IAP2 North America Core Value Awards
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The International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) Core Value Awards were presented earlier this week to eight North American organizations in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The IAP2 North American Core Value Awards are presented to organizations that demonstrate the use of innovative techniques and show excellence in the practice of public participation. New for the 2014 awards, was the addition of Canadian Project of the Year award category.
The PlaceSpeak team would like to congratulate all of this year’s winners:
- Canada Research Project of the Year Award: various healthcare groups, including the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, led by Dr. Julia Abelson of McMaster University, for “The Public and Patient Engagement Evaluation Tool.” Watch video
- Canada Indigenous Engagement Project of the Year Award: Castlemain Group (Vancouver, BC), for “The Lower Nicola Indian Band Custom Election Rules.” (The Band is located in the BC Interior, about 250 km east of Vancouver.) Watch video
- Canada Organization of the Year (honourable mention): City of Edmonton / University of Alberta, Centre for Public Involvement
- Canada Organization of the Year (winner): City of Calgary, “Corporate Cultural Transformation Project.” Watch video
- Canada Project of the Year: Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, for “The Community Engagement Advisory Network” (which also won the award for Creativity, Contribution and Innovation in the Field) Watch video
- USA Research Project of the Year: St Vrain Valley (Colorado) School District, for “Leadership St Vrain – Increasing P2 Capacity in Public Schools.” Watch video
- USA Project of the Year (honourable mention): Oregon Department of Transportation, for “OTIA 3 Bridge Delivery Project.” Watch video
- USA Project of the Year (winner): National Institute for Civil Discourse, for the “Creating Community Solutions Alliance.” Watch video
The 2014 IAP2 North American Core Values Awards were held in conjunction with the IAP2 North American 2014 Conference held on September 29 and 30, which PlaceSpeak attended. The 2014 conference consisted of 25 lectures and workshops on public engagement. The theme of this year’s conference was: Reflecting Forward – Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow.
For more information on IAP2 and to view videos on the IAP2 North American 2014 Core Values Award winning projects, visit www.iap2canada.ca.
About IAP2
IAP2 is an international association of members who seek to promote and improve the practice of public participation in relation to individuals, governments, institutions, and other entities that affect the public interest in nations throughout the world. IAP2 carries out its mission by organizing and conducting activities to:
- Serve the learning needs of members through events, publications, and communication technology;
- Advocate for public participation throughout the world;
- Promote a results-oriented research agenda and use research to support educational and advocacy goals;
- Provide technical assistance to improve public participation.
IAP2 was founded in 1990 as the International Association of Public Participation Practitioners (IAP3) to respond to the rising global interest in public participation. The initial mission was to promote the values and best practices associated with involving the public in government and industry decisions which affect their lives. The founding members assembled a Board of Directors, developed by-laws and policies, and organized the first annual conference in Portland, Oregon, in 1992. Practitioners, both professional and volunteer, were identified as the primary constituents for membership; a newsletter and an annual conference were selected as initial IAP2 activities.
IAP2 quickly grew and developed into an organization which looks beyond the formal practitioner to include all people involved in public participation. IAP2 added a semi-annual journal, web site, and local chapters to its list of services. In 1996, IAP2 changed its name to reflect this growing diversity and inclusiveness of membership. The organization has grown from 300 members in 1992 to over 1,050 in 2007, with members from 26 countries. Conferences have been held every year since 1992, alternating between U.S. and Canadian locales.
IAP2 chapters regularly offer Certificate Training Courses in Public Participation providing comprehensive training in the tools and skills needed for effective participation. IAP2 Prairies, an IAP2 chapter headquartered in Winnipeg, supports training, advocacy and learning opportunities in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Northwest Ontario.