ID: 1650
Presenting Author: Vanessa Rodrigues
Session: 527 - The importance of effective communication for Impact Assessments
Status: pending
Parks Canada’s Continuous Improvement Program fosters learning in impact assessment through annual evaluations and key investigations, enhancing transparency, accountability, and communication. It hel
How can organizations move from compliance to continuous learning in impact assessment? Parks Canada’s Continuous Improvement Program (CIP) offers one model. Established in 2018, the program supports evidence-based learning through two complementary components: the Annual Evaluation of Impact Assessments, which tracks program-wide performance, and Key Investigations, which take a deeper look at priority themes such as public participation and environmental surveillance. Together, they create a feedback loop that identifies successes, highlights opportunities for improvement, and informs new guidance, tools, and training.
The CIP enhances transparency and communication through a publicly available annual report, increasing accessibility for partners and the public. Lessons from the 2022–23 Key Investigation on public participation highlight the importance of improving plain-language communication, accessibility of information on the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry, and proactive outreach. Equally important, the program reinforces accountability - ensuring that issues identified are not overlooked, and that the Agency’s commitment to continuous learning, ethical practice, and responsible decision-making remains front and center.
This presentation will share how an internal evaluation framework can help any organization translate lessons learned into practical action, build stakeholder trust, and continuously improve the quality and credibility of impact assessments.
Vanessa Rodrigues manages Parks Canada’s impact assessment program and oversees its Continuous Improvement Program, advancing transparency and accountability in impact assessment.