News Around Town - February 2022

Member Announcements 

We would like to extend a warm welcome to our new members:

Aya El Azrak - President of Telfer International. Previously she held the role of Co-vice President of Events and Director of Marketing.

Patrick Hauta - Sales Manager at RBC Convention Centre in Winnipeg.

Jessie Lee - Sales Manager, National Events at BMO Convention Centre in Calgary.

Takshasheela Pawar  - Education & Events Assistant at Carleton Law Association.

Ted Robinson - Business Events Specialist at Tourism Kingston.

Member Announcements

Congratulations Jess Poon, brand and web designer, for taking the leap and launching her own business: Studio Crescent. Her mission is to help the modern woman redefine her own success and freedom through the power of branding.

Special Announcement

MPI Ottawa
Presentation of the Proposed 2022-2023 Board of Directors
The candidates assuming new roles are as follows:

Karen Wiersma - President 
Heather Cleat - Vice President, Finance
Daniela Stucki - Vice President, Membership
Allyson Tonelli - Director, Partnerships
Bruce Landry - Vice President, Education
Courtney Jones - Director, Education
Erin Bellwood - Vice President, Communications
Patricia Simpson - Director, Marketing

Still open - Director, Member Events and President Elect

The following individuals will be continuing their service on the Board of Directors into the 2021-2022 program year:
Ashley Craven - Immediate Past President
Riccarda Galioto - Vice President, Leadership
Kris Knox - Director, Director, Member Care
Christina Amos - Director, Signature Events 

The Charity Auction and Dinner committee is looking for donations of auction items.  If you are able to help, please complete the online donation form by March 18, 2022.  Questions? Contact Courtney Jones - cjones@royalcollege.ca or via telephone at 613-720-4678.

MPI Global

MPI is turning 50.  YOU helped make it happen.  That's why we want to hear YOUR stories about your MPI experience and what MPI means to you.

Simply share your story by submitting a brief video that’s no longer than two minutes. It’s as easy as that. We would like a range of stories, short video testimonials, memories, success stories or recollections on how MPI has impacted your life for the better.  Once you record the video, use the button below to submit.   https://www.mpi.org/about/mpi-50th-anniversary

State of the Industry

Ontario, Next Step Reopening

Premier Doug Ford announced that as of February 17th at 12:01am, Ontario will move to its next step of reopening and ease certain public health measures.

Effective February 17, 2022:
Social gathering limits of 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors. Organized public event limits of 50 people indoors, with no limit outdoors.
Removing capacity limits in the following indoor public settings where proof of vaccination is required, including but not limited to:

• Restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments without dance facilities,
• Non-spectator areas of sports and recreational fitness facilities, including gyms,
• Cinemas,
• Meeting and event spaces, including conference centres or convention centres,
• Casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments
• Indoor areas of settings that choose to opt-in to proof of vaccination requirements.
• 50% of the usual seating capacity at sports arenas, concert venues, and theatres
• 25% indoor capacity limit in the remaining higher-risk settings where proof of vaccination is required, including nightclubs, restaurants where there is dancing, as well as bathhouses and sex clubs

Effective March 1, 2022

If public health and health system indicators continue to improve, Ontario will lift capacity limits in all remaining indoor public settings as well as proof of vaccination requirements for all settings at this time. Businesses and other settings may choose to continue to require proof of vaccination. Masking requirements will remain in place at this time.

To read full press release please consult: Ontario Moving to Next Phase of Reopening on February 17 | Ontario Newsroom

Ottawa dropping pre-arrival PCR test for travellers

As of February 28^th, 2022, travellers entering Canada will no longer have to take a pre-arrival molecular test — such as a PCR.

Travellers will still be required to take a pre-arrival test, but they can instead opt for an authorized rapid antigen test taken no more than one day before their scheduled flight or arrival at the land border. Antigen tests are typically cheaper than a molecular test and can provide results within minutes. 

