Rideau Institute on International Affairs
Encyclopedia
The Rideau Institute was founded in January 2007. It is a left leaning, registered non-profit organization based in Ottawa
, Ontario
, Canada
. The Institute's primary activities are independent research, advocacy and consulting. It aids decision makers, opinion leaders and the public through research, analysis and commentary on public policy. The Rideau Institute is run by its president.
An example of the consultative work that the Institute undertakes would be the service provided to a disarmament organization whose members wanted to increase its profile for the organization's 50th anniversary. The first steps taken by the Rideau Institute were to update the organization's logo and their policy brief. To promote the group's experts the Institute put together a campaign involving a press conference on Parliament Hill, a high level networking luncheon in Ottawa, personal calls to newsrooms on current issues and posting press conference videos on Youtube
.com.
The result was a successful campaign that significantly boosted the profile of the organization. A unanimously supported motion in the House of Commons commended the group's work and marked their anniversary. This important recognition was followed up by a 7-minute interview on national television and the group's work was cited by major newspapers such as The Globe and Mail
and the Ottawa Citizen
, including an editorial in The Toronto Star. In all, the press coverage reached about 6 million people and had an ad value of $158,000.
Public Opinion Research
The Rideau Institute organizes public opinion research and develop communication strategies through working with well respected polling firms. SmartVote2008 is an campaign that the Rideau Institute undertook in collaboration with 10 additional organizations. It was Canada's first extra-Parliamentary “war room” to share analysis and drive media coverage.
Campaigns, Fundraising and Communications Research
The Rideau Institute engages in mapping out lobbying strategies for their clients. They also conduct Parliamentary monitoring and conduct research that is used internally by campaign staff and spokespersons. Their work has been used by a diverse range of organizations such as the Canadian Auto Workers
, USC Canada
, The Council of Canadians
, CUPE, CEP, and public interest, citizen and labour organizations.
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The Institute's primary activities are independent research, advocacy and consulting. It aids decision makers, opinion leaders and the public through research, analysis and commentary on public policy. The Rideau Institute is run by its president.
Board of directors
- Steven Staples, President and Founder of the Rideau Institute, well-known commentator, and author of Missile Defence: Round One
- Michael Byers, Professor and Canada Research Chair in Global Politics and International Law at the University of British ColumbiaUniversity of British ColumbiaThe University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
and author of Intent for a Nation, What is Canada For? - Bruce Campbell, Executive Director of the Canadian Centre for Policy AlternativesCanadian Centre for Policy AlternativesThe Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives is an independent, non-partisan, policy research institute in Canada that leans to the political left. It concentrates on economic policy, international trade, environmental justice and social policy. It is especially known for publishing an alternative...
and author of numerous books and studies on Canadian public policy - Kathleen Ruff, former Director of the British Columbia Human Rights Commission and former director of the Court Challenges Program
- Mel WatkinsMel WatkinsMel Watkins is a Canadian political economist and activist. He is professor emeritus of economics and political science at the University of Toronto...
, professor emeritus of economics and political science, University College, University of TorontoUniversity of TorontoThe University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
; author; and well-known Canadian political figure - Peggy Mason, former UN Ambassador for Disarmament and Senior Fellow at The Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton UniversityCarleton UniversityCarleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
Senior Advisors
- Maude BarlowMaude BarlowMaude Victoria Barlow is a Canadian author and activist. She is the National Chairperson of The Council of Canadians, a citizens’ advocacy organization with members and chapters across Canada. She is also the co-founder of the , which works internationally for the human right to water...
, author and Chairperson of The Council of CanadiansThe Council of CanadiansThe Council of Canadians is a progressive citizens' organization that advocates on behalf of its members across the country. Founded in 1985 to oppose the Canada-U.S... - Peter Coombes, Direct Marketing Coordinator of the United WayUnited Way of CanadaUnited Way of Canada is the national organization for the 117 autonomous, volunteer-based United Ways across Canada. United Way campaigns raise money for local groups that address community issues and problems, and the national organization provides leadership, services and coordination to the...
of the Lower Mainland - Murray Dobbin, political commentator and author
- Walter Dorn, Associate Professor of Defence Studies, Royal Military College of CanadaRoyal Military College of CanadaThe Royal Military College of Canada, RMC, or RMCC , is the military academy of the Canadian Forces, and is a degree-granting university. RMC was established in 1876. RMC is the only federal institution in Canada with degree granting powers...
- Mel Hurtig, author, former publisher, and founder of The Council of CanadiansThe Council of CanadiansThe Council of Canadians is a progressive citizens' organization that advocates on behalf of its members across the country. Founded in 1985 to oppose the Canada-U.S...
