Public Relations program celebrates 40th anniversary of student fundraising

Algonquin College’s Public Relations (ACPR) program has had an extensive community impact in the National Capital Region over the past 40 years. Students have raised nearly $600,000 for a range of community organizations, from the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre and CHEO to the Ottawa Network for Education, the Ottawa Food Bank and the African-Canadian Association of Ottawa.

The program’s founder, the late Claudine Wilson, conceived of the idea of having students raise money and awareness for local charities as a way to practice their PR skills while giving back to the community. The ACPR charity campaign has been a highlight of the program ever since.

“When Claudine built the PR program, she built it with a focus on community. She worked tirelessly to connect students to jobs, professional associations and other grads. She also built in the component of serving the community, with the Teddy Bear raffle –an annual fundraiser for CHEO; the PR agency which served local, non-profit clients; and of course the annual fundraiser, which we are celebrating here today,” shared Kelly Rusk, ACPR alumna and longtime friend of Claudine Wilson.

Rusk and Lara Mills, ACPR Program Coordinator, presented a plaque to honour Wilson permanently in the PR agency space, Room N203 at the Ottawa Campus.

ACPR welcomed its first students in September 1984 with the very first ACPR fundraiser held in February 1985 – a benefit pub held at the now-closed Bert’s Bar that raised $318 for St. Brigid’s Soup Kitchen. In December 1985, ACPR began a longstanding relationship with the Christmas Exchange of Ottawa-Carleton, raising funds through a teddy bear raffle every holiday season until 2007.

On Wednesday, March 26, 2025, this significant milestone was celebrated at the Ruby Reception at the Observatory, with alumni, faculty, current students and community members present. Mills highlighted the program’s fundraising history.

“While the communications channels and technology have evolved a great deal over the last 40 years, this fundraising project remains an integral part of the program because it is life-changing for a lot of students,” says Mills. “They not only learn how to communicate with compassion and sensitivity around some very challenging issues, but by the end of the term, they understand how they can use their public relations skills to make a positive difference in their community.”

From left to right, Rusk, Claude Brulé, President and CEO, Bradley Moseley-Williams, ACPR Professor, and Mills, ACPR Coordinator.

Local officials were invited to say a few words at the event.

“The fact that you integrate this fundraising into the program is incredible. We have real needs in our community so it’s great that you’re using the skills that you are developing to help our community and provide the supports that people need,” said Chandra Pasma, MPP, Ottawa West – Nepean.

“I do believe very much that this college is a special place. One of the things that I’m really inspired by is the way that the College is always trying to integrate with the local community,” said Laine Johnson, City Counsellor, College Ward.

Johnson and Pasma pictured at the event.

Level 04 Class of 2025 ACPR learners pose for a photo.

Level 01 Class of 2026 learners pose for a photo.

Fundraising with the Winter 2025 cohort is ongoing, with events running until April 3, 2025. The Hope on the Horizon campaign will benefit Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services.

Level 02 learners, Class of 2026, pictured in their Hope on the Horizon campaign shirts.