February 2010

February ’10 3ThePLANNER

One of my favorite places to buy books

is Amazon.com. If you are one of the

millions of book buyers who use their

services, you are familiar with the typical

Amazon.com listing. Its history is noteworthy

– Amazon started selling books on the

Internet in 1995. Over the past decade the

company has grown to the point that it sells

more books, DVDs, CDs, MP3s, software, videogames, electron-

ics, apparel, furniture and toys online than anyone else anywhere

in the world. Why? Because it has a formula that works.

ABOVE OR BELOW THE LINE?

Picture an Amazon.com listing and think of it as above and

below the line.

Above the line you find the title, price, shipping dates, inven-

tory levels, number of pages, publisher, language, ISBN number

and the details about what’s inside the book. There’s no fault

here. Everything you need to know is clearly spelled out. But

that’s not why people buy books, particularly if it is an author

they hadn’t heard about before. They need more than details that

bring the discussion to those things that are below the line. These

include information about the author, citations, customer rated

reviews and a section called, “What do customers ultimately buy

after viewing this page?” Above the line points the purchaser to

the details and below the line reveals the experience. Which do

you think is more important?

This same analogy applies to an exhibit program. What do

your signs and graphics say? Are they filled with information

about products and services? What about your literature? Is it

teeming with enough information to sink a supertanker? And

what about your booth staff? Do they fill the hours at the show

telling people all about the features and benefits of your products

and services?

If you answered yes to any of these then it’s time to stand back

and re-think your approach.

REMEMBERING AND KNOWING

It all comes down to understanding the difference between

remembering and knowing. Remembering, which is prone to

error, requires a deep mental level of processing information that

is often referred to as the “episodic memory.” Knowing on the

other hand triggers a familiarity that interestingly enough is often

without the details of a specific product or service. This is

referred to as the “semantic memory.”

The lesson is that knowing lasts longer and has a more pow-

erful impact on decision-making than remembering. When I

decide what to buy on Amazon.com, I often refer to the items

below the line. This is because to have an experience online, the

best I can do is learn what other people feel about something.

But in a show environment, we have the advantage of face-to-

face contact. Our customers have an opportunity to touch, hold,

smell, taste and hear our products and services through one or

more of their senses. It’s when we harness the power of presenting

below the line that we create a lasting impact.

HERE ARE FEW QUICK POINTERS;

• Your front line booth staff should be passionate about the

products and services they represent.

• They should leave the customer with a positive feeling about

doing business with your company.

• Signs and graphics should focus on experience rather than details.

• Literature should utilize lifestyle photos.

• It’s the little stuff that makes the greatest impact.

The last point focuses attention on an important quirk of

human nature. People who expect a certain level of service

become very critical when it slips even one iota. When dealing

with the public you and your staff should constantly try to

provide extras that go above the standard. It’s these little things

that often solidify the knowing part of memory.

Whether you are in your showroom or at a trade show, leave

your customers with a positive experience and you will remain

top of mind when it comes time to place an order.

Barry Siskind is North America’ foremost trade and consumer show

expert. Visit his Web site: www.siskindtraining.com or e-mail him at:

[email protected].

Garçon? Garçon… oh, let’s justbuzz him!

A new device being tested in the U.S. allows diners to

summon their servers with the push of a button. At Central

Florida Applebee’s locations, the local Orlando Sentinel recently

reported, servers wore watches that vibrated when customers

pressed buttons at electronic boxes at their tables. The watches

are synced with the boxes as customers are seated. A server gets

alerted with a vibrating watch and has 60 seconds to show up, or

the manager gets buzzed. Managers also get automatic alerts if a

table presses a button several times.

Create a lasting memory for customersby letting them know you better

BY BARRY SISKIND

4 February ’10ThePLANNER

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Resolve to do betterEvery year, planners across the land make resolutions to improve on a plethora of things in their lives. SandyBiback shares a few of her thoughts on resolutions to tryto help you stay on track in 2010.

Haggling is an artIn this new article, CMM Mike Auctor looks at how to haggleduring the recession so you can have more jingle in yourjeans. Here are 10 tips to help you discuss the cost of anyproduct or service to obtain the best price

Halifax: A welcoming cityThe capital city of Nova Scotia has plenty to offer from the arts, gastronomic experiences and Maritime culture. The Halifax CVB discusses this famous port city to informplanners about the benefits of holding meetings there.

Towers of IndustryThe Planner has created the Tower Awards to honour inno-vation and leadership in the Canadian business community.We are presenting 10 awards to individuals and companiesfor being towers of industry in 2009.

THEPLANNEREDITOR Leo Gervais [email protected] EDITOR Camille Lay [email protected] ARTIST Matt Riopel [email protected] [email protected] Patricia Lemus [email protected] Mike Auctor, Sandy Biback, Guylaine Dallaire, Manon Harvey,

Don Murray, Barry Siskind, Sharon Worsley

PAP – Registration No. 111100We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of

Canada through the Publications Assistance Program of theDepartment of Canadian Heritage toward our mailing costs.

The Planner is distributed to professional meeting and event planners across Canada.

Service please!It was already tough getting good service from some compa-

nies before this recession and it’s not about to get any easier.

In fact, the easier it seems to get to keep in touch with com-

panies, the harder it actually is to reach them and get answers.

This will be another difficult year and planners will have to

work as hard if not harder than in 2009 to make things happen.

There have been many cuts and basically you, as the planner,

will be the one asked to make up for it. In the end, the success or

failure of any event is always in your hands. When things go

wrong it’s probably never your fault but as captain of the ship,

you will be the one taking the rap for it if something does go awry.

In order to put all the chances on your side, work with the

best. Tell them you want to work with them and tell them why –

because they are the best. There is nothing wrong with telling

suppliers they’re good, but you also have to tell them you have a

budget and how these two things are not mutually exclusive.

Unfortunately, often the best is not the least expensive. You can

buy a screwdriver at the dollar store (as I have) which will bend

as soon as you us it or you can pay more at Rona and it will last

you a lifetime. Two points here – you want to work with the best

because in the end they make you look good and looking good

gets you the raise or bonus and secondly, who needs the stress

of working with companies who work hard at selling perception

but who simply just don’t deliver in real time?

And that’s what we really need in 2010 – real time service.

LEO GERVAIS

T H E C A N A D I A N E D I T I O N

In th is Issue


It’s nutty all around...The Canadian Transportation Agency is asking Air Canada to

look into creating a buffer zone for passengers with severe nut

allergies after two passengers complained about the airline. There

is currently no formal policy “…to accommodate the needs of

persons with disabilities due to their allergy to peanuts or nuts,”

the CTA said in a recent ruling. The CTA stated that persons with

disabilities are entitled “…to the same certainty that other people

enjoy of being able to travel as scheduled.”

