Y Babji, Past Secy Genl, PRSI National
The Canadian Public Relations Society is Canada’s not-for-profit professional association for PR and Communications practitioners. Founded in 1948, it unites professionals engaged in the practice, management and teaching of public relations and strengthens the profession through ethical standards, accreditation, professional development, advocacy and national networking.
CPRS provides Canadian communicators with a shared professional identity. It represents practitioners in govt, business, agencies, health care, education, non-profit organisations and independent practice.
Origins and Development
CPRS originated in 1948 through two early groups of public relations practitioners in Montreal and Toronto. These groups became associated as the Canadian Public Relations Society in 1953 and the Society was incorporated nationally in 1957.
From these beginnings, CPRS grew into a federation of 13 locally run societies based in major cities or organised province-wide. The Society’s mission is to build a national Public Relations and communications management community through professional development, accreditation and collaboration with thought leaders, commitment to ethics and professional standards, advocacy for the profession and support for members at every career stage.
Local Communities
CPRS National is the federation of 13 member societies across Canada. Its strength thus lies in its local societies (regional chapters) which offer members professional development, networking and opportunities to engage with practitioners in their regions. These 13 societies/communities are - (1) Vancouver; (2) Vancouver Island; (3) Northern Lights (serving northern British Columbia, the Northwest Territories and Yukon); (4) Calgary; (5) Edmonton; (6) Regina; (7) Manitoba; (8) Toronto; (9) Hamilton; (10) Ottawa-Gatineau; (11) Quebec; (12) Nova Scotia and (13) Atlantic Canada.
These societies enable CPRS to remain connected to Canada’s regional realities, including bilingual communication, public-sector practice, Indigenous engagement, local media environments and diverse employment markets.
Canada has 13 provinces and territories (10 provinces and 3 territories). CPRS Canada likewise has 13 local societies, but these do not correspond one-to-one with Canada’s provincial and territorial boundaries. They have been organized according to membership needs, professional networks, and practical convenience.
National Leadership
Jack Lawrence was elected as its first national President in the AGM of 1954 and Anne McInerney is the current President.
CPRS is led by a National Board comprising the National President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer etc elected at the AGM held in September every year.
The Board includes directors from corporate, public-sector, agency, health, energy, research and education backgrounds.
CPRS Toronto Leadership
CPRS Toronto is one of the Society’s most active communities, on par with Montreal. It operates as a chapter of CPRS, with its own constitution, letters patent and by-laws, while remaining consistent with the philosophy and standards of the national Society.
Toronto’s leadership structure reflects CPRS’s collaborative approach: local boards provide programming, mentoring, awards and professional learning, while remaining part of the national federation.
For CPRS Toronto, the current President is Mark Hunter LaVigne (from October 2026). He was President of this Society, 24 years earlier.
Accreditation and Professional Standards
A defining feature of CPRS is the 'Accredited in Public Relations' (APR) designation. The accreditation process assesses a member’s depth of experience and competence in public relations practice and recognises that achievement through the APR credential.
Candidates must have at least five years of professional experience and complete a three-part examination process, achieving a minimum overall average of 65 per cent. They must also subscribe to the CPRS Code of Professional Standards. Successful candidates may use the APR designation, subject to continued professional currency and national membership.
CPRS also offers the Public Relations Knowledge (PRK) examination and the Fellow of CPRS (FCPRS) recognition for distinguished members. In February 2026, CPRS announced 25 new Accredited Members, demonstrating the continuing value of accreditation as a mark of professional excellence.
Membership Categories
CPRS membership is structured to support students, early-career professionals, mid-level and senior practitioners and others connected to the communication profession.
Mid-level and senior members receive networking opportunities, professional development and access to a growing global community of public relations and communication management professionals. They may also pursue APR accreditation to strengthen their credibility and demonstrate commitment to high professional standards.
Members also benefit from the Bill Rees Learning Centre, national awards, special awards, student awards and scholarships. This range of benefits makes CPRS relevant to both emerging communicators and established leaders.
Annual National Conferences
CPRS holds national conferenes in major cities every year. The recent sequence, after Carona pandemic, is Winnipeg, Manitoba (2022), Whistler, British Columbia (2023), Toronto, Ontario (2024) and Banff, Alberta (2025). This year, it would be in Ottawa, Ontario during the last week of October.
Awards and Recognition
The CPRS National Awards of Excellence recognise outstanding achievement in public relations and strategic communication across Canada. In 2026, CPRS recognised 95 winners for excellence in communications programmes, projects and organisational performance.
The awards cover media relations, internal and external communication, non-profit communication, corporate social responsibility, issues and crisis management, special events and new product or service launches. Special distinctions include Best in Show, Best Creativity and Innovation and Best Sustainable Development Initiative.
At the local level, CPRS Toronto administers the Achieving Communications Excellence (ACE) Awards, which have recognised Toronto’s public relations community for three decades. The ACE Awards honour outstanding campaigns, projects and practitioners and also include recognition for graduating students who show academic strength and leadership.
A Model for the Profession
CPRS matters because it sustains the credibility of public relations in Canada. Its combination of ethical standards, accreditation (APR), local societies (chapters), national leadership and awards (ACE) encourages practitioners to combine strategic thinking with accountability and public interest.
Source: CPRS National https://www.cprs.ca & CPRS Toronto https://cprstoronto.com
