IABC/Toronto 2021 Communicator of the Year (COTY)

Friday, February 4, 2022, 12 to 1 p.m. EST

IABC/Toronto will be honouring Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Eileen de Villa, on Friday, February 4, 2022. Dr. de Villa will share key learnings and takeaways from almost two years of pandemic communication, and engage in a Q&A with the audience.

Throughout the pandemic, Dr. de Villa has worked tirelessly to ensure Torontonians have the information they need to keep themselves and those around them safe. She has been a trusted, reliable voice, delivering updates about the COVID-19 virus through regular appearances on local media, including a standing weekly segment on CP24 and via Twitter to her almost 40,000 followers.

And, we’re excited to let you know that we’ll be kicking off the event with a power panel of health communicators who will share their experiences and key learnings navigating the ongoing pandemic:

Craig DuHamel, Vice President Communications, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Craig is a proud member of Sunnybrook’s award-winning communications team. Since announcing the first COVID patient in Canada in January 2020, the team has been busy sharing information with staff and the community and working with media and other stakeholders to help keep everyone informed and educated about COVID-19.

Craig has been with the hospital for more than 20 years. In addition, he teaches part time at Ryerson University’s Chang School in the Communications Department. He is a graduate of University of Stirling in Scotland where he received his Masters and PhD in communications.

Marie-Lauren Gregoire Drummond, SCMP®, BJ, BA (Hons), Director, Communications and Stakeholder Relations at Alliance for Healthier Communities

Marie-Lauren Gregoire Drummond is a certified Strategic Communications Management Professional (SCMP®), spoken word poet and published author. Marie-Lauren has provided strategic communications support to organizations in healthcare, education, community and social services including the Alliance for Healthier Communities, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada, South Riverdale Community Health Centre, Ryerson University’s Diversity Institute, Ontario Government – Minister of Education Office, Canadian Hearing Services, Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies and Peel Children’s Aid. Marie-Lauren holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts from Western University and a Bachelor of Journalism from Ryerson University.

Jennifer Gillard, Senior Director, Patient Experience, Public Affairs and Strategic Partnerships

Jennifer Gillard is responsible for the planning, organization and coordination of the Northumberland Hills Hospital’s communications and community engagement activities, and for establishing and sustaining strong collaborative working relationships among internal and external stakeholders. Co-founder and co-facilitator of the hospital’s Patient and Family Advisory Council, Jennifer also serves on the Collaboration Council of the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland supporting communication and community engagement activities including co-facilitation of the Team’s patient and family partnership table, the Experience Partner Council.

Jennifer is an Accredited Business Communicator (ABC) and a former Ontario Hospital Association Communicator of the Year.  Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English from Carleton University and a Master’s in Canadian Heritage and Development Studies from Trent University (1996). She is a longstanding member of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) and the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2).

Moderated by:

Cyrus Mavalwala, ABC, MC, Founding Partner, Advantis Communications

Cyrus Mavalwala, ABC, MC is a sought-after digital communication strategist, trainer and keynote speaker who helps organizations achieve business results. He has international accreditation as an IABC Accredited Business Communicator and is one of approximately 60 people in Canada who has been awarded IABC Canada’s highest honour and lifetime achievement designation, Master Communicator.

After years at global PR agencies, Cyrus founded Advantis Communications in 2002 where he leads a team dedicated to building digital communication and marketing capacity for clients in Canada and the US.

Fees:

$20: IABC member rate ($22.60 with HST)

$30: Non-member rate ($33.90 with HST)

Members register here

Non-members register here

Note: This is a virtual event. A link to access the event will be provided to all registrants closer to the event date.

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