCC members. All you need to do is submit a copy (digital is fine) of your expenses and we’ll send you a cheque to help defray your costs.
Conference Schedule to Date
WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2018
3:00 P.M.
Registration, evening meal on your own.
7:00 P.M.
Tonight is the first of three keynote presentations at our conference: Responding to Generational Change in Giving and Volunteering in Canada. For charities and faith groups—and the publications that support them—one of the big changes is the transition from the older generation of givers and readers to the younger generation. This younger generation is very different from their parents and grandparents in how they give, engage and interact with traditional charities, churches and media. This keynote will unpack the implications of this change for us and the churches we serve—will the next generation replace the older folks who started and sustained so much of the good work of the church today? What do we need to do to engage them? And is there enough time to do it? Come and find out!
Keynote speaker Bruce MacDonald is president and CEO of Imagine Canada, an organization that exists to amplify the charitable sector’s collective voice, create opportunities for charities to connect and learn from each other, and build the sector’s capacity to succeed. Earlier in his career he led Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada.
After his presentation, all registered guests are invited to a wine and cheese reception, sponsored by the Association of Roman Catholic Communicators of Canada.
THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2018
8:30 - 9:15 A.M.
Breakfast
9:15 - 10:15 A.M.
Visio Divina
The Saint John’s Bible - “Igniting Your Imagination”
Illumination to Road to Emmaus from The Saint John's Bible.
Presenter: Christina Ronzio, Director, Liturgy Office at the Diocese of Hamilton
The Saint John’s Bible was created as the world was rapidly moving to a digital culture. This presentation will explore the value of a hand-written, hand-illuminated Bible for the 21st century – an undertaking that engages art, science, prayer, tradition and the modern world – all while bringing glory to God’s saving word.
10:45 - 11:45 A.M.
Workshops
(Participants can choose one of the following three workshops)
Workshop One
Sharing the Bible in Non-traditional Settings
Presenter: Bridget Ker
This workshop will introduce the making and mission of The Saint John's Bible and explore the ways that the Diocese of Hamilton has been sharing the Heritage Editions with communities within and outside of the Diocese. The session will also look at how The Saint John's Bible has been used in the community: in parishes and school, and in non-traditional locations.
Bridget Ker has been the Coordinator of The Saint John's Bible at the Diocese of Hamilton's Bishop Farrell Library and Archives since March 2017 where she coordinates the booking of the seven volume Heritage Edition of The Saint John's Bible. She studied Anthropology at Western University before receiving a Master of Museum Studies from the University of Toronto. Prior to working at the Diocese of Hamilton, Bridget spent nine years working in museums, focusing on photographic collections and registration.
Workshop Two
Managing Social Media as a One-Person Show
(*Participants are asked to bring either their cameras or phones)
Presenter: Father Toby Collins, Vocations Director for the Congregation of the Resurrection
Social Media, Apps, and Websites: What I Need to Know
- 30 Minute Postings: Good Media Made Easy
- Top 5 Ways to Promote Your Message
Fr. Toby says he traces his work as vocation director for the Congregation of the Resurrection back to a time when he did some landscaping at St Louis parish in Waterloo, Ont. Feeling called to religious life and the priesthood he then joined them and has studied in Toronto, Chicago and St Louis, and ministered at parishes in Louisville, Bermuda, and Hamilton before being asked to take on his current role.
Workshop Three
Megatrends Affecting Canadian Christian Institutions and Their Ministries
Presenter: Chris Bosch, Director of Strategy and Operations at World Vision Canada
The way people give, read and engage with the world is changing. Disruption and disintermediation is the norm. What are the implications for churches, church-related charities and the media that covers them? Come hear presenter Chris Bosch talk about what we need to know about the changes around us and how to adapt to them.
12:00 - 1:30 P.M.
Lunch with keynote presentation on Fake News, one of the biggest challenges facing journalism today, according to Paul Berton, editor-in-chief of The Hamilton Spectator.
