Chronicling The Lessons Learned

Documenting the efforts and realities of Canadian event planners impacted by COVID-19

Video Library

36 unique interviews curated into a collection of brief, notable videos

Download The Report

Highlighting the efforts and realities of Canadian event planners as they worked to deconstruct or reconfigure events immediately impacted by the declaration of the global pandemic.

Meet The Planners

38 distinguished event planners from across Canada.

"Seeing the devastating impact that COVID-19 had on the events industry, we were inspired to document the efforts of Canadian event planners as they worked to deconstruct or reconfigure their events in the wake of the pandemic."

Video Library

36 unique interviews curated into
a collection of brief, notable videos

Set 1 (Episodes 1-8) Planners were required to become knowledgeable about COVID-19 to be able to very quickly react to and manage situations accordingly. Desperate, extraordinary times called for courage and focus.

Meet The Planners

38 Distinguished Event Planners from Across Canada

(listed alphabetically by first name)

Andrea Boulden
Senior Manager
TD Bank
Anita Carlyle
B.Comm., CMP, CMM
Managing Partner
MCC Events
Bobbi Hoffman
CMP, CMM
Formerly Director of Operations/Meeting Planner
The Bayley Group
Carly Silberstein
DES, CED
CEO
Redstone Agency Inc.
Caroline Aston
Principal
Aston Events & Communications
Chantal Montpetit
CMP, CMM
Meetings Director
Entrepreneurs’ Organization
Chantel Beaupre
Co-Owner
Say Something Communications Inc.
Chris Lutz
Partner / VP Program Development
Verney Conference Management
Claire Belanger-Parker
President
CNT Management Group Inc.
Constance Wrigley-Thomas
CAE
Owner / CEO
Essentient Association Management
Dustin Rivers
Partner
Verney Conference Management
Harpreet Atwal
Special Event Management Diploma
Senior Events Coordinator
Executive Platforms
Helene Kenny
CMP
Acting Senior Program Manager
National Judicial Institute
Jamie Lamont
Director, Special Events & Sponsorship
SickKids Foundation
Jessica White
CMP
Director of Operations
KCI Management Inc.
Joe Orecchio
President
Road Ahead Meetings & Events Inc.
Karen Norris
CMP
Conference Manager
Canadian Association of General Surgeons
Kate Kelly
CMP, CMM
Queen Bee & Owner
ConventionAll Management Inc.
Krista Benoit
President & CEO
iSPARK Consulting Inc.
Lauren Stewart
Director, Conferences & Operations
BookNet Canada
Leanne Calderwood
CMP
VP Global Accounts
ConferenceDirect
Lynda Hoff
CMP, CMM
Manager Membership Education & Events
Ontario Nurses’ Association
Malak Sidky
MHA, DES, HMCC
President
Health Care Event Planning
Marie Lou Coupal
CMP
Business Events Strategist
Marie Lou Coupal & Associates
Marie Zimmerman
PhD
Executive Director
Hillside Festival
Melissa Cole
Co-Owner
Say Something Communications Inc.
Michelle Planche
CMP
President, Paradigm Events
Mireille Faucon
CEO & Principal Planner
Events Par Excellence Inc.
Nikki Sayers
Senior Program Planner
KCI Management Inc.
Nowshad Ali
CFRE, CPBA, CPVA
President & CEO
On Purpose Leadership Inc.
Patricia Simpson
Manager, Marketing and Events
Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators
Pearleen Mofford
CIS
Former Managing Director
Downeast DMC
Rita Plaskett
CMP, CMM, VEMM
President
Agendum Inc.
Ruth Abrahamson
CEO
Base Consulting and Management Inc.
Stewart Hall
President
Rock the Stars
Sue Mercer
President
Step In Marketing & Event Solutions
Tracy Scanks
Owner/Executive Director
Pro Conference Advantage
Tuesday Johnson-MacDonald
CMP, CMM
Founder and President
TAP Resources

About the authors

Heather Reid

ARCT MSc
Founder & CEO, Planner Protect Inc.
CMEE Hall of Fame 2017 (Industry Innovator)

Heidi Wilker

B.Comm., CMP Emeritus
Retired Owner, Blessed Events
CMEE Hall of Fame 2020 (Industry Veteran)

“We are deeply honoured to have had a front row seat, side-by-side and week-by-week, to document the impacts of COVID-19 on our beloved Canadian meetings and events industry. Having engaged in over 36 hours of zoom interviews, and sifted through 962 pages of transcriptions, we have enjoyed every aspect of this privilege.  We are in total AWE of the cross-section and quality of Canadian planners who responded to our call to participate; of the vulnerability and transparency they revealed while sharing their experiences; of the fortitude and resilience demonstrated by these planners and our Canadian events industry overall. We have brought this initiative from “a wee spontaneous thought” to a realized body of work, of which we are immensely proud. Our hope is that it provides some significant insight and potential information for further industry resources.”

WEB DESIGN & VIDEO EDITING BY ZACK INGLES