Industry News

June 22, 2021
Edmonton Opens for Business as First Canadian Destination to Achieve the Destination GBAC STAR™ Accreditation

Explore Edmonton in collaboration with the Edmonton International Airport, Edmonton Destination Marketing Hotels (EDMH), Oilers Entertainment Group, TRAXX Coachlines, Edmonton Convention Centre, and Edmonton EXPO Centre, has announced that Edmonton has successfully secured the  Destination Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC) STAR™ Accreditation. Edmonton is now the first and only Canadian destination, and one of only four destinations throughout North America, to have obtained the Destination GBAC STAR™ Accreditation.

In support of the Destination GBAC STAR™ Accreditation, Explore Edmonton has launched a promotional campaign and platform  Visit Safely in Edmonton: From Touchdown to Takeoff to encourage business travel, meetings, conventions and major events to return to Edmonton following COVID-19 related cancellations and postponements. The campaign showcases the health & safety and outbreak prevention measures that will be in place at participating properties across the city. In addition, Explore Edmonton and EDMH are offering substantial incentives for event planners who are considering Edmonton as their host destination.

The Destination GBAC STAR™ Accreditation program is the cleaning industry’s only outbreak prevention, response and recovery accreditation for facilities and destinations. This means the cleaning, sanitization, outbreak prevention and recovery programs at participating Edmonton hotels, venues and transportation agencies are accredited and validated by the gold standard program that prepares them with the right systems to protect against and respond to biorisk situations, including COVID-19. To obtain GBAC STAR™ Accreditation, facilities must demonstrate compliance with 20 specific elements including maintaining strict cleaning protocols, disinfection techniques, infectious disease prevention planning, staff training and more. 

For more information, visit exploreedmonton.com. 

Media Contact 
Quinn Phillips, Strategic Communications Manager, Explore Edmonton 
P: 780-914-7179 E: qphillips@exploreedmonton.com

March 5, 2021

MPI Toronto Chapter Announces the 2020 Award Recipients

MPI Toronto celebrated their award nominees and award recipients at the virtual Awards Gala, on March 4th. 

The MPI Toronto Chapter Awards Program is designed to recognize excellence in active chapter member for their commitment, service and involvement in the chapter, industry, and community at large.

Nominations are received for all award categories except for the President’s Award. As part of the awards submission, nominees must submit extensive information and documentation to demonstrate their contributions and successes in the meeting and event industry. 

The President’s Award is awarded at the discretion of the President, to an individual in the meeting industry who has made an outstanding contribution. This award can be presented to anyone within the industry, regardless of membership status.

Congratulations to our award recipients:

• Norm Neill Student of the Year: Eswaran Badrinarayanan, Event Management Student, Humber College
  

• Literary Award: Sonali Nair, CMP, DES, HMCC, Opentext
  

• New Member of the Year: Dalia Kay, VEMM, Ontario Science Centre

• Outstanding Volunteer of the Year: Julie Danaylov, CSEP, A²D² Inc

• Outstanding Volunteer of the Year: Noreen Esson, VEMM, NexTech AR Solutions
  

• Future Leader of the Year: Emilia Kim, Baby Bunny Co

• Mentor of the Year: Rachel Klar, CMP, Intuit Canada

• Supplier Member of the Year: Tammy Bradley, CMP, VEMM, AV-CANADA

• Planner Member of the Year: Caitlin Burgess, CMP, CED, Canada Health Infoway

• President’s Award: Clark Grue, CITP | FIBP, Rainmaker Global Business Development

For more information contact:
Leslie Wright
lwright@mpitoronto.org

February 26, 2020
TORONTO,ON, Thursday, February 26, 2020

Exhibition Place Announces New Director, Sales & Marketing

We're pleased to announce the appointment of Judy Mahoney as the new Director, Sales & Marketing of Exhibition Place. Judy brings a wealth of market analysis and business development experience, having recently been at forefront of the Sales and Marketing efforts at Scotiabank Convention Centre and Niagara Falls Business Events. Judy brings over 20 years of sales & marketing, strategic planning, and team management experience for several major hotel brands in the Greater Toronto Area. “We're confident that Judy's leadership skills and strategic approach building new partnerships and relationships will make her an excellent addition to our team,” said Laura Purdy, General Manager of Exhibition Place.