Air Canada stopped offering peanuts years ago but still offers

other nuts, including cashews and almonds. WestJet has stopped

serving nuts altogether and other airlines take them off flights if

requested. The CTA stopped short of recommending a total ban

on nuts as it might serve to provide passengers with allergies to

nuts a false sense of security as it would be impossible to guar-

antee other passengers would not bring nuts, or products that

contain nuts, on board the aircraft. Air Canada has 30 days to

produce a plan or challenge the decision.

On the Web: www.otc-cta.gc.ca

Naya makes a green effort andCanadian tap water is tops

Les Eaux Naya Inc., located in Mirabel, Que., has launched a

new-generation of bottle made from 100 percent recycled PET

(polythene terephthalate) plastic. The bottles use plastic waste

that would otherwise end up in landfills. Naya has 810 employ-

ees and was sold last year by European food giant Danone to a

U.S. equity fund.

On the Web: www.naya.com

AND IN RELATED WATER NEWS…

A first-ever survey by Statistics Canada reveals about 98 percent

of Canada’s water treatment plants had a perfect compliance

record with federal guidelines for drinking water in 2007. The

guidelines state that no E. coli should be present in treated water.

A large country with large peopleA growing number of Canadians are at high risk of health prob-

lems because of their size, a recent Statistics Canada survey found.

The percentage of teens 15 to 19 whose waist circumference

indicates they are at increased or high risk of health complica-

tions has more than tripled since 1981.

For those ages 20 to 39, the news is worse: The percentage

with waistlines that put them at higher risk – more than 87 cen-

timetres (34.25 inches) for females and more than 101 cm (39.76

inches) for males – more than quadrupled. It shot up from 5 to

21 percent among men, and from 6 to 31 percent among women.

Adults 40 to 69 saw their risk double. By the time women are

in their sixties, 65 percent are a higher risk for health complica-

tions, 52 percent for men.

Researchers have said abdominal fat is a key driver for diabetes

and high blood pressure, which are risk factors for heart disease.

The findings are in the Canadian Health Measures Survey, the

most comprehensive survey ever conducted in Canada to deter-

mine how fit – or fat – we’ve become since the last major review

in 1981. The data was based on physical measurements and

extensive interviews with 5,600 Canadians ages 6 to 79 that were

carried out between 2007 and 2009.

The new numbers reveal a few simple truths. Among them: A

child today compared to one a generation ago is heavier, fatter,

rounder, weaker and less flexible and young adults are showing

the most significant deterioration in fitness and once they get fat,

the pattern is to put on more weight.

On the Web:

www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/100113/dq100113a-eng.htm

Fewer TVs can lead to fewer poundsWant to lose those love handles? Then lose the TV. People

who lost at least 10 percent of their weight and kept it off for

five years or more had fewer TVs in their homes than overweight

people, according to a recent study published by the Annals of

Behavioral Medicine. The study found that people with fewer TVs

also had more exercise equipment in their homes and ate less

junk food.


A planner resolves to be SMART in 2010

Well, as I write this, February 2010 has

begun. Did you make any personal

and/or business resolutions as the New

Year and the new decade began? Are you

still on track in keeping those resolutions?

I was at the gym this morning. It’s always so busy in January,

but always a bit of a ghost town in February. True to form only

5 of us were working out today, when in January there had to be

about 25 at the same time!

But first, let’s look at a definition of resolution and resolve:

Resolution: the act or process of resolving: as a: the act of analyzing

a complex notion into simpler ones b: the act of answering :

solving c: the act of determining

Resolve:4a: to deal with successfully : clear up <resolve doubts> <resolve

a dispute> b: to find an answer to c: to make clear or understandable

d: to find a mathematical solution of e: to split up (as a vector)

into two or more components especially in assigned directions

5: to reach a firm decision about

Now, let’s look at what we always talk about when we begin

to plan our events, meetings, conferences...

Objective:2a: something toward which effort is directed: an aim, goal, or

end of action b: a strategic position to be attained or a purpose

to be achieved by a military operation

synonyms see intention

Source:

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/resolution

See any similarities? I sure do, whether it’s personal or business.

Can we then take on as our main resolution for 2010 to always

define an objective for each of our events? This will make it

easier for us to measure, easier for us to determine appropriate

strategies and in the end, easier for us to explain to our bosses

what we do, why we do it and how successfully we did it!

But how do you write an objective? Let’s start with a personal

resolution/objective for me to attain in 2010.

To enroll and complete a course on French civilization at the

Sorbonne in July 2010, not spending more then $$$ (I’ll leave this

blank, but I do have a dollar maximum!).

Here’s some background: I was to have done this trip to

France last year, but due to some medical challenges I was unable

to. Taking this course has been a life-long dream of mine. Part

of my “bucket list”, if you will.

So, how can I make sure I accomplish my resolution/objective?

Let’s use the SMART method to do so: S(specific); M(measur-

able); A(achievable); R(relevant); T(timely) .

Here’s how it breaks down:

Specific: A French Civilization course at La Sorbonne in July 2010

at a cost of $$$.

Measurable: I’ll get a certificate when I’m done and hopefully I

won’t go too much over budget.

Achievable: I’ve done my homework and, for me, yes it is.

Relevant: To my personal life and goals, yes.

Timely: July is a good time for me to be away and I’m not

getting any younger!

So, can you resolve to create an objective for each of your

events this coming year? Let me help you:

To create a measurable objective for each of your 10 events in

the year 2010, they need to be:

Specific: Ten objective, measurable, events for 2010

Measurable: By December 2010, you will have 10 objectives

written in this format.

Achievable: What do you think? Don’t set yourself up for failure.

Relevant: All should be relevant to ensure that you have clear

objectives that can be met.

Timely: Wouldn’t this be a great way to look back on 2010?

Why clutter yourself up with several resolutions (I promise

to return all sales calls; I promise to take lunch each day) when

you know many will fall by the wayside by mid-March? Why not

create one solid resolution that you can achieve and look back at

with pride and document in your job? Maybe it isn’t writing an

objective for each event, but whatever it is, make it one solid

resolution you know you can follow through on.

As for me, I’m off to La Sorbonne in July!

Finally, I wish all of our readers a successful year, both per-

sonally and professionally.

Sandy Biback, CMP CMM, founder of Imagination+Meeting

Planners Inc., has more than 30 years experience planning confer-

ences and events. She looks forward to an innovative year working with

others. She has also designed educational courses at the college level

and currently teaches at George Brown College, Centennial College

and the University of Nevada at Las Vegas. She is a member of PCMA

and CanSPEP and is often quoted. She can be reached by e-mail at:

[email protected].

