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BizBash's Canada 250: The Top Canadian Event Professionals

Chosen for their work on corporate events, associations, trade shows, event strategy, and more, these people represent the best of the meeting and event industry in Canada.

Canada Top 250
Graphic: Carolyn Bouchard for BizBash

Canada is the home of brands such as the retailers Lululemon, Roots Canada, Herschel Supply Co.; the entertainment behemoth Cirque du Soleil; and the corporations found on every major arena: Telus, Bell, and Scotiabank.

They share something else in common beyond a home base: They all believe in the power of events to build their businesses and bring people together. Along with a community of event designers and producers, trade show executives, event managers, destination marketing leaders, and others, they make up the inaugural BizBash Canada 250. In 2018, we listed our picks for the top 500 U.S. and Canadian event professionals. This year, Canadians have their own list.

We celebrate their achievements and also present this as a launching point for networking and other professional connections with an end result of continuing to elevate the industry.

Scroll through the list below or jump to the section using the links below.



Agencies
Audiovisual & Lighting Design
Catering
Conference Planners & Producers
Corporate Producers & Strategists
Destination Management Companies & Incentives
Destination Marketing Organizations
Entertainment & Music
Event Designers & Producers
Event Industry Leadership
Event Management
Event Technology
Festivals & Fairs
Hospitality
Planners—Associations
Planners—Nonprofits
Public Relations
Sports & Arenas
Strategy & Leadership
Trade Show Management
Weddings



AGENCIES
Claire Adams, Notable Life Media Group, Co-C.E.O. & Principal, Toronto
Jean-François Bouchard, Sid Lee, Chairman & Co-Founder, Montreal
Nick Cowling, Citizen Relations, President, Canada & Global Innovation, Toronto
Jordan Fogle, The Mint Agency, C.E.O., Toronto
Neil Forester, Substance Group, Owner, Toronto
Rosie Gentile, Cossette, S.V.P., Experience Design, Toronto
Mark Harrison, The T1 Agency, President & C.E.O., Toronto
Yasmine Khalil, Cirque du Soleil Events & Experiences, President, Montreal
Katherine McCartney, PDW Inc., Principal, Vancouver
Carli Posner, Notable Life Media Group, Co-C.E.O., Toronto
Catherine Runnals, Brandlive Management Group, President, Vancouver
Vanessa Schnekenburger, Match Marketing Group, Managing Director, Toronto



AUDIOVISUAL & LIGHTING DESIGN
Bill Brown, FMAV, President & C.E.O., Toronto
David Campbell, Freeman Audio Visual Canada, Executive Vice President & C.O.O., Vancouver
Rennie Colelli, BB Blanc Audiovisual & Entertainment, President & C.E.O., Toronto
Frank Gerstein, Westbury National Show Systems, Partner & Managing Director, Toronto
Jarrett Hartwell, Proshow Audiovisual, General Manager, Calgary
Al Manji, Quest Audio Visual, President, Toronto
Scott McPhee, 10eighty Production Technologies, Principal, Whistler
Don Recourt, Stagevision, Owner, Mississauga
Adrian Scott, Go2 Productions, President & Executive Creative Director, Vancouver
Anthony Vade, FMAV, Experience Architect, Toronto


CATERING
Adam Bebawi, Olive Orange, Co-Founder, Montreal
Shannon Boudreau, The Lazy Gourmet, Director of Sales & Events, Vancouver
Sebastien Centner, Eatertainment, Founder & Creative Director, Toronto
Debra Lykkemark, Culinary Capers, C.E.O., Vancouver
Lynnette MacDonald, Swirl Custom Cakes & Desserts, Founder & Head Cake Designer, Calgary
Adrian Niman, The Food Dudes, Founder & Executive Chef, Toronto
Nicholas Waters, Toque Catering, Owner & Head Chef, Victoria



CONFERENCE PLANNERS & PRODUCERS
Michelle Edge, Energy Disruptors, Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer, Calgary
Christopher Neary, TEDxVancouver, Chairman, Vancouver
Heather Odendaal, WNorth Conference, Co-founder & C.E.O., Whistler
Richard St-Pierre, C2 Montréal, President & C.E.O., Montreal