Judy can be reached at email jmahoney@explace.on.ca or phone 416-263-3021.

February 18, 2020
TORONTO,ON, Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Communiqué Incentives Inc. is delighted to announce their acquisition by Watt International. The sale brings together Communiqué Incentives Inc., a full-service event management agency and Watt International, a world-class integrated retail agency. The partnership will allow both companies to expand their offerings for their customers and push the boundaries in a competitive marketplace.

In a strategic move, Ardith Freethy and her team of advisors have appointed Lindsay Rudykas President.  This new role marks Lindsay’s return to Communiqué where she previously spent six years. Most recently, Lindsay led an events team with global reach for a Fortune 500 company and is excited to bring her breadth of knowledge and experience back to Communiqué.

For further information:

Media Contact – Communiqué Incentives Inc
Janet Bursey, Director of Business Administration
647-272-7124
janetb@communique.to

New ADDRESS as of May 4, 2020
590 King Street West
Toronto

Media Contact – Watt International
Sabina Azizli, Marketing Manager
416-364-9384 x255
sazizli@wattisretail.com

September 27, 2019

Want to submit an article for Meeting Magazine or the MPI Toronto Blog? Please use our Article Submission Template and send your submission to the MPI Toronto Chapter office. Please note all articles are subject to editorial approval and submission of an article does not guarantee publication. Non-members are welcome to submit articles.

August 19, 2019
Canadian Meetings & Events Expo (CMEE) Honours 2018 Hall of Fame Inductees

Eight deserving event professionals were inducted into the Hall of Fame at the Canadian Meetings and Events Expo. 

Congratulations to the following inductees:

Zaman Ishaad, 2019 Rising Star. This category honours a planner or supplier with 2-5 years’ experience in the industry, who has demonstrated leadership and the desire to be an ambassador for the industry.

Shannon Valeriote, CMP, CMM, 2019 Industry Mentor. This category celebrates a planner or supplier who through his or her expertise, professional influence, or academic position has provided others with opportunity, inspiration, or ability to pursue excellence.

Tuesday Johnson-Macdonald, CMP, CMM, 2019 Industry Planner. This category is reserved for an individual who represents everything an event professional should be.

Francois Brunet, 2019 Industry Volunteer. This category recognizes an individual planner or supplier who gives freely his or her time or expertise in the promotion of industry associations, groups, professional industry chapters or charity work.

Alissa Hurley, CMM, CED, 2019 Industry Innovator. This category recognizes a planner or supplier who has developed and implemented a service, product, or concept that modernizes today’s industry and moves it forward.

Candace Schierling, Reggie Lang, and Bettyanne Sherrer, CMP, CMM, 2019 The Big Idea. The Big Idea celebrates planners and suppliers who have dreamed up and implemented an idea that has improved the productivity, profitability, culture and/or operational systems of a specific company or business.

Nominations to be inducted into the Hall o Fame in 2020 will open in the new year.

November 5, 2018
AV-CANADA Announces Expansion into U.S. Market with the launch of AV-AMERICA
 
AV-CANADA is proud to be celebrating 25 years of business! “With drive, perseverance, and ongoing success come exciting growth opportunities. We are pleased to announce our new endeavor AV-AMERICA, headquartered in Orlando, Florida.”, said Danny Dobriansky, Co-President.

eading the operation as Chief Operating Officer for AV-AMERICA, Kip Cade brings 25 years of experience in the United States AV business, guaranteeing the same quality and service standards that you have come to expect. “With this new venture, we have the opportunity to further expand the capabilities of AV-CANADA into new markets and leverage the established presence of our U.S. team. Together, we have the ability within our industry to deliver top-notch service to all of our clients throughout North America.”, said Kip Cade.

Also joining the AV-AMERICA team, we are pleased to introduce Rita Plaskett CMM, CMP who will head up our Business Development team. Rita will serve as Vice President of Business Development. She brings over 30 years of meetings experience including past Chair, MPI Global Foundation and member of the MPI International Board of Directors. Rita, currently sits on an MPI International Committee. We welcome her vast network of Global Industry peers.

