CSEME09 Breaking News:
Pre-registration has surpassed last year's numbers 6 weeks out!

Canada's Leading Event Industry Conference is still 6 weeks out and despite the lagging economy, registrations for conference and trade show delegates are 23% higher than they were this point last year.

Stacy Wyatt Editor of CEP Magazine states "This doesn't surprise me actually. In tough times, the Canadian event professionals and events that will survive are those who can stay inventive, innovative and find ways to be more effective with their marketing. The ones who back away from networking and marketing opportunities are the ones who will be in trouble. The pros know that the only way to stay on top is to remain in touch with the trends, get exposure and network like crazy."

CSEME09 draws the industry's most influential players and is considered to be the "Professional" event planner's show.

Register for CSEME09 Now »

CSEME Vancouver Registration Opens Next Week
Save the date, CSEME09 Vancouver is on April 7-8 at Rocky Mountaineer Station.

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Vancouver's PRP to Produce the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games Opening & Closing Ceremonies

The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) just announced that PRP Inc. will produce the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the X Winter Paralympic Games.  Working in conjunction with VANOC’s Ceremonies team, PRP will create and direct ceremonies that celebrate the 1350-paralympic competitors from more than 40 nations around the world. Using mass community participation, PRP plans to highlight Canada’s unique multi-cultural diversity and capture the spirit and unique personalities of Vancouver, British Columbia and Canada.

It's an honour to be selected for such a prestigious event," said PRP President and Creative Director, Patrick Roberge. "Our team's goal is to produce a ceremony that will celebrate Canada and offer a tremendous opportunity for the community to share in this paralympic celebration." www.prpconnect.com for details.

Joe Nishi Joins Meeting Encore Group

Joe Nishi, a well known industry name has joined The Meeting Encore Group in Toronto as regional Director. Joe spent many years in Vancouver and Toronto as DOS for The Westin and Sheraton Centre and Senior Director of Global Sales, Canada, for Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide.

MTCC & Tourism Toronto Honored with PCMA's Chairman's Awards

In recognition of the city’s exemplary leadership and spirit of partnership, Tourism Toronto and the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) have been honoured with the Professional Conference Management Association’s (PCMA) 2009 Chairman's Award.

"We are pleased to be recognized as leaders and world-class collaborators," said Barry Smith, President & CEO of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. "We're proud of our partnership with the PCMA and our positive impact on what the Association is able to deliver to our peers in the industry".

Click for full article »

Décor & More's Leslee Bell Sole Canadian Nominated for Award

Leslee Bell, Co President of Decor & More, is Canada's sole finalist in the international Event Solutions Spotlight Award for Event Designer of the Year. An industry veteran and household name in the Toronto event scene, Leslee and her partner Dan Noot have been honored this past year by Decor & More being a finalist in at least one category in every major international competition. It's a HUGE year for Canadians.

Paradigm Events President Joins Fashion Group International

Michelle Planche CMP, President of Paradigm Events in Toronto has joined the Fashion Group International Board of Directors as the 2009 Event Chair. As event chair Michelle will be responsible for the logistics and management of the FGI’s Annual events including their Trend Forecasting Events. For more information visit www.fgitoronto.org

Canadian Companies among Leaders at the Gala Awards

3 Canadian companies were honored with Gala Awards on January 30th at The Special Event 2009 Convention in San Diego. TSE is a production of US based Special Events Magazine.

Congratulations to:

• Allison Silcoff Events, Montreal - Best Fundraising Event - "The Daffodil Ball"
• e=mc2 event management, Calgary - Best Event produced for a nonprofit organization - "The David Foster Foundation Gala"
• experiential events, Calgary - Best Event Entertainment Concept and Execution: Budget $25,000 - $100,000 USD - "Feel the Beat"

Toronto's Décor & More and Regal Tent Productions were among the finalists in this year's awards program.  

This win marks the first time in history that a single event, "Feel the Beat" produced for Nexen Inc by experiential events in Calgary, has won an entertainment production award in the 3 major international competitions including the ISES ESPRIT Award, the Canadian STAR Award and now the Special Event GALA Award. Hats off to the experiential team and all the rest of the gala winners from around the world who participated.

Two 8 ft wide ice bars with luge accessories were designed by Iceculture, Inc for the inauguration of President-Elect Obama. Both were shipped from the company’s freezer studio in Hensall, Ontario to Washington DC.

One was displayed at the Maryland Democratic Party Gala at the Mayflower Hotel on January 18, and the other at the Garden State Inaugural Ball at the Washington Court Hotel on January 20.

The team of Josh Hummel and Greg Smith of Iceculture travelled to Washington to set up the bars which were sponsored by Ketel One Vodka. More than 2000 guests attended the Mayflower event and 1250 guests were at the Washington Court Hotel.

Iceculture's Website »

Shaw Conference Centre partnership makes donation towards a food-recovery program for Edmonton

Footprint Management Systems Inc. of Dawson Creek and Greater Edmonton’s flagship hospitality venue, the Shaw Conference Centre (SCC) formed a unique partnership this past summer to jump-start a food recovery program for the Greater Edmonton area.

