SBC Crisis Communications Workshop

The Sheela Basrur Centre and Public Health Ontario are offering a two-day crisis communications workshop focusing on the current opioid epidemic. This interactive workshop will highlight crisis and stakeholder communications while exploring best practices and lessons learned from the field. Both days will be facilitated by risk and emergency communications experts, The Warning Project. This workshop is available to public health professionals and community partners.

Day 1: Introduction to Crisis Communications

This session will highlight theory and best practices experienced in health crisis events with a strong focus on stakeholder collaboration. Fundamental crisis communications aspects like transparency, listening, stigma, uncertainty, panic and communications coordination will also be covered. Interactive elements and exercises will be incorporated to encourage discussion and collaboration among the attendees throughout the day.

Day 2: Planning and Implementing Crisis Communications

Day two of the workshop will be rooted in skill-building exercises, providing participants with in-depth knowledge and training in planning and implementing crisis communications. Group exercises will support participants in their collaboration with organizations and community partners during a crisis. This workshop will also feature a panel discussion, providing an opportunity for leaders across the health system and community partners to share their experiences in tackling issues surrounding the opioid crisis while exploring lessons learned and future recommendations.

About the Facilitor: John Rainford, Director, The Warning Project

John is the former Director, Emergency and Risk Communications for Health Canada and Global Project Lead, Risk Communication Capacity Building for the World Health Organization. Additionally, he worked at the Privy Council Office in Ottawa as the lead analyst responsible for national security communications.

John has specialized in the field of high risk communication for the past 15 years after several years covering and working in politics as a journalist and aide on Canada’s Parliament Hill.

He has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Queen’s University, teaches emergency risk communication at Carleton University, and has led emergency risk communication workshops around the world involving participants from over 150 different countries

Public Health Ontario employees:

Please email SBC@oahpp.ca if you wish to attend this workshop and your manager supports your participation.

Refund/Cancellation Policy

The Sheela Basrur Centre must be notified of cancellation requests via email at sbc@oahpp.ca .

Cancellation notices received up to and including Tuesday, November 21st, 2017 will be refunded the total workshop fee.

Those who register for the workshop but choose to not attend (no shows), will not receive a refund. If you cannot attend, you may send a substitute person. The original registrant must email an authorization to sbc@oahpp.ca for such a change in attendance.

The Sheela Basrur Centre is not responsible for problems beyond our control such as weather conditions, parking, traffic delays, etc. No refunds will be given in these situations.