In addition, we welcome Yolanda Clark as Managing Director of Marketing and Community Engagement. Yolanda, is widely recognized for her many years of public relations experience, community engagement within the Greater Orlando area and a strong network of industry peers across the state and country.

For more information:
info@av-america.com
www.av-america.com


November 1, 2018
Tim Whalen Featured in The Meeting Professional

Tim Whalen, President-Elect, MPI Toronto Chapter, and Executive Meeting Manager, Fallsview Casino Resort, is featured in the November Meeting Professional. It's a great read and shows the benefits Tim has gained through his involvement in MPI.

http://www.themeetingprofessionaldigital.org/themeetingprofessional/november_2018/MobilePagedReplica.action?pm=2&folio=16#pg18



October 31, 2018
MPI Toronto Chapter Member Recognized by PCMA

This October, the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) revealed its “20 in their Twenties” class of 2019, honouring the business event community’s top young professionals.

Emily Dietrich, Manager of Business Events with the Niagara Parks Commission, was one of the industry trailblazers named among this year’s honourees.  Congratulations Emily.

Read more: https://www.corporatemeetingsnetwork.ca/2018/10/31/qa-emily-dietrich-pmcas-20-twenties-honouree/



October 26, 2018
Breakfast with Santa Foundation

The Breakfast with Santa Foundation hosted a Pirate themed Halloween fundraiser on Friday, November 26th. MPI Toronto Chapter was recognized for our 17 years of support! Tammy Bradley, Leslie Wright and Susan Prophet were happy to accept a certificate of appreciation on behalf of the Chapter.  A great night was had by all!  If you would like to learn more about MPI Toronto's official charity of choice, please visit https://breakfastwithsantafoundation.ca/

October 26, 2018
PSAV® ACQUIRES FMAV
 
PSAV, a global leader in event experiences, is pleased to announce the acquisition of FMAV, a leading audiovisual and live event production company in Canada. The transaction allows PSAV to continue building upon its purpose of Connecting and Inspiring People by expanding the breath of its capabilities, particularly in the live event production business in Canada. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

FMAV was founded more than 40 years ago and has won numerous industry awards, including multiple Canadian Special Events and ILEA awards. The FMAV team provides extensive creative production services for galas and special events, conferences and conventions, corporate meetings, outdoor events, and hotel venues. FMAV has a celebrated customer base throughout Canada’s major metropolitan areas who rely on the company’s services to engage their audiences.

The company, now a wholly-owned subsidiary of PSAV, will continue to operate under the well-known and highly respected FMAV brand name. FMAV CEO Bill Brown and his senior team will remain in place and continue to execute on their growth plans, now in partnership with PSAV.

For more information contact:
 
Bob Niersbach
 
Director, Communications
 
rniersbach@psav.com
 
(847) 385-3619
 

September 20, 2018

MPI Toronto started the year-long celebration for their 40th Anniversary at the Annual General Meeting and Volunteer Recogntion event at the WE Global Learning Centre today with photos from the past and videos from some of the Past Presidents highlighting achievements from their year.

As part of the Volunteer Recognition the 5-Star Recipients were recognized for their commitment, dedication, and passion. These eight recipients demonstrated that they were team players and made sure they were accountable for the work taken on within the committee. Congratulations to the following 5-Star Recipients:

Caitlin Burgess, CMP, Communications Committee
Brenda Carter, CMP, Leadershp Development Committee
Sanjeev Jadhav, Professional Development Committee
Kalinda Jessett, Holiday Gala Committee
Jen Moir, CMP, CMP Study Group Committee
Justine Moller, Awards Committee
Vincent Murphy, Membership Committee
Antonietta Tantalo, Global Meetings Industry Day Committee.

Also recognized was the 5-Star Education Award Recipient. This award is to recognize an individual member who demonstrated exceptional volunteerism to their MPI Toronto Community.

Congratulations to Sanjeev Jadhav, Sheraton Toronto Airport Hotel & Conference Centre.