A food recovery program is a collection of innovative systems that takes healthy food product deemed surplus and unsellable by food industry standards and redirects it onto tables of people who need it most.

Judy Kucharuk of F.M.S. states "We share the same philosophy: good for business, good for community, good for the environment. What they’ve accomplished at the SCC is an example of what is environmentally achievable if you engage, educate, empower and encourage your staff, vendors and suppliers."

5th Element Events Gives Back to Two Worthy Causes

In celebration of 2009, 5th Element Events will be giving back to their community. Starting February 1st, the event design firm will be donating a percentage of profits from every event they produce to two special foundations: Sunnybrook Veteran's Wing - 'Grant a Wish Foundation' which provides an opportunity for war veterans to experience a wish come true, and Centre Camp which provides specialty programs in dramatic arts, sports and traditional camping for over 1200 campers each year. Money will be going to the 'Centre Camp Scholarship Fund' to help a child in need experience a summer of endless possibilities while gaining life skills that last a lifetime.

You may not be in Vancouver for the 2010 games but that doesn’t mean you cant experience the excitement for yourself any other time of the year. New venues, attractions and hotels are popping up all over the city, great deals are available for introductory rates for planners and even individual travel. Check out these great properties for your next incentive or event.

St. Regis Hotel

Built in 1913, this classic example of Edwardian-era Vancouver is approaching its second century of service, fresh from a complete $11-million renovation.

Visit the website

Loden Vancouver

This modern hotel is poised at the edge of Coal Harbour, downtown Vancouver's premiere luxury neighbourhood.

Visit the website

Fairmont Pacific Rim

This five-star hotel is the flagship of the soon-to-be six Fairmont hotels in British Columbia, is now rising and will occupy 22 floors of a 48-story tower in Coal Harbour.

Visit the website

Shangri-La Hotel

The 119-room hotel will occupy the first 15 stories of a 61-story building and is now Vancouver's tallest.

Visit the website

The Hotel Georgia

A landmark 1928 Art Deco hotel is undergoing a complete restoration and is scheduled to reopen in 2010.

Visit the website

Ritz-Carlton Vancouver

A hotel and accompanying residences are slated to open after the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Visit the website

Register today for the most affordable, information packed conference in the industry. Under $600 CDN includes 3 FULL days of world class education, 5 gourmet meals, 100 exquisitely designed exhibits to explore, the fabulous CSEME industry bash with light dinner, the CSEME conference goody bag filled with resource guides, sample products and entertainment coupons and so much more.

If you attend one event this year, invest in the one that will help you make your best events even better. www.canadianspecialevents.com

Innovative Idea:

League of Rock. Get your team truly connected by combining the universal language of music with the excitement of Rock 'N' Roll! Participants collaborate like never before. Participants learn about each other, communicate more effectively than ever before and work together in ways they never have before.

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Theme Idea:

African Sunsets. Inspiration is evoked by the hues of rocks, stones, sand dunes, vegetation, dusty red sunsets, endless plains......nature. Africa has long been known for its rich cultures, diverse peoples and its strange and fascinating animals. It is a theme with rich colours, dense foliage, vibrant costumed performers, steel drums, percussion and the intense beets that tell takes of adventure, mystery and romanticism. Envision animal prints, dark woods chairs, huge projections of safari and wind blown plains, scented palm leaves, traditional costumed servers, African craft tables and art displays… It’s a stunning, emotionally evoking, unique theme which will leave guests dreaming of a trip to see for themselves the spectacular African sunsets.

Entertainment:

An ice show in the middle of a hotel ballroom? You bet! Since its creation in 2000, Glisse on Ice has been experiencing huge success all over the world and now it is spreading its artistic wings to new heights by adding a synthetic ice surface so that fully choreographed Ice shows can now be performed in the most surprising of locations. Glisse on Ice is proud to present a variety of original ice shows for all ages. The troop is well known for made to measure shows from intimate winter themed dinner events to large scale political inaugurations and wide spread outdoor shows.

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Speaker:

Kit Grant is both a Certified Sales Professional and a Certified Speaking Professional and is the first person to hold both of these designations. In 2000 he was inducted into the Canadian Speaker Hall of Fame and in 2005 received the International Ambassador award for service to the speaking industry worldwide. Kit’s dynamic style combined with humor has positively influenced thousands of people in 13 countries on 4 continents to implement strategies that impact both personal and professional success. Your people receive a fast-paced, fun program providing them with tools to take immediate action and achieve the results they deserve...today.

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Venue:

Canadian Sailing Expedititions. For your next strategic planning session, imagine blue-skying in the ocean air; fresh seafood instead of stale muffins; your delegates, inspired and creative; real team-building in place of PowerPoint; the convenience and amenities of an all-inclusive cruise at a cost-effective price. Think outside the boardroom—get on board the Tall Ship Caledonia for an extraordinary meeting venue that’s far from conventional. Picture your team’s enthusiasm and creativity – not to mention deep feeling of appreciation during a Tall Ship Cruise as opposed to meeting in a dry typical board room or conference facility. Our customizable, all-inclusive corporate packages are highly effective as a tool for building team morale and delivering memorable presentations to clients and employees alike.

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