Media relations, a website and a magazine feature for a co-operative of craft cannabis farmers.

The BC Craft Farmers Co-op was founded in 2020 to give BC's small-batch cannabis farmers a voice, and to push for changes to the federal Cannabis Act that would let craft growers compete. As a subcontractor to RISE Communications, I supported the co-op's communications through a busy stretch of advocacy, a parliamentary review and its annual summit.

I ran media relations and stakeholder outreach for the co-op's news. That meant building the media list, calling reporters, and then distributing each release, including a joint release and media advisory with the Retail Cannabis Council of BC calling for faster Cannabis Act improvements. When an all-party House of Commons committee backed the co-op's recommendations, I helped turn the news into a week of social posts, quote graphics and member updates, and kept the conversation going with journalists, policymakers and industry partners on LinkedIn. I also designed the co-op's website, and its summit feature in a cannabis retail magazine.

• Media relations: media lists, reporter calls and release distribution, with personal follow-up.
• Releases and updates: a joint news release and media advisory, advocacy updates and an AGM recap, written for members and media.
• Social campaign: a week of posts, quote cards and reshared coverage when the House of Commons committee backed the co-op.
• Stakeholder outreach: LinkedIn outreach to journalists, policymakers and industry partners.
• Website: a clear site explaining who the co-op represents and what it stands for.
• Summit promotion: a magazine feature and an animated web banner for the 2022 BC Cannabis Summit, which drew 400+ attendees.