Why work with Blackbird?

Blackbird Strategies was founded in 2019 with a vision to deliver government relations, public relations, and political advisory services differently — and to challenge an industry that too often fails to understand the realities of its clients.

Our team is deliberately diverse: consultants across the political spectrum, with varied backgrounds and lived experiences, united by a single conviction — that our skills should serve those whose voices are rarely heard at boardroom tables or in the halls of Parliament Hill, and those who are committed to being good corporate citizens.

We have been recognized by Queen Street Analytics as one of Canada’s top firms representing Indigenous communities and organizations. Our work also spans the energy, pharmaceutical, financial, and healthcare sectors, alongside nonprofits advocating for women and for meaningful change across Canada’s North.

Our consultants have been named among Canada’s Top 100 Lobbyists and are recognized as public policy experts by leading think tanks.

Blackbird’s unique perspective drives results.

Our path to client solutions is unique, and so is our team. Blackbird team members have come to our firm with a variety of professional and lived experiences. From working alongside key political decision-makers to working in media newsrooms to having held elected office, we tirelessly leverage our combined expertise to achieve the best possible results while providing value for money.

When we begin a relationship with a client, it’s all-hands-on-deck—you get a dedicated team working on your behalf. We like to win and will do what’s necessary to set you up for success.

What our clients say:

“Blackbird was the first place I turned when realizing ARF needed help lobbying on Arctic science issues. It was important to find a firm that shares our values; their ethical approach, strategic thinking, and incredible connections have been enormously beneficial to ARF. When it comes to Arctic, scientific, and Indigenous issues, you can’t do better than Blackbird.”

—TOM HENHEFFER, CHIEF Executive OFFICER OF THE ARCTIC RESEARCH FOUNDATION

“Lisa has demonstrated unwavering commitment and integrity in our work together, going back many years now. The attention to detail coupled with a proactive approach to problem-solving has consistently impressed our team. Moreover, Lisa exhibits outstanding communication skills, effectively articulating complex issues and advocating for our Nation with clarity and persuasiveness that have been invaluable assets in our engagements with government officials and policymakers.”

— Ḵaa Sháade Héni (Chief) Maria Benoit, Carcross/Tagish First Nation

“We were incredibly impressed with the professionalism, responsiveness, and deep expertise Blackbird’s team brought to developing our Indigenous Campaign School content from start to finish. From shaping the curriculum and identifying knowledgeable speakers and facilitators, to designing a beautiful, accessible workbook — their support was outstanding. We would gladly work with them again.”

— Lindsay Brumwell, Interim Executive Director AT Equal Voice

“The Métis Nation—Saskatchewan has been a long-time client of Blackbird Strategies and we couldn’t be happier with their work. From communications to government relations lobby days to event planning, Blackbird is excellent at what they do. From our recent lobby days, it was clear that Blackbird’s CEO, Lisa Kirbie, not only knows her way around Parliament Hill, she has strong relationships with key ministers, MPs, and senior staff. Her team put together an incredible reception for MN—S hosted by the Speaker of the House, and we were beyond thrilled with the event. Their work elevates us, and Blackbird makes it look effortless. We feel they truly understand our goals and go above and beyond to help us achieve them. Dedicated, responsive, and passionate about serving their clients, we couldn’t imagine working without them. The biggest compliment I could give Blackbird is that they make us feel like we’re their only client.”

—RICHARD QUINTAL, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, MÉTIS NATION—SASKATCHEWAN

“At Acosys, we’ve always focused intently on our work, often choosing to let our actions speak for themselves. But when we recognized we needed outside support, we chose to work with Blackbird Strategies. We are grateful for their valuable support in helping us share our story more broadly – both with government and through media. Thanks to their expertise, opportunities that we thought unattainable have become a reality. This collaboration has been a meaningful milestone in both our corporate journey and our ongoing commitment to reconciliation. We are sincerely thankful for their partnership and the insights they continue to provide.”

—David Carrière-Acco, President at Acosys Consulting Services Inc.

“Lisa is a total professional. She led us through a press conference and made sure we were well-prepared and confident. We had terrific media turnout and generated a great deal of positive press coverage. She covered all the bases and made sure that we were as relaxed as possible for a press conference that was extremely emotional. We can’t say enough about Lisa and the entire team she worked with.”

— ANYA NORDSTROM DEVEAUX, SENIOR PUBLICIST AT SENTALER

“Lisa and her team were instrumental in getting us in front of the key decision-makers.”

— JOSH CAMPBELL, FORMER PRESIDENT OF DOSIST CANADA

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