- Wade Huntley, Director of the Simons Centre for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Research, Liu Institute for Global IssuesLiu Institute for Global IssuesThe Liu Institute for Global Issues is an organization devoted to research at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. Named after Dr. Jieh Jow Liou, the Liu Institute conducts and facilitates research on global issues, mobilizing knowledge into solutions and policy...
, University of British Columbia - Anil Naidoo, International water policy analyst and Project Organizer of the Blue Planet Project
- Douglas Roche, author, former parliamentarian and senator (retired)
- Bill Robinson, former Program Associate, Project Ploughshares
- Erika Simpson, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Western OntarioUniversity of Western OntarioThe University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
- Scott Sinclair, director of Trade and Investment Research Project, Canadian Centre for Policy AlternativesCanadian Centre for Policy AlternativesThe Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives is an independent, non-partisan, policy research institute in Canada that leans to the political left. It concentrates on economic policy, international trade, environmental justice and social policy. It is especially known for publishing an alternative...
- Alice Slater, Director, Nuclear Age Peace FoundationNuclear Age Peace FoundationThe Nuclear Age Peace Foundation is a non-profit international organization on the roster in consultative status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council...
, NY - Mike Wallace, Professor of Political Science at the University of British Columbia
Services provided by the Rideau Institute
The Rideau Institute helps non-profit organizations meet their policy goals by providing services involving consultation, facilitation and research.Consultation
The Institute provides a wide range of strategic services. Clients benefit from the Institute's Government Relations Program, Communication Program and their Online Engagement and Fundraising Program.An example of the consultative work that the Institute undertakes would be the service provided to a disarmament organization whose members wanted to increase its profile for the organization's 50th anniversary. The first steps taken by the Rideau Institute were to update the organization's logo and their policy brief. To promote the group's experts the Institute put together a campaign involving a press conference on Parliament Hill, a high level networking luncheon in Ottawa, personal calls to newsrooms on current issues and posting press conference videos on Youtube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
.com.
The result was a successful campaign that significantly boosted the profile of the organization. A unanimously supported motion in the House of Commons commended the group's work and marked their anniversary. This important recognition was followed up by a 7-minute interview on national television and the group's work was cited by major newspapers such as The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail is a nationally distributed Canadian newspaper, based in Toronto and printed in six cities across the country. With a weekly readership of approximately 1 million, it is Canada's largest-circulation national newspaper and second-largest daily newspaper after the Toronto Star...
and the Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa Citizen
The Ottawa Citizen is an English-language daily newspaper owned by Postmedia Network in Ottawa, Canada. According to the Canadian Newspaper Association, the paper had a 2008 weekly circulation of 900,197.- History :...
, including an editorial in The Toronto Star. In all, the press coverage reached about 6 million people and had an ad value of $158,000.
Facilitation
The Rideau Institute also helps organizations with special events, policy briefings and press conference. It puts client organizations in touch with key decision makers and policy leaders. The Institute works with the client to identify their needs and tailors an event to promote their agenda. This is accomplished through expert roundtables, book launches, VIP events, Parliamentary briefings and meetings, and press conferences and media appearances.Research
In addition to consultation and facilitation, the Rideau Institute provides research services to advance their client's policy agenda, strengthen their message and earn media coverage. The institute is a well known and respected source of information that is sought after due to its new ideas and cutting-edge work on public policy. Information is presented in the form of special reports; campaign, fundraising and communications research and public opinion research.Public Opinion Research
The Rideau Institute organizes public opinion research and develop communication strategies through working with well respected polling firms. SmartVote2008 is an campaign that the Rideau Institute undertook in collaboration with 10 additional organizations. It was Canada's first extra-Parliamentary “war room” to share analysis and drive media coverage.
Campaigns, Fundraising and Communications Research
The Rideau Institute engages in mapping out lobbying strategies for their clients. They also conduct Parliamentary monitoring and conduct research that is used internally by campaign staff and spokespersons. Their work has been used by a diverse range of organizations such as the Canadian Auto Workers
Canadian Auto Workers
The Canadian Auto Workers is one of Canada's largest and highest profile social unions. While rooted in Ontario's large auto plants of Windsor, Brampton, Oakville, St...
, USC Canada
USC Canada
USC Canada is a non-profit, international development organization working to improve livelihoods by promoting agricultural biodiversity. The organization was founded in 1945 by Lotta Hitschmanova as the Unitarian Service Committee of Canada....
, The Council of Canadians
The Council of Canadians
The Council of Canadians is a progressive citizens' organization that advocates on behalf of its members across the country. Founded in 1985 to oppose the Canada-U.S...
, CUPE, CEP, and public interest, citizen and labour organizations.