Projects
The Smoke EaterThe Smoke Eater
As part of our continuing work on the Quitters Unite program for the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada (see full program write-up below), we teamed up with Junction Marketing, Booje Media and Green Couch Productions to develop the Smoke Eater - a machine that turns cigarettes into stuff you want.
The Smoke Eater hit the streets of Vancouver in October showing hundreds of people that giving up cigarettes can be a rewarding experience. The video below, with over 9,000 views worldwide after just one week, captures the experience.
Quitters UniteQuitters Unite
Context has worked on the Quitters Unite program since 2008, initially with the BC Healthy Living Alliance and now with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. At the heart of the program is a resource-rich, community-based website that provides young adults with the information, tools, and network of support they need to help them quit: www.quittersunite.com
Beginning with research that showed how young adults see traditional tobacco cessation campaigns as “gimmicky, over-marketed, and preachy”, Context developed and implemented an innovative strategy to engage this important audience, both online and off. Highlights include: Photo contest, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Share Your Story Contest, Smoke-Free Lifestyle Contest and The Smoke Eater.
Produce Availability in Remote CommunitiesProduce Availability in Remote Communities
In 2008, Context was contracted by the BC Ministry of Health to plan a strategy that would increase the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables in BC’s remote communities. Over the past three years, Context has worked with the Ministries of Health and Agriculture, and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC and Yukon to manage projects within the initiative, evaluate outcomes, and provide continuous strategic oversight.
One of Context's key roles has been in engaging the transportation and retail sectors to encourage the uptake of better practices in produce handling and transport. Context has also used digital story-telling at the community level to uncover the successes and challenges associated with implementing community gardens in several small, remote communities around the province.
Context’s skills in stakeholder relations and innovative evaluation methods has allowed solid relationships to grow with the multitude of partners and stakeholders engaged in and benefiting from projects delivered at both the community and industry level. As the Produce Availability Initiative enters its third phase of planning, Context continues to contribute to the realization of the Ministry’s vision of plentiful availability of fresh fruits and vegetables in the hardest to reach communities in the province.
Community-Based Research With HIV+ PeopleCommunity-Based Research With HIV+ People
Recognizing the escalating need to investigate strategies in chronic disease prevention in HIV+ people, in 2010 Context initiated an assessment of this high-risk population’s awareness of chronic lung disease. With funding awarded from the National Lung Health Framework, Context and the BC Lung Association partnered with the BC Persons With AIDS Society (BCPWA) to explore understanding around chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and its links to smoking in HIV+ people and their healthcare practitioners.
Within a community-based research model, Context worked with the HIV community to develop, test and implement online surveys and focus groups to gain an in-depth understanding of the issues in chronic disease prevention for people living with HIV, and their take on strategies to increase awareness and action towards healthy living. Training and working with peer facilitators augmented the reach into the HIV community, and resulted in the collection of meaningful data. Context found that while awareness around chronic lung disease was low in HIV+ people, there was a solid understanding of the links between smoking and lung health that could provide a platform for awareness-building activities. HIV+ people indicated that they would like to talk to their healthcare providers about chronic disease, they were interested in screening tests, and were especially keen on peer-facilitated sessions that allowed for sharing of health information.
Context continues to work with HIV+ people and the BCPWA, recently initiating a needs assessment of HIV services in BC’s Lower Mainland. This project experience within community-based research has allowed Context to translate innovative, participatory research methods into other recent evaluative and research-based work in the community.
Raven Project Environmental Assessment ConsultationRaven Project Environmental Assessment Consultation
By linking an innovative consultation process with a sharply focused communication program, Context is helping to ensure the community's voice is heard, public interests are tracked for the environmental regulators, information is accurate and consistent, and emerging issues are identified and managed.
Context brings an open, transparent approach to create meaningful public dialogue, concise written and on-line materials, and respected, professional relationships with media and stakeholders.The Raven Project's commitment to a socially and environmentall responsible resource project and Context's determination to build corporate social responsibility into every aspect of the communication and consultation process helps ensure a rigorous public review of the project and supports the requirements of the provincial and federal governent's environmental assessment process.
Context works closely with senior executives, environmental and technical consultants and communities to produce effective open houses, communication materials, advisory groups and public events. To facilitate the project’s extensive regulatory review and approval, Context designed and maintains a comprehensive on-line tracking system that records and analyzes all public comments.
Liquid Waste Management PlanLiquid Waste Management Plan (2006-present)
Context is retained by Metro Vancouver on an ongoing basis in support of the public consultation and communications program to update the Metro Vancouver Liquid Waste Management Plan. This large-scale consultation program is structured to encourage residents, First Nations, special interest groups, business representatives and municipal elected officials and their staff from around the region to participate and provide input on the Plan. Context works with Metro Vancouver to design and deliver all aspects of the consultation program and communications strategy for this project.
Golden Ears Bridge ProjectGolden Ears Bridge Project (2002-2009)
From 2002 to 2009 Context managed the communications and consultation for TransLink's Golden Ears Bridge Project. Responsibilities included setting the strategic direction, developing and implementing the overall communications and consultation plan, developing and delivering all aspects of a comprehensive community and stakeholder involvement program including public meetings, stakeholder meetings, design workshops, direct stakeholder contact and relationship building, managing public and media issues, and media relations. Context also implemented the Golden Ears Bridge Tolling Communications, Marketing and Education Plan in collaboration with TransLink Marketing and the private sector tolling partner. This included working closely with TransLink and the tolling partner to educate the public on electronic tolling and encourage the public to register their vehicles with TransLink. Context's role extended to the development and production of all tolling education materials including mall kiosks, open house displays, a portable model of the toll bridge, brochures, postcards and an award-winning tradeshow display.
Asia Pacific Gateway Skills Table (APGST)Asia Pacific Gateway Skills Table (2009)
In July 2009, the Asia Pacific Gateway Skills Table (APGST) engaged Context to provide consultation, facilitation and research services as part of a program to improve security training and education in the Asia Pacific Gateway. As part of our deliverables, Context established a Security Roundtable of 25 key stakeholders in the Gateway community; facilitated discussions and work sessions within the Security Roundtable and other working groups; and developed a comprehensive stakeholder research consultation program, including survey design and implementation, targeted focus groups and best-practices and industry-standards research. The Context team also took a lead role in compiling and analyzing the information within a supply chain management framework in order to ultimately identify key human resources issues, future labour requirements and possible solutions to bridge the gap in addressing any potential constraints in the sector.
BC Healthy Living InitiativeBC Healthy Living Initiative (2006-present)
Since 2006, Context has been working with the BC Healthy Living Alliance (BCHLA) to design and implement three major province-wide programs aimed at reducing tobacco use among young adults. The work has included the development of social marketing programs on university campuses across BC, developing the smoke-free multi-unit dwellings initiative, and leading BC's QuitNow and Quit-and-Win marketing and communications. These projects include full website development, advertising and media as well as the development of a wide range of collateral materials.
As an integral part of promoting behavioural change, Context has also established a network of 'community detailers' that target locations where young adults frequent.