In the Spotlight - Trevor Joyal, CP3, EP

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The IAP2 Wild Rose Chapter is excited to highlight the outstanding P2 professionals who guide and shape our community of practice in Alberta! 

Late in November 2024, we connected with Trevor Joyal, CP3, EP, Technical Advisor, Maskwa Environmental Consulting Ltd. to talk to him about his career in P2, his experiences as a long-time IAP2 volunteer, being a CP3 and more. Below is some of what he had to share. 

If you could choose a song or movie title to describe your career, what would it be?
It would be one of my favourite movies, called Go. It’s how my career has been with lots of times where I had to just go for it. The whole premise of the movie is different perspectives of the same thing, all coming together at the end. It's very similar to what we do in gathering perspectives to come out with one final ending. It's also a great movie, if you haven't seen it.

What do you find most rewarding about your work?

There was a quote in my office back in the day, “They're not upset because it's happening to them; they’re upset because it's not happening with them.” That has stood with me throughout my career. That's really what I've framed my projects on, the importance that people feel that it happened with them.

If you could pick one quality or skill that is key to success in P2/public engagement, what would it be?

Just accept what it is, no matter what that is. Accepting other people's opinions, accepting what the client's goals are, what the project is, what your budget is. Accepting what the outcome might be and just really understanding that the process will work itself through and you're just there to lead it to where it's going to go. Being accepting of what comes into and out of the process, I think that is integral to success.

Is there anything in your work that you’re finding particularly challenging these days?

Preconceived notions, misinformation, polarization. A lot of individuals have gotten to the point where you can't do things with them, unfortunately. This desire to stay on one end, be right and not be flexible has become incredibly challenging. The polarization is the hardest one.

You’ve been an active volunteer with multiple IAP2 chapters. What have you enjoyed most about those experiences?

Getting people together who have the same goal and meeting those people, seeing their challenges, seeing the different types of projects that are out there. It gets you more invigorated and you gain that network, which you can lean on and build from.

Being a past chapter president, I’d encourage members to get involved with the board. The board is here to help and provide what you want and need. Just like we want the public to participate in our processes, we need chapter membership to get involved. It’s the only way this really works.

What's the most unusual task you've had to do at work?

I unknowingly set up a public event for the people opposed to my project, who then asked me to leave. It was years ago in Manitoba. We were doing a joint event and when we showed up, we realized the room was not what we had agreed to. Then we managed to speak for about five minutes before they asked us to leave. As soon as we walked in, we knew it was a trap to some extent but we tried to make the best of it and get the message out. Being asked to leave your own open house, that was interesting.

What does it mean to you to have your CP3 designation?

It shows that I do know what I'm talking about. The process was challenging and really, it wasn't so much that I wanted the designation. I wanted to evaluate my own career. I found that going through the CP3 process showed where my strengths and weaknesses were, so that I could become a better practitioner. It was a self-reflection for me to understand where I was in my career. 

If you could switch jobs with anyone for a day, who would it be?

I don’t want to switch jobs. I’m very content with who I am and where I’m at.

Do you know someone in the field of public participation who you think should be our next member in the spotlight? Email your suggestions to info@iap2wildrose.ca