– Pat Deakin is the Economic Development Manager for the City of Port Alberni. He can be reached at 250.720.2527 or Patrick_deakin@portalberni.ca.
PORT ALBERNI – Several initiatives supported by the City through the economic development budget are using many channels to ‘get the word out’.
However my personal use of social media is quite limited. So, when the Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce sponsored a Social Media Bootcamp, I jumped at the chance to learn more.
The event was inspired by Krista Mckitrick from Belle’s Haircare Salon who asked the Chamber for help in getting some social media training in place. The Chamber in turn contracted Orange Bridge Communications to organize it. The sold-out event took place on a Sunday at Char’s Landing, a great venue used by live performers most nights.
Those of us who attended got much more acquainted with hashtags, ad boosting, algorithms and analytics, among others. We were also brought current with different platforms and apps, how they are used and how to get them to work on behalf of a business.
It did not escape me that all of the presenters about social media were women, and all are running successful businesses or have successful careers in Port Alberni.
Sarah Jones from Walk the Coast, Jody Roberts from Stay Connected, Desja Walker from Haven Living, Kate Walton from INEO and KW Media and Jolleen Dick from the Hupacasath First Nation joined Kama Money from Orange Bridge Communications as speakers. Each talked about their work with social media on behalf of their businesses and organizations and answered questions.
The audience was full of people who, by the show of their hands, were using many platforms and apps and are, by the sounds of their questions and comments, also skilled users. Sproat Lake Landing catered a delicious lunch and, judging by comments, we all left wiser as well as full. My thanks to all involved.