The Public Policy Training Institute (PPTI) Re-Design
No program in 2027; we’ll invite applications in September 2027 for the 2028 cohort
Max Bell Foundation’s Public Policy Training Institute (PPTI) was first delivered between October 2008 – May 2009. With the completion of the 2026 iteration in June, the Foundation has delivered the program to eighteen consecutive annual cohorts which collectively total 400 participants.
While the contents of the curriculum have evolved each year, the structure of the PPTI has not changed significantly since we began. We host six sessions over a six-month period. Participants complete five assignments and deliver a final presentation, all based on a public policy project that is real for the organization they represent. Each participant is assigned to a faculty member, who mentors them during the six months of the Institute. Each year we invite a number of guest speakers to augment the work of our core faculty.
Much in the world of public policy making has changed since the curriculum was first developed 18 years ago. We want to ensure the relevance and quality of our offering remains as high as it can be. With that in mind, we will spend the remainder of 2026 and the first half of 2027 re-designing the PPTI. We expect to announce in September 2027 that applications are open for the next cohort, which would run from January to June 2028.
Introduction
The Public Policy Training Institute is a twelve-day professional development program delivered over six months. It is designed to help participants more effectively engage in public policy advocacy.
Applications are open to staff and volunteer board members of Canadian charities who want to advance the mission of their organization through public policy advocacy.
Whether your organization has experience in public policy advocacy or is relatively new to the field, this extraordinary professional development opportunity will help you improve.
Expectations
Before applying, please understand our expectations:
- Participants are required to attend all six sessions in person in Calgary. Those who cannot will not receive a travel bursary nor a certificate of completion.
- Participants will work on a public policy initiative within their organization during the Institute.
- On-time completion of all assignments is required to earn the course certificate. The time commitment required varies considerably with the complexity of the project, but you should expect to spend between two and four hours per month on assignments for the six months of the institute.
- Participants will certify that they commit to abiding by the Chatham House Rule throughout the Institute. The Chatham House Rule is: When a meeting, or part thereof, is held under the Chatham House Rule, participants are free to use the information received, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participant, may be revealed.
- Participants are expected to regularly contribute to small-group discussions. From time to time, participants will be required to give short impromptu presentations to the class.
- Participants are expected to help create a collegial atmosphere where all perspectives, including those you don’t agree with, are treated with equal respect.
About PPTI 2026
PPTI 2026 Dates (all sessions in Calgary)
| January 8 and 9 | two full days |
| February 5 and 6 | half day on the first day and full day on the second day |
| March 12 and 13 | half day on the first day and full day on the second day |
| April 13 and 14 | half day on the first day and full day on the second day |
| May 14 and 15 | half day on the first day and full day on the second day |
| June 4 and 5 | two full days |
Please note that all sessions, apart from session 4, take place on a Thursday and Friday. Session 4, on April 13-14, takes place on a Monday and Tuesday.
PPTI 2026 Faculty
PPTI 2026 Fees and Bursaries
All participants are required to pay a course fee of $500.
Participants who must travel to attend will receive a travel and accommodation bursary of $3,000. To qualify for the bursary, a participant must attend all six sessions in person.
Participants who reside within 75 km of Calgary will not receive a bursary.
Please note that bursaries will be provided by cheque payable to the organization and cannot be issued to an individual.
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Chelsea Boutilier Communications and Development Specialist Discovery House Family Violence Prevention Society |
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Catherine (Cat) Champagne Executive Director Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters |
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Meg Cunningham Specialist, Policy and Evaluation Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies |
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Danelle (Dani) DeBoice Harvey Executive Director Vibrant Communities Calgary |
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Erika De Torres Director of Impact and Development The Apathy Is Boring Project |
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Humaira Falak Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategist United Way of Calgary and Area |
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Katie Fettes Director of Policy and Research Canadian Organic Growers |
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Carrie Fritz Executive Director Calgary Humane Society |
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Candice Giammarino Senior Director, Strategy and Programs Distress Centre Calgary |
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Jeremy Hogan Director of Prairie Grassland Conservation Nature Conservancy of Canada |
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Sarah Kim Senior Manager, Advocacy and Engagement Vancouver Foundation |
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Caleigh Leighton-Nipp Government Relations Strategist Yellowstone to Yukon |
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David Lindenbach Director of Research Hull Services, University of Calgary |
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Therese Lorincz-McRae Club Support Manager, Western Canada Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada (BGC Canada) |
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Bodil (Bo) Masterson Vice President, Stakeholder Engagement Calgary Homeless Foundation |
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Jennifer Medlock Director, Research PolicyWise for Children and Families |
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Kirstyn Morley Program Officer The Muttart Foundation |
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Megan Niccolls Team Lead Workers’ Resource Centre |
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Ian Patton Director of Advocacy and Public Engagement Obesity Canada |
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Candice Quinlan Director of Operations Kids Included (formerly GRIT) |
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Steven Richardson Director, Housing and Outreach Alexandra Community Health Centre |
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Mary-Frances Smith Executive Director Association of Early Childhood Educators of Alberta |
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Sophie Stone Project Coordinator The Nonprofit Chamber |
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Maija Tiesmaki Director, Strategy Health Research BC |
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Sharon Yeo Director Catholic Social Services |