Excitement is building around the Canadian Community Newspapers AssociationÔÇÖs 87th National Convention which will take place in the classic, old world charm of Quebec City, Quebec. The theme for the 2006 conference is Sant├®! Healthy Living for Community Newspapers and features many exciting events.
The CCNA is pleased to offer convention delegates a varied and educational line up of speaker sessions.
Friday starts off with John Parisella, President and Vice-Chairman of Montreal-based advertising agency BCP, sharing some of his views on the Harper victory and the Quebec political landscape over breakfast.
Following Parisella is Lynn Hennigar, CCNA president and president of Lighthouse Publishing, who will be discussing the challenges of running a healthy workplace, both in terms of personal and professional objectives and how these choices affect an office environment.
Laura Rance of the Farmers Independent Weekly and James OÔÇÖConnor of the Brandon Sun will take a look at life in the community newspaper newsroom while Kelly Levson, Manager of Client Services for ComBase, will be running two separate workshops to help convention delegates better understand how to use and interpret ComBase data.
Bill Haupt, former president of ISWNE will perform a critique of editorials from CCNA member newspapers.
Ivan Emke, Associate Professor (and Chair) of Social/Cultural Studies at Memorial UniversityÔÇÖs Grenfell College Campus, will present a session delivering the results of data gathered in two surveys on the relationships between the newspaper and the community.
The CCNA convention also hosts a number of social events that are not to be missed.
The Welcome Reception, on Wednesday May 24th, is an excellent opportunity to catch up with old friends and colleagues. Also, Wednesday afternoon presents delegates the opportunity to take in a game of golf. To facilitate this, the CCNA has identified two golf courses that are close to the Delta Quebec, the hotel the conference is being held at. These are Club de Golf Le Montmorency and Club de Golf Albatros Sainte-Foy Inc. It is recommended that you call ahead to make your reservations, contact information, as well as more details on the convention can be online at the convention web site.
On Thursday May 25, the PresidentÔÇÖs Banquet takes place and will be graced by the presence of His Honour, the Premier of Quebec, Jean Charest. On Friday night, the conference delegates will be treated to an evening of traditional Quebecois dining at LÔÇÖEntailleur Caban a Sucre on picturesque Ile dÔÇÖOrleans, with entertainment provided by Montreal-based comedian Christopher Hall.
Not to be outdone, Saturday will see the Great National Ideas Exchange where the best advertising and promotional ideas of 2005 will be shared and discussed. The convention culminates on Saturday evening with the gala Better Newspapers Competition Awards and Banquet where the much anticipated winners of this nation-wide competition are honoured.
The registration form for Sant├®! Healthy Living for Community Newspapers can be downloaded from http://www.communitynews.ca/convention/2006/. Be sure to return your registration form to the CCNA office soon!