MPI Toronto also recognizes those who have been members of the chapter for 5, 10, 15, 25, 30 and 40 years. The following members were in attendance at the Volunteer Recognition and received their pins:

5 Year
Caitlin Burgess, CMP, Canada Health Infoway
Patrick Kilvert, The Westin Hotel Ottawa
Mary Sistilli, JW Marriott The Rousseau Resort & Spa

10 Year
Cameal Soverall, CMP, CMM, Eventum

15 Year
Geoff Mak, CEM, CMP, Beanfield Centre

25 Year
Janet Victor, CMP, Eventives Conference & Event Management

30 Year
Lynne Gale, CMM, Tourism London
Leslie Wright, Fletcher Wright Associates Inc

40 Year
Duff Shaw, CMP, CITE

Happy 40th Anniverary Toronto Chapter!



August 14, 2018
Canadian Meetings and Events Expo unveiled IncentiveWorks rebrands with promise to be bigger, broader, more inclusive

Newcom Media unveiled plans for the Canadian Meetings and Events Expo today, building on years of success with the IncentiveWorks show.

“Now known as the Canadian Meetings and Events Expo, this event is re-establishing itself as the pre-eminent show of its kind – one attended by planners from across the country and around the world,” said Newcom Media president Joe Glionna. “Every August the Metro Toronto Convention Centre will be a destination not just for Canadian planners to meet and learn, but for planners from other countries to come and research what Canada has to offer the global meetings industry.”

“We have heard the voices of exhibitors, sponsors, and our customers, who say they are no longer interested in reaching planners through traditional media,” Glionna said. “They want excitement, they want sizzle, they want experience. We will deliver that.”

Newcom Media also announced plans to expand the annual Hall of Fame program.
 
“We believe the Hall of Fame program deserves a stage of its own, and that’s what we are going to create – a red carpet affair not to be missed,” Arnott said.

Next year’s event will take place August 13-14 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

For more information, contact:
Joe Glionna, President, Newcom Media 416-614-2200, joe@newcom.ca
Melissa Arnott, Director of Events, 416-510-5141, melissaa@newcom.ca
 
 
March 8, 2018
MPI Toronto Chapter Celebrates 2017 Awards Nominees and Recipients

On March 8, 2018, members and guests gathered at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre to celebrate our nominess and award recipients.

Nominees in all categories were:

Literary Award
Natalie Ciarallo, CMP - Free for All Marketing
Mariella Irivarren, CMP - BMO Financial Group
Diane Julien - The Really Fabulous Event Company
Arianna McLaughlin - Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

Mentor of the Year
Carly Silberstein, DES, CED - Redstone Agency Inc
Cameal Soverall, CMP, CMM - Eventum
Shannon Valeriote ,CMP,CMM - Niagara Falls Business Events

New Member of the Year
Kalinda Jessett - Invesco
Delia Lapensee - Shaw Centre
Ryan Peddigrew - Quest Audio Visual
Antonietta Tantalo - TD Bank Group

Norm Neill Student of the Year
Amanda Banh - Humber College
Lindsey Slade - Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning

Outstanding Volunteer of the Year
Ioanna Antonopoulos - Groupe Antonopoulos
Sim Frayne - Newcom Media
Zaman Ishaad - Four Seasons Hotel and Resorts
Lynn Miedzik - Canada Health Infoway

Planner of the Year
Margaret Binns - Ontario Catholic School Trustees Association
Arianna McLaughlin - Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Christina Northcott, CMP - Canada Health Infoway

Supplier of the Year
Kris Knox - Hilton Mississauga Meadowvale
Erin Reid - White Oaks Conference Resort & Spa
Dan Wilson - FMAV

Being a nominee is a huge accomplishment and these members have made outstanding contributions to the event industry.

Awards were presented to the following:

Literary Award
Arianna McLaughlin - Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

Mentor of the Year
Shannon Valeriote ,CMP,CMM - Niagara Falls Business Events and the Scotiabank Convention Centre

New Member of the Year
Ryan Peddigrew - Quest Audio Visual

Norm Neill Student of the Year
Amanda Banh - Humber College

Outstanding Volunteer of the Year
Zaman Ishaad - Four Seasons Hotel and Resorts

Supplier of the Year
Kris Knox - Hilton Mississauga Meadowvale

Planner of the Year
Margaret Binns - Ontario Catholic School Trustees Association

President's Award
Danny Dobriansky - AV CANADA