Why work with Blackbird?

Blackbird was founded in 2019 with a vision to do government relations and public relations differently—and to shake up an industry that is far too conservative in its approach. Our team is diverse with consultants across the political spectrum, with different backgrounds and lived experiences.

Together, we believe in one idea: using advocacy as a tool to make life better for those whose voices aren’t typically heard around a boardroom table or in the halls of Parliament Hill—and those who want to be good corporate citizens. We have been recognized by Queen Street Analytics as one of the top firms representing Indigenous communities and First Nations. Our work has also supported clients in the energy, pharmaceutical, and healthcare sectors, as well as nonprofits advocating for women and for change in Canada’s North.

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:

“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

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

— JOSH CAMPBELL, FORMER PRESIDENT OF DOSIST CANADA

“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 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

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