As a public relations manager for the Citizens’ Committee of Saint Martin’s Blocks, my goal is to create a strong, blog-focused strategy to increase awareness of our new ‘Fair Housing, Fair Future’ initiative. By doing so, I will strengthen our relationships with stakeholders. Our blog campaign will help us achieve our overall mission of advocating for fair housing, community rights, and citizen participation in decision-making for urban renewal projects in Little Burgundy. Specifically, we will share residents’ stories and educate the public on the current situation and how they can support our resistance efforts. By showcasing the everyday people of Little Burgundy, we hope to empower residents and build trust with them, as they are key stakeholders in our campaign. 

Content Ideas: 

I have developed the following 6 ideas for ‘Fair Housing, Fair Future’ blog posts: 

• What is the ‘Fair Housing, Fair Future’ Initiative all about?
• “We Want to Live, Not Just Exist” 
• Meet the Faces Behind the Fight
• A Seat at the Table: Why Citizen Participation Matters
• What Urban Renewal Really Means for Little Burgundy
• Join Us at our Public Meeting – September 30!

Spokespeople:

Our key spokesperson will be Mr. Noël Daudelin. Daudelin, as seen in the National Film Board documentary, is an outspoken advocate for change in Little Burgundy. Throughout the film, he reiterates the need for people to band together and resist the government’s new urban renewal projects. This aligns him well with our organization’s goal, making him a perfect spokesperson for this blog campaign. We will also feature and incorporate messages directly from the Citizens’ Committee’s president, Jeanne Leblance and vice president Lucilla Pion. Other possible spokespeople include the following: 

• Isa Croxen
• Roy Croxen
• Solange Tellier
• Therese Levis
• Paul-Emile Forget
• Edward Sheard

Content Calendar

Our goal is to post approximately 2 times per week, leading up to our public meeting on September 30th (starting around the beginning of September). Implementing this timeline works to maximize visibility and engagement before the event. 

Audience Feedback and Engagement

A main way that we can collect feedback on our posts is through the blog’s comment section. Here we can gain insight into the thoughts and feelings of our readers. To glean more valuable responses, our blog can include calls to action in each post. For example, in our post detailing firsthand accounts of relocation struggles, we could pose the questions: “How has the urban renewal project affected you? Have you experienced any similar to those in this post?”. We can also make use of surveys and polls. These are quick ways to gather data on concerns about housing and the current situation, and can also show the level at which readers are engaged with the material. 

Another simple way that we can monitor our engagement is by tracking page views and shares through analytics tools. This will give us concrete data on how many people are seeing our posts and spreading the word about our cause. 

In analyzing this feedback, we can decide which topics/content resonates most with the readers. We can also address concerns raised in comments in our following blog posts. It’s important to continuously review our feedback to improve future posts. This ensures that we are on track towards our goal of increasing awareness and building strong relationships with stakeholders. 

Justification

The blog campaign will help to build trust with stakeholders – residents of Little Burgundy, the media, and the general public. In order to drum up support for the cause, we must first explain the cause in detail. People need to know about what’s going on before they can care. The goal of our blog campaign would be to share background information about the situation, as well as residents’ personal stories to appeal to the emotion of readers. In concert with one another, the blog post, media assets, and press release will draw awareness to the Citizens’ Committee’s fight against the City of Montreal. 

Fair Housing, Fair Future Public Meeting Poster:

Caption: This poster provides information about the Citizens’ Committee of Saint Martin’s Blocks’ upcoming public meeting for their ‘Fair Housing, Fair Future’ initiative. The media encourages Little Burgundy residents to attend the meeting on September 30 at 6:00 PM at the Little Burgundy Community Hall.

Credit: Poster created by Libby Meldrum, PR manager for the Citizens’ Committee. 

Usage Rights: Free for Media Use with Attribution.

Fair Housing, Fair Future Infographic:

Caption: This infographic details the key demands of the Citizens’ Committee of Saint Martin’s Blocks’ new ‘Fair Housing, Fair Future’ initiative.

Credit: Infographic created by Libby Meldrum, PR manager for the Citizens’ Committee. 

Usage Rights: Free for Media Use with Attribution.

Fair Housing, Fair Future Blog Announcement Post:

Caption: This graphic (Instagram post) promotes the Citizens’ Committee of Saint Martin’s Blocks’ upcoming ‘Fair Housing, Fair Future’ blog series. 

Credit: Graphic created by Libby Meldrum, PR manager for the Citizens’ Committee. 

Usage Rights: Free for Media Use with Attribution.

