Festivals and Events Ontario
Conference schedule & sessions
THURSDAY
7:45am - 8:30pm
Continental Breakfast - Foyer of Markham A and Thornhill Rooms.
8:30am - 12:30pm
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Economic Impact 2013 Recipients Training - Closed Course - Bernie Colterman - Markham A Room.
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Full-Day Advanced Course - Thornhill Room. Cost $249 - (limited capacity & minimum 10 registrants)
Sponsorship Strategies
Brent Barootes, Founding Partner & Sponsorship Specialist - Partnership Group (Calgary)
In this “advanced level learning-pre Conference course” join two Canadian training experts in the areas of “sponsorship” and “marketing” strategies. Brent Barootes and Bernie Colterman are nationally recognized as leaders in their respective fields of education and work with a wide range of clients across Canada on their marketing and revenue initiatives. They also annually stage their own Conferences in Calgary and Ottawa (respectively). Both Brent and Bernie take a "no nonsense" approach and offer practical advice that can be immediately applied when you get back to the office. Training of this calibre can easily cost you more than double the fee that you will pay at the FEO Conference and your $249 fee includes: continental breakfast, lunch and morning & afternoon coffee/tea breaks.
12:30pm - 1:00pm
Lunch - Foyer of Markham A and Thornhill Rooms.
1:00pm - 5:00pm
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Economic Impact 2013 Recipients Training - Closed Course - Brent Barootes - Markham A Room.
-
Full-Day Advanced Course - Thornhill Room. Cost $249 - (limited capacity & minimum 10 registrants)
Marketing Strategies
Bernie Colterman, Managing Partner - Centre of Excellence for Public Sector Marketing (Ottawa)
In this “advanced level learning-pre Conference course” join two Canadian training experts in the areas of “sponsorship” and “marketing” strategies. Brent Barootes and Bernie Colterman are nationally recognized as leaders in their respective fields of education and work with a wide range of clients across Canada on their marketing and revenue initiatives. They also annually stage their own Conferences in Calgary and Ottawa (respectively). Both Brent and Bernie take a "no nonsense" approach and offer practical advice that can be immediately applied when you get back to the office. Training of this calibre can easily cost you more than double the fee that you will pay at the FEO Conference and your $249 fee includes: continental breakfast, lunch and morning & afternoon coffee/tea breaks.
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Half-Day Advanced Course - King City Room. Cost $125 - (limited capacity & minimum 10 registrants)
How to leverage culinary tourism and the local food movement to grow your Festival or Event!
Rebecca LeHeup, Executive Director - Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance (Prince Edward County)
Danielle Brodhagen, Director of Product Development - Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance (Stratford)
Increase and expand your customer base by offering an authentic “taste of place” at your event. This workshop is designed to give you a solid understanding of culinary tourism, while showing you the economic benefits of enhancing your event with local food and/or drink.As the Centre for Culinary Tourism Excellence, the Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance (OCTA) not only understands what a food tourist is looking for in a festival and event, but also has significant on the ground experience executing events in Ontario. During this course, OCTA will share creative, easy-to-execute strategies to add local food and drink options and programming to enrich your event. There will be plenty of opportunities during this exciting session to ask questions about your festival or event and we will offer specific recommendations and give marketing tips to leverage the power of culinary tourism and attract new festival attendees. The course will also explore grant and funding recommendations to support these new initiatives, as well as outreach to community partners specific to each festival or event.
HOT
7:00pm - 10:00pm
Welcome Reception It's a Masquerade (bring your masks) - Richmond Ballroom.
FRIDAY
7:30am - 8:30am
Breakfast - Richmond Ballroom.
8:25am - 8:30am
Official Conference Opening and Welcome - Richmond Ballroom.
8:30am - 9:15am
Opening Address Keynote - Richmond Ballroom.
Hon. David Peterson, Chair - TO2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games
Saäd Rafi, CEO - TO2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games
The TO2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games! United We Play!
The Pan Am/Parapan Am Games will be the single largest international event that Ontario has ever hosted. Scheduled for July 10-26, 2015 (Pan Am) and August 7-14, 2015 (Para Pan Am), the games are expected to attract 10,000 athletes, coaches and officials from 41 countries and draw 250,000 visitors to the GTA, who will take in competitions at 16 venues across the GTA and southern Ontario. Listen to Bid and organizing committee Chairman David Peterson share how securing large scale global events is good for Ontario tourism, sports and culture participation, and legacy projects. Find out how communities can get involved and share in the legacy that will be left for the entire festivals and event sector by this major sporting, cultural and community event.
