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Public Relations – Event Management

Available as a one-year program

Public relations and event management professionals are increasingly in demand as employers recognize the value of effective communications. A career in PR and event management is never dull! From one day to the next you could be pitching a story, staging a news conference, organizing an event or managing crisis communications.

Testimonials

  • Credential

    • One-year Ontario College Graduate Certificate

  • Start Date

    September entry

Note: The name of this program recently changed

Public Relations – Event Management – formerly Public Relations and Event Management

Find your career

People come to PR and event management from different backgrounds — from journalism and sociology to fitness and the non-profit sector. In just eight months, you’ll develop skills that will make you an asset in any industry:

  • Graduates find dynamic opportunities working for government, hospitals, schools, businesses, advocacy groups and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), as well as public relations firms.
  • You could work as a PR specialist, event manager, fundraiser, media relations specialist, public affairs expert, publicist, or campaign manager.
  • Many jobs offer extensive opportunities for travel.
  • Entry-level jobs include producing digital media packages, media monitoring, organizing interviews and news conferences, creating visual presentations and planning special events.
  • Average entry-level salaries for Ontario graduates range from $40,000 to $44,999* and vary depending on the sector and location. Many graduates in urban centres earn more than $100,000.
  • Public Relations students automatically obtain student membership in both the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) and the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC).

*Source: Employment Profile Provincial Report, Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development.

Our grads get great jobs

  • Manager, Event Coordination, The Lavin Agency (Toronto)
  • Senior Media Relations Manager, Toronto FC
  • Special Events Coordinator, Brock University Alumni Relations Office
  • Marketing Coordinator, Shorelines Casino (Belleville)
  • Event Management and Communications Coordinator, Albert College
  • Special Events Coordinator, Municipality of Port Hope
  • Communications Coordinator, Quinte Conservation (Quinte West)
  • Marketing & Communications Officer, Canada Science and Technology Museums Corp. (Ottawa)
  • Communications Officer, Smith School of Business, Queen's University

Is it for you?

No matter what kind of background and education you bring to the program, you can build on it for a successful career in PR. Strong candidates for this program possess:

  • Excellent communication skills
  • Good judgment
  • The ability to multitask
  • An enthusiasm for motivating others

What employers say

“I have been working with the Loyalist PR program for several years as both a placement supervisor and an employer of a recent graduate. The students were bright, outgoing and prepared.  The program is polished and professional and well thought out.  My last placement student was so skilled that I hired him!"
Jennifer May-Anderson 
Communications Manager, Quinte Conservation

Experiential learning

No textbooks! Students enjoy a combination of project-based learning and hands-on experience that goes beyond the classroom. In this intensive, eight-month program you will:

  • Learn from guest speakers in the industry.
  • Develop a solid portfolio of relevant workplace skills.
  • Participate in a speed-mentoring event and micro-networking session.
  • Meet with industry professionals and PR agencies in Toronto.
  • Stage a mock disaster during Crisis Communications Week.
  • Plan and host special events such as concerts and wine tastings in neighbouring Prince Edward County.
  • Write clear, targeted communications materials that deliver your message persuasively.
  • Build relationships with media and stakeholders, plan special events, market for corporate and non-profit, deliver compelling presentations, prepare for media interviews and handle crisis situations.
  • Use new media, social media and graphics creation to promote your message.

Finish your studies with a four-week field placement, applying your learning on the job. Our students have completed placements with:

  • Government agencies
  • Toronto International Film Festival
  • Toronto Argonauts football team
  • Canadian Wildlife Federation
  • World Vision Canada

Outstanding faculty make the difference

  • Learning takes place in smaller classes with dedicated instructors.
  • Faculty draw on degrees in Mass Communications and Journalism, and extensive experience working across Canada in such varied environments as a national policing agency, government roles, editor of a national magazine, and director of communications at a hospital.
  • The curriculum is updated annually with feedback from industry professionals to keep pace with best practices and the latest technology.

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