Libby Meldrum

Citizens’ Committee of Saint Martin’s Blocks – PR Manager

123-456-7890

libby@citizenscommittees.ca 

Fair Housing, Fair Future Initiative

• Launch Date: September 11, 1967

• Lead Organization: Citizens’ Committee of Saint Martin’s Blocks

• Mission: Advocate for fair housing, community rights, and citizen participation in decision-making for urban renewal projects in Little Burgundy. 

• Issues Addressed: Formed in response to forced expropriations, the committee fights for transparency, tenant protections, and more respect regarding housing policies.
  • Unjust expropriations and forced relocations. 
  • Lack of community input in urban planning
  • Housing affordability and fair rent scales.
  • Tenant rights and surveillance concerns. 

• Key Demands:
  • Implement rent caps at 18% of the head of the household’s income. 
  • Allow for joint decision-making between citizens and officials. 
  • Protect residents against excessive inspections and housing regulations. 

• Public Meeting: September 30, 6:00 PM, Little Burgundy Community Hall – Open discussion on housing policies. 

• New Blog Launch: Stay tuned for our new ‘Fair Housing, Fair Future’ blog series highlighting topics such as the impacts of expropriation and perspectives from current Little Burgundy residents. 

• Social Media:
  • Instagram: @citizenscommittee
  • X: @citizenscommittee
  • Facebook: @citizenscommittee
  • #fairhousingfairfuture #littleburgundystrong #citizenscommittee #savesaintmartinsblocks

• Website: citizenscommittee.ca

• Call to Action: 
  • Attend our public meeting on September 30 at 6:00 PM to share your voice. 
  • Follow us on social media to stay updated: @citizenscommittee
  • Visit our website for more information: citizenscommittee.ca
• Media Contact: Libby Meldrum – libbymeldrum@citizenscommittee.ca – 123-456-7890

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Little Burgundy Community Rallies for Fair Housing and Citizen Participation with New Initiative and Upcoming Public Meeting

The Citizens’ Committee of Saint Martin’s Blocks Needs Your Support Against the Current Urban Renewal Project 

Montreal, QC – September 1, 1967 – In the wake of the demolition of countless residential and commercial buildings, people of the Little Burgundy neighbourhood are speaking out against the City of Montreal. The Citizens’ Committee of Saint Martin’s Blocks is launching a new initiative, “Fair Housing, Fair Future”. This initiative calls for transparency, protection for residents, and citizen participation in decision-making. The group is holding a public meeting on September 30 at 6:00 PM at the Little Burgundy Community Hall to discuss their plans and housing policies. 

The recently formed Citizens’ Committee stands in firm opposition to the city’s urban renewal project, which has displaced hundreds of families. As of this month, 300 families from the Saint Martin’s Blocks have been served eviction notices, handed only a few hundred dollars to relocate, and left without fair alternatives for housing. 

For generations, Little Burgundy has been home to a vibrant and close-knit community. According to committee member Jean DuBoiserie, “This injustice cannot stand. Under the guise of renewal, the city is destroying our neighbourhood.” Displaced resident and pregnant mother of 3, Marie Carbonneau, adds: “We are being pushed out with no real support or say in our future. My family has been forced into a substandard apartment, and our future feels so uncertain.”

The city’s proposed public housing developments, such as Habitations Îlots Saint-Martin, come with restrictive lease agreements, income-based rent, and invasive surveillance measures that strip residents of their freedoms. Specifically, the initiative demands that the right of return is guaranteed for all displaced families, rent caps at 18% of the household’s head income be implemented, joint decision-making between citizens and officials be allowed, and residents be protected against excessive inspections and housing regulations. 

Families like Marie Carbonneau’s fear that instead of providing stability, these new urban renewal plans will be harmful and do not have residents’ best interests at heart. 

Watch the new National Film Board documentary, Little Burgundy, to learn more about the Committee’s resistance efforts. To further support their new “Fair Housing, Fair Future” initiative, attend the open discussion public meeting on September 30 at 6:00 PM. 

About the Citizens’ Committee of Saint Martin’s Blocks

The Citizens’ Committee of Little Burgundy was formed by residents fighting to protect their homes, their rights, and their community. Becoming an official organization in 1967, the Citizens’ Committee is directed by President Jeanne Leblanc and Vice President Lucilla Pion. The organization works to encourage the people of Little Burgundy to fight for a voice in urban renewal planning. 

Contact:
Libby Meldrum
Public Relations Coordinator – Citizens’ Committee of Saint Martin’s Blocks

Phone: 123-456-7890
Email: libbymeldrum@citizenscommittee.ca