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2020 BCLS Golf Tournament
professional credibility to publicly advance important issues relating to long-term care”.
The appeal court decision tells us to consider contextual matters, including factors like whether a professional identifies themselves as such, the extent of any professional connection, whether criticism relates to services provided to the professional or their family or friends, the truth or fairness of any criticism, the extent of publication and the size and nature of the audience, whether the expression is intended to contribute to social or political discourse about an important issue, and the nature and scope of any damage to the profession and public interest. By Marissa Moore, BCLS Tournament was held on September 18, 2020 at Bighorn Golf Club in Kamloops. Although space was limited due to COVID-19, the tournament was a huge success! There were 40 people in attendance for the event which raised over $3,000 for the BC Land Surveyors Foundation. Over the past seven years the event has raised over $34,000! I would like to thank each and every participant, along with our generous sponsors! The date and place for the 2021 event has not been set yet but stay tuned for further information. ✥ I don’t think the Saskatchewan appeal court is saying it is okay to criticize other members of your profession on social media, but rather that there are lots of issues to consider. And this matter may not be over. It is possible the regulator could attempt to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court of Canada.
Use of social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube is commonplace. Twitter’s recent quarterly report shows that it has over 186 million daily active users. Land surveyors use social media to communicate with friends, followers, and others about professional matters. I presume many of these communications are in the public domain, where things can get complicated. Land surveyors active on social media might want to review the Saskatchewan case and consider policies for social media use by themselves or within their firms.
What about the ABCLS Twitter account? To be honest, the social media landscape makes me a little nervous. Posts, by their very nature, encourage comments. And while most comments are likely to be innocuous or even helpful, entering the public arena creates the risk of comments that are misleading, false, or intended to damage the reputation of the ABCLS. Nevertheless, as part of a communication plan to be developed next year, I expect to be more active in announcing events, appointments, opportunities, results, and other
The 7th Annual BCLS Golf
important regulatory matters. ✥
