From event logistics and programming, to the coordination of participants and speakers, the day's entertainment, the media and government relations strategy, and the event's visual identity and web platform, the Rendez-vous national sur le maintien à domicile showcases Catapulte know-how in all its forms.
Follow us behind the scenes of this event organized by the Coalition for the Dignity of Seniors (CDA) on May 8, which has mobilized several members of our team for nearly 9 months!
Making a logistical head
In an agency, life moves fast and one challenge follows another. Taking the time to plan your event deadlines strategically ensures that your actions are relevant and productive.
The first step was to define the event's objectives: we wanted to consolidate the CDA's recognition as a privileged interlocutor for the concerns of Quebec's seniors, identify short- and medium-term actions to ensure the accessibility, effectiveness and sustainability of homecare services, and make the Rendez-vous national sur le maintien à domicile a reference point for government decision-making in this field.
We then drew up a strategic plan, including detailed deadlines, a precise definition of task accountability, and a meticulous selection of suppliers, all within a set budget. The key to success is consistency: sticking to the schedule, following up regularly with the team, customers and suppliers, and anticipating the unexpected.
On D-day, our team was fully mobilized to ensure rigorous coordination, from setting up the room to managing speakers and participants, and welcoming guests. We were fortunate to be able to count on a team of committed volunteers.
A distinctive visual identity
Particular attention was paid to designing a distinctive visual identity for this unique event. The creation of a few moodboard was proposed to determine the vision for the day. Once the idea was chosen, it was adapted to suit different platforms and needs, including social networks, the website, blog posts, the participant's guide and on-site visuals for the event itself.
The Rendez-vous national was based on 4 major themes - État des lieux sur le maintien à domicile, Collaboration entre les réseaux de la santé et communautaire, Réalités rurales et urbaines as well as Success stories from near and far - each represented by specific icons and illustrations and a carefully selected palette. These colors echo the original CDA hues, but have been adjusted to give this particular event its own identity. You'll notice that the design also incorporates elements of the main CDA logo, such as the leaves, while being adapted to reflect the focus on homecare, hence the reminder of home and the half-heart.
It was also important to have a dedicated microsite designed to meet the specific needs of the event's participants and spectators. Visit event website has been structured to provide all necessary information, ensure smooth navigation and offer an optimized user experience, in line with the event's visual identity.
Promoting the cause and its issues
The credibility of the stakeholders selected to take part in the programming in turn feeds the credibility of the Rendez-vous national as a must-attend public interest event for the media, decision-makers and its potential relay audiences, i.e. all the people and organizations making up Quebec's vast homecare ecosystem. Reflecting the 4 themes meticulously thought through with CDA members, the program was also designed to guide the deliberative portion of the day, aimed at setting out 4 actions to be implemented to make the shift towards homecare a reality.
The public relations strategy developed by our team enabled the CDA to get the word out about its event and the resulting recommendations over a concentrated 4-day cycle, with a few additional media mentions in the week following the Rendez-vous national. In all, no fewer than fifty media mentions have been counted since May 8, in all media: print (traditional and digital media), radio and television. Our strategy also enabled the CDA's messages to be conveyed in a variety of formats: radio columns and interviews, television interviews and reports, an open letter published in 7 major dailies, in addition to the visibility obtained by ricochet at the National Assembly.
Promote recommendations to decision-makers
With the main objective of the Rendez-vous national being to put forward a limited number of specific, concrete demands to decision-makers, the organization of the event was supported by active government relations.
The presence of dignitaries and political figures was carefully organized to reinforce the impact of the event and underline the scope of the actions proposed by the CDA. Since the Coalition represents over 150,000 seniors, the participation of the Minister responsible for Seniors, Ms. Sonia Bélanger, was a must. We also coordinated the appearance of various spokespersons from the opposition parties, the transparent nature of the cause being a constant posture of the CDA.
The day after the event, the unveiling of the 4 recommendations triggered a wave of reactions: numerous mentions in the National Assembly, including a statement by a Member of Parliament, a motion without notice, and references in press briefings by the various parties followed everyone's participation in the Rendez-vous national.
This increased visibility not only raised public awareness of the challenges of homecare, but also, and above all, encouraged political decision-makers to take careful note of the CDA's recommendations. In retrospect, the strategy succeeded in laying a solid foundation for future action by the CDA, which has continued to liaise with political players since May 9 to ensure that the 4 recommendations are translated into concrete action to improve the living conditions of seniors in Quebec.
To remember
The success of the Rendez-vous national sur le maintien à domicile is based on the combined strengths of our team and the synergy of their skills. Beyond the resounding success of the event, its remarkable media coverage and its current and future political spin-offs, witnessing the realization of a long-term project is always a moment of professional pride for each and every one of us. In pursuing Catapulte's mission, we are proud to be working alongside the agents of change in Quebec society, and to be able to make a difference for a cause as noble as the dignity of seniors.