9:15am -10:30am
Opening Keynote Speaker - Richmond Ballroom.
Putting Humour to Work for Less Stress and More Success!
Michael Kerr, President & Hall of Fame Motivational Speaker - Humour at Work (Canmore, AB)
Laugh as you learn what makes for a truly inspiring workplace with best -selling author and award-winning, international Hall of Fame speaker Michael Kerr. In this high-energy, humour-filled presentation, you’ll discover why laughter really is the best medicine when it comes to creating a thriving business. You’ll learn the 3 R’s of using humour to manage stress, and discover why humor is one of the most powerful ways to boost morale, communicate more effectively, spark creative thinking and provide more inspiring customer service.
HOT
10:30am - 3:00pm
Market Place - Grand York Ballroom & Foyer.
11:45am - 1:00pm
Lunch - Grand York Ballroom & Foyer.
2:45pm - 4:00pm
Education Panel - Richmond Ballroom.
Web . Social . Mobile: A Festival or Event's Best Friend!
Allan Isfan, CEO - MyEventApps (Ottawa)
Jeff Quipp, President - Search Engine People (Pickering)
Andrew Schiestel, President - tbk Creative (London)
These three presenters scored a “5 out of 5” from the audience at last year’s 2013 FEO Conference in Mississauga, with their individual breakout presentations on social media, web marketing, mobile strategy and much more. As some of you may have missed these events due to taking in various concurrent sessions, we are bringing these three industry leaders together this year, allowing delegates to easily engage in this dynamic 75-minute session. Gain greater insight on how to use digital marketing to generate more awareness and attendance for your event and take your brand's marketing to the next level.
5:15pm - 7:15pm
Delegates On Their Own for Dinner - Hotel or Nearby Restaurant of your choice.
4:00pm - 5:15pm
Education Panel - Richmond Ballroom.
The Show Must Go On! Overcoming and Preparing For The Unexpected.
Joann Flaminio, President - Boston Athletic Association (Boston Marathon) (Boston),
Martin Kenneally, Senior Director - Security and Accreditation, (TO2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games) (Toronto)
Jim Laurendeau, Director - Park & Facility Services (Calgary Stampede) (Calgary)
The terms “Boston Strong,” and “Come Hell or High Water” became a part of our everyday vocabulary when we look back on the tragic bombing incident at the 2013 Boston Marathon or the history-making flood at the 2013 Calgary Stampede. Yet both world-renowned events are moving ahead and were but two demonstrations of how our industry addresses and overcomes the unexpected. And since the similarly tragedy at the 1972 Munich Olympics, security precautions have become the norm for any international sporting event such as a Pan Am/Parapan Games or an Olympics. The Calgary Stampede is arguably Canada’s largest annual event in terms of economic impact, the Boston Marathon is the most well known of its genre in the world and, under the banner of “United We Play!,” the 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games will be Ontario’s largest ever sporting event. FEO is honoured to welcome three representatives from these world-stage gatherings who will share with us how they are moving forward and being prepared for whatever unexpected challenges the future may bring.
11:00pm - 1:00am
Hospitality Suite - Markham Room (opens immediately after showcases are done).
7:30pm - 11:00pm
Showcases Night - Grand York Ballroom.
SATURDAY
8:00am - 9:00am
Breakfast - Grand York Ballroom.
8:30am - 9:30am
AGM- Grand York Ballroom.
Education Sessions #1
9:30am - 10:30am
Breakout Group #1 - Richmond Ballroom A B C D.
Booking Entertainment - Fundamentals Plus Taking it to the Next Level!
Richmond Ballroom A
Dave Miller, Executive Director - Burlington's Sound of Music Festival (Burlington)
Joel Baskin, Agent - The Feldman Agency (Toronto)
Booking entertainment at your festival requires knowledge of the basic fundamentals and taking it to the next level by booking major or national acts can be an even more complex and confusing process. In this era of downloading, file sharing and other entertainment options, one thing has never been reproduced; the live music experience Determine what is best for you at whatever level your own festival or event is at or aspires to be. Learn about buyer-agent relations, which artist to book, how to market your music programming and what you need to know about production. In this session, many areas will be covered, so those “new” to the music business or those with “experience” should both benefit.
