a point of reference…

desktop publishing? e-mail? digital cameras? are you kidding me? the ‘80s in E Block were a different technological era. It still staggers me to have been witness to such dramatic changes in such a “short” time – erm, well, you know what I mean. Let me paint you a few word pictures of life in the class of ’86:

• smoking in class (we were kicked out into the hall in second year)
• manual typewriters on each desk
• special “word-processing” classes, taught on Wang systems which occupied their own special lab across campus
• pmt cameras and waxers for laying out print ads
• splicing audio tape

Our beloved E block – now a parking lot on Woodroffe campus – was home to not only to a few hundred students, but to an assortment of mice, squirrels, and other vermin who took advantage of the fact that the building had long since come to the end of its useful life. We persevered for a few years, huddling under tarps when it rained and occasionally having to evict unwelcome visitors who invaded file drawers and overhead crawlspaces every summer while the staff was away. Needless to say, we all cheered the arrival of the new media building when it finally arrived.

Algonquin Vice

OK, sounds cheesy now, but in 1985, Miami Vice was all the rage. As most college students do, we planned to raise some of our funds for our first fundraiser – for St. Brigit’s Soup Kitchen – by hosting an on-campus pub at Bert's Bar (now the Ob). But we were not content to just stick posters up around campus and pray for a good turnout. No indeed – we managed to persuade two TV broadcasting students – and our tv production prof, Ron Nieman -- to help us produce a promotional video for our pub. Shooting took place around the campus, and an entire weekend (and a few all-nighters) were spent in the production studio cutting together the finished product. We toured the campus with a VCR and TV, playing our video for anyone who would watch. Tickets – at a mere $1 apiece – began to fly. It was a sellout event – and a few budding TV stars were born!

I’d love to show you the video, but youtube wants to strip out the soundtrack as we used a few copyrighted songs (I guess you'll have to come to our reunion to see it!). I will just leave you with this image: two cool cats in sharp suits and shades prowling the campus to try to determine “who killed that unfortunate 2-4 at Bert’s Bar”…. Like I said, cheesy…

the City of Nepean

1985: not even a year into the program and I have my first break: a chance at a summer job at the City of Nepean in their Information office. I’m in competition for the job with two university students, but end up landing the job working with the Director of Information Services, Andrea McCormick – who was to become my first workplace mentor. She single-handedly taught me to get over my fear of the media, making me do all of the followup media calls for each City Council meeting. She also gave me one of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever had as a junior employee: don’t just bring me problems, bring me solutions!

As I entered the second year of the program, the curriculum – and the extra-curricular activities – began to intensify. We took on a fundraising challenge for St. Brigit’s Soup Kitchen which was to become the first in a long and storied line of fundraisers for community charities held by PR students over the years. Our PR skills didn’t stop with fundraising, though: we actually designed and built a three-layered-cake float for the Salvation Army to use in the Santa Claus parade. Our reputation as the “can-do” program was well under way.

meeting Claudine Wilson

1984- In addition to writing the usual entrance exams on current events and writing ability, PR program founders Claudine Wilson and Robin Dorrell personally interviewed all of the first PR students (a practice which they were, sadly, forced to abandon shortly after). Claudine and I met, and it was magical. We had so much in common: we both had English degrees, were both only children who lost their mothers early to cancer. Through the luxury of the hour or so we spent chatting in her office, we hit it off immediately.

Claudine clearly and succinctly painted a picture of her vision of Public Relations' highest calling: to bring the right information and people together, at the right moment, to inspire people to move mountains in order to affect a positive change in the world. In that moment, my love of words, my love of storytelling, and my love of organizing found a home. Claudine showed me what a creative force PR could be. I was mesmerized.

This was my calling - I had always been doing it, but had simply not known it had a name. I was over the moon when I got the phone call that I had passed the exams and had been accepted into the program. I've never looked back.

Of course, Claudine was to become my first mentor and one of my closest friends. I am so pleased - and feel honoured - to have shared these last 25 years with her. She has a cherished place in many of the stories I will be sharing on this blog over the next 24 days.

1984: it all begins

1984 (spring): I was a new university graduate looking to do something with my BA in English and History. Although I had been accepted at Queen’s to enter their Bachelor of Education program, I wasn’t convinced it was my destiny to teach English to children. Meanwhile, I had been working with my father, a scientist at the National Research Council, since 1978, running a scientific association called the Canadian Industrial Computer Society (CICS). Using a very early personal computer, I had been editing their quarterly newsletter, managing the membership lists, and organizing workshops and conferences – and really enjoying the work of “translating” technical speak into plain language. So was I a writer, then? An office manager? Wait – what’s this thing called “PR” I keep hearing about??

1984 (summer): as I continued to ponder what to do with myself, I stumbled across a program on Rogers Cable which profiled various professionals across the region talking about what they did. I remember very clearly seeing an interview with Sandi Digras, who was speaking about her work as the director of “public relations” for the Chateau Laurier Hotel. As she spoke about the media relations, special events, and writing required in her job, a lightbulb went off for me: this is what I was meant to do! Now if only there were some place for me to go to get training… Eureka! The Ottawa Citizen tells me about the creation of a new program at Algonquin College – and I know I’ve found my destiny!

25 days to celebrate 25 years

In 25 days - on September 19th - we will be getting together to celebrate the 25th birthday of Algonquin College's Public Relations Program. As a member of the first graduating class, I have been looking forward to this event for several years now. Since graduating, I have stayed very close to the program, and have been grateful to have the chance to contribute as a member of the advisory committee, and as a teacher. I am a rabid fan and frequent client of the student-run agency, and have enjoyed dozens of Alumni events over the last couple of decades.

To mark my 25-day countdown to the 25th, I will be posting the story of my career in 25 little chapters. Tomorrow's chapter: finding PR...