Students from Niagara College’s Public Relations graduate certificate program took their learning beyond the classroom on March 24, bringing communicators from across the Niagara region together for an evening of insight, connection and conversation at a Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) Hamilton Chapter panel event.
Titled Beyond the Press Release: Exploring Today’s Media Landscape, the event took place at The Hare Wine Co. in Niagara-on-the-Lake and featured an engaging panel discussion moderated by Janine Tessmer, Senior Communications Specialist for Niagara Region, followed by a networking session that connected marketing and communications professionals from across the Golden Horseshoe. The sold-out event welcomed nearly 100 attendees, from students to seasoned professionals across a variety of sectors, highlighting strong interest in the evolving communications landscape.
The NC PR student team. Back row from L to R: Jacob Pozzobon and Robert Liota. Front row from L to R: Jordan Gascon and Matt Anderson.
Planned and organized by NC PR students Jordan Gascon, Robert Liota, Jacob Pozzobon, and Matt Anderson as part of their Special Event Development and Management course, the event gave guests an inside look at how the communications industry is adapting to rapid changes. The team collaborated closely with PR alumna Naomi Fox (2024), a CPRS Board Member and Chair of Business Development and Sponsorship.
“Working with the PR students has been an absolute dream. They’ve led the event from both an administrative and creative perspective, consistently coming to meetings prepared with ideas that go above and beyond the initial brief – everything from audio/visual support to content capture and post-event social editing,” said Fox. “I’m thrilled to have worked with them and look forward to seeing where their careers take them after graduation.”
Engaging panel discussion highlights industry insights
The panel discussion featured professionals from diverse sectors, including Katie MacCabe, Marketing Manager for Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake; Scott Rosts, Corporate Communications Manager for the City of St. Catharines; Mackenzie Rockbrune, Communications and Media Coordinator at Niagara Parks Commission; and Jeff Blay, Creative Director for Creative Guild. They offered candid insights into the realities of working in communications today and how the field continues to evolve.
Throughout the discussion, panelists explored key themes such as meaningful impact of campaigns, the rise of AI, maintaining audience trust in an era of misinformation, and balancing cultural relevance with brand credibility. They also emphasized the growing importance of strategic thinking and storytelling for emerging professionals entering the field.
Experiential learning prepares students for the future
For the students, organizing the event was not without its challenges. Coordinating schedules with busy industry professionals, developing engaging discussion questions and managing event logistics required careful planning and strong teamwork. However, these challenges ultimately strengthened the students’ collaboration and problem-solving skills, resulting in a unique hands-on learning opportunity that will help prepare them for the fast-paced world of public relations.
Communicators from across Niagara network at the CPRS Hamilton event.
“Planning the CPRS panel allowed us to put our classroom skills into practice,” said Anderson. “We successfully organized the speakers, developed thoughtful discussion questions, and learned to think on our feet to solve problems as they arose, giving us a real sense of how the profession works.”
“The success of this event really speaks to the students’ ability to take what they’ve learned in the classroom and apply it in a professional, real-world setting,” said Emily McInerney, Professor and Program Coordinator of the Public Relations program. “From concept development to execution, they demonstrated strong strategic thinking, teamwork and attention to detail, skills that are essential in the public relations industry.”
As the communications industry continues to evolve, events like this CPRS panel highlight the importance of experiential learning, equipping students with the practical skills, confidence and industry connections needed to succeed in a dynamic and ever-changing field.
“This event showed us firsthand what it takes to succeed in PR,” said Gascon. “It was more than an assignment, it was an opportunity to lead, adapt, and collaborate in a professional setting, and it’s an experience we’ll carry into our careers.”
