Breaking Ground Communications Plan
The Saint Martins Block Citizens Committee is participating in the Breaking Ground Construction Launch in Saint Martins Block on June 15, 1968.
Mrs. Jeanne Leblanc, President of the Citizens Committee and Mr. Lucien Saulnier, Chairman Executive Committee, City of Montreal will speak on behalf of the Urban Renewal Plans and the construction launch. Having Mrs. Jeanne Leblanc, President of the Citizens Committee speak on behalf of the community will provide awareness of the Saint Martins Citizens Committee and remind the public of the committee accomplishments and introduce goals in moving forward after the Breaking Ground Construction Launch. The Breaking Ground event is an excellent opportunity for the Citizens Committee to reach their goals of having a voice in the decision making and living conditions for the Urban Renewal. It is important that the people have a say in the decisions which affect their lives. The Citizens Committee believes that there must be joint management of residents and the government concerning the Urban Renewal housing plans. The Committee hopes to provide incentive for those affected by the Urban Renewal and work together to make the needs of Saint Martins residents present in the planning for the new housing.
Inviting the community to attend Breaking Ground will contribute to the improvement of community morale regarding the Urban Renewal. After conducting a survey with the residents, the Citizens Committee has found that residents have been stressed and worry about how the new housing will change their lives. As the government has the final say on all Urban Renewal Plans, the Committee must cooperate with them to insure the residents get desirable housing. Breaking Ground will provide a sense of togetherness and hope that the people of Saint Martins Block need. The keynote speeches Mrs. Jeanne Leblanc, President of the Citizens Committee and Mr. Lucien Saulnier, Chairman Executive Committee, City of Montreal will set the example of the cooperation of the citizens and government working towards Urban Renewal Plans suitable for all parties involved.
Some of the stakeholders that the communications plan must reach are those directly and indirectly affected by the Urban Renewal in the Little Burgundy District of Montreal. The other stakeholders that the communications plan is designed to target are Montreal Government officials, engineers and any companies directly and indirectly making decisions for the Urban Renewal plans.
To reach the targeted audience and stakeholders, the Citizens Committee have chosen the following channels to present advertisements and information regarding the Breaking Ground Construction Launch event.
- Posters
- Flyers
- Newspaper advertisements
- Radio advertisements
- Telephone
Posters will be hung on every block by telephone post and in any local businesses who wish to participate in advertising Breaking Ground. Flyers will be personally distributed by Citizens Committee volunteers on Saint Martins Block and delivered to surrounding homes and businesses door to door. An advertisement in the community events section of the local paper will be printed. The Citizens Committee will provide advertisements for the local radio to air daily right up until the event date. A list of citizens relocated by the expropriation will be contacted by phone to be informed about the upcoming event. They will also be personally invited by mail containing specific event details for Breaking Ground.
Communications Plan Calendar:
| May 1st | -Send Invitations by mail to all relocated citizens -Hang posters in the streets of Saint Martins Blocks & deliver to participating businesses |
| May 10th | -Hand out flyers by hand to by passers on Saint Martins Block |
| May 15th | -Check on street posters and replace when necessary |
| May 25th | -Begin to call those on phone list of all relocated citizens to follow up with mail invitations -Begin newspaper ads |
| June 1st | -Hand out flyers door to door to Saint Martins Blocks homes and businesses |
| June 15th | -Last day of radio and newspaper advertisements |
Using a multimedia channel strategy over the course of 46 days will increase the number of people who encounter the Citizens Committee’s message. The expropriation has affected many lives and several demographic groups. Thus, our communications plan will use many communication channels to reach a wide variety of demographic groups within the Montreal community. Spreading the communications plan across 46 days will allow for repetition and will strengthen the reception rate of the message. The communications plan is designed to attain attendees for Breaking Ground and inform those about the Urban Renewal and how it will affect their lives.