CORPORATE PRODUCERS & STRATEGISTS
Khairunissa Alladina, Scotiabank, Director, Global Event Management, Toronto
Tracey Alleston, Shoppers Drug Mart, Coordinator, Conferences & Events, Toronto
Greg Barbour, Molson Coors Canada, Senior Director, Sponsorship & Events, Toronto
Mike Bascom, Labatt Breweries of Canada, Senior Director Marketing, High End, Toronto
Leslie Blachford, Hudson’s Bay Company, D.V.P., Social Media & Events, Toronto
Alison Canavan, Blackberry, Director, Global Events, Ottawa
James Connell, Roots Canada, Chief Ecommerce & Customer Experience Officer, Toronto
Claudia Côté, Saputo, Events Advisor, Montreal
Evan Creighton, Providence Healthcare Foundation, Manager, Events, Toronto
Corey Evans, WestJet, Senior Manager, Content, Calgary
Kelly Fawcett, Telus, Director, Sponsorship Marketing, Vancouver
Melanie Filiatreault, Bombardier, Head, Marketing Communications, Branding & Cabin Design, Quebec
Susannah Frances, Sun Life Financial, Senior Event Planner, Toronto
Victoria Freeman, Canada Goose, Senior Director, Marketing, Toronto
Deborah Gee, Lululemon, Experience Designer—Retail Operations,Toronto
Dana Henson, Arc’teryx Equipment, Marketing & Events Lead, North Vancouver
Sharon Howard, Crown Royal, Marketing Manager, Toronto
Mariella Irivarren, BMO Financial Group, Manager, Event-Based Marketing, Toronto
Heidi Janzen, Sorel, National Brand Manager, Marketing & Public Relations, London
Rachel Klar, Intuit Canada, Senior Events Marketing Manager, Mississauga
Kristine Klassen, McCain Foods, Global V.P., Marketing and Innovation, Toronto
Kaitlyn Lush, Gray Magazine, Event Manager, Vancouver
Vanessa Norris, Loblaw Companies, V.P., Marketing Operations, Toronto
Jordana Novak, Canadian Tire, A.V.P., Events, Toronto
Dave Rivers, Bell, Director Corporate Marketing, Sponsorship & Events, Toronto
Sarah Rushton, Mountain Equipment Co-op, Director, Community, Vancouver
Sandy Safi, Dîner En Blanc, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Montreal
Sandra Sanderson, Sobey’s, S.V.P., Marketing, Stellarton, Nova Scotia
Arati Sharma, Shopify, Director of Marketing, Product & Offline, Toronto
Emma Shaw, Rogers Communications, Director, Corporate Events, Toronto
Sarah Simpson, Herschel Supply Co., Senior Manager, Events, Vancouver
Stephanie Sturino, Sun Life Financial, Senior Event Planner, Toronto
Jacqueline Tait, Manulife Financial, Manager, Canadian Division Events, Toronto
Tom Tames, Aritzia, Senior Director, Special Events & Employee Experience, Vancouver
Bahzad Trinos, Naked and Famous, Creative & Sales Director, Montreal
Chris Wakefield, Tim Hortons, Lead, Regional Marketing & Sponsorships, Canada, Toronto



DESTINATION MANAGEMENT COMPANIES & INCENTIVES
Matthew Coyne, Cantrav Services, President, Vancouver
Tahira Endean, Society for Incentive Travel Excellence, Head of Events, Vancouver
Terry Engesser, Canadian Tours International, Managing Director, Toronto
Jamie Keating, Fraser & Hoyt Incentives, President, Halifax
Joanne Burns Millar, Pacific Destination Services, President, Vancouver
Vivian Tsogas, Rare Indigo Ventures, Owner, Vancouver



DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATIONS
Cindy Ady, Tourism Calgary, President & C.E.O., Calgary

Scott Beck, Tourism Toronto, President & C.E.O., Toronto
Royce Chwin, Travel Alberta, C.E.O., Calgary
Michael Crockatt, Ottawa Tourism, President & C.E.O., Ottawa
Barrett Fisher, Tourism Whistler, C.E.O., Whistler
Yves Lalumière, Tourisme Montréal, President & C.E.O., Montréal
Candace Schierling, Tourism Saskatoon, Director of National Conventions & Events Marketing, Saskatoon
Ty Speer, Tourism Vancouver, President & C.E.O., Vancouver



ENTERTAINMENT & MUSIC
Janice Cardinale, The Idea Hunter, Chief Idea Hunter, Toronto
John Donnelly, John Donnelly & Associates, President, Vancouver
Phoebe Greenberg, Phi Centre and DHC/ART, Director & Founder, Montreal

