Gathering of the Clans
Westin Nova Scotian, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Schedule
Pre-Convention– Wednesday, July 3
MORNING
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
ACNA board of directors meeting with working lunch – Harbour Suite B
AFTERNOON
12:00 Noon
Registration desk opens – Coat Check in Commonwealth Foyer
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
ACNA Annual General Meeting, followed by continuation of ACNA board of directors meeting –
Harbour Suite A
EVENING
6:00 PM
Assemble in hotel lobby for Nova Scotia International Tattoo
The Nova Scotia International Tattoo is the world’s largest annual indoor theatrical production,
recognized as one of the best combined military and civilian shows produced anywhere. Performance
starts at 7:00 PM at the World Trade & Convention Centre. Sobeys Stores have generously provided
200 tickets on a first-come first served basis.
7:00 PM
Registration desk closes
LATE NIGHT
Hospitality Suite open – Hospitality Suite 258
- Sponsored by the Atlantic Community Newspapers Association
Day 1 - Thursday, July 4
MORNING
7:00 AM – 8:30 AM
CCNA Executive Committee Meeting with continental breakfast, Crown Suite
7:30 AM
Registration desk opens – Coat Check in Commonwealth Foyer
9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
CCNA Board of Directors Meeting (continental breakfast at 8:30 AM) – Harbour Suite A
9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
Trade Partners set up exhibit tables – Commonwealth Foyer & Atlantic Mezzanine
9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
Alumni meet & greet – Hospitality Suite 258
AFTERNOON
12:00 Noon – 2:00 PM
ACNA Awards Luncheon – Atlantic Ballroom
- Sponsored by BowaterPulp and Paper Canada Inc.
Members of the Atlantic Community Newspapers Association celebrate their best work.
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Afternoon Session:

Great National Ideas Exchange – Harbour Suites A & B
Bring your enthusiasm and great ideas to the Great National Ideas Exchange! Moderated by
CCNA executive director Serge Lavoie, this high-energy brainstorming session will get
delegates pondering new promotions and dreaming about dollars! Bring photos, samples and
your tales of success with tried and true ideas at your newspaper. Any idea to help promote your
paper, raise advertising dollars, increase subscriptions, or generate good will in your community
is welcome. This is a must-see session--you’ll go home rejuvenated with great ideas for your
own paper. Participants will vote for the best idea.
2:00 PM
Spouses, Alumni and Young People depart for their programs
Young People assemble in Children’s Room (Maritime Room)
Spouses and Alumni assemble in hotel lobby
3:30 PM
Closed rehearsal, set up and test equipment and sound check for CCNA BNC Banquet –
Commonwealth A
5:00 PM
Registration desk closes
EVENING
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Welcome Reception – Commonwealth B, Commonwealth Foyer and Atlantic Mezzanine
7:00 PM - Midnight
CCNA Better Newspapers Competition Awards Banquet and Ceremony – Commonwealth A
- Sponsored by Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Community Newspapers Association recognizes the best writers, photographers,
designers, and more at the industry's premier awards event of the year. Special guests include the
honourable Myra A. Freeman, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia; the honourable Sheila Copps,
Minister of Canadian Heritage, sponsor of the Canadian Heritage General Excellence Awards; and
journalist, broadcaster and consumer advocate Dale Goldhawk, master of ceremonies for the
Canadian Heritage General Excellence Awards. (Business attire)
9:00 PM
Young People meet in Children’s Room for evening programs – Maritime Room

A pyjama party in the Children’s Room awaits younger children, while teens will venture out
with a guide for a Ghost Tour of Halifax.
LATE NIGHT
Hospitality Suite open – Hospitality Suite 258
- Sponsored by the Atlantic Community Newspapers Association
Day 2 - Friday, July 5
MORNING
7:30 AM
Registration desk opens – Coat Check in Commonwealth Foyer
8:00 AM
Spouses, Alumni and Young People depart for their programs.

Young People assemble in Children’s Room (Maritime Room) – Children will spend the day at
the harbour participating in activities with members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Teens will
head for the beach, followed by a trip to the IMAX theatre. Tours include breakfast and lunch.

Spouses and Alumni assemble in hotel lobby for full-day bus tour of the South Shore. This tour
includes breakfast, stops in Lunenburg, Peggy’s Cove, and Mahone Bay, and lunch at the
Lunenburg Yacht Club.
7:30 AM – 8:45 AM
Round-Table Working Breakfast – Atlantic Ballroom
9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
Morning Sessions:

Allan Gregg: Socio-Demographic Trends and Their Implications for Canadian Community
Newspapers – Commonwealth Room B
Leading political and social affairs commentator Allan Gregg will open a day of high-level discussion
when he addresses delegates on Friday, July 5. Gregg’s presentation draws on his more than twenty
years of work charting Canadians’ attitudes on politics, the economy, and social trends, as well as key
socio-demographic data, to provide a perspective on the things that matter to key decision-makers at
Canada’s community newspapers. Think you really understand demographics and public opinion?
Think again. Then take the chance to listen to Allan Gregg’s unique perspective on these issues.

