By Dannie Wang, Director of Membership, CPRS Vancouver
Anastasia is a multi-disciplinary practitioner who joined CPRS in last June. Before moving to Canada, she had 12-years of experience in language coaching and journalism in China. Her transition into the Canadian PR landscape has been both swift and intentional.
She first discovered CPRS through a LinkedIn coffee chat, an experience she describes as a turning point, where she “found her crowd.” Now serving as Co-Director of Special Events, she helps create those same spaces for others. Reflecting on her journey, she emphasizes the importance of intention, persistence, and community.
Her intriguing story made me sit down with her, chatting about her endeavours in carving out her own path, and her exploration of CPRS where she met like-minded folks.
How did you discover CPRS?
I first came across CPRS while browsing events on LinkedIn. At the time, I had already transitioned from media into communications and was looking for opportunities to meet others in the field.
The first event I attended was one of CPRS Vancouver’s morning coffee chats – a really great tradition that’s still going strong. I remember meeting both experienced professionals and people just entering the industry, and I found those conversations genuinely inspiring. It felt like a turning point for me in Vancouver, like I had found my crowd.
I attend quite a lot of industry events and sometimes support with organizing them as part of my work. Through that experience, I was invited to step into the Co-Director of Special Events role before formally joining CPRS.
In this role, I co-organize and co-host social events such as the Annual General Meeting and seasonal socials, bringing together both CPRS members and new faces. And honestly – they’re always fun.
What were you doing at that time? What experience did you have when you started going to CPRS events?
My path has been a bit unconventional, especially coming to Canada as a newcomer, so I had to build it quite intentionally. Early on, I stepped into a fast-paced PR and events environment, which gave me a very hands-on introduction to how things actually run behind the scenes.
I then moved into the non-profit space, working on cultural and community-driven projects, including a documentary on marking the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Exclusion Act, supporting young artists and organizing and hosting public events.
From there, I transitioned into the clean energy sector, and now work at the intersection of energy, sustainability, and investment mostly focused on translating complex topics into communication that actually makes sense to different audiences.
Looking back, the environments were quite different, but the core has always been the same figuring out how to connect ideas, industries, and people in a way that feels clear and relevant.
As a newcomer, how did you invent your own path of transition into PR in Canada?
I spent about 12 years in China, where I studied international journalism in Mandarin and started my career in media before moving to Canada. That’s really where my interest in communications comes from – I’ve always been curious about language, culture, and how people tell stories.
When you move to a new country, you do have to reinvent yourself. For me, transitioning from media into communications felt like a natural step because I could build on what I had already done. The real challenge was getting that first opportunity – just getting your foot in the door.
What helped me was staying proactive: learning about the industry, reaching out to people, asking questions, and showing up at events. Communities like CPRS were especially helpful in that process.
Early on, I also found myself in roles that didn’t have very rigid structures, which meant I had to shape parts of the role myself. Looking back, that actually helped – it gave me the chance to try different things and understand where I wanted to grow.
It wasn’t a straight path, but I was always building on my experience and adapting to the environment.
How has CPRS contributed to your career growth and professional opportunities in Canada?
CPRS has played an important role in helping me build my career here in Canada, especially at the beginning when I didn’t yet have a strong professional network.
Being part of the community gave me exposure to how the PR industry works locally. It was actually through one of the CPRS morning chats that I learned about the Public Relations Certificate at SFU, which I later completed and gave me a solid foundation in the field.
Stepping into the Co-Director of Special Events role also helped me strengthen my skills of event management and stakeholder engagement in a very practical way.
I also got a lot of value from the professional development events. Some that brought the biggest value were sessions on the AGM featuring Chinatown revitalization media campaign in 2024, the state of PR and Journalism in last May, and the Government Relations in this March – those conversations were very applicable.
On a practical level, I’ve also seen that CPRS affiliation is recognized by employers. I came across a local job posting that specifically mentioned the Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) as a preferred qualification, which shows that it carries weight in the market.
Do you have any tips for emerging practitioners and PR students who are newcomers to Canada?
The hardest part is getting your foot in the door. Once you’re in, you learn very quickly through real-world experience but that first opportunity, even if it’s part-time, is usually the biggest challenge.
My advice would be to look at your past experience and think about how to translate it into the local PR context. You don’t have to start from zero. It’s more about positioning what you already have in a way that makes sense for the local market.
I would also say, don’t aim for the perfect job right away. Career growth here is often gradual, and it rewards consistency more than quick wins.
If you find yourself in a role that isn’t very structured, that can actually be a good thing. It gives you space to explore, build different skills, and shape your role based on where you want to grow.
Finally, stay connected to the community. Keep showing up, meeting people, asking questions – over time, that really helps you find your direction.