Prix Prestige 2024 Awards Gala – Celebrating 40 Years

Planning

1. Vision and Strategy

   Every year, the MPI Ottawa Prix Prestige Awards sets the stage to celebrate excellence and highlight industry leaders in our community. The glamour and success of the event are the result of the meticulous planning and dedication of countless volunteers who work tirelessly behind the scenes. They go above and beyond their regular jobs to make it all seamlessly come together. Let’s explore the significant efforts by volunteers that go into making this event happen.

   

   This was the third time the current committee has come together to execute this signature event for the MPI Ottawa Chapter, so planning came together quite naturally. This year, the focus shifted towards succession planning for future planning team leadership to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities.

   The team built their event timeline around the schedule for the EVENT which was hosted by MPI Global for the first time, thus ensuring they could achieve and build on the success of having a global event in Ottawa. This strategic planning process allowed for clear goals and milestones to be set and met.

   

   
   

2. Theme and Design

   The Awards Gala took place on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, at the Brookstreet Hotel in Ottawa. The gala welcomed 240 attendees and featured a night of inspiring speeches from past chapter presidents, the recognition by their peers of distinguished individuals, and a celebration of the chapter’s 40th anniversary.

   Captivating content and an innovative format kept attendees fully engaged throughout the presentations and ceremonies.

   The team defined the gala as an “Awards Celebration,” using a modern colour palette of fuchsia, white, and gold. The design team worked closely with the Marketing Committee to craft an aesthetic that resonated with the event’s purpose—to “celebrate our stars.” Departing from the traditional red, black, and gold, this new colour scheme symbolized a new beginning—creativity, passion, and confidence.

   

   
   

3. Sponsorships & Partnerships

   This was a record-breaking year for sponsorships (both in-kind and monetary), with a sellout of all available sponsorship activations. Additional sponsorship opportunities were created to accommodate the high demand.

   

    

   Special thanks go to the Encore Canada team for their exceptional activation of the event space and to the decor company for their dedication—even amidst personal challenges—to adding sparkle to the gala. Both were able to create an outstanding visual presentation with the time constraints they had to flip the room between events. The creativity displayed in staging and presentation content inspired fresh ideas and set the bar for future events.

   

   
   

4. Selection of the Masters of Ceremonies (MC)

   The gala highlighted the chapter’s 40th anniversary and honoured its legacy by featuring contributions from past presidents, including the MPI Ottawa Chapter’s founder, Robert (Bob) Davis. New this year, was having various MCs which allowed for very engaging, diverse deliveries of the nominees and recipients as well as highlighting milestones that have made the chapter strong over the years.

   
5. Venue Selection & Challenges

   To ensure symmetry with the EVENT MPI and reduce commute times for attendees, the Brookstreet Hotel was selected as the venue. This decision increased attendee engagement and made it easier for our membership to participate in both the daytime programming and the evening gala.

   The collaboration with MPI Global, MPI Foundation, and the MPI Ottawa Education Committee further showcased the strength of partnerships and created a seamless experience. Attendance for the gala remained consistent with the previous year, highlighting the event’s continued appeal.

   
6. Award Categories

   This year a committee revamped and restructured the categories, to better align with the incredible work of our Chapter volunteers. The awards highlighted both individual and organizational excellence, as well as unique artistry, which was evident in the custom glass-blown trophies created by Luann Baker-Johnson of Lumel Studios.

   One previous category, the Innovation Award, was removed due to overlap with the Influence Award which is presented during Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID). This allowed our focus to remain on distinct categories awarded to recipients by the Office of the President.

   We can’t think of anyone who exemplifies creativity, passion, confidence, and dedication to the industry more than this year's list of nominees:

   

   
   

   2024 Award Categories & Recipients

   • Planner of the Year: Julie Begbie, CMP
   • Supplier of the Year: Disa-Marie Cameron
   • Mentor of the Year: Riccarda Galioto
   • Volunteer of the Year: Louise Gervais, CMM, CMP
   • Emerging Leader of the Year: Michel Kafrouny, CAE, DES
   • New Member of the Year: Emily Seabrook, CMP
     • Honourary Member: Mary-Frances Gingras, CMP
     • President's' Award: Bruce Landry 

7. Marketing & Promotions

The 40th Anniversary Video was a standout element of the gala, incorporating contributions from every past president. This initiative, along with targeted social media campaigns and newsletters, effectively built anticipation and engagement around the event.

Planning Committee

They say it takes a village, and this event was no exception. Each committee member brought a unique skill set to the table, creating a seamless and dynamic collaboration. From leveraging industry networks to showcasing expertise, the committee’s efforts elevated the gala to new heights.

Rebecca Narr – Director
Jenny Dao - Chair
Michel Kafrouny, CAE, DES - Co-Chair

Alex Donaldson
Allyson Tonelli
Angela Van Wingerden, DES
Annick Hector
Bianca Charron
Disa-Marie Cameron
Emily McKay
Erin Bellwood
Greg Plazek
Helen Bird
Julia O'Grady
Julie Clement
Sarah Landry
Steven Lacelle
Stephanie Lapensee
Theresa Ellwood, DES

Conclusion

The Prix Prestige 2024 Awards Gala exemplified a sense of camaraderie and the spirit of volunteerism. It demonstrated that the effort put into such an event is rewarded by the shared celebration of excellence, community, and the chapter’s enduring legacy.

 Article edited by Cynthia Beaudin, Canada Foundation for Innovation