“People want stories that are too good to be true, and they don't care as much if the source is reliable or the story is verifiable,” he says. “It turns out that fake news is more appealing to many readers than real news.” Paul has been a journalist for 35 years, working as a reporter and editor at publications including The Toronto Star and The London Free Press before joining The Spec in 2010. He writes a weekly column on the role of the media in a changing world.
1:45 - 2:45 P.M.
Business Workshops
(Workshops will repeat at 3:15)
Marketing
Dr. Alexandre Sevigny of McMaster University
Dr. Alex Sévigny, APR, is director of the master of communications management program, offered in partnership by McMaster and Syracuse Universities. He is editor-in-chief of the Journal of Professional Communication. He currently sits on the national board of the Canadian Public Relations Society. He has been a past president of CPRS Hamilton. Outside of the university, Dr. Sévigny is an active consultant, with a practice in political and government communications as well as corporate communications in the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors. He resides and attends Mass in St. Ann’s Parish in Ancaster, Ontario.
Rebranding Your Mission
With presenter Joe Sinasac
Branding is a crucial ingredient in how you tell the story of your organization to the world. It is more than just a logo. It is a tool kit filled with vital communications tools to ensure your message is clear, consistent and compelling. In the life of every organization, a time comes when it needs a facelift — rebranding, in other words.
Joseph Sinasac will walk through the stages of planning, design and execution required to rebrand your organization for a new context. He has been in communications for 38 years – since 2009 as publishing director of Novalis, Canada’s largest Catholic publisher. He spent almost 14 years as publisher and editor of The Catholic Register and 15 years in daily newspapers. He holds a Master of Arts degree in history.
Managing Projects and Priorities
Matt Schiller will offer tools and tips for organizing the people, priorities and workflow of our projects.
The conversation will look at choosing the right talent and resources, time and budget efficiency, managing stress, and balancing your work and personal life. Our goal is too share ideas that will give us the confidence to successfully complete projects without overload and meltdowns.
Matt Schiller began in the Catholic Press in 1973 as an advertising account executive for The Tablet newspaper in the Diocese of Brooklyn, NY and later business manager and then Associate Publisher.
From advertising sales, circulation marketing, to directories, student enrollment and fund raising Matt has worked in building a professional image for Catholic organizations, promoting their brands across multiple media and platforms and successfully organizing projects and campaigns.
2:45 - 3:15 P.M.
Coffee Break
3:15 - 4:15 P.M.
*Repeat of Business Workshops*
4:15 - 5:30 P.M.
Break
5:30 - 6:30 P.M.
Evening prayer at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church hosted by Fr. O’Mahony, Vicar of Education.
St. Joseph Parish
260 Herkimer Street
Hamilton L8P 2H9
6:30 - 8:30 P.M.
Dinner sponsored by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hamilton.
Keynote speaker, Anne Jamieson, Director of Catechesis for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hamilton and a lecturer at St. Augustine’s Seminary in Toronto. Her presentation topic is: Being a Credible Witness: What does it take to be a credible witness and why do we need them?
FRIDAY, MAY 4, 2018
8:00 - 8:30 A.M.
Breakfast
8:30 - 9:00 A.M.
Optional smudging ceremony led by Major Shari Russell, territorial Indigenous ministries consultant for the Salvation Army.
9:00 - 9:15 A.M.
Coffee
9:15 - 10:15 A.M.
Plenary panel: How Much Truth Can You Handle? The Importance of Rigorous Journalism.
Our moderator Karen Stiller, a senior editor at Faith Today, will facilitate brief statements from each panelist followed by open discussion with the audience. Panelists include:
Panelist One
Noel Ocol, the producer and host of Perspectives Daily, a daily current affairs and headlines show at Salt & Light TV that presents world stories, events and news through a Catholic lens.
Panelist Two
Susan Clairmont, the crime, court and social justice columnist at the Hamilton Spectator. Whether covering a high-profile murder trial or reporting from a catastrophe, she keeps victims and their families at the heart of her work.