Dean Jobb: How to use Public Records, the Internet, and Freedom of Information Laws to
Improve News Stories, Part 1 – Harbour Suite A
Award-winning investigative reporter Dean Jobb will introduce editorial staff to an array of Internet
and paper resources--reference works, government documents, court files of criminal and civil cases,
property records, business registrations, and filings--available to journalists. Jobb has been a reporter
and editor with the Halifax Herald since 1984 and teaches research for journalists and media law at
the School of Journalism, University of King’s College, Halifax.

Brennan Group: The “I” in T.E.A.M., Part 1 – Harbour Suite B
Performance improvement “resultants” the Brennan Group will conduct a full-day seminar for senior
sales staff and management. This session will show participants how to remove personal barriers to
success and provide them with the tools they need to achieve better, long-term results. The Brennan
Group is a team of dynamic, performance-oriented individuals whose expertise is focused on
delivering measurable results in all areas of personal and professional performance improvement.
AFTERNOON
12:00 Noon – 1:45 PM
Luncheon with keynote speaker Dale Goldhawk – Atlantic Ballroom
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Afternoon Sessions:

Research Primer – Commonwealth Room B
Ivor Thompson, director of Thompson Lightstone & Company, gives delegates insight on how market
research and polling are conducted. One of Canada’s largest market research companies, Thompson
Lightstone conducted the five-market pilot study leading up to Canada’s largest and most complex
readership study, ComBase. Founded in 1977, it now boasts more than 50 full-time employees in
Toronto, 15 in its associated company in Montreal (Centre des Research Contemporaines) and 350
CATI-equipped interviewing stations and is considered a recognized leader in its field.

John Weese: Prospecting for New Business & Time Management and Day Planning, Part 1
– Lunenburg Room
Where do you look for new business and what are some keen strategies to acquire it? Weese’s
Prospecting seminar on the afternoon of Friday, July 5, helps sales reps uncover opportunities in their
own market. Weese continues on the morning of Saturday, July 6, with the Time Management
seminar, where he examines the tips and traps of time management while offering a simple program
to maximize the clock. Weese has been on the workshop and seminar trail for the past 15 years. Most
recently, he has worked extensively with the Ontario Community Newspapers Association to assist in
the development and delivery of certified advertising sales and sales management programs.
5:00 PM

Dean Jobb: How to use Public Records, the Internet, and Freedom of Information Laws to
Improve News Stories, Part 2 – Harbour Suite A

Brennan Group: The “I” in T.E.A.M., Part 2 – Harbour Suite B
Registration Desk closes
EVENING
5:30 PM – 11:00 PM
Dinner and entertainment at Pier 21 – Delegates assemble in hotel lobby
Delegates will take in the emotional immigration experience of historic Pier 21 and enjoy a Maritime
kitchen party with musical entertainment duo Evans & Doherty. (Casual attire)
LATE NIGHT
Hospitality Suite open – Hospitality Suite 258
- Sponsored by the Atlantic Community Newspapers Association
Day 3 - Saturday, July 6
MORNING
Free time and breakfast on your own
8:00 AM
Registration desk opens – Coat Check in Commonwealth Foyer
8:30 AM
Spouses, Alumni and Young People depart for their programs.
Young People assemble in Children’s Room (Maritime Room)
Spouses and Alumni assemble in hotel lobby
9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
CCNA Annual General Meeting – Commonwealth Room B
Chairman Sean Murray presiding.
9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
Morning Sessions:

Paul Darrow: Artistic Approaches to Photojournalism and Digital Photography – Harbour
Suite A
Editors and reporters will pick up digital photography tips from photojournalist Paul Darrow on
Saturday, July 6. This session will concentrate lightly on technical aspects and focus more on the job
of making the photographer become more visually minded when approaching their subject. Darrow
has 20 years of experience in photojournalism and has covered events including royal visits,
international sporting events, and breaking news stories for such clients as Reuters, the Halifax Daily
News and the National Post.

John Weese: Prospecting for New Business & Time Management and Day Planning, Part 2
– Lunenburg Room
AFTERNOON
12:00 Noon – 2:00 PM
Luncheon with drawmaster – Commonwealth Room A
Make sure you get your draw ticket at this fun luncheon with prizes from all over Canada. Members
of the B.C. and Yukon Community Newspapers Association (BCYCNA) present their invitation to
CCNA’s 84th national convention.
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Past Presidents Council Meeting – Hospitality Suite 258 (or Boardroom)
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
CCNA Board of Directors Meeting and Elections – Commonwealth Room B
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Free time to explore Halifax
3:30 PM
Trade Partners exhibit area closes
3:30 PM
Registration desk closes
EVENING
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
CIDA Awards Reception – Commonwealth Room B & Commonwealth Foyer
– Sponsored by the Canadian International Development Agency.
Join representatives from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) at this event
recognizing the finalists of the 2002 CIDA Awards for Excellence in Writing on International
Cooperation.
7:00 PM - Midnight
President's Banquet and Special Awards Presentations – Commonwealth Room A
Delegates will assemble one last time at this closing event of the Gathering of the Clans to meet and
greet CCNA's outgoing and incoming Presidents and the 2002-2003 Board of Directors. Winners of
the 2002 CIDA Awards will be announced, and special award presentations will be made. Musical
guest is MD5, featuring Dr. Scott Murray and four of his musical associates. (Business attire)
9:00 PM
Children’s Room open – Maritime Room
LATE NIGHT
Hospitality Suite open – Hospitality Suite 258
See you next year at the 84th CCNA National Convention in Vancouver, British Columbia!