During a province-wide teacher job action that affected more than 1,000 educators and 6,500 students in our division, I led the crisis communications strategy for Horizon School Division. With only 48 hours' notice before strike days, and temperatures plunging to -40°C, I developed messaging that balanced operational clarity with empathy for families, division operations, and respect for teachers' rights.
To streamline and simplify updates, I created a central Job Action Hub on the division's website, featuring plain–language explanations, visual guides, and regularly updated information on strike logistics. Updates were shared on social media, driving all stakeholders to this comprehensive and easy to understand web page. This approach supported timely decision–making for families, many of whom had childcare, transportation, or language barriers to navigate. The work was recognized with a national BRAVO Award in Crisis Communications by the Canadian Association of Communicators in Education in 2024.
Below is one of the plain-language graphics used during the STF job action, included in the central Job Action Hub.
I was honoured to receive a national BRAVO Award for crisis communications at the 2024 CACE conference.