On the Web: www.imaginationmeetings.com.

BY SANDY BIBACK, CMP, CMM


H1N1 fears in economy class?In a new study of how the H1N1 flu virus spreads through

commercial air travel, researchers suggest that people traveling in

economy class are much more likely to become infected than

people flying first class.

The primary reasons are the more crowded conditions in

economy class and the high probability – approximately 75 per-

cent – that if an infected person is on board they will be in the

economy cabin, according to the study published in the online

edition of the journal BMC Medicine.

On the Web: www.biomedcentral.com/bmcmed/

Mac-PC convergence is a realityMore and more, people are using both Macintosh and PC com-

puters on the same network or a Mac at home and a PC at work.

The trouble is that sometimes it’s difficult to transfer files from

one platform to another. In addition, it often happens that a PC

will not recognize a Mac on the network. The new ezShare

adapter from Vantec (which costs around $25) comprises a 1.8

metre cable with two male USB attachments. All you need to do

is connect them to two PCs, to two Macs or to one PC and one

Mac and have Windows Explorer type of browser installed on

each of the machines. In an instant, the contents of both comput-

ers will be visible and you can quickly and easily make file trans-

fers. The company also makes a Pro version (about $30) that

allows you to link three computers at a time.

On the Web: www.vantecusa.com

Eat Sun Chips, then compost the bagSaving the world, one chip bag at a time. We’re not sure if this

is Frito Lay’s new green mantra, but it certainly could be.

Starting in March, Frito Lay Canada will sell its Sun Chips in

bags that can be composted like banana peels and old leaves. The

company claims the new packaging, made from corn sugars, is

the first completely compostable chip bag. Standard chip bags are

usually a mix of foil and plastic and almost impossible to recycle,

according to one expert at the Toronto Environmental Alliance.

The move to the new bag comes after intense customer back-

lash over packaging in the snack-food industry. Frito Lay even

started pitching its switch to the greener bags in commercials

broadcast during the Superbowl.

The new bag will break down completely after 14 weeks in a

hot, microbe-rich compost pile like the kind municipalities use

for organic waste – about the same time it takes for an apple core

to be absorbed, said the company.

The new bag is made from polylactic acid, and although these

new bags are derived from corn, they could be made from any

crop containing high amounts of sugar. Consumers will also

notice the new bags aren’t as soft as traditional packaging. Frito

Lay said it sells 20 million Sun Chips bags a year.

This music venue is cool… really coolEver heard of a concert hall made of ice? The Beaver Creek

resort in Vail, Colo. has one, and it includes instruments made of

ice, including an xylophone. The Crystal Grotto, located halfway

up a nearby mountain located on the resort property, seats 125

people for its daily shows.

On the Web: www.beavercreek.com.

Cities on the iPhone... there’s an app!Wallpaper travel guide readers will be happy to know that its

guidebook app for the iPhone is available and quite popular

already. The list includes Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, London,

Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Milan, Rome and Tokyo.

On the Web: www.phaidon.com/travel

Da Vinci on Da West CoastThe Vancouver Art Gallery has scored a coup: It will be pre-

senting an exhibition of Italian scientist and artist Leonardo Da

Vinci’s anatomical drawings from the Queen’s Royal Collection.

The 34 drawings showcase the skills of this amazing Renaissance

man who understood aspects of the human body centuries

before anyone else.

On the Web: www.vanartgallery.bc.ca


Planners need to know how to haggleBY MIKE AUCTOR

Haggle – a verb – to attempt to decide on a price or conditions

which are acceptable to the person selling the goods and the

person buying them.

One of the best ways to save money on goods and services

is a simple one – pay less! And the secret to paying less

is to haggle, or bargain, over a price. All you will need

is determination, but haggling works best in hard-hit industries.

Haggling is becoming more accepted, at least for as long as the

recession grinds on. And if you can’t get a better price you can

probably get an upgrade or freebee of some sort to sweeten

the deal.

It has been reported that 72% of Americans have haggled in

the past four months, compared with 56% a year earlier and it

was estimated that they were successful 80% of the time.

So haggle away!

HERE ARE WAYS YOU COULD IMPROVE YOUR HAGGLING:

1. Do your homework – before you walk into any negotiation do

your homework, arm yourself with information, research the going

prices and features then decide what you’re willing to spend. The

more information you have the better bargainer you’ll be.

2. You’ll get more if your opponent likes you – people like

doing business with people they like. They’ll concede a point or

two if they feel the other is honest and friendly. So set a pleasant

and cooperative tone and your opponent will usually respond in

kind. Start off slowly, banish the harsh sounding word NO, and

find common interests.

3. Keep your cool – and put on your poker face when you walk

in the door.

4. Find and pander to your opponent’s emotional needs –

use a bit of psychology!

5. Be confident – don’t diminish your credibility. Be polite but

don’t back down. Don’t pause and look away before answering.

6. Embrace silence – silence almost always works in your favour.

Hmmmm, I don’t know… and silence. Silence creates the impres-

sion of confidence and breaks the rhythm of negotiations.

7. Ask your opponent what he wants – reveal your budget.

Many people you deal with don’t like playing the negotiating

game and would rather just make a quick and simple deal. All

prices are negotiable; you just have to find the right person who

can do the deal – and the courage to ask! A good line to use:

“You’re entitled to make a profit, but if your competitors can do

it for less, you guys probably can too.”

8. Ask lots of questions – and listen carefully to the answers.

Watch the body language that accompanies the answers.

Listening will also prevent you from revealing important and

possibly damaging information of your own.

9) Put your arguments in terms your opponent can understand –

Draw your opponent into your proposal, use analogies.

Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative. And give your

opponent time to digest the information.

10) If you can’t make a deal – walk away. If you do make a deal,

never let your opponent know what a good deal you received.

And make sure your opponent feels good at the close of negoti-

ations if you ever hope to deal with him again.

Mike Auctor, CMM, is an occasional writer for The Planner.

Contact him via the planner at [email protected].


Halifax: This maritime city looks towelcome more meetings and events

Halifax, Nova Scotia is probably best known for its port, the

Tall Ships, and the famous explosion in 1917. The city has become

increasingly interesting to planners so The Planner recently spoke

with the Halifax CVB about this Maritime destination as a hot

meeting destination.

Q: If you were a planner, why would you want to take your

group to Halifax?

A: As a planner, my responsibility includes creating an environ-

ment that will a) be conducive to executing a first rate program

that is in keeping with the expectations of my stakeholders and

b) by virtue of my selection, be in a position to leverage the pop-

ularity of the destination to compel attendance to the event. In

either case, Halifax is the solution.

