President's Message - August 2026

Summer is a natural pause point in our industry (although I admit it seems to have become less so in recent years) The spring convention season has wrapped up, event calendars become slightly less chaotic, and there is finally an opportunity to stop, take a breath and recharge before we launch headfirst into the busy fall season.  The work still goes on, but it’s very much the period where some weeks it just feels like we are trading out of office messages with each other.

As event professionals, we tend to work in seasons. There are periods of intense activity when deadlines stack up, events overlap and fueled by caffeine, we put our heads down and power through to make it all come together.  In order to sustain this, equally important is the quieter periods that allow us to recover, reflect, and prepare for what's next.  It’s a marathon, not a sprint, and each season plays a role in the journey.

For me, "recharging" often means doing something completely different. As I write this, I have just returned from a trekking adventure in Peru. While I'm not sure anyone would describe hiking at altitude as relaxing, I do know it provides perspective and reminds me to appreciate the comforts of home, particularly indoor plumbing.  I also fed soda crackers to piranhas from the safety of a leaky boat in the amazon rainforest, which I have been assured do not really have a taste for humans unless they are very hungry.  I noticed the wildlife expert making this statement was not anywhere near this boat.

I've always found that trying something new helps reset my thinking. Sometimes that means travelling. Sometimes that means learning. Sometimes it means finally making time for all those things you've been putting off during busy season or gatherings with friends or family that you can’t seem to get on a calendar any other time.

Before taking a pause, June brought plenty of highlights in MPI Ottawa.  I had the opportunity to attend MPI’s World Education Congress in San Antonio, Texas, where among great educational sessions and networking events MPI Ottawa was recognized as this year’s MPI Foundation Chapter Champion. It is always rewarding to see our chapter's commitment to supporting the MPI Foundation recognized on an international stage and is owed to our chapter’s generous support which we can all be proud of.

We also got the opportunity to connect with MPI Ottawa folks in our Sail Away event in June on a boat cruise. It was a fantastic evening and a fitting way to celebrate another successful year together. A huge thank you goes out to the committee for their hard work in pulling it all together.

Although our board takes a break from meetings in July, there are exciting plans in the works for the coming fall. Don’t forget to register for MPI’s The Event in Vancouver, September 14-16 as well as the Prix Prestige Awards on September 24th to celebrate the stars in our chapter with an exciting new format. 

As summer continues, I hope you find time to do whatever helps you recharge for the fall season. Whatever your version of a summer reset looks like, I hope you enjoy it.

 Article edited by: Darlene Kelly-Stewart, Stonehouse Sales & Marketing Services