Panelist Three
David Haskell, associate professor of both digital media and journalism as well as religion and culture at Wilfred Laurier University (Brantford campus). His teaching and research focus on religion in Canada, media in Canada, and religion and media in Canada. He has previously worked as a features writer and TV reporter in London, Windsor and Waterloo Region, and as professor of Journalism at Conestoga College.
Panelist Four
Molly Thomas is a freelance TV host, correspondent and producer who works as a news anchor for CTV News and its show Your Morning, and a contributor to the TV show Context with Lorna Dueck at Crossroads Communications. She has also worked for CBC and Global. Her passion for social justice stories has taken her to Somalia, Iraq, Jordan, Haiti, Rwanda, Uganda, France and England. She has an MA in Global Affairs from the U of T and regularly writes columns and speaks at various conferences on her journalistic pursuits.
10:15 - 10:45 A.M.
Coffee
10:45 - 12:00 P.M. (to be repeated 1:15 - 2:30 P.M.).
While CCP registrants are attending the annual general meeting for their organization, others can participate in this presentation: Healthy Living and Self Care for Busy Communications Workers.
Sharon Y. Ramsay is a registered psychotherapist/marriage and family therapist who consults about a wide variety of issues covering many stages of the family life cycle. She has previously worked in community family service and children’s mental settings and is a bilingual (English and French) first-generation Canadian.
12:15 - 1:15 P.M.
Lunch with blanket exercise before or after led by Major Shari Russell, territorial Indigenous ministries consultant for the Salvation Army.
1:15-2:30 P.M. (repeated from 10:45)
While ARCCC registrants are attending the annual general meeting for their organization, others can participate in this presentation: Healthy Living and Self Care for Busy Communications Workers.
2:30 - 2:45 P.M.
Coffee
2:45 - 3:45 P.M.
Workshop Options
Choose from one of the following two workshop options:
(1) Why ‘Pay to Play’ on Social Media
Are your social media posts getting the reach you desire? Ever wonder if you should boost that post or not? Gone are the days of solely reaching an audience on social media organically. The reality now is you have to ‘Pay to Play.’ In an over-crowded landscape, social media platforms have upped their game by controlling the reach of your audience. When you log onto Facebook or Twitter, you don’t see the most recent content. You see a stream of content served to you by an algorithm.
With presenter Dustin Manley, MA.
The manager of marketing and communications for DesignedUX, a Toronto-based strategy and design agency, Dustin supports organizations like McMaster University’s MCM program in reaching the right audiences through social media and digital advertising. Dustin also serves as the Vice President of CPRS Hamilton and teaches social media management in Centennial College’s Bachelor of Public Relations Management program.
(2) Improving Indigenous-Settler Relations: Reflections and Discussion for Communications Workers.
Presenter Rev. Canon Virginia “Ginny” Doctor is the national coordinator for Indigenous ministries, Anglican Church of Canada, working from offices in Toronto and Six Nations, Ohsweken. She has also worked 18 years in rural Alaska and before that 17 years running an urban native centre in downtown Syracuse, N.Y.
4:00 - 5:30 P.M.
Across the street from the hotel hosting our conference is the Art Gallery of Hamilton. It offers free admission after 4:00 p.m. on the first Friday of the month. Registrants are invited to stroll through the exhibits for a refreshingly different experience, including the amazing “Bruegel-Bosch Bus” by Kim Adams in gallery level 2 (see photo).
The AGH includes Canadian historical, international and contemporary art by the likes of Alex Colville, Tom Thomson, the Group of Seven, Emily Carr, James Tissot, Jean-Léon Gérôme, Gustave Doré, Norval Morriseau, Keith Haring, Ed Burtynsky, Kim Adams, Tyler Tekatch and many others.
6:00 - 9:00 P.M.
Banquet at Sheraton Hotel. Announcing and presentation of the annual Canadian Church Press Awards. Celebration, photos and goodbyes.