Communica

Communica is a public affairs and communications consulting firm based in Calgary, Canada, that specializes in stakeholder and Indigenous community engagement, regulatory communications, and information management. Founded in 2001, the firm primarily serves the oil and gas, mining, utilities, energy, and infrastructure sectors, with a strong emphasis on helping clients navigate complex regulatory environments and build authentic relationships with communities affected by large-scale projects. Communica’s work is deeply rooted in the energy and natural resource industries, where effective stakeholder engagement is critical to project success and social license to operate.

Core Services and Specialties

Communica offers a range of services tailored to the needs of clients in the energy, infrastructure, and resource extraction sectors. These services are designed to support every stage of a project, from initial planning through regulatory approval and ongoing operations. Key offerings include:

• Corporate communications and public relations strategy
• Stakeholder mapping and engagement planning
• Indigenous and Aboriginal community engagement and consultation
• Issues management and crisis communications
• Facilitation and event management for public meetings and workshops
• Regulatory application support, including environmental impact assessments
• Stakeholder information management and data analysis
• Climate change mitigation and resilience communications
• Energy transition and renewable energy project communications
• Digital transformation and online engagement tools

While Communica is best known for its work in stakeholder and Indigenous engagement, the firm also provides software solutions for managing stakeholder information and tracking engagement activities. This combination of strategic consulting and technology helps clients maintain transparent, defensible records of their community interactions.

Methodology and Approach

Communica’s approach is built on the principle of authentic engagement. The firm emphasizes early and ongoing dialogue with affected communities, including Indigenous groups, to build trust and address concerns before they escalate. Since its founding, Communica has planned and executed over 1,000 community meetings and supported between 300 to 500 regulatory infrastructure applications across Canada. The firm’s team of approximately 50 professionals brings deep experience in environmental data analysis, urban development, water resource management, and climate resilience, allowing them to communicate complex technical information in accessible ways. Communica also applies scenario planning and lifecycle analysis to help clients anticipate stakeholder reactions and plan for long-term project success. In March 2024, Communica became part of WSP Global Inc., a global engineering and professional services firm, but continues to operate as a standalone practice from its Calgary headquarters and a Vancouver office, maintaining its specialized focus on public affairs and engagement.

Location and Client Fit

Headquartered at 407 2 Street Southwest in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Communica is strategically positioned in the heart of Canada’s energy industry. Calgary serves as a hub for oil and gas, renewable energy, and infrastructure companies, making it an ideal base for a firm that works extensively with these sectors. The city’s proximity to major resource projects and Indigenous communities in Western Canada also supports Communica’s hands-on engagement work. In addition to its Calgary office, the firm has a presence in Vancouver, which extends its reach to projects in British Columbia and other parts of the country. Communica is a good fit for organizations involved in large-scale energy, mining, or infrastructure projects that require rigorous stakeholder consultation, regulatory compliance, and community relations. Clients in carbon capture and storage, water infrastructure, urban flood resilience, energy-from-waste technology, and mass timber promotion will find Communica’s expertise particularly relevant. The firm is also well-suited for companies navigating the energy transition or seeking to improve their climate change mitigation communications. However, smaller businesses or those outside the natural resource and infrastructure sectors may find Communica’s focus too specialized for their needs.