Q: How do you view your geographic location as an advantage?

A: For those customers travelling domestically, Halifax is a short

plane trip from the major hubs of Toronto and Montreal along

with point to point service with Calgary for the convenience of

our friends in the west. State side, access has been enhanced

dramatically, over the past few years with connectivity and

frequency through all of the major hubs on the eastern seaboard

as well as Chicago and Washington. As Canada’s eastern gateway,

we’re the first stop for transatlantic traffic, so geographically,

overall Halifax is well positioned on the map! And then there is

the ocean aspect – there is something magical about the power

of the sea. With our location on the shores of the 2nd largest ice

free port in the world, what’s not to like.

Q: What are the traditionally low and high seasons and what

are the advantages with each season.

A: Interesting question, as the definition of high and low, relative

to seasonality is really in the mind of the customer as it can

change depending on their needs. For the urban resort experi-

ence, May through October is most appealing as activities associ-

ated with the sea and outdoor fair weather activity is at its peak.

That would define off peak as November through April where the

concern for exposure to the elements is minimized given the

indoor connectivity afforded by the enclosed and temperature

controlled pedway system evident throughout the majority of the

downtown core. The vast selection of unique venues is weather

resilient as well and anytime is the right time to have a good time

in Halifax.

Q: What are some of the seasonal activities and attractions?

A: Given the strength and depth of Nova Scotia’s culture and her-

itage roots, there are activities and attractions readily available

year round. As home to Canada’s Immigration Museum, Pier 21

and the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic along with the National

Historic site at Citadel Hill the wonders of the past are easily

explored giving a sense of connectivity and significance to the

role that Halifax has played through history. Nary a month can

pass without the staging of a major festival and event, where the

opportunity to socialize with “the locals” is one not to be missed.

Things kick off in February with the Savour Food & Wine

Festival followed by something significant each month, be it the

Comedy Fest in April, the Bluenose Marathon in May, of course

the Royal Nova Scotia Tattoo is always a highlight in July, the

International Buskers Festival, Jazz Festival, Pride Week and the

list goes on right through to events that lead us into the Fall and

Holiday time period.

These are in addition to the many stable attractions in

place featuring not only the harbourfront area of the city but the

more coastal communities that make up a significant part of the

municipal region.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Q: What are some of the activities a group could participate

in, Teambuilding or otherwise?

A: Being on the ocean presents a unique opportunity to get on

the water, be it for a sailing exercise or for the brave of heart, try

boarding a Zodiac and “riding the tidal bore”. If the city’s roster

of entertainment doesn’t fit the bill, one can always create a

Ceilidh for the group! Nova Scotia’s musical talent pool runs

deep and when paired with a traditional lobster supper, there is

no better time to be found.

Through the winter months, Halifax is proud to call both the

Halifax Mooseheads hockey team and Halifax Rainmen basket-

ball team their own. A delegate outing among the hometown

crowd is bound to make everyone feel like a true “Haligonian”

and guarantees a fun filled night.

Q :Can you provide some facts for planners, number of hotel

rooms, number of meeting rooms, conference and or conven-

tion centre info.

A: The heart of Halifax has more than 3500 hotel rooms with

approximately 1/3 of these conveniently connected by an

enclosed pedway system to the World Trade and Convention

Centre. A number of the hotel properties boast premier meeting

facilities and many have been designed to take best advantage of

spectacular views of the harbour. The most comprehensive and

easy way to check out the expanse of the total offering is to tap

into the Destination Halifax website.

Q: If you had to briefly describe what makes the Halifax dif-

ferent, what would you say it is?

A: Team Halifax and by that I mean the collection of tourism part-

ners and industry professionals, many of whom work for differ-

ent hotels or venues, working as a team to champion Halifax to

meeting planners. There exists a collective belief that when we

succeed in bring an event to Halifax, everyone wins. ….Rita

Plaskett, who recently co-chaired a successful CanSPEP confer-

ence in Halifax provided us with feedback and I think she said

it best: “There is such enthusiasm and passion – a ‘can-do’ atti-

tude in Halifax. There is also a tremendous amount of knowl-

edge and pride in local product. Having planned more than 100

national meeting and conventions over the past 20 years as an

event planner, on a scale of one to ten, the Halifax team is easily 15.”

Q: If planners are interested in holding their activities in the

Halifax, who should they contact?

A: We’ve got an incredible team itching to be of service so to get

the ball rolling, get in touch with Helene Moberg, Executive

Director of Sales and she is most easily reached at hmoberg@des-

tinationhalifax.com.

On the Web:

www.destinationhalifax.com


On the ocean...CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

The Hydrostone District of Halifax is a National Historic Site.


LEVEL: EASY Solution, page 14

LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE Solution, page 14

Fill each square with a number from 1 to 9 so that everynumber appears only once in each row, column and cell.

SOME SUDOKU RESOURCES ON THE WEB:• www.websudoku.com •www.sudoweb.com•www.dailysudoku.com •www.sudokupuzz.com

Sudoku QUIZ QUESTION OF THE MONTHCopyright:

Do you copy it right?

Canada’s Copyright Act allows 10% of a published work to be

copied without having to request permission.

TRUE OR FALSE?

For any question regarding copyrights, please contact:

Companies/organizations located in Quebec: Copibec,

the Quebec copyright licensing agency at [email protected] or

www.copibec.qc.ca.

Companies/organizations located in Canada (outside Quebec):

Access Copyright, the Canada copyright licensing agency at

[email protected] / www.accesscopyright.ca.

FALSE.The Copyright Act does not specify the percentage

of a work that can be copied without obtaining permission

from the copyright owner (author/publisher).However,

users who make copies under licences issued by Copibec in

Quebec are allowed to copy up to 10% of a work.


Resorts suffer in lagging economyLooming debt problems have forced several large resorts to

abandon future plans.

The Rosseau in Muskoka, Ont. is a prime example. The pala-

tial resort is in receivership and was put on the auction block

recently with no minimum price. Initial bids were due Jan. 22.

The total cost to complete The Rosseau last summer was $170

million, including $15 million lenders provided after it was

pushed into receivership.

The basic problem for The Rosseau and other commercial real

estate properties is the loans they had taken expired and their

cash flow could not meet the new, higher debt payment. In addi-

tion, asset prices stopped increasing so people stopped buying.

Intrawest, which operates Canadian resorts such as Whistler

Blackcomb as well as six resorts in the United States, defaulted

on a $524 million debt payment in late December and has been

trying to work out a deal with its lenders. Vacation resorts are

largely based on the premise of rising property values – build a

fancy building in a desirable location and sell condos to the well-

heeled who can sit and watch as their investment appreciates.

