Important Update – June 2026
We are writing to share an important update regarding the future structure of ILEA in Canada.
First and most importantly: your membership is not changing. You will continue to be an ILEA member with full access to all global benefits.
As part of this transition, all current ILEA Canada memberships will be extended through December 31, 2026. This extension is intended to recognize the inconsistency in recent member experience and to give us the time needed to build a stronger, more valuable offering.
After careful consideration and national consultation, ILEA Canada will formally wind down all chapter operations this year. This decision was made at the national level.
We want to be direct about how we got here.
ILEA, like many associations, has faced real challenges in the years following the pandemic. At the same time, the organization was already behind in adapting to a more digital, connected, and rapidly evolving industry. Expectations have shifted. New generations of event professionals want different ways to engage. The pace of change has accelerated.
Our chapter model has struggled to keep up for some time.
It has become increasingly difficult to sustain volunteer-led chapters, maintain consistent programming, and deliver a level of value that meets the expectations of our members across the country. Rather than continue to operate within a model that is no longer working, we have made the decision to move forward with a new approach.
This decision is not about stepping back. It is about creating the space to build something better.
If you live in Canada, your membership has always been held with ILEA Canada, which operates as an affiliate of ILEA International. Your affiliation with a local chapter has simply represented your home base for regional connection.
That core structure is not changing.
Moving forward, all members in Canada will transition to a Canadian Member at Large model. Your membership will continue through ILEA Canada, and you will maintain full access to the global ILEA community and its benefits.
What will change is how we connect and how we deliver value across Canada.
By moving beyond a chapter-based structure, we have the opportunity to build a more modern and inclusive national model. One that is not limited by geography, and one that reflects how our industry operates today.
As we look ahead, our focus is on:
- Building a more robust online community where members can connect, share ideas, and support one another year-round
- Delivering national programming that creates access to voices, ideas, and opportunities from across the country
- Developing stronger partnerships with conferences and industry events, including preferred member rates and curated experiences
- Taking a more active role in advocacy, representing and elevating the Canadian events industry
- Expanding opportunities for mentorship, professional development, and career growth
- Creating greater visibility for members and their work across a national platform
This is not about replacing chapters with less. It is about building something more connected, more accessible, and more aligned with the needs of today’s event professional.
We recognize the important role chapters have played in building this community, and we are deeply grateful to the leaders and volunteers who have contributed so much over the years.
This is a reset. And it is an opportunity to build something stronger for the future of our industry in Canada.
More details on what comes next will be shared in the coming weeks.
Thank you for being part of ILEA.
Sincerely,
Dustin Westling CSEP
Board Chair
Jody Paulson CSEP
Immediate Past Board Chair
Canadian Affiliate, International Live Events Association
ILEA Canada National Chair Update
July 1 marked the beginning of a new programming year for ILEA Chapters across Canada. Please join us in welcoming the newly appointed Boards of Directors for the Vancouver and Toronto Chapters.
VANCOUVER CHAPTER
President – Michael Scott
President-Elect – Ally Potel
Past-President – Nora Wendt
Vice-President Membership – Mike Oulton
Director-At-Large – Maya Dery
TORONTO CHAPTER
President – Rawle Borel Jr. SCMP, CSEP
Vice-President Membership – Julie Brunjes
Vice-President Sponsorship – Craig Gruzd
Director – Nikki Northern
Thank you to each of you for stepping into these leadership roles—your dedication is what keeps our chapters thriving. We’re excited to see the innovative programming and energy you’ll bring to the year ahead.
We also look forward to the upcoming announcement of the 2025–2026 Board for the newly renamed Alberta Chapter.
I am pleased to share the slate for the ILEA Canada Board:
Chair – Jody Paulson CSEP
Chair Elect – VACANT
Vice Chair Finance and Corporate Governance – Sharon Bonner
Vice Chair Operations and Corporate Governance – Chris Sturges
Immediate Past Chair – Kimberly Beaune CMP, CSEP
A heartfelt thank you to this exceptional group of leaders, all of whom have generously committed to a second term. Your continued dedication will be instrumental as we focus on growth, innovation, and positive change in the year ahead.
Volunteering with ILEA is a meaningful way to give back to the industry. Sharing your knowledge, skills, and time helps strengthen our professional community. As Arthur Ashe once said, “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” If you’ve ever considered joining a board, now is a great time—there are still opportunities available at both the Chapter and National levels. We would be thrilled to welcome you to the ILEA Canada leadership team.
This week, we’ll be launching a new leadership article series titled “The Letter of Leadership.” Look for bi-weekly posts every Tuesday on the ILEA Canada Affiliate LinkedIn page or in the News section of our website.
Here’s to an inspiring and productive year ahead. Stay tuned for details about our upcoming AGM!
