SQPRP

What SQPRP does

SQPRP (Société québécoise des professionnels en relations publiques) is a non-profit professional association founded in 1948, headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, that serves public relations practitioners in the province of Canada. The organization represents over 600 members and administers the PRP (Professionnel en relations publiques) designation, a recognized professional credential signaling adherence to the association's Code of Ethics and required training and experience thresholds. SQPRP also operates the SCRP accreditation committee for Quebec and maintains a growing roster of certified professionals (252 PRP holders as of April 2026, up from 196 in April 2024).

The association's core product set centers on four pillars: (1) the PRP professional designation with cohort-based certification cycles; (2) the annual Prix d'Excellence competition (38th edition in 2025, 39th in 2026) recognizing outstanding PR campaigns; (3) the annual Gala awards ceremony; and (4) the annual Colloque conference. Educational resources including the proprietary RACE methodology framework and SMART objectives curriculum extend the product surface for professional development. The website (sqprp.ca) is powered by the Yapla membership management platform.

SQPRP generates revenue through individual and corporate membership fees, event registration (Colloque 2026 priced at $95-$515 across student/member/non-member tiers), PRP certification fees, and corporate sponsorships from partners including Torchia Communications, RefMedia, and LaPersonnelle (Desjardins Insurance). Operations are run by a small administrative team under a board of directors elected annually. Distribution is regional (Quebec only), with self-serve membership and event registration through the French-language website complemented by Facebook, LinkedIn, X, and email newsletter channels.

Name

SQPRP

Legal name

Société québécoise des professionnels en relations publiques

Website

https://sqprp.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SQPRP is a Quebec-based non-profit professional association founded in 1948 that serves 600+ public relations practitioners through its PRP certification designation, annual Prix d'Excellence competition, Colloque conference, and code of ethics.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Business Associations (813910), Public Relations Agencies (541820)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Reputation Management & Online PR (BPAFADAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Affairs & Government Relations (MPAAADAE), Technology & B2B PR (BPAFADAI)

Keywords

• Professional association services
• Public relations certification
• Professional development programs
• Membership association services
• PR industry networking

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Bruno

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Individual and corporate membership fees provide recurring revenue. Membership categories include individual practitioners and organizational corporate memberships.
2. Event Registration Fees: Annual Colloque and Gala events generate revenue through registration fees. The 2026 Colloque pricing ranges from $95 (students) to $515 (non-members regular rate).
3. PRP Certification: Professional certification (PRP designation) fees contribute to revenue. Cohorts admitted periodically with application deadlines.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SQPRP is a non-profit professional association founded in 1948 that represents public relations practitioners in Quebec, Canada. It grants the PRP (Professionnel en relations publiques) professional designation, hosts the annual Prix d'Excellence awards, an annual Gala, and an annual Colloque, and enforces a Code of Ethics for the profession. Its membership programs serve both individual PR practitioners and corporate/organizational members in Quebec.

Product overview

SQPRP (Société québécoise des professionnels en relations publiques) is a professional association for public relations practitioners in Quebec. The organization provides professional recognition through the PRP designation, organizes the annual Prix d'Excellence competition and Gala awards ceremony, hosts the annual Colloque conference, and offers professional development resources including the RACE methodology and SMART objectives frameworks. SQPRP maintains a Code of Ethics for its members and provides both individual and corporate membership programs. The organization connects over 600 PR professionals and facilitates industry recognition, networking, and best practice development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PRP (Professionnel en relations publiques) Designation Professional designation awarded to PR practitioners who meet SQPRP's competency, ethics, and experience requirements. It serves as a recognized credential signaling qualified PR practice to employers, clients, and peers in Quebec.
• Individual Membership Annual membership for individual public relations practitioners in Quebec, providing access to the PRP designation pathway, Code of Ethics, networking events, and professional development resources.
• Corporate/Organizational Membership Annual membership for Quebec-based PR agencies, consultancies, and corporate communications departments, supporting staff certification, industry credibility, and participation in association events.
• Annual Galas Yearly flagship event gathering SQPRP members and Quebec PR professionals for networking and community recognition.
• Annual Colloque (Conference) Yearly professional conference providing continuing education, session programming, and peer engagement for Quebec PR practitioners.
• Prix d'Excellence Annual awards program recognizing outstanding work, campaigns, and contributions by Quebec PR practitioners and organizations.
• Code of Ethics Governing ethical standard for SQPRP members and PRP holders, setting conduct expectations for Quebec PR practice.

Quantifiable outcome

• 252 PRP designation holders as of April 2026
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Torchia CommunicationsminorOthersPlatinum-level event sponsor for SQPRP activities. Appears as a partner sponsor banner on the association website.
• RefMediaminorOthersMedia partner for SQPRP events and communications.
• LaPersonnelle (Desjardins Insurance)minorOthersFinancial services partner sponsoring SQPRP activities in 2026.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR): UK chartered body for PR professionals offering Chartered PR Practitioner status. Closest international analog in structure (royal-chartered professional body with credentialed membership, ethics code, and CPD requirements).
• Public Relations Society of America (PRSA): Largest US professional association for PR practitioners, offering the APR credential, chapter structure, and annual conference. Direct functional equivalent to SQPRP at national scale, with parallel certification, ethics code, and awards programs.
• Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA): UK trade association for PR agencies and in-house teams. Comparable in offering training, accreditation (CIMPRCA), and industry awards while representing a slightly broader communications membership base.
• Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS/SCRP): National Canadian professional association for PR practitioners. Most direct peer—shares the same member base in Quebec, runs parallel accreditation (ARP), and SQPRP members frequently hold dual credentials. Mission, structure, and revenue model are closely aligned.

Broad incumbents

• International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO): Worldwide membership body for PR agencies and consultancies. Represents the agency side of the PR industry rather than individual practitioners, but shares the professional-association revenue model and ethics focus.
• Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management: International confederation of PR associations, of which SQPRP-affiliated bodies are often members. Operates as the umbrella body connecting national PR associations globally, including ethics and standards initiatives.
• International Association of Business Communicators (IABC): Global network for business communicators (broader than PR, including internal comms, leadership communication). Operates with chapters (e.g., IABC Quebec), offering parallel credentialing (ABC, SCMP) and creating adjacent competition for members.

Regional players

• CPRS Vancouver / CPRS regional chapters: Regional chapters of the Canadian Public Relations Society (e.g., CPRS Vancouver, CPRS Calgary, CPRS Toronto) operate in distinct geographies from SQPRP. Same national affiliation but compete indirectly for national-level member mindshare.
• Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines agréés (CRHA): Quebec professional order for HR practitioners. Adjacent Quebec-based professional body operating under a similar French-language, ethics-enforced, certified-designation model (CRHA/CHRP); comparable in governance structure and regional scope to SQPRP.

Others

• Arthur W. Page Society: Invited-only membership organization for senior PR and corporate communications leaders. Distinct from SQPRP's broad-practitioner focus but operates in adjacent professional-development and ethics territory for the PR/C-suite segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sqprp
• Facebookfacebook.com/SQPRP
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sqprp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SQPRP