They can also rent out the suite when they are not using it to pay

the mortgage. The Canadian resort market has help up relatively

well – resale values are down about 10 percent but the U.S. mar-

ket has been devastated by drops of more than 50 percent. Add

to that the lack of credit available and some companies have been

forced into liquidation or bankruptcy.

But as the saying goes, they aren’t building any more mountains

so the resort market should pick up as the economy improves.

Human bed warmers arrive at theHoliday Inn in London, UK

Inviting a stranger into your bed is one thing, but just to warm

it up? The Holiday Inn’s Kensington, London location recently

offered a free five-minute “human bed warming” trial service.

So what does a human bed warmer do? A hotel staffer, dressed

from head-to-toe in a white, fleecy getup that looks like a cross

between a footed pajama set and a snowsuit, gets into your bed

upon request and moves around, generating some heat between

the chilly sheets.

Dr. Chris Idzikowski of the Edinburgh Sleep Centre told Sky

News that a warm bed is important for a good night's rest.

“There's plenty of scientific evidence to show that sleep starts

at the beginning of the night when body temperature starts to

drop,” he said. “A warm bed – approximately 20 to 24C – is a

good way to start this process, whereas a cold bed would inhib-

it sleep.”

So next time you find the hotel bed a little chilly, you might

want to inquire if a bed warmer is available.

NYC Hyatt Hotel is on the cuttingedge of the boutique experience

In downtown Manhattan, the new Andaz Wall Street offers a

boutique hotel experience, with personal service, a specific local

identity and high design. These are all qualities marketed by

Hyatt’s Andaz brand, which has had successful openings in

London and Hollywood. This hotel, designed by the Rockwell

Group in cool grays and blues, promises a chic corporate vibe for

the Financial District.

November occupancy drops at 90three-to-five star hotels in Montreal

There was a 6.1% dip in occupancy at 90 of the three to five

star Montreal-area hotels last November compared to the previ-

ous year, according to Tourisme Montréal, who cited figures from

the Hotel Association of Greater Montreal. The actual drop was

61.6 percent to 57.8 percent, a drop of 3.8 percentage points.

Marriott shows a major 4Q profitAmid all the economic gloom and doom Marriott International

Inc., the largest hotel chain in the United States, reported a fourth

quarter profit by cutting its costs and a riding a revival wave in

travel demand.

Net income for the 16 weeks ended Jan. 1 was US$106 million

compared to a US$10 million loss a year earlier. The Bethesa, Md.

based company beat the average forecast from 17 analysts for its

earnings in a recent Bloomberg survey.

Chairman and chief executive J.W. Marriott said in a prepared

statement that leisure travellers responded to aggressive market-

ing campaigns and special offers and noted that business travel,

especially to other countries, showed signs of improvement.

Marriott, which owns the Ritz-Carlton, Courtyard and

Residence Inn brands, trimmed debt by almost US$880 million

last year and has also shortened work hours, frozen hiring and

lowered investment spending.

On the Web: www.marriott.com

ANSWER EASYSUDOKU PAGE 11

ANSWER MEDIUMSUDOKU PAGE 11


It’s quite a challenge for any Convention and Visitors Bureau

(CVB) to promote its region and stimulate business interests

for all of its members.

Each CVB develops a unique strategy based on the market it

is trying to develop and in the meetings and events market,

Tourisme Laval is this year’s Tower Award winner for Convention

Bureau of the Year. By praising the merits of its members,

Tourisme Laval offered its services and tourism programs built

around the assets of its partners. Tourisme Laval made an unde-

niable impression in the industry by anticipating the specific

needs of their client meeting planners and responding to them

with gusto and originality.

This CVB is accessible and has a distinct advantage because its

convention office has already joined together with a number of

dedicated programs in the region and in local business develop-

ment. Without compromising the creativity of what they can offer

or the dedication of its employees, Tourisme Laval has found a

way to maintain and even improve its dynamic image as an asso-

ciation that is proactive about Laval’s market needs.

By being well established and ever-present in a niche market

(judging by the multitude of free tools for planning developed

from event organizers), Tourisme Laval seems well placed to keep

providing splendid, knowledgeable service for years to come.

On the Web : www.tourismelaval.com

Runner-up: Destination Winnipeg offered proof of its dynamic

abilities by being competitive with several new projects, all while

remaining creative in all of its other endeavours.

CONVENTION BUREAU OF THE YEAR

TOURISME LAVAL

VENUE OF THE YEAR

THE ALLSTREAM CENTRE

It is hard to believe, but a place formerly called the Automotive

Building in the 1920s has transformed into a Green conference

centre that is this year’s Tower Award Winner for Venue of the year.

The Allstream Centre is Toronto’s newest conference centre,

offering meeting planners an environmentally-friendly meeting

venue for groups of 50 to 3000 delegates. It has 20 meeting

rooms, and the largest divisible, column-free, ballroom in Toronto

(43,900 sq. ft.). Targeted to be the first LEED Silver (Leadership

in Energy and Environmental Design) conference centre in

Canada, the Allstream Centre is conveniently located on the

shores of Lake Ontario at Exhibition Place. It also offers linen

free meeting rooms, 100% green energy, natural light, local and

organic foods, sophisticated HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air-

Conditioning) system, 4-stream recycling program, Wi-fi capabili-

ty and independently controlled room temperature in each room.

Its green achievements have not gone unnoticed: The Centre

has already won two major awards since its opening in October

of 2009: The Ontario Building Envelope Council – which focuses

on building exteriors – presented it with its first Award of

Distinction for Design and it also won the “Best of the Best”

award in the category of Project Achievement given by the

Toronto Construction Association.

The judges conferred the Tower Award for Best Venue on the

Centre because of its Green design and unique trailblazing mis-

sion in the face of a tough economy when many other venues did

little more than regular maintenance.

On the Web: www.allstreamcentre.com

Runner-up – The International Centre in Mississauga, Ont.

not only offered outstanding services to meeting planners but

increased its commitment to investing corporately and socially in

its community.

We want to simplify the lives ofmeeting planners and help make

their events more profitable.

Andrée Courteau,President and General Manager


This year’s winner of the Tower Award for Event of the Year

is The Tall Ships Nova Scotia 2009 held last July. Who as a kid

didn’t read tales of pirates, treasure and sailing the seven seas and

not feel captivated by it all? The event celebrated life in those amaz-

ing ships as they arrived in Halifax to kick-off the festival on July 16

and after the impressive Parade of Sail on July 20, designated ships

headed to six other ports across Nova Scotia including Lunenburg,

Port Hawkesbury, Louisbourg, Sydney, Pictou and Pugwash.