Brian Hansen, Fuze Entertainment Solutions, Creative Director, Calgary
Arthur Kerekes, uRequest Live, Founder, Toronto
Elisa Kovacic, A2D2 Aerial Dance Cirque Co., Co-Founder & Director, Toronto
Kristina Kulikova, KulKat Entertainment, Founder & Artistic Director, Toronto
Corey Mandell, Mandell Entertainment Group, Owner, Toronto
Riley O’Connor, Live Nation Canada, Chair, Toronto



EVENT DESIGNERS & PRODUCERS
Debbie Arato, Arato Entertainment & Events, President & C.E.O., Toronto

Jennifer Bassett, Bassett Events, Founder, Toronto
Kimberly Beaune, Creative Twist, Event Storyteller, Toronto
Alex Bickers, Reveal Events Group, President & Creative Director, Vancouver
Hala Bissada, Hala Events & Communications Inc., President & C.E.O., Toronto
Sharon Bonner, Bright Ideas Events, Founder & C.E.O., Vancouver
Lisa Bray, Eventful Times, Owner, Sudbury
Andryia Browne, Events with Vizability, Owner & Creative Director, Fort McMurray
Candice Chan, Candice & Alison Events Group, Partner & Creative Director, Toronto
Jaime Crouch, Splash Events & Floral Design, Owner, Midland
Cheryl-Jade Domingo, Cava Rose, Co-Founder & Creative Director, Montreal
Stefani Dunn, Decor & More, Chief Creative Officer, Oakville
Ignazio Gatto, Gatto Flower Distributing, Co-Founder & Owner, Toronto
Antonietta Gatto, Gatto Flower Distributing, Co-Founder & Owner, Toronto
Thomas Giraudo, Altitude C, President, Montreal
Monica Gomez, The Concierge Club, Founder & President, Toronto
Jennifer James, Jennifer James Events, Event Producer, Calgary
Christopher Jodoin, Christopher J Design, Principal, Vancouver
Raviv K, R5 Event Design, Event Architect & Creative Director, Toronto
Dani Kagan, Stratus Events, Co-Founder, Toronto
Aaron Kaufman, Fifth Element Group, President, Toronto
Trish Knox, TK Events, President & Owner, Oakville
Kenneth Kristoffersen, Pop Kollaborative, President & Chief Strategy Officer, Calgary
Lorne Levitt, Total Events, Owner, Montreal
Brock Lumsden, Bold Event Creative, President, Vancouver
Meagan Madill, Curated By M, Founder, Toronto
Lisa Marks, Brand Alive, Owner, Calgary
Victoria Marshman, Stratus Events, Co-Founder, Toronto
Anna Rinomato, FOS Decor Centre, Event Designer, Toronto
Jeffry Roick, McNabb Roick Events, Director, Toronto
Tanya Scagnol, Fifth Element Group, Creative Director, Toronto
Alison Silcoff, Alison Silcoff Events, President, Montreal
Todd Skinner, Production Canada, President, Vancouver
Alison Slight, Candice & Alison Events Group, Partner & Managing Director, Toronto
Zoe Starkman, YellowHouse Events, Event Producer, Toronto
Sarah Tammemagi, Parléview, Chief Experiential Officer, Toronto
Dustin Westling, OneWest Event Design & Logistics, Managing Partner, Calgary
Brittany Wong, Bash & Fete, Founder & Principal Planner, Vancouver
Raymond Yu, Palettera, President, Markham



EVENT INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP
Andrea Boulden, Meeting Professionals Against Human Trafficking, Board Member, Toronto

Tania Ferlin, Meeting Professionals Against Human Trafficking, Board Member, Toronto
Sherrif Karamat, PCMA, President & C.E.O., Toronto
Mariela McIlwraith, Meeting Change, President, Vancouver
Mathias Posch, IAPCO, President, Vancouver
Barry Smith, Convention Centres of Canada, Executive Director, Oakville



EVENT MANAGEMENT
Harpreet Atwal, Executive Platforms, Senior Events Coordinator, Toronto