Sincerely,
Jody Paulson , CSEP (she/her)
National Chair, ILEA Canada 2025/2026
Notice of Closure of ILEA Calgary Chapter
Dear Members,
We are writing to inform you that the International Live Events Association (ILEA) Calgary Chapter will officially close as of June 30, 2025.
This decision was not made lightly. For more than two years, the Chapter has faced challenges in meeting the minimum Board of Directors requirements as outlined in the official Chapter Bylaws. Following a majority vote by the ILEA Canada Governing Board, the decision has been made to proceed with the dissolution of the Calgary Chapter. It is now time-sensitive to complete this transition.
Across Canada, professional associations are evolving, and ILEA is no exception. Our industry is calling for its leading associations to step forward as catalysts for change and strong voices for advocacy. In response, all current ILEA Calgary memberships will be transitioned to the ILEA Edmonton Chapter, which will soon be renamed the ILEA Alberta Chapter. This change is currently in progress.
The new ILEA Alberta Chapter will serve as a unified provincial hub, supporting community engagement and networking opportunities across Alberta—including Edmonton, Calgary, the mountain regions, northern and southern communities.
On behalf of ILEA Canada and the ILEA Calgary Board of Directors, we sincerely thank all past and present members who have supported our events, educational sessions, and celebrations over the years. Your participation has played a key role in strengthening Calgary’s live events industry. While this chapter is ending, the community we’ve built remains strong and full of promise under the leadership of the ILEA Alberta Chapter.
If you have questions or would like to express interest in joining the new ILEA Alberta Chapter leadership team, please contact Jody Paulson, CSEP, National Chair of ILEA Canada, at chair@ileacanada.com.
With gratitude and optimism,
Jody Paulson , CSEP (she/her) Emma Blake, CMP
National Chair, ILEA Canada 2024/2025 Past President, ILEA Calgary
Cell: 780-916-3076
LIMITED TIME OFFER FOR STUDENTS – Free Membership with ILEA Canada!
For a limited time, post-secondary students can join ILEA Canada for FREE and connect with the global creative events community! Gain access to industry leaders, exclusive networking opportunities, and career-boosting resources. Use code NEXTGEN at checkout and sign up by April 30 2025 to claim your free student membership. Don’t miss this chance to jump-start your career in events! For more details, click here.
ILEA Canada Partners With CSELive EventFest – Join Us In Toronto!
A message from the National Chair, ILEA Canada
It’s been just over a month since Go West 2025 wrapped up in Edmonton, and the ILEA Canada Board has been hard at work planning what’s next.
We were honoured to be a partner in this year’s conference and proud of the outcomes from the four sessions led by ILEA leaders. Thank you to Timewise Events and Go West 2025 for the opportunity to collaborate.
One session that sparked significant buzz was the panel held on the final afternoon. This panel was created in response to feedback from our industry survey conducted in late August 2024, which highlighted a strong call for associations to take a leadership role in advocating for best practices and serving as a voice for industry members on crucial issues. The goal was to initiate an open, constructive conversation on pressing topics, fostering collaboration and transparency within the events industry.
The ILEA Canada Board believes the subjects covered — rising costs, preferred vs. exclusive suppliers, and contract negotiation tools — are critical to the live events community. As an industry association, we have a responsibility to be a forum for these conversations in a balanced and constructive way. The content, questions, and responses were authentic reflections of industry sentiment. The session was educational, transparent, and provided valuable insights, reinforced by the positive feedback and additional questions we received afterward.
To keep the conversation going, we’re working with two fantastic partners: Matthew Byrne, host of Production Values Matter: The Business Events Podcast, and Stacey Wyatt, Founder and Creative Director of Canadian Special Events.
Plans are in progress for a podcast series to dive deeper into the discussion started at Go West, bringing back some or all of the original panel members and rebroadcasting portions of the panel. Stay tuned for more details on the release!
ILEA Canada and Canadian Special Events are discussing a partnership for the upcoming Live Event Fest, particularly the Business of Events Forum on the final day. The morning will be dedicated to building a blueprint for a stronger, more effective industry through round table discussions on key topics:
- Balancing Burnout & Workload: Protecting ourselves from overwork.
- Fair Pricing & Contracts: Ensuring event professionals get paid what they deserve.
- Leadership Buy-In: Proving the value of in-house planners and securing resources.
- Levelling the Playing Field: Supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses.
- Industry-Wide Change: Steps toward standardizing and strengthening our profession.
These discussions will be followed by a panel of industry representatives — including association leaders, corporate planners, entrepreneurs, wellness experts, and suppliers — culminating in a call to action and a blueprint for the future of events, co-created by those in attendance. Post-conference, these outcomes will form a shared industry standard.
ILEA Canada encourages members from across the country to join us and be part of these important conversations. As an industry association, we believe these initiatives are crucial steps in shaping a more sustainable and inclusive future for our industry. We look forward to collaborating and creating meaningful change together.
Sincerely,
Jody Paulson , CSEP (she/her)
National Chair, ILEA Canada 2024/2025