Also starting February 28^th, unvaccinated children under the age of 12 entering Canada with fully vaccinated parents will no longer have to avoid schools, daycare or other crowded settings for 14 days.

Currently, travellers entering Canada must show proof of a negative molecular test taken, within 72 hours of their departing flight or planned arrival at the land border. 

Fully vaccinated travellers may also be randomly selected for a PCR test upon arrival. Duclos said its arrival testing program will remain in effect, but, as of Feb. 28, those selected for testing will no longer have to quarantine while waiting for their results

To read full press release please consult: Government of Canada lightens border measures as part of transition of the pandemic response - Canada.ca

Tourism Labour, continued decline in workers

The following Statistics Canada numbers display a major decrease in employment. Both the seasonally adjusted and seasonally unadjusted labour force data show decreases in employment this past December. The adjusted data reports employment in Canada dropped by 63,000, while the unadjusted data shows a much steeper loss of 113,900.

• In the tourism sector, employment dropped by 56,700, a decline of 5.4% from November. 
• The tourism unemployment rate increased from 13.9% to 14.6%. 
• Tourism employment dropped in most provinces, with the biggest drops occurring in Alberta (-18,400), Ontario (-17,500) and Nova Scotia (-9,700). 

Statistical Analysis provided by Tourism HR Canada

Check out the employee tracker tool

Get market-ready for LGBT+ travellers

Prepare your tourism business today to uncover Canada’s $12 billion LGBT+ leisure tourism opportunity tomorrow.  

For a limited time, Canada’s LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Tourism HR Canada, is offering its inclusivity workshops and market-ready seminars completely free thanks to the Government of Canada. 

It is not just the right thing to do – it is your roadmap to accessing one of the fastest-growing markets in the industry.

Register for programming by clicking: LGTB+ Tourism

Industry News in General

Honouring excellence in Canadian Planning Events
It’s time to enter the Canadian Event Awards.
Do you want to:

✅ Generate attention?

✅ Celebrate your team

✅ Win valuable prizes

✅ Build your brand?

Register today in one of the six categories by following these steps:

• 1-Choose your category
• 2-Read the guidelines
• 3-Go to the entry portal
• 4-Submit your entry
• 5-Wait for the nominations
• 6-Celebrate & Promote

Register by clicking: Celebrate 🥂

Planning underway for Canada’s meetings and events industry to meet face-to-face in Ottawa

The Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE) has confirmed a new date for its Ottawa-Gatineau network’s annual Tête -à-Tête tradeshow, now in its thirty-second year. The popular event welcomes hundreds of Canadian meeting and event planners, association and not-for-profit leaders, and government procurers for an exploration of a wide-range of products, services and suppliers who can help their organizations thrive. The event will be held on April 6th, 2022 at the EY Centre.

On the heels of CSAE’s announcement, four other industry organizations, including Meeting Professionals International (Ottawa Chapter), the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA Canada East Chapter), Destination Direct Canada and REVEAL Social have changed their event dates to coincide with the CSAE Tête -à-Tête tradeshow to form what is widely known in the Canadian business events industry as “Ottawa Meet Week”. You can also anticipate the MPI Foundation Canada Council to add a fundraising opportunity to the calendar of events for Meet Week 2022.

Ottawa Meet Week is traditionally scheduled during the last week of January but was postponed in anticipation that we would be through the worst of the pandemic by early April. With safety and creativity in mind, we are excited to plan a special week with our colleagues from across the country.

Ottawa Meet Week is tentatively scheduled to include:

April 4-5, 2022:       DDC – Hosted Buyer Program
April 5, 2022:          REVEAL Social
April 6, 2022:          CSAE Tête -à-Tête tradeshow
April 7, 2022:         PCMA Canada East Chapter – Annual Lunch and Learn
April 7, 2022:         MPI Ottawa Chapter – Global Meetings Industry Day
April 7, 2022:         MPI Ottawa Charity Auction and Gala Dinner

🗓 Register by clicking: April 4-7, 2022 - Let’s DO it

🌳 Green Corner 💚

Shaw Centre’s Commitment to Sustainability

We hear a lot about sustainability these days but at Shaw Centre, it’s far more than just a buzzword. Our board, the architect, the builders and the engineers shared a powerful vision as they crafted a strategy to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Gold certification. 

