COMPAS today is an independent, non-partisan supplier of research and research-backed strategy to business, government, and not-for-profit organizations. Our independence and non-partisanship help our firm avoid conflict-of-interest.

The firm was created in 1987 in response to client demand for the specialized skills needed to interview difficult-to-reach audiences--from CEOs and CFOs to MDs, journalists, and skilled industrial labour. Today, COMPAS undertakes many general public studies as well. But the firm continues to do disproportionately more special audience research than our competitors.

Our ongoing experience with difficult audiences has taught us the skills for completing such studies to high standards and in a timely fashion.

In 1988, COMPAS became research partner to the weekly Financial Post. We provided the news-use polls and reader research that enabled the Financial Post to grow into a vibrant daily newspaper. Helped by COMPAS’ reader studies, the Financial Post became the first newspaper in North America to build enough reader loyalty to be able to charge a dollar at the newsstand.

Our experience with the Post taught us a lot about designing research to help a client’s bottom line. The shareholders of the Post profited handsomely.

During the 1990’s, COMPAS’ media clientele grew to include dozens of newspaper, broadcasting, professional, and community properties in the media sector. Our varied experiences serving media taught us a lot about advertising, audiences, and communication. We put that knowledge to good use helping clients who need the media to get out their message.

Today, COMPAS is research partner to CanWest, Canada’s largest media company. CanWest’s many assets include the National Post, Ottawa Citizen, Vancouver Sun, Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal, and Montreal Gazette, as well as the immensely successful Global Television Network.

COMPAS’ clientele today includes:

• Commercial organizations like RE/MAX and BDO Dunwoody seeking competitive advantage;
  
• Federal and provincial governments needing to track the changing opinions of their communities;
  
• Banks, life insurers, and other financial service providers needing to profit in the fickle market for financial service providers;
  
• Universities, charities, and other not-for-profit organizations needing to maximize stakeholder goodwill;
  
• Health sector players needing objective information on the variable opinions and attitudes of their stakeholders in this highly charged sector.