The Waterfront Development Corporation Limited (WDCL)

was the producer of Tall Ships Nova Scotia, and Halifax was the

main port. Approximately 40 vessels took part and it was the

fourth time in two decades that the Halifax Harbour welcomed

the tall ships. The Tall Ships is a main reason cruise ships have

been appearing in greater number at this maritime port of call.

Leanne Strathdee, the Director of Marketing and Communications

for WDCL, says the Tall Ships, which started in 1984, is a maritime

gem for planners and the public alike.

“It’s a great event for everybody. There is really nothing more

spectacular than a working waterfront with spars and sails.”

Strathdee said planners should note that the Tall Ships provide

a great backdrop for any event in the city, and added that

companies such as General Dynamics and Fast Freight were ini-

tially attracted to Halifax because of the Tall Ships.

In 2009, Halifax welcomed its two millionth cruise passenger

since the first cruise ship season in 1980. Between May 15 and

November 5 last year, 124 vessels carrying more than 220,000

passengers passed through the port of Halifax. The port became

a key destination for six new vessels and two new cruise lines in

2009, and is a major contributor to the local economy with more

than $1.5 billion in total impact annually.

On the Web: www.tallshipsnovascotia.com

Runners-up – All the great museum exhibitions. One museum

told us that by holding a fundraiser during a special exhibition,

they can bring out 30% more participants than holding a

fundraiser in a conventional venue!

AUDIOVISUAL COMPANY OF THE YEAR

VISION AUDIOVISUEL INC.

EVENT OF THE YEAR

THE TALL SHIPS

Where would your events be without audiovisual? What possible

memories would your guests have if they were subjected

to a room devoid of any and all lighting effects or any music or

sound? Audiovisual companies play a crucial role in the success

of any event and those who wanted to stay creative, competitive

in the marketplace, and ahead of the trend curve were indeed

rare in 2009. Last year’s events forced some companies to revise

their offerings in order to try to compete and gain market share.

Our Audiovisual Company of the year is Vision Audiovisuel Inc.,

based in Quebec City. Since its inception in 1996, it has always

responded to the ever-increasing demand for new technology

and Vision has also stayed ahead of the game in response to last-

minute client requests. Moreover, the economic crisis of 2009

didn’t prevent Daniel Simard, Vision AV’s President and Director

of Operations, from making new acquisitions that were key to the

survival of his company as they provided an enviable competitive

advantage. The strategy of this company is a long-term one, and

goes beyond any recession; by keeping an eye on the horizon

(and not solely on the budget cuts of its clients) Vision AV is look-

ing forward as it fights for its continued success.

On the Web: www.vision-av.com

Runner-up: Ruoff, based in Mississauga, Ontario, also continual-

ly invests in new technology and, like Vision AV, develops innova-

tive concepts to respond to the changing needs of its corporate

clients.


ACanadian production that resembled the international reality

show Dancing with the Stars made a lasting impression in 2009

and is the Tower Award Winner for Canadian Production of the Year.

Battle of the Blades paired a number of former NHL players with

prominent female figure skaters and performed routines. The pop-

ular show was hosted by Hockey Night in Canada’s Ron MacLean

and four-time World Figure Skating Champion Kurt Browning.

The first competition had two regular judges and several guest

judges including Don Cherry, Katarina Witt, and George

Stroumboulopoulos. The winners were Jamie Salé and Craig

Simpson, who won $100,000 and donated it to spinal cord research.

The show was an instant hit and averaged 1.5 million viewers

per week. It received tons of positive media reviews (including the

New York Times) and was responsible for bringing the old Maple

Leaf Gardens (the locale for the show) back to life. Plenty of

Canadian music was used, and the show even trotted out Jim

Cuddy of beloved Canuck band Blue Rodeo one episode (their hit

ballad “Try” was skated to in the competition by Marie France

Dubreuil & Stephane Richer). Eventual second–place finisher

Claude Lemieux even sang a version of Leonard Cohen’s haunting

song “Hallelujah” and skated to it with his partner Shae Lynn

Bourne.

But it was the unique link to two beloved Canadian sports

(skating and hockey) that made it a real winner, and was a lot of

fun to watch for the skill, artistry and fun it displayed.

Here’s hoping next year’s show will feature retired female ice

hockey stars like Cassie Campbell teamed up with Canadian male

figure skaters!

On the Web: www.cbc.ca/battle

Runners-up – All the producers of movies that were produced

in Canada in 2009 and generated millions of dollars in revenues

and created thousands of jobs.

CITY OF THE YEAR

SASKATOON

CANADIAN PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR

BATTLE OF THE BLADES

Saskatoon has won the Tower Award for City of the Year. People

think of Saskatoon as flat, near lots of wheat and pretty cold in

the winter. But this so-called “Paris of the Prairies” is fast becoming

a hot destination for planners for a variety of reasons. After four

unsuccessful tries, it was picked to host the International Ice Hockey

Federation World Junior Championship that began last December 26

and which was a huge success. It has also hosted the Canadian

Medical Association’s annual meeting and the Juno Awards in the

past – all pretty impressive for a city of 250,000 people.

For meeting and event planners, it has more than 750,000 sq. ft.

of versatile convention and event space, a 13,000-seat arena and a

variety of unique off-site venue options, plus thousands of well located

hotel rooms in the downtown core. Add to that its renowned Prairie

hospitality and Saskatoon is a winner on many fronts.

Tourism Saskatoon has also gained an excellent reputation for

being an accommodating partner to groups looking for a memorable

event experience. With more than 30 partners, Tourism Saskatoon

provides a variety of pre- and onsite-planning services including site

inspections, bid preparations and event programming assistance.

On the Web: www.tourismsaskatoon.com

Runner-up – Following Quebec City’s 400th anniversary, the

benefits were felt throughout 2009, and Condé Nast ranked it the

sixth top tourist travel destination in the Americas last November.

Canada has a plethora of talented meeting

and event planners, many of whom are

well known for their accomplishments. To

choose just one of these skilled people above

all others was a Herculean task, but the win-

ner of Planner of the Year – Lyne Branchaud

– really caught our attention. In 2009, Lyne

excelled in several new ventures without

ignoring projects she was already involved in.

She is the full-time Director of Events and Sponsorships for

Uniprix – not to mention her activities with the Montreal chapter

of MPI – but Lyne also celebrated the March 2009 launch of her

book L’organisation d’un événement – Guide pratique

(Organizing an event – a practical guide) which is one of the few

practical manuals targeted to francophones in the meetings and

events industry.