Shaw Centre is a pioneer in the field of sustainable operations. We have tools in place to measure an event’s carbon footprint, allowing clients to understand the true cost of their event, at a very detailed level. 

• Shaw Centre endeavours to produce as little food waste as possible, Shaw Centre’s kitchen also relies on its onsite ORCA, a state of the art machine that can digest up to 600 pounds (275 kilograms) of food scraps per day.
• Shaw Centre also saves approximately 225,000 gallons of water each year by harvesting rainwater and storing it in a cistern below the building. The collected rainwater is then pumped back for the building’s greywater needs including toilets and landscaping irrigation, when needed.
• Shaw Centre is extremely proud of is new Legacy Program: At the conclusion of an event, if clients so choose, we ensure that any salvageable materials being left behind are delivered to a charity of their choice.

1-PDF ShawCentre_Infographic_SustainabilityFacts_EN

15 years of eco-friendly events at Québec City Convention Centre

At the Québec City Convention Centre, eco-friendly events have always been a priority. Our turnkey program for the organization of eco-friendly events was launched 15 years ago.

Since the Convention Centre opened in 1996, the teams in charge have ensured that visitors are offered a green building that meets the highest sustainability standards. As early as 2001, the residual material collection system was implemented in the building, when the concept was still in its infancy.

In addition to an eco-friendly event program launched in 2007, the Québec City Convention Centre has implemented several other green initiatives since then—always with the objective of offering users a building that will mitigate its ecological footprint. Incandescent lights have been replaced with LED bulbs, which consume 75% less energy. All the water fountains in the halls are connected directly to Québec City’s water system. What’s more: the water fountains are contactless to facilitate filling water bottles or other reusable containers. More recently, visitor and staff masks can now be recovered through the Go Zero boxes. The Québec City Convention Centre has also carried out broader initiatives that have been put in place to manage its energy performance based on the number of events and customer needs.

Upcoming Industry Events

📅 February 22^nd, 2022

MPI Ottawa Chapter Survey

Available Now!  As of February 22, #MPI will be sending out the Membership and Chapter Satisfaction Survey to all members. The survey will close on March 16. We want to hear from YOU!

📅 April 4-7^th, 2022 – Let’s Do It!

Ottawa Meet Week

https://youtu.be/Z-zpLzBe6go

A week of live, in-person events, courtesy of your favourite industry associations who have collaborated with YOU in mind to bring you a single site that lists all events happening during Ottawa Meet Week.

We’ll post updates and news as soon as it becomes available, we’ll feature key sponsors, and most importantly, we’ll let you know when registration opens for all events.

Stay in the loop by clicking HERE.

📅 April 7^th, 2022 – Spring into NICE

MPI Charity Auction/Gala

One of your favourite MPI Ottawa events is back! The Annual Charity Auction & Dinner will be springing up in the Trillium Ballroom at the Shaw Centre. It’s time for brighter days & new beginnings.

See the registration page for combo pricing with MPI Ottawa’s GMID Education event “Spring into NICE”.

📅 April 28-30^th, 2022

the EVENT

CHAPTER 4….FOR 2022 WE ARE AGAIN READY TO EMBRACE, ENGAGE, AND THRIVE. Our Toronto, Ottawa and Montréal/Québec MPI Chapters united for 1:1 networking opportunities. 

SIMPLY PUT, OUR GOAL IS TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY.
We want to challenge the "typical" conference format. We are not oblivious to the fact that there are many education and networking choices for event professionals to invest their resources. Cultivation, collaboration, and elevation will guide us to our goal to make the event stand apart from the others.

Registration is now OPEN. Register HERE!

Article compiled by Elodie Lortal

Article edited by Darlene Kelly-Stewart | LinkedIn at Stonehouse Sales & Marketing Services