Save the date for these exciting MPI Toronto chapter events:

Wednesday, Oct. 17
Just Networking
5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 
Dublin Calling (250 Adelaide St W, Toronto)

To register now, click here

Are you writing your CMP exam in November or January? If so, be sure to sign up for the MPI Toronto CMP Bootcamp on Oct. 23 at the InterContinental Toronto Centre.

The CMP Bootcamp is a half-day, comprehensive overview of the exam topics. The session is taught by industry experts who have passed their CMP and can answer questions you may have about the exam. The CMP Bootcamp will focus on topics that you feel you need covered more in-depth, making sure you get the most out of the session.

Session Details:
Tuesday, Oct. 23
InterContinental Toronto Centre
2 p.m. to 7 p.m.

REGISTER NOW

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to prepare for your exam.

Unlock your creativity at the upcoming Professional Development session on Nov. 13. Explore the importance of innovation, brainstorming techniques and strategies for engaging your audience before, during and after your events.

Location:
Vantage Venues
150 King St W, Toronto, ON M5H 1J9

Learn more about the session and register here soon!

Join MPI Toronto on Dec. 4 to raise a glass and toast a successful year in the meeting industry. Network and celebrate with over 400 like-minded professionals.

The Holiday Gala is an opportunity to dress up and enjoy an evening of great food and entertainment. It’s also an opportunity to give back. A large part of the Holiday Gala is raising funds for important causes. Last year’s event raised over $35, 000 for the Breakfast with Santa Foundation and the chapter’s World Education Congress (WEC) 2019 fund. Our goal is to surpass that amount this year and make this the best and most successful Holiday Gala to date.

This year’s event is being hosted at The International Centre.

Registration opening soon! Stay up-to-date by following us @MPIToronto.

Date: Tuesday, Dec. 4

Location: The International Centre

6900 Airport Rd, Mississauga,
ON L4V 1E8

Three hours of golf plus a three-hour reception and banquet at the newly renovated Royal Woodbine Golf Club.

Come mix and mingle with your favorite meeting professionals! 

Date: Tuesday, June 25, 2019
Location:  Royal Woodbine Golf Club (Dixon Rd & Hwy 27)
Registration: Noon | Tee Off: 2 p.m. | Finished: 8 p.m.

Why attend?  

• Three hours of golf and a three-hour reception and banquet
• Come join this great networking opportunity.
• Book your foursome (minimum two planners) or come on our own and invite your favorite meeting professional.
• Mingle and get to know one another in a relaxed, enjoyable atmosphere.
• Beginners are more than welcome! Take advantage of our novice golfers clinic.
• Come out and have some FUN! 

Prize donations are welcome — contact the MPI Toronto Chapter office for more information.

Did you miss out on the AGM & Volunteer Recognition? Look no further for a quick recap as we reviewed our 2017-18 fiscal year and celebrated our amazing volunteers. This event took place in the fabulous WE Global Learning Centre, which is an amazing meeting space with new technology. Food was sponsored by the familiar Food Dudes!

This is a special year for MPI Toronto, as it is our 40th anniversary for the chapter. Along with our anniversary, we celebrated many milestones for our members being with us for over five, 10, 25 and even from the start at 40 years! Congratulations to our member milestones and 5-Star Volunteers.

5-Star Volunteer Recipients
Awards Committee – Justine Moller
Communications Committee – Caitlin Burgess, CMP
CMP Study Group Committee – Jen Moir, CMP
Global Meetings Industry Day Committee – Antonietta Tantalo
Holiday Gala Committee – Kalinda Jessett
Leadership Development Committee – Brenda Carter, CMP, CMM
Membership Committee – Vincent Murphy
Professional Development Committee – Sanjeev Jadhav

Sanjeev Jadhav was also the recipient of the MPI Toronto Education Award.

Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) brings together leaders from across the meeting and events industry to showcase the real impact that business meetings, conferences, conventions, incentive travel, trade shows and exhibitions have on people, business and communities.  

GMID is first and most importantly an educational event. This MPI initiative has three objectives: 

• To define and shape the meetings and events profession in the future
• To help raise the profile of the industry and the benefits it generates for communities and institutions across Canada
• To discuss the economic impact of meetings in their region with people who are outside of the industry

Check out pictures from GMID 2018 here. Keep posted on updates and announcements for GMID 2019!

#MPITO members, are you looking for a way to get involved? The Global Meetings Industry Day Committee is looking for volunteers! Contribute to a day that is celebrated by meeting and events professionals all over the world! If interested, send a line to office@mpitoronto.org. 

The Sponsorship Committee is looking for auction prizes for the December Holiday Gala. This is your opportunity to support the chapter, our WEC 2019 Fund and our charity, Breakfast with Santa Foundation.

Gift baskets; tickets for sporting events, concerts or shows; hotel stays; electronic merchandise, jewelry; gift cards; and wine baskets are all suggestions. Why not be creative and come up with something new?

Click here for the form to complete and return to have your donation listed.

Live auction prizes should include transportation, at least four nights accommodation, golf or spa, meals, etc. For live auction prizes, please contact Leslie Wright at lwright@mpitoronto.org.

The nominations form for the MPI Toronto Chapter awards will be coming out shortly. Start thinking of a member you know who has made a great contribution to the chapter. The awards will include:

Norm Neill Student of the Year
New Member of the Year
Literary Award
Outstanding Volunteer of the Year
Mentor of the Year
Supplier of the Year
Planner of the Year

Introducing George Wong as the new head of partnerships at PheedLoop - 360° Event Technology

Hey MPI Toronto! Thanks for the amazing welcome and honor. Having spent time marketing for Pepsi and Google, I am now on a mission at PheedLoop to push the events industry forward through tech. My dream is to equip our community with the tools to run smart, efficient and profitable events. We have an incredible opportunity in Canada to lead the future of events. I can’t wait to meet other event enthusiasts; should you have any questions about technology, marketing or social media, please reach out! george@pheedloop.com | 647-875-8483, ext. 703

A brand new way to manage events
PheedLoop is proud to release Distributed Event Management 2.0. The last thing you want as an event planner is to be answering calls or emails all day. That’s why PheedLoop’s portal system empowers speakers, exhibitors, sponsors and registrants to curate and manage their own event experience. In this release, we introduce deep analytics and automation to give you the data required to take your events to the next level. Contact George to learn more!

Stronco appoints general manager
J.Ralph Strachan, president and CEO of Stronco, is pleased to announce the appointment of Saira Beig to general manager of Stronco effective Aug. 1. Saira’s background in the convention and trade show industry started over 20 years ago as an owner of a trade show and publication. She has held various positions since joining Stronco, including the most recent as assistant general manager. Founded in 1952, Stronco is Canada’s largest privately owned general service contractor. For more information: Saira Beig, CEM, 905-270-6767, saira.b@stronco.com.

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, 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.” 

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 Aug. 13-14, 2019, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

For more information, contact: Melissa Arnott, director of events, 416-510-5141, melissaa@newcom.ca

Summer issue — "Healthy and Wise"

The summer issue of MPI Toronto's meeting magazine, themed “Healthy and Wise,” encompasses all topics related to wellness and corporate social responsibility with the importance of keeping healthy and supporting various causes. When putting together this magazine, our committee wanted to share new ideas, concepts and ways to implement wellness in our meetings along with ways to practice wellness ourselves. With the day-to-day management of meetings and events, we sure do need them! Check out the variety of topics, including wellness trends for attendees, planner burnout, healthy eating habits and how to alleviate human trafficking at our events. Enjoy the issue! Start reading this issue now!