Lyne didn’t stop there, however; she also wrote a weekly blog

about organizing meetings that gave her Internet followers the

latest professional advice, the pulse and news of the meetings

and event industry as well as new job postings in the field. Her

willingness to share her expertise with both senior planners as

well as newbies personified her ambition and community spirit –

the recession just couldn’t stop this planner dynamo! In sum,

Lyne is an accomplished senior planner who is passionate about

her profession and listens to others in the industry.

She has become a reference for many professionals in Quebec

and elsewhere.

On the Web : www.guideevenement.com

Runner-up – Sandra Wood, an Ottawa-based planner for

the Canadian Medical Association, is another person who merits

high praise this year. Her accomplishments and determination,

especially in education and the Green movement, were most

impressive.

Keeping a keen eye on the efforts of hotels during this reces-

sionary year revealed several surprises, chief among them

the impressive rise of an establishment whose initiatives and

branding strategies put it way ahead of most of its competitors.

The Hilton Montréal Bonaventure, this year’s winner of the Tower

Award for Hotel of the Year, showed an exemplary attitude dur-

ing the economic slowdown. Like all businesses its financial

results were affected, but the ambition of this relatively small con-

vention hotel allowed it to meet and exceed all of its clients’

requests on numerous levels. The hotel proposed a new vision for

its employees and clients and the management concentrated on

two critical elements: service and innovation. They met the chal-

lenge of preparing their employees for change due to the reces-

sion by rethinking the way they did business. They reorganized

their internal structure, providing particular attention and exclusive

service to the last-minute demands of corporate clients –

by doing so, they developed a

concierge-type service totally

dedicated to meeting and event

planners. Consequently, you

will now find a concierge desk

on the banquet floor reserved

for meeting planners, making it

easy for them to benefit from

personalized service, logistical

help and general assistance as

required. The sales team was also redefined, and now regularly

provides new programs and creative ideas to maximize the use of

available space. By adapting its service philosophy and involving

all of its employees in the process, the Hilton Montréal

Bonaventure created a new foundation to assure its continued

development and that of its most important asset – its clients.

On the Web: www.hiltonmontreal.com

Runner-up — The Fairmont Le Château Montebello’s impec-

cable service and consistency were in evidence once again in

2009. It also opened new meeting rooms at an investment of $6.2

million.

PLANNER OF THE YEAR

LYNE BRANCHAUD

HOTEL OF THE YEAR

THE HILTON MONTRÉAL BONAVENTURE

They met the challenge...


ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

PORTER AIRLINES LTD.

FUNDRAISER AND SHOWMAN OF THEYEAR - GUY LALIBERTÉ

The current recession has

provided a lot of speed bumps

and road hazards for those travel-

ing the difficult road of fundrais-

ing. Simply put, between business-

es becoming ever more sensitive

about financially supporting chari-

table works and those who don’t

want to be associated except when

an event is extraordinarily prof-

itable, fundraisers are often left

racking their brains to find ways to

guarantee a level of participation

that will ensure their event’s success, financial and otherwise.

But just when this recession reached its apex in 2009, we saw

the ascension of a fundraising project that surpassed the imagi-

nation of even the most creative planners: ONE DROP™. This

foundation, led by Cirque du Soleil creator Guy Laliberté, is try-

ing to fight poverty around the globe by giving everyone access

to clean water, today and in the future. This dream that is now a

reality is proof positive that the only nation we are limited by is

our imagination. ONE DROP™ pushed all obstacles, particularly

financial ones, out of the way by giving a home to a social and

poetic mission held in space aboard the International Space

Station (SSI), which was the first event of its kind held in outer

space. Can you think of a better example to show that out-of-the-

bucket thinking can inspire the masses and help solve the water

crisis? Guy’s on-board diary and the short videos rebroadcast on

the foundation’s site garnered the attention of the world’s media

and accomplished the mission’s prime objective: To sensitize the

entire world about our fragile planet’s water problem.

On the Web : www.onedrop.org

Runner-up — Our second showman of the year is Michael Bublé.

This Canadian crooner has created an enviable international reputation

with his passion and perseverance and, of course, talent.

Porter Airlines is this year’s winner of the Tower Award for

Entrepreneur of the Year because of its dogged dedication

to that once cherished

mantra of all airlines – customer

service. Sure, we all love the

flight attendants in the pillbox

hats but the Porter flying experi-

ence is second to none for other

reasons. Flying out of Billy

Bishop Toronto City Airport, the

innovative airline flies 18 planes

to 13 different destinations including Toronto, Montreal, Halifax,

Ottawa, Myrtle Beach, Mont-Tremblant and Chicago. Porter

invested a lot of time and money in 2009 to expand their termi-

nal at the airport, which will open this year. At a time when many

businesses and airlines were downsizing and cutting, Porter was

a market leader.

A recent blog post about Porter’s service summarized most

commentators’ thoughts: “Porter provides a very easy, relaxed

way to travel. Toronto City is a

great little airport for business

travellers, Porter’s service is

friendly and efficient, and the

planes are brand new and com-

fortable.”

Despite challenges on many

fronts, Porter rose above it all

and showed impressive mettle

in 2009.

Bravo Porter! Thanks for giving planners an enjoyable and

viable alternative for air travel.

On the Web: www.flyporter.com

Runner-up — The Le Germain Group who continued their

The craziest dreams are realizedwhen each one of us gives their

energy, effort and creativity.Guy Laliberté

“Porter provides a very easy,relaxed way to travel.”


A great resolution for major change

As we now enter 2010, many people

reach for the same old resolutions –

getting back into the gym, paying

off credit card debt, becoming more

organized. Yawn! Consider one resolution

that can make a big difference – learning how to communicate

more effectively.

Think about it – communication is what makes the world go

round in our professional and personal lives. We’re always in

search of communicating with impact and influence. Why not

resolve to do it better in 2010?

I’ve said it before: Face-to-face communication is a lost art.

We’ve become victims of our own technology. From Twitter to

Facebook to our BlackBerry, iPhone and Skype, the list of tech-

nological tools we use to communicate continues to grow. They

all offer communication benefits, such as staying in touch with a

wide network of people. But these tools also compete with our

time and ability to communicate face-to-face.

DO YOU TWITTER INSTEAD OF TALK?

How many of us are guilty of texting, twittering or emailing a

message to someone sitting right next to us? Most of us would

have a nervous breakdown if we wouldn’t have access to these

life-suckers for a day.

Technology enhances communication, but only if you know

when and how to use it.

I received a phone call from the CEO of a recruiting company

who was inquiring about non-verbal tips he should be aware of

when interviewing candidates. As we discussed these cues, he

shared stories about the differences between individuals’ choices

of communication mediums.

He explained to me, “When I want to share a job opportunity

with an individual who is 25 years of age or younger, I need to

send them a text message to get their attention. They will not

return my phone calls or email messages. Frequently they will

not respond to the text within 24 hours.”