Volunteering 2.0
Richmond Ballroom B
Jessica Dargo Caplan, Director of Communication and Community Outreach - Luminato Toronto Festival of Arts & Creativity (Toronto)
Volunteers are the backbone of many organizations. Unfortunately, sometimes these programs fall into a rut. Luminato Festival will share some of the ways it is enhancing its volunteer program to provide training opportunities, mentorship and professional networking. It has become a key way we relate to our corporate partners and government stakeholders and build community audiences.
People Make the Magic - Connecting Networks
Richmond Ballroom C
Delores MacAdam, Division Manager - Event Central Special Events & Volunteer Services, City of Ottawa (Ottawa)
Communities are living networks. They link people to and through shared values, purpose and actions. Whether being in a neighbourhood, a cultural group, a business or a whole city, communities are how the human world organizes itself and moves forward. Building, nurturing and leveraging the inherent power of our communities requires an understanding of the dynamics and practices that build identity and common purpose.
Utilize Sponsorship Recognition to Create "Champagne" Festivals on a "Beer" Budget
Richmond Ballroom D
Paul Kenyon, President & CEO - Absolute (Toronto)
Leveraging the sponsorship recognition your festival goers represent to create bigger, better events - for less money is the subject of this hour long presentation. What would you do with more money to spend on talent, attractions, logistics, communications and other paid services? Learn how to unlock the sponsorship recognition potential laying dormant in your festival going audience to leverage against the increasing cost of your essential suppliers; for everything from food vendors, media suppliers, talent and talent providers to your security services and even your tent, toilet and stage suppliers, etc… Attend this session and learn about some of the ways in which you can maximize your supplier agreements so that it becomes a “win-win” for both your event and your suppliers – at no added cost!
Education Sessions #2
10:45am - 11:45am
Breakout Group #2 - Richmond Ballroom A B C D.
Creating and Developing Spectacular Events to Promote a Destination.
Richmond Ballroom A
Charlotte DeWitt, President - International Events Ltd. (Boston)
Increasingly cities are looking at creating their own events for city promotion, urban regeneration and to benefit from global media exposure. How can cities help create events that are unique experiences for attendees? Unlike established sporting mega-events where bidding is the norm, cultural events tend to be created specifically for the location. How can a creative idea become a reality? What factors need to be in place? What support mechanisms help to encourage event development and how can the private and public sector work together to create events that are beneficial for a city? Charlotte has extensive experience in staging events, has spoken at festival and event conferences in many parts of the world and was the chief international correspondent for the International Festivals & Events Association online (i.e.) magazine for many years.
Media Coverage: How to Get It (aka - Media Doesn't Just Show Up at Your Event).
Richmond Ballroom B
Cindy MacDonald, Station Manager - Simcoe & Grey Counties, Rogers Communications (Barrie)
Deirdra Watson, Managing Director - Concept Solutions (Burlington)
So you have this incredible event and you know that promotion is the key-but how do you garner media interest? How do you get media to promote and cover YOUR event? Get creative with your message. Know the value of your event – and sell it! There is no promotion like self-promotion-and everyone likes to connect through community. Create purpose through partnerships. It’s a win-win! The honest-to-goodness truth about media, about the secret to media success. Eight simple rules for giving (and getting) good media. How to be remembered (in a good way) after your event is over.
Two Key Regulatory Areas who Wish to Partner with You! The Accessibility Directorate of Ontario and the Electrical Safety Authority of Ontario - (twin-topic session: 30 minutes each).
Richmond Ballroom C
Anne Collinson, Senior Program Advisor - Accessibility Directorate of Ontario (ADO) (Toronto)
Want to make sure your festival attendees come back year after year? Want to bring out more of the community to your festival?The number of Ontarians with a disability is growing. Right now one in seven has a disability and that number will soon grow to one in five. Find out how to make your festival more inclusive and accessible with Anne Collinson from the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario, Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Employment.
Roy Elwood, Senior Electrical Inspector - Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) (Toronto)
The electrical requirements for your festival or event are for everyone’s own safety. Learn the legal requirements for permits and inspections, how electricity causes fires and injury and the safe use of generators and temporary power, with photo examples of real hazards found at festivals and events.