Claire Belanger-Parker, CNT Management Group, President, Regina
Sébastien David, Sénik Events, President & Co-Owner, Montreal
Jenny Faucher, Managing Matters, President & C.E.O., Toronto
Jennifer Glynn, Intuitive Conferences & Events, Managing Partner, Toronto
Joel Hock, Solutions with Impact, President, Toronto
Tuesday Johnson-MacDonald, Tap Resources, President, Kitchener
Deborah Kerbel, Deborah L Kerbel Inc., Founder, Toronto
Mike Lecour, Global Experience Specialists, Executive Vice President, Toronto
Juliano Lissoni, MCI Group Canada, Managing Director, Toronto
Natalie Lowe, The Sustainable Planner, Founder, St. Catharines
Erynn Nicole Lyster, The Commons Calgary, Co-Founder & Creative Director, Calgary
Zach Lyster, The Commons Calgary, Co-Founder & Director of Operations, Calgary
Keri Miller, E=mc2 Events, Partner & Chief Creative Strategist, Calgary
Tara O’Grady, Influencer Events, Founder, Toronto
Alexandra Pett, Eventology, Founder & Director, Vancouver
Jeff Rogers, Salt, President, Toronto
Bettyanne Sherrer, ProPlan Conferences & Events, Principal, Toronto
Carly Silberstein, Redstone Agency, C.E.O., Toronto
Michelle Smith, Real Communications, Owner/Partner, Etobicoke
Francine Socket, Francine Socket & Associates, Principal, Toronto
Brent Taylor, Timewise Event Management, President, Edmonton
Dana Zita, And Logistix, President, Toronto



EVENT TECHNOLOGY
Sakchin Bessette, Moment Factory, Co-Founder & Executive Creative Director, Montreal

François Brunet, D.E. Systems, President, Ottawa
Kory Fawcett, Zaui Software, C.E.O., Vancouver
Jeff Sinclair, Eventbase Technology, C.E.O. & Co-Founder, Vancouver
Mark Stewart, Wondermakr, President & Chief Innovation Officer, Toronto
Ben West, Eventbase Technology, C.P.O. & Co-Founder, Vancouver



FESTIVALS & FAIRS
Danielle Bourre, Canadian National Exhibition Association, Entertainment Manager, Toronto
Kelsey Butt, Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival, Events & Engagement Coordinator, Toronto
Anita Cotic, Toronto International Film Festival, Director, Film Office & Event Production, Toronto
Jacqueline Dupuis, Vancouver International Film Festival, Executive Director, Vancouver
Alexis Ferland, Québec Winter Carnival, Director of Programming, Québec
Shelley Frost, Pacific National Exhibition, President & C.E.O., Vancouver
Charlie Johnstone, Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, C.E.O., Toronto
Robyn Kaszor, Just for Laughs, V.P. of Festivals, Montreal
Erin Lau, Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, Director, Culture & Community Development, Toronto
Alfred Lowrick, Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest, Executive Director, Kitchener
Adam Mitchell, Edmonton Fringe Fest, Executive Director, Fringe Theatre Adventures, Edmonton
Amber Moyle, Pride Toronto, Director, Development & Special Events, Toronto
Andy Nulman, Just for Laughs, Founder, Montreal
Aneesa Oumarally, Toronto Caribbean Carnival, C.E.O. of Festival Management Committee, Toronto
Paul Runnals, Skookum Festival, Founder & Festival Director, Vancouver
Anthony Sargent, Luminato Festival, C.E.O., Toronto
Robert Wise, Calgary Stampede, Director, Agriculture & Western Events, Calgary



HOSPITALITY
Costa Antonopoulos, The Antonopoulos Group, Co-Founder, Montreal
Tony Antonopoulos, The Antonopoulos Group, Co-Founder, Montreal
Michael Bonacini, Oliver & Bonacini, Co-Founder, Toronto
Nick Di Donato, Liberty Entertainment Group, President & C.E.O., Toronto
Cameron Dryburgh, CN Tower, General Manager of Restaurants & Events, Toronto
Monique Gomel, The Rocky Mountaineer, V.P., Global Marketing & Communications, Vancouver
Norman Mastalir, Fairmont Chateau Whistler, Managing Director, Whistler
Peter Nowlan, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Chief Marketing Officer, Toronto
Jeff Stober, The Drake Hotel, Owner, Toronto



PLANNERS—ASSOCIATIONS
Danielle Andre, World Federation of Hemophilia, Senior Congress & Meetings Manager, Montreal

Shari Bricks, Bond Association Management, Owner, Toronto
Sandra Herriot, Canadian Hotel Marketing & Sales Executives, Director of Education & Events, Toronto
Lesley Jane Musker, Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries,
Manager, Event Operations, Ottawa
Erin Roddie, Chartered Professionals in Human Resources BC & Yukon, Conference & Event Manager, Vancouver
Nicole Sampson, Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada, Director, Conventions, Toronto
Cara Shulman, Mortgage Professionals Canada, Vice President, Membership & Events, Toronto
Leslie Wright, Fletcher Wright Associates, President, Mississauga