Yes, we need to adapt to every generation. However, if we rely

on technology to communicate, what happens to our face-to-face

communication skills? At some point we NEED to have a face-to-

face conversation.

TECHNOLOGY PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES

Don’t get me wrong; I enjoy my Twitter, Facebook, Skype and

any technology that provides me opportunities to communicate.

The difference is I know what messages have greater impact and

influence when communicated face-to-face. I haven’t lost touch

with how critical it is to practice improving my ability to commu-

nicate face-to-face if I want to:

• Build and cultivate long-term relationships.

• Influence action.

• Eliminate miscommunication.

When possible, start with a face-to-face conversation. Then iden-

tify the second form of communication based on your listener’s

expectations. Ask co-workers, members and other listeners if they

prefer e-mail, a telephone call or other forms of communication.

Communication needn’t be complicated. It helps to get back

to the basics and begin improving face-to-face communication.

Tony Robbins, the guru of goal setting, stated that only 1% will

still be committed to their goals six weeks after they’ve been set.

You need to want it bad enough to make a commitment to

improve your communication.

If you could commit to making one change to how you com-

municate, what would it be? Do you want the change badly

enough to be willing to make the sacrifices required to see

results in one, three and six months down the road?

Wishing you a healthy and successful 2010!

Stacey Hanke is an executive consultant, author, coach and speak-

er with 1st Impression Consulting, Inc. in Chicago, Ill. E-mail her at:

[email protected] or call (773) 209-5970.

BY STACEY HANKE

The last issue of The Planner revealed 101 Ways to Relax

at the office, in your home, outdoors or in just about any

circumstance. Planners who sent us suggestions had a chance

to win a one-night stay at The Park Hyatt Hotel in Toronto,

as well as two gift certificates to enjoy the Hotel’s Stillwater Spa.

The lucky winners were : Grand prize:

Julie Lavallée-Morin, Axa Insurance

Stillwater spa gift certificates :Yvonne Dewar, Elastic Events

France Guillot, Mercer

And the luckywinners were...


Why even set a goal if I can’t keep it?

For many of us, we are already a few

months into the New Year, and we have

all but abandoned the goals we had planned

to obtain over the next 12 months and

beyond. It is a common practice to decide

on resolutions for the coming year and to desire to start on this

‘new journey’ or way of life starting January 1.

Sometimes this works. However, I have found that while most

people have the best of intentions, they have not set themselves

up for the success they seek. To do this it is imperative that each

goal be measurable and time specific.

Many people miss these important ingredients in goal setting,

and instead they resolve to lose weight or stop smoking or want

to make more money without making the goal measurable or time

specific. In this instance, if the person set a goal such as “I will

weigh 135 lbs by 5 p.m. on September 19, 2010, they run a better

chance of getting there than just saying, “I want to lose weight”

TWO POINTS WORTH CONSIDERING

At this juncture it is also wise to consider two other points.

Number one, why do I want to be at that weight and number two,

how can I set myself up for success in reaching this goal?

People will often set goals without really giving consideration as

to why they want to attain the thing they say they want and consid-

er how important it is to them. For instance, if you set yourself a goal

to make an additional $2,500 in the next 12 months have you consid-

ered the reason why you are making this a goal?

Is it so that you can pay off existing debt, take a vacation, save for

your child’s education or put it into an RRSP for your future? Being

clear on the motivation for the goal will help you strive to reach it,

especially when times get tough or you get distracted with life. You

are more likely to hit the goal if you attach it to something you value.

Another consideration is to determine what needs to happen

for you to reach the goal you have set. It is not enough to state

the goal to those around you, or to even write down the goal. You

must take time to look at what steps are required to secure this

goal. In the above example of making additional money, you

might want to find a part time job, cut some discretionary expens-

es like extra cable TV channels, or seek a raise at your current job.

Once the goal or goals are written (far better chance to attain

them when written down), it is best to review the goals several

times a day. Your brain wants to close the gap between where

you are currently and where you want to be, so it creates some-

thing called ‘structural tension’, so that your creativity will be

stimulated and you will stay motivated.

Sharon Worsley, of Sharon Worsley International Training is an

expert in the area of personal leadership. Her signature keynote ‘Live

By Choice, Not By Chance’ inspires individuals and organizations to

seek excellence in their life and their organizations. Sharon can be

BY SHARON WORSLEY


Here is the winning entry for the menu for a Canadian

Olympics-themed event, submitted by Judy Zinni of Bard Canada:

Hors d’oeuvresDownhill Beef: Spiced Alberta beef tartar on Asian spoons

Tyee Snowboards: Smoked BC Tyee salmon with Canadian-pro-

duced mascarpone cheese and chives

Oyster Luge: Salt Aire® Oysters on the half shell, with tradition-

al accompaniments

Biathlon Trophy Moose: Corned moose brisket on Ace Bakery

rye toast with grainy mustard

Olympic Torch Poutine: Mini Yukon Gold French fries with

cheese curd and gravy, served in a parchment cone

Winners’ Bouquets: OAC Millenium asparagus wrapped in

Pingue prosciutto

Toque Tartlets: Cinnamon laced BC apple and rutabaga tartlets

AppetizerOpening Ceremony Duck: Seared Brome Lake duck breast with

Saskatoon reduction

SoupAprès-Ski Hand-Warming Soup: Creamy fiddlehead soup

served in a hand-thrown mug made by students of the Kootenay

School of Art

MainPodium Bound Pork: Perth Pork Farm wild boar tenderloin,

with maple syrup, thyme and Dijon mustard sauce

Served on a “podium” of PEI potato mash with ramps,

With “an audience of” green beans in brown butter (made from

Beurrierie du Patrimoine artisanal butter)

Dessert Sweet Victory: Pears poached in BC white wine, with Tiger Blue

Cheese and roasted black walnuts

Communal plate of Europea Restaurant macarons, Nanaimo

bars, and Milsean Demerara Butter Crunch candy

Judy Zinni wins a set of Olympic coins and our three runners-

up were: Leacy O’Callaghan, Canadian Association of Medical

Radiation Technologists; Sue Lewis, Canada Green Building

Council; and Sue Selby, CAA South Central Ontario.

The runners-up garnered some beautiful Olympic scarves and

tuques. Thanks to our kind sponsor Catering By George of

An Olympics-themed menu winner

Take care of business…

then slip backstage

for some fun.

Treat your partners,

clients and staff to an

unforgettable party!

Book Now:Claude Chabot at 514 845-3440 ext.2284 or [email protected]

at the Festival

BUSINESSCombine

with pleasure


February 2010

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