Events & Entertainment

L’importance de l’authenticité, la résilience et la détermination en entrepreneurship

Cynthia Daoust https://www.linkedin.com/in/spheria/ conjugue un BACC en animation et gestion culturelle à son expérience d’entrepreneure en production d’événements à son compte depuis plus de 30 ans. Elle a conçu, de toutes pièces, plus de 500 événements clé en main dans sa carrière et a géré des événements d’envergure nationale, des événements d’affaires internationales et des événements grand public.

Elle a fondée en 2003 Sphéria Événements, https://www.spheria.ca/ une firme d’expertise en production d’événements corporatif clé en main sur mesure. Et, elle est productrice de ses propres événements-maison Les Bals de Noël Sphéria des PME qui font fureur depuis 2007.
Aussi auteure du livre Sortie du Bois, un guide de stratégies clés, de questions concrètes et de méthodes éprouvées qui non seulement peuvent aider une personne à se sortir d’un tourbillon dépressif, mais aussi réduire les chances de revivre un épisode aussi dramatique.


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Delivering music right to your door

Amanda Burgener is the co-founder of Curbside Concerts, a Calgary-based company that delivers live music right to your door, or driveway, or anywhere! With a mandate for equality, safety, and mental health, Curbside Concerts has kept live music in neighbourhoods, and local musicians working throughout the pandemic and beyond.

Now in its 4th year of business, Curbside has seen incredible growth, media attention, and even awards and nominations from YYC Music, Western Canadian Music Awards, Alberta Touring Arts Alliance, Canadian Live Music Association, and Music Cities. Most importantly, they have paid out over $750,000 to performing artists in Canada.

With a background in the Arts (B.Music from the University of Calgary), live events, and local business management, Amanda combines creativity with a desire to uplift her community.

As a citizen of the Métis Nation of Alberta, she is proud to foster inclusiveness and an Indigenous lens in her industry.

Matt ‘Masters’ Burgener is a Calgary based country and western musician and a co-founder of Curbside Concerts. A veteran performer, playrite and storyteller, Matt’s 25 year, 7 album career has taken him across Canada and on ten international tours. For 5 years he led the house band at the King Eddy, he’s played numerous times at the Saddledome for the Calgary Flames and he’s a 17 year member of Barney Bentall’s Cariboo Express, helping raise over 5 million dollars for Canadian charities.

Matt has a background in music business, working as a consultant, producer and advisor for different not-for-profits, the City of Calgary arts and culture department, the National Music Center, different music festivals and with CKUA Radio.

Matt has a BA in History from the University of Calgary. He and Amanda and they have 3 young kids. Matt is a first generation Albertan living in Treaty 7 territory.


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How to smell out a good deal when buying a business

Today, our guest is Trevor Van Heemert. After briefly attempting employment in his early 20s, Trevor resigned with no plan and bought a $150 bike trailer for scooping up merch from street-side free piles for consignment. That fateful purchase led to the offer to take over a struggling bicycle-based compost pickup operation in Victoria called Pedal to Petal. He brought it from decrepitude into a brief golden age, before the City brought its own taxpayer-funded compost trucks in to crush all the green waste operators out of business. Undiscouraged, Trevor launched his bucket website FiveGallonIdeas.com to showcase dozens of repurpose projects for the countless buckets in his now useless business inventory. Having established a pattern of redeeming struggling enterprises, Trevor was presented with an opportunity to buy an arcade manufacturer in Vancouver. After a grueling negotiation process, he and his business partner took possession of the 13-year-old salvage operation in April 2024.


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How We Gather Matters: The New Formula for Purpose-Driven Events to Create More Impact and Less Waste

Leor Rotchild is an author, speaker, and consultant with 20 years of sustainable business experience.

Leor is the Senior Director at Upswing Solutions, a B Corp-certified boutique consulting firm where he supports government and private sector clients to decarbonize their supply chains, address human rights risks, and deeply integrate purpose and sustainability into their core strategies.

Leor’s background includes leading a national association called Canadian Business for Social Responsibility and co-founder of a sustainable events company called Do It Green.

In his new book, entitled How We Gather Matters, Leor makes the case for better utilizing major events as a powerful platform for societal change and lays out a blueprint for a more purposeful, inclusive and sustainable approach to bringing people together.


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Using Art to Change the World with Craig Perlmutter of Arcadia Earth

Craig Perlmutter is the president of Arcadia Earth Toronto. His detail-oriented, hands-on leadership merged with enthusiasm toward the outdoors, entertainment, hospitality, education and outstanding customer service provides the exhibit’s first Canadian location with a perfect partner. Arcadia Earth Toronto combines Perlmutter’s entrepreneurial passions and experiences into one remarkable venture. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania as an Economics major, Perlmutter spent seven years in the promotions and marketing industry before owning and operating one of Canada’s top overnight summer camps in Algonquin Provincial Park for two decades. A visit to Arcadia Earth New York in 2020 led him to this incredible opportunity. Perlmutter’s extensive outreach within the local community through business and volunteer positions, with his experience in promotions, marketing and events brings valuable knowledge to further our mission of growing a community with more environmentally conscious and sustainability-thinking citizens.


