Canadian Special Events

The November 26, 2025, deadline is quickly approaching; remember, every entrant will appear on our social channels. Winners gain that and so much more, but only if you enter. https://lnkd.in/gfGdtp4Y #venue #eventindustry #eventservices #eventprofs

Thrilled to say that CSE Live! 2026 returns April 27–29 to the Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto, bringing together Canada’s event industry for three unforgettable days of creativity, connection, and next-level inspiration. This year marks the launch of the inaugural Planner’s Retreat, a pioneering approach to education that offers a reset for creative minds and contemporary leaders. Crafted to nurture better thinkers and stronger teams, this immersive day blends leadership and well-being with practical applications. Prepare for insights that boost your strategy, activities that calm the mind, and conversations that encourage connection among all participants, whether you're an introvert or an extrovert. Additionally, you can expect 👉 Expanded SHOW FLOOR; more room to dream, design and create unforgettable brand moments. 👉 All-new sponsorship activations. 👉 reimagined culinary journey where food and design collide. Designed for people who plan live experiences, from corporate to non-profit to social, CSE Live! is Canada's premier event industry gathering where bold ideas, top creators, and next-level experiences come together. Visit our website 👉 https://cselive.ca/ to register today! #EventProfs #CanadianSpecialEven #EventPlanners #TorontoEvents

There’s something different about talking to founders; the passion is personal. It’s bigger than the bottom line; it’s the why. Last week I sat down with Jess Devenport co founder of Paintillio who along with her partner Lyssa Kayra Lyssa took a hand-drawn experiment at one event and turned it into something repeatable without losing the bespoke feel. For anyone who hasn’t seen it: Paintillio turns a photo or brand image into a collaborative paint-by-number mural guests build tile by tile. Think 400–600 tiles at registration, a steady stream of micro-interactions, and a finished piece that lives on after the show. What stood out to me was their approach, simple, thoughtful, and tested through real interactions. They paid attention to how people engaged, refined what worked, and kept the heart of it intact. And the roots matter; women-owned, built in BC, and connected to local artists and community projects. Like the Vancouver Mural Festival 2024 Street Party, winner of Best Event for a Community-Based Non-Profit at the 2025 Canadian Event Awards There’s intention behind everything they do, and you can feel it in the way people participate. #eventplanners : If you’ve worked with Paintillio, I'd love to hear how you incorporated this awesome experience into your event #events #eventprofs

Celebrate your space, differentiate yourself and be seen by Canada’s largest community of #eventpanners. Every entrant will be featured across our social channels. Enter the Canadian Venue Awards today. https://lnkd.in/gfGdtp4Y #evntprofs #venues #eventspace #events

Festive & Flexible: Designing Menus for Every Guest This Holiday Season by Christopher Matthews, Executive Chef at Eatertainment Events & Catering As a chef, one of my greatest joys during the holiday season is helping our #eventmanagers and clients design menus that make every guest feel like the celebration was created just for them. In #catering, we’re always balancing the wow-factor with practicality, ensuring dishes not only taste amazing but also work seamlessly in an event setting where diverse needs are at play. The holidays add an extra layer of excitement and complexity. Guests arrive with a wide range of expectations, dietary requirements, and cultural traditions. The goal is to create a festive menu that celebrates abundance while remaining flexible enough that no one feels like an afterthought. Here’s how I approach it: 👉 Anchor the Menu with Inclusive Choices When we design #holiday menus, we think in terms of anchors: dishes that can stand tall for different types of eaters. Alongside a traditional protein like roasted beef tenderloin or turkey, we’ll introduce a plant-forward star such as a mushroom Wellington, spiced squash tagine, or lentil-and-walnut loaf. These dishes aren’t “secondary”; they’re crafted to feel equally celebratory. For sides, I like to incorporate naturally gluten-free and dairy-free options without compromising on flavour. Think wild rice with pomegranate and herbs, roasted Brussels sprouts with sesame and miso glaze, or potato pavé finished with olive oil instead of cream. That way, guests can fill their plates generously without having to ask, “Can I eat this?” 👉 Cultural Notes Create Connection Events often bring together people from diverse backgrounds, and menus are a wonderful way to honour that. Infusing dishes with global flavours not only makes the menu more dynamic, but it also ensures that cultural observances feel included in the holiday cheer. A passed hors d’oeuvre of mini samosas, a mezze platter alongside the cheese board, or tamales offered as a warm canapé are subtle ways to invite everyone’s traditions into the party. Read the full article, including the actual menus, and explore more last-minute holiday ideas in our Last-Minute Fall Holiday Planning Guide on the CSE website, home of Canada’s event community. https://lnkd.in/gcRNEeSp #eventprofs #events #eventplanning

I don’t care how cool, unique, memorable, or in-demand your venue is; it’s the team running it that determines your success. From the cleaning staff to the event team to the preferred suppliers you’re asking planners to work with, it all matters. And that’s driven from the top down. That’s why we included Best Venue Management Group in the Canadian Venue Awards, and why Navicait, led by Viviana Kohon, Caitie Yue, and Namita Tandon Walsh, won in 2025. Their dedication to success is written in every experience, not just the attendee experience (because we’ve all pulled off great events with little support or even outright hostility), but in the relationships they build with planners and vendors alike. In 2025 alone, they took home Best Venue Management Group, Best Community Event Venue for Henderson Brewing Company, and Most Outstanding Venue of the Year for The Symes, Toronto, ON. Because when leadership gets it right, it shows So, congratulations once again to the management team at Navicait for an outstanding job. Your success is truly a reflection of your passion, commitment and vision. The 2026 Canadian Venue Awards are now open; you'll find the link in the first comment.