Bundling Regional Event Assets to Increase Your Value Proposition
Richmond Ballroom D
Jody Larose, President - Jody Larose Sponsorship & Marketing Alliances Inc. (Toronto)
Are you looking for a new approach to increase your sponsorship success? If you represent an event or festival that is one of many in your geographical or tourism region then this session may be for you! To effectively compete for sponsorship dollars you need to provide a distinct point of difference and competitive advantage. Join sponsorship consultant Jody Larose as she presents a case study discussing the success of the GTA Rotary Ribfest Sponsorship Consortium. She will guide you through this creative sponsorship approach by providing insight and practical advice to help you mobilize this concept in your region.
12:00pm - 1:15pm
Lunch with Showcases - Grand York Ballroom.
Education Sessions #3
1:30pm - 2:30pm
Breakout Group #3 - Richmond Ballroom A B C D.
Sponsorship vs. Philanthropy.
Richmond Ballroom A
Lea Parrell, President - Harmony Marketing (Co-Producer Redpath Waterfront Festival Toronto & Executive Producer of TALL SHIPS ® 1812 Tour)
This session will provide a clear understanding of the important and unique differences between Philanthropic Fundraising and Corporate Sponsorships. Using the case studies of the Redpath Waterfront Festival Toronto and the “Blockbuster-Celebrate Ontario” 2012 Ministry of Tourism, Culture & Sport/Province of Ontario, pan-provincial TALL SHIPS® 1812 Tour, Lea will explain how these successful events came to pass and the important role that sponsorship played in each.
Music at Your Festival or Event: The ReSound Music Licensing Company and the Ontario Live Music Strategy.
Richmond Ballroom B
Matthew Phillips, Senior Licensing Representative - ReSound Music Licensing Company (Toronto)
Kevin Finnerty, Assistant Deputy Minister-Culture Division - Ministry of Tourism, Culture & Sports (Toronto)
Music, be it live or recorded, plays an integral role in setting the atmosphere for your festival or event, contributing to your overall attendance, revenue and success. This session brings together representatives from two important areas involving music. i) The Ministry of Tourism, Culture & Sport has recently announced the creation of an Ontario Live Music Strategy and a $45-million Ontario Music Fund to support the production, distribution and performance of music in the province, while promoting Ontario-made music across Canada and around the globe. A portal to bring together the industry is under development. Learn how you can be part of this exciting initiative. ii) the ReSound organization will address how it will help festival and event organizers to better understand what licences may be required in order to use recorded music, how it has worked to set fair rates in this regard and how to best capitalize on the benefits that recorded music brings to a festival or event.
Greening Your Festival.
Richmond Ballroom C
Niduk Wijayasingha, Executive Co-ordinator Partnerships & Sponsorships - Canada's Largest Ribfest (Burlington)
Through a case study, learn how any festival of any size can effectively work with all vendors to ensure you can obtain the highest possible waste diversion rates. Through a step-by-step process, with templates on the necessary partners, hear about the information you will need to include in vendor contracts and also the resources you will require.
"From Parliament Hill to the White House: Enhancing Fan Experience with Free Water Stations While Recouping Significant ROI".
Richmond Ballroom D
Chad Shennett , Director of Operations -Event Water Solutions. (Orillia)
In this session, review how the concept of a free water refill station has been well received by both patron and organizer alike; however, making this concept economically feasible has historically been an entirely different story. From an environmental perspective, the public is aware that a plastic water bottle may take lifetimes to break-down, not to mention the negative effect this can have on marine life and the fact that traditional landfills are quickly overflowing. Speaking from experience involving numerous festivals in Canada, Australia and the United States, Chad will provide educational information about “drinking water at a festival” and cover potential solutions to recover one’s ROI when offering “free water” while making one’s festival budget go further. He will address concerns associated with recovering the potential lost revenue from traditional bottled water revenue channels and how to establish community partnerships (including compliance with municipality policies, where applicable, on bottled water at festivals) in this area.
Education Sessions #4
2:45pm - 3:45pm
Breakout Group #4 - Richmond Ballroom A B C D.
Sponsorship in Festivals and Events: Ontario-Based Learning from The Canadian Sponsorship Landscape Study.
