Mount Royal University's Bachelor of Communication Public Relations students are excited about a new partnership that will give them access to one of the top industry groups in the country.
David Annesley, APR, LM, delivers remarks at Mount Royal University, Sept. 10, 2026.
Thanks to a donation from David Annesley, second and third year students will receive a free two-year membership to the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) Calgary Chapter.
Annesley is Accredited in Public Relations (APR) and a Lifetime Member (LM) of the CPRS who built a successful career in public relations. In the 1960s he attended what was then Mount Royal College, when the PR program was just one single course.
Throughout his professional career, Annesley has hired dozens of MRU students. With this donation, he wanted to provide students with access to the professional connections and learning opportunities that a CPRS membership can offer.
"This generous gift expands our public relations students' experience at MRU," says Dr. Milena Radzikowska, PhD, chair of MRU's School of Communication Studies.
"Giving them two years of membership in the CPRS provides them with an amazing opportunity to step out of the classroom and directly into the professional community long before graduation."
The CPRS was established in 1948 from two groups one in Montreal and the other in Toronto. They joined forces under one banner, which was then incorporated as a national society in 1957. The following year, its Calgary Chapter formed and since then has been representing some of the city's top PR and communications professionals.
CPRS Calgary hosts many professional development events with many specifically targeted towards students.
"This will be an invaluable opportunity for students as they begin building their professional networks and preparing to enter the field," Radzikowska says.
"Although a lot has changed in the profession, I hope students can use the society to establish a strong professional network, explore different employment opportunities and continue to learn and grow their professional skills," Annesley says.
The announcement was made on Sept. 10 at the CPRS Calgary AGM, hosted at Mount Royal University.
Third-year PR student Parmveer Singh was on hand for the event. He says with rising costs and a student budget, the gift of this membership goes a long way.
"Now that the cost barrier has been lifted, it'll help create a wonderful community of students within CPRS."
Singh says the CPRS Calgary Chapter provides a professional sense of community and mentorship, which can be especially comforting during the university years. He was inspired by hearing directly from Annesley, who spoke about his career and shared some wisdom with the students.
When asked what early career PR professionals need most, Annesley highlighted the importance of a willingness to learn. He also encouraged students to build meaningful relationships, something which can be done through CPRS.
Third-year student Addison Powell enjoyed hearing about the evolution of PR from Annesley.
"I loved his joke about how PR used to be and how we'll probably never have to wait days on end for the postal service to distribute mail, probably have never used a fax machine, nor have we probably addressed a letter. It's something we always hear about in our courses, but it's good to hear it from someone who has seen PR grow over decades of his own life."