PLANNERS—NONPROFITS
Dana Arsenault, BC Cancer Foundation, Associate Director, Special Events, Vancouver

Katharine Chen, Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada, Senior Events Officer, Toronto
Danielle Fleck, Canadian Cancer Society, Manager, Special Events, Vancouver
Laura Hearn, True Patriot Love Foundation, V.P., Corporate Partnerships, Marketing & Events, Toronto
Marni Mackenize, Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation, Senior Manager, Events, Toronto
Karine Mayers, National Arts Centre Gala, Senior Development Officer, Ottawa
Bettina Muller, Kelowna General Hospital Foundation, Events & Projects Coordinator, Kelowna
Tanya Phillips, Right to Play, Manager, Events & Sponsorship, Toronto
Nicole Pimentel, Second Harvest, Event Coordinator, Toronto
Peter Vamos, Portage, Executive Director, Montreal
Gaëtane Verna, Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery, Director, Toronto



PUBLIC RELATIONS
Brigitte Foisy, The PR Department, President, Toronto

Debra Goldblatt-Sadowski, Rock-it Promotions, President of Publicity & Promotions, Toronto
Natasha Koifman, NKPR, President, Toronto
Shauna MacDonald, Brookline Public Relations, Principal & Founder, Calgary
Amanda Shuchat, The Colony Project, Managing Director, Toronto
Andrew Wagar, SwervePR, C.E.O., Burlington



SPORTS & ARENAS
Jeff Atkinson, Honda Indy Toronto, President, Toronto

Chantal Brunet, Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada, Director, Strategic Alliances, Montreal
Eric Chene, Vancouver International Marathon Society, Director, Race Operations, Vancouver
Michael Doyle, Aquilini Hospitality and Live Entertainment, President, Vancouver
Shannon Hosford, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Partnership, Chief Marketing Officer, Toronto
Robert Imbrogno, Wintersport Events, C.E.O., Calgary
Jim Lawson, Woodbine Entertainment Group, C.E.O., Toronto
Neil McKinnon, GranFondo Canada, President, Vancouver
Ryan Paul, Golf Canada, Tournament Director, Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, Oakville
Jeff Payne, Major League Soccer Canada, Director, Brand Alliances, Toronto
Duane Vienneau, Grey Cup, Chief Grey Cup & Events Officer, Toronto
Gavin Ziv, Tennis Canada, Vice President, Professional Events & Managing Director, Rogers Cup Toronto, Toronto



STRATEGY & LEADERSHIP
Alexis Kereluk, ConnectSeven Group, Partner, Vancouver

Christine Korda, The Influential Agency, Director of Influencer Strategy & Brand Partnerships, Toronto
Muriel Solomon, CMOish, Principal, Toronto



TRADE SHOW MANAGEMENT
Jason Campbell, Canadian International Auto Show, General Manager, Toronto

Joe Glionna, Newcom Media, President, Toronto
Aman Gupta, Informa Canada, President, Fan Expo HQ, Toronto
Denise Hayward, Marketplace Events, Show Director, Toronto
Shirley Janeczko, Canada’s Farm Progress Show, Show Manager, Saskatchewan
Nick Samain, DMG Events Canada, Vice President North America, Calgary
Patti Stewart, Informa Canada, Executive Vice President, Toronto
Linda Waddell, Toronto International Boat Show, President & Show Director, Toronto



WEDDINGS
Erin Carmichael, The Design Co., Co-Owner, Ottawa

Lynn Fletcher, Lynn Fletcher Weddings, President, Calgary
Michelle Garber, Fab Fete Event Planning Boutique, Creative Director, Event Planner, Toronto
Alicia Keats, Alicia Keats Weddings & Events, Creative Director, Principal Planner, Vancouver
Andréanne Mathieu, Andréanne & Co., President, Montreal
Paras Mehta, Paras Events, Creative Director, Mississauga
Stacey Price, The Design Co., Co-Owner, Ottawa
Barb Walker, French Kiss Events, Founder, Lead Planner & Designer, Victoria
Julianne Young, Julianne Young Weddings, Owner & Wedding Designer, Calgary

Return to top of list.

This story appeared in the 2020 BizBash Best Canada issue.



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