Richmond Ballroom A
Elisa Beselt, Co-author of Candian Sponsorship Landscape Study (CSLS) and Consultant with TrojanOne. (Toronto)
The Canadian Sponsorship Landscape Study (CSLS) provides the most comprehensive information on the scope, scale and trends of Canada's sponsorship industry, including industry size, spending by sector, activation trends, evaluation practices, strategic priorities and future outlook. The study draws on both academic and industry resources to provide information that is extremely relevant, highly ethical and provides outstanding sponsorship expertise for sponsors, sponsees and agencies. During his presentation, Elisa will review the 7 years of the Canadian Sponsorship Landscape Study (CSLS). Key trends will be outlined and results specific to festivals and events will be highlighted.
Experiential Experiences: Canadian Comedy Awards.
Richmond Ballroom B
Tim Progosh , Producer and Co-Founder - Canadian Comedy Awards. (Toronto)
Scott Greenwood , CCO - Touch Live Inc. (Toronto)
Using everything from Q and A sessions at TIFF to the “twins parade” and the “street fest” at Just For Laughs, the presenters in this session will get to the core of why experiential experiences can provide new incentives for attendance and sponsor opportunities at your festival or event. A particular focus will be on the 2014 Canadian Comedy Awards festival and project design for the FIFA World Cup to show “why” and “how” experiences can be created. Those seeking new attractions for their festival or event are encouraged to present their challenges and Tim and Scott will offer practical experience solutions.
The New Busker and Ontario.
Richmond Ballroom C
Brant "The Fire Guy" Matthews , Director - Dispatch Talent. (Toronto)
Canada has the most busker-oriented festivals and events in the world. These festival or event celebrations have helped to define the new busker style. Buskers today perform to a higher level of standards and are more innovative than ever. Attend this session and learn about the benefits of integrating a busker element into your festival or event programming.
The Importance of Advocacy: Getting Government to Work With You.
Richmond Ballroom D
Janice Price , CEO - Toronto Luminato Festival. (Toronto) - Moderator
Michael Langford, Director Investment & Development Office - Ministry of Tourism, Culture & Sport. (Toronto)
Sonja Harrington Woods, Consultant - Capital Hill Group (Ottawa)
Beth Potter, President - Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (Toronto)
The concept of advocacy or lobbying to a federal, provincial or municipal government traditionally generates high levels of awareness but low levels of understanding. Simply put, lobbying (or advocacy s it is more formally referred to) entails communicating the value of what your industry and its members can provide to the Ontario economy in terms of relevance to elected officials, such that these communications result in a more favourable operating environment for your industry/members to conduct their business. It means communicating your “needs and wants” in a language that leads to a partnership between thee officials and yourselves, with a ‘win-win” outcome. In our world of festivals and events, a successful strategy on both a macro level to benefit the entire industry and at a micro level to benefit your specific festival or event, has never been more important. Each panelist will speak from their own perspective sharing invaluable insights within the realm of their expertise. Attend this session and learn from some of the experts in this area.
4:00pm -5:00pm
Closing Keynote Speaker - Grand York Ballroom.
Pride on a World Stage - WorldPride 2014 Toronto!
Chrystal Dean, WorldPride Manager - Pride Toronto (Toronto)
Toronto will host WorldPride 2014 from June 20-29, 2014. WorldPride is an international celebration incorporating activism, education and the history and culture of LGBT communities, and is expected to attract up to 2 million participants. Hear from the organizers about event partnerships, community engagement, capacity building and legacy - on a local, national and international stage.
6:00pm - 7:00pm
Awards Gala Reception - Grand York Ballroom Foyer.
7:00pm - 10:00pm
Awards Gala Dinner & Silent Auction & Showcase - Grand York Ballroom.
Special Guest!
Hon. Michael Chan, Minister of Toursim, Culture & Sport
Joining us in the early evening is the Honourable Michael Chan who brings words of welcome!
HOT
10:30pm - 1:00am
Hospitality Suite - Markham Room.
February 27 - March 1, 2014
Sheraton Parkway Toronto North Hotel & Suites, Richmond Hill - 600 HWY. 7 East, Richmond Hill ON, L4B 1B Tel: (905) 881-2121
2014 FEO CONFERENCE
THANK YOU!
Thank you everyone who contributed to the success of Excite & Energize: sponsors, volunteers, exhibitors, delegates, speakers, showcase, silent auction donors and everyone in between.
See you next year!