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True innovation springs from unwavering dedication

Meet Matt Dee, an unconventional serial entrepreneur propelled by innovation with a self-taught mastery in sales, marketing, and design. He’s left an indelible mark, notably shaping the credit card payment system in the early 2000’s that we still use today, thriving in diverse ventures from early car sales from his parents driveway to professional music. Currently, he’s on the verge of launching a pioneering boat rental business alongside an adult card game concept, fueled by renewed determination. Despite recent setbacks, he finds solace in nature and draws strength from his close-knit circle. Matt Dee embodies resilience, showcasing the transformative power of passion and perseverance in the entrepreneurial journey. His story is a beacon of inspiration, reminding us that setbacks are merely stepping stones on the path to success, and true innovation springs from unwavering dedication and an unyielding spirit.


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A lifelong passion for music

Carmen Morin (http://carmenmorin.com/)is an award-winning concert pianist, teacher, and entrepreneur. Her orchestral debut at the age of 10 sparked several guest solo performances with orchestras throughout Canada, including a performance tour for the Canadian Embassy.

Following her faculty position at her city’s University Conservatory, she launched her commercial music school in 2013. Under her leadership, Morin Music has grown to a multiple 7-figure small business with a team of over 45 staff and faculty.

Programs at Morin Music currently provide education to over 1000 students locally in Calgary, and to thousands more around the world through distance education online.

As a performer, she was awarded first prize in an international piano competition in Coimbra, Portugal (2018), and her success as an educator has earned her international recognition as the first teacher in Western Canada to be inducted into the Steinway and Sons International Teacher Hall of Fame in New York (2019).

She was selected as one of Avenue Magazine’s Top 40 under 40 (2021) and currently serves on the board of directors of Honens, one of the world’s most prestigious international piano competitions.

In her business consulting, she focuses on performance-based education and curriculum design, helping founders and industry leaders to codify their expertise and turn it into a profitable and unparalleled educational program.

Carmen has recently re-engaged with her academic pursuits and is on the cusp of completing her degree in Psychology. With a keen interest in Performance Psychology, Carmen plans to delve into this specialized field post-graduation in order to explore and enhance cognitive and emotional aspects of performance in various high-pressure domains such as business, sports, and the performing arts.


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Inspiring people to take action in designing their own lives

Gail Taylor is a Canadian songwriter, keynote speaker, entrepreneur, and passionate advocate for the power of music to inspire change. Her catalog of 13 published songs draws from her life experiences and imparts invaluable messages, taking centre stage in her speaking engagements.

For the past 35 years, Gail has stood on stage and spoken about finance and socially responsible investing. Her journey began in the business world, where she honed her skills and expertise.

Gail attained her CIMA designation (Certified Investment Manager Analyst) from Wharton University, acquired her MBA at Queen’s University, and underwent executive training at Harvard Business School, all while building a successful Investment Advisory practice.

In the late 70’s, she embarked on a parallel journey, one dedicated to personal betterment and the art of setting and achieving goals. She is currently penning her second book – Curve Balls – personal stories and tools to inspire folks to take action in designing their own lives.


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Advice from the co-founder of a leading global influencer talent management agency

Emily Ward is the co-founder of Canada’s leading global influencer talent management agency Shine Talent Group. Emily transformed her PR agency (which she had for 10+ years) into a full influencer talent management agency. In this session we discuss, knowing when to make a change, knowing when it’s time to bring on a business partner, and how to find the right person.


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How a maker defined success his own way

Cate & Levi was founded in 2008 after the CEO & Founder’s first son Levi was born. Although Josh Title graduated from law school and practiced corporate law, “making” has always been his true calling. His mom is an avid crafter and father a committed and successful small business owner. You may say that Josh is the perfect marriage of both!

As Josh and his wife awaited the birth of their first child, he noticed that there was a lack of one of a kind, responsibly made, and beautifully designed products for children. He decided to create a unique collection of products that would be intricately crafted and environmentally responsible. Josh started by designing a handful of stuffed animals made from upcycled sweaters. These quickly became their signature pieces distributed and collected around the world.

The Cate & Levi Collection is handmade at Josh’s studio in Toronto, Canada. Together with his talented production team, he oversee every aspect of this collection. All the materials are sourced as close to home as possible. This process cuts down on shipping and reduces the carbon footprint. Cate and Levi produces three distinct product lines: One Of A Kind Reclaimed Wool Finished Products, DIY Wool Crafting Kits, and Softy Polar Fleece Finished Products.


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