Shawn Hall - Principal

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When things are at their worst or most complex, Shawn is at his best.  


Shawn Hall wrote his first freelance newspaper article for the Kootenay Weekly Express more than 25 years ago. That high school job sparked a decade-long career as a community newspaper editor, reporter, and photographer in B.C. locales such as 100 Mile House, Whistler, Duncan, and Coquitlam. 


During his tenure as editor, Nakusp’s Arrow Lakes News won the Canadian Community Newspapers Association award for the best editorial page in Canada for a newspaper of its size.  


After changing careers and launching Apogee Public Relations, in 2004 Shawn was recruited as TELUS’ media spokesperson and issues manager in B.C. He would eventually become Director of Social and Media Relations responsible for leading TELUS’ national team of spokespeople & issues managers, corporate portfolios such as finance and legal affairs, and issues & crisis management in both traditional and social media. 


At TELUS, Shawn had the privilege of playing a key role in dozens of complex media issues and crisis, including successfully taking on a New York hedge fund trying to block TELUS’ share class amalgamation; leading operational efficiency program communications internally and externally; and writing the company's first transparency report. 


In 2017, Shawn took the plunge back into consulting and re-started Apogee Public Relations.  


Through all of this, Shawn has gained a powerful ability to effectively wade through a chaos of competing data points, perspectives and interests to rapidly determine an organization’s story and then tell it in simple, compelling terms to a range of internal and external stakeholders. 


Apogee Public Relations – Helping organizations communicate through challenging times.  

Testimonials

 “I have worked with Shawn to successfully navigate several complex communications matters.  I have consistently admired his ability to expeditiously develop an effective overall communications strategy and articulate a compelling and genuine narrative.  He is one of the best communications strategists I know.” 

 

Josh Blair, TELUS Chief Corporate Officer; Executive Vice-President, TELUS Health; President, TELUS Business Solutions West; Chair, TELUS International

“Shawn is an excellent communications coach and strategist. During TELUS’ 2005 labour disruption I acted as a spokesperson for the company. Shawn was my coach, developing messaging and working with me to refine my media interview skills during a very challenging time. He helped me do a better job of ensuring that I effectively communicated the company's positions.”  


Drew McArthur, acting Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia, former Chief Compliance Officer for TELUS  

“Shawn is a rare breed in PR – a pro who truly gets how media works and how our audiences respond to stories. He also delivers a great interview, no matter how tough the subject.” 


John Daly – Reporter & Host, Global BC, CKNW