How to create an impactful event

An inspiring event takes shape while crafting a unique, engaging agenda that offers exceptional value to delegates and organisations. Attendees want to hear from industry-leading experts and authoritative keynote speakers. Groups crave the insider knowledge gained from touring state-of-the-art facilities and thrive when experiencing worthwhile business-to-business exchanges.

In several Canadian cities, planners can draw from local ambassador networks that act as one-stop-shops to access the top experts in their field of interest. For example, the Toronto Leaders Circle can connect planners with academics, scientists, researchers and global-minded thought leaders that add depth to programming in the technology, life sciences and other key economic sectors. Meanwhile, Québec City’s Ambassador’s Club can introduce you to more than 150 innovative thinkers and changemakers to elevate your speakers’ list.

Some major events that leveraged Canada’s immense knowledge capital include the 2023 World Summit AI Americas in Montréal, which booked Yoshua Bengio – founder of Québec’s MILA AI Institute and winner of the 2018 Turing Award, the ‘Nobel Prize of Computing’, for his pioneering work in deep learning — as its keynote. Attendees at Collision 2022, in Toronto – known as ‘the Olympics of tech’ – heard local expert Jeff Shiner, CEO of 1Password, share insights as a leader in human-centric security and privacy.

Canada boasts many cutting-edge institutions across a range of sectors worthy of site visits, including the world-class ACE research and development facility at Ontario Tech, Memorial University’s Marine Institute in St. John’s – home to the world’s largest flume tank – and the Fedoruk Centre for Nuclear Innovation in Saskatoon, to name just a few.

Because it is home to established industry giants and disruptive start-ups in every sector, Canada is well-placed to foster exciting B2B exchanges during an event. For example, the Toronto-Waterloo is the largest tech cluster in North America outside of Silicon Valley. More than 1,100 companies in Canada work in cleantech – 13 of which feature on the Global Cleantech 100 – and the world’s 10 largest biopharmaceutical companies operate in the country, most with R&D and manufacturing operations. Planners can therefore find leading businesses in their arena to enhance any programme, and Canada’s collaborative approach makes it an ideal destination for organisations and delegates to connect, share and grow.

Today’s organisations want to meet in destinations that reflect their values, goals and corporate culture. Canada makes it easy to align with important mandates including sustainability and diversity, equity and inclusion.

In 2022, Destination Canada launched the highly anticipated Canadian Business Events Sustainability Plan – a first-of-its-kind national programme with the aim of improving the economic, social and environmental sustainability practices of business events hosted in the country.

Many cities reinforce Canada’s stellar reputation for sustainability with innovative initiatives: Montréal’s Palais de Congrès introduced its Eco-Conditionality Policy, giving discounts of up to 10 per cent to organisations taking concrete steps towards sustainable development. Edmonton’s new rooftop solar arrays on the EXPO Centre will be the largest in Canada, and 35 per cent of the venue’s food comes from local suppliers. Toronto has the third-highest percentage of sustainable hotels in the world, according to Booking.com’s Travel Sustainable certification programme, while Vancouver – the birthplace of Greenpeace – boasts the smallest carbon footprint per capita of any North American city and the world’s first and only double LEED Platinum certified convention centre.

Other developments making it easier to host sustainable events include Calgary’s light rail transit system, which is fully powered by renewable energy, and the city has the fourth-highest percentage of sustainable hotels in the world, according to Booking.com’s Sustainable Travel certification programme. The Victoria Convention Centre is designated as carbon neutral, with a 79 per cent waste diversion rate, while 99.2 per cent of Prince Edward Island’s power comes from renewable sources.

Canada is also renowned for its welcoming atmosphere, where anyone who visits feels instantly at home. Nearly one in four people are, or have been, a landed immigrant or permanent resident, and the country is proud to have some of the most diverse cities in the world – in Toronto, for example, 200 languages are spoken. So delegates can feel safe and able to share their ideas freely and openly.

Hosting events in Canada allows organisations to meet their mandates and celebrate their values.

Choosing the right site for an event can elevate the attendee experience by encouraging creativity, sparking transformative ideas and leaving everyone feeling energised and motivated. When looking for a destination that will truly enliven your delegates – both inside and outside of the convention centre – Canada has it covered.

From the majestic Rocky Mountains to its breathtaking coastal landscapes, Canada offers outstanding event spaces from coast to coast to coast, including the award-winning Vancouver Convention Centre in the heart of downtown, which overlooks the North Shore Mountains and the glistening Pacific Ocean. Love the idea of a water feature at your next event? The Niagara Falls Convention Centre sits adjacent to the magnificent falls, while the Prince Edward Island Convention Centre is located on the historic Charlottetown waterfront.

Canada’s attractive and walkable cosmopolitan cities draw delegates from around the world eager to explore their surroundings when their sessions are done for the day. Québec City is renowned for its Historic District, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and features cobblestone streets, world-class dining and a European vibe. Toronto has 13 new Michelin-starred restaurants, a fantastic sports culture and dramatic Lake Ontario views. In Victoria, delegates can wander abundant gardens or parkland and take in stunning mountain and ocean views.

To invigorate your attendees while offering them breathtaking natural beauty and one-of-a-kind local experiences, Canada provides extraordinary settings – both inside state-of-the-art conference centres and outdoors – that leave everyone wanting more.

Canada offers everything required for impactful events

To captivate delegates and create an inspiring event packed with wonder, it’s vital to line up fabulous agendas featuring fascinating speakers, tour pioneering facilities and lay the groundwork for meaningful exchanges. It’s also important to align with your organisation’s driving vision in a destination that welcomes everyone while providing stunning natural landscapes and plenty of activities and culture for attendees to soak up and remember for a lifetime.

All of this is readily available in Canada. Add in the easy accessibility of these world-class destinations, the country’s sophisticated infrastructure and the desire of Team Canada partners to collaborate and personalise your event so it’s unforgettable, and your job is done.

For impartial insights, inspiration and introductions, contact the Destination Canada team:

Virginie De Visscher
Senior Director, Business Events, Destination Canada
Destination Canada Business Events
[email protected]

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