theEvent: A Model of Belonging & Intentional Design

Building Bridges in Polarized Times: Reflections from theEVENT 2025

This September, the Meeting Professionals International (MPI) community gathered in Fredericton, New Brunswick, for theEVENT 2025. Hosted at the Fredericton Convention Centre, the gathering was a vibrant reminder of what makes the event industry not just relevant, but essential in today’s fractured world.

Attendees described the experience as “off the charts” in terms of connection, energy, and meaning. From the moment they stepped into the venue, it was clear that this was more than a conference. It was a coming together of laughter, learning, fun, and—perhaps most importantly—connection.

Why Gatherings Matter More Than Ever

As several people observed, the timing of this year’s gathering could not have been more critical. Daily headlines remind us of humanity’s darkest tendencies: genocide, racism, war, and violence of every kind. With polarization deepening by the nanosecond, it’s easy to feel both hopeless and powerless.

Yet gatherings like theEVENT serve as vital spaces to pause, refuel, and reconnect with what matters most. They remind participants that while global crises cannot be solved overnight, event professionals can create pockets of belonging and empathy that ripple outward. Tomorrow depends on what is done—and what is left undone—today.

Creating Environments of Belonging

One of the DEI highlights included the DEI roundtables with Dionne Bishop, CSEP, Zaman Ishaad, CED, CMP, DES, CIS, Julie Danaylov CSEP, and Lira Buschman, CMP. The openness, courage, and generosity these facilitators brought to the conversations left a lasting impact.

The sessions underscored that diversity, equity, and inclusion are not boxes to check—they are the foundation of meaningful human connection. They are how the industry ensures that events reflect not just the needs of today, but also the aspirations of a more equitable and inclusive future.

Photo Credit: Justin Dutcher