Certificate in Public Participation (P2) – Face to Face in Yellowknife
April 13 @ 9:00 am – April 17 @ 5:00 pm
Offered by Aurora College
In partnership with Dialogue Partners Inc.
This series of 3 courses (Fundamentals of P2, Designing P2 and Applying Methods P2) make up the core modules of the IAP2’s training. These courses provide participants with a deep dive into IAP2’s frameworks including building a robust engagement plan and unique methods, tools and tactics to engage in meaningful ways.
What Makes Engagement Meaningful?
What does good engagement actually look like?
Not just busy meetings or well-crafted surveys — but honest conversations that build trust, elevate diverse voices, and influence real decisions.
That question sits at the heart of this program.
This certificate helps you move beyond participation as a checkbox and toward engagement that is purposeful, inclusive, and impactful.
COURSE 1: FUNDAMENTALS OF P2/ENGAGEMENT (1 Day) – April 13
Fundamentals of P2/Engagement is the starting point for anyone on IAP2’s Global Learning Pathway. Whether you’re stepping into engagement work for the first time or looking to strengthen your practice, this course gives you the foundation to do engagement with purpose — and with impact. It focuses on understanding and applying the practices meaningful and effective engagement, and what participants need to know to do this well.
You’ll explore the heart of public engagement: the values, the principles, and the practical tools that help build trust and create space for voices that need to be heard. You’ll learn the language of engagement — what makes it unique, what makes it meaningful — and how to navigate the complex realities that come with doing this work well.
This course isn’t just about learning frameworks — it’s about building a mindset. One that helps you understand where influence lives, where participation grows, and where your leadership can make a difference.
If you want to do engagement that matters — this is where to begin.
COURSE 2: DESIGNING P2/ENGAGEMENT (2 Days) – April 14 & 15
Prerequisite – IAP2’s Fundamentals in Engagement
Good Engagement Doesn’t Happen by Accident — It’s Designed.
There’s a moment in every engagement process where you pause and ask: Is this the right approach for this work, this project, this community?
That question — and everything it leads to — is the heart of this course.
This course introduces practitioners to the design and plan phases of the practice framework, providing them with the opportunity to develop engagement plans. This includes scoping, community mapping, determining purpose and objectives and levels of influence, choosing appropriate methods and managing resources, while considering the needs of the diverse audiences.
It takes you deeper into the “how” of meaningful engagement. It’s where principles meet planning, and where good intentions become thoughtful, intentional action. Whether you’re designing a community consultation, a city-wide strategy, or an internal engagement with staff, this course helps you build a plan that’s inclusive, purposeful, and ready for the real world.
COURSE 3: APPLYING METHODS (2 Days) – April 16 & 17
Prerequisite – IAP2’s Fundamentals in Engagement
You’ve got a plan. Now what? Time to choose your methods.
It’s one thing to know why engagement matters. It’s another to pick the right tool and bring it to life.
That’s where Applying Methods comes in.
This course is for practitioners ready to roll up their sleeves — the facilitators, coordinators, and team members tasked with actually making engagement happen. If you’ve ever asked “Which method do I use?” or “How do I design this to work for everyone in the room?,” this is your space to figure it out.
You’ll be introduced to a wide range of public engagement methods — from well-known practices to more structured approaches like Deliberative Dialogue, Appreciative Inquiry, and Open Space Technology. But more than that, you’ll learn how to design and apply them well, using tools, templates, and checklists you can bring into your own work.
Date: April 13 – 17, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Cost: $2,500.00
Instructor: Dialogue Partners
Location: Face to Face in Yellowknife – TBA
Participants who complete all three courses will receive a Certificate in Public Participation (P2).
