ta (CPSA). I’ll admit that I didn’t yet fully understand regulation. To be honest, I’m still learning, especially as the sector evolves and the field of communications continues to shift just as quickly. But I was eager to deepen my understanding and contribute in a meaningful way. What I did understand early on was that the organization was leading in many ways, including through its efforts to support effective public communication.
lay the groundwork for stronger relationships with the public. It also reinforced something I’ve seen again and again in my work with regulators: building public understanding is a journey, and trust doesn’t happen overnight. It takes clear, consistent, and strategic communication to lay the foundation for both.
While I know, as someone who loves creative content development, it may not feel as exciting as launching campaigns or jumping into engagement tactics, it ofOne of my first responsibilities was helping to coordi- ten means pausing to take a step back. Pausing to ask nate and attend CPSA’s regional tour, where the regu- key questions, take stock of what you’re already doing, lator visited communities across Alberta to meet face- and dedicate time to strategy and understanding beto-face with physicians and the public. They included fore jumping into execution. town hall meetings where the public could ask questions, raise concerns, and speak directly with the reg- Are your communications channels aligned? ulator about health-care delivery in their community. If you direct the public from a social post or public What struck me most was how much listening took awareness ad to your website, will they find informaplace. The goal wasn’t just to explain CPSA’s role, al- tion that’s easy to understand and take action if needthough that was part of it. It was to better understand ed? how the public experienced care, and how regulation could respond with greater clarity and accountability. Are you unintentionally using regulatory jargon or This all led to a deeper understanding of CPSA’s public. acronyms that make sense to us as regulators (and recovering regulators) but create barriers for the public? That experience stayed with me throughout my regu- Remember, plain language doesn’t make information latory communications career. It was a clear example less important. It makes it more accessible so you can of how connection, listening, and education can help meet the public, and all your audiences, where they are.
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