We are currently seeking a full-time event + marketing coordinator to join our team in Calgary, AB for a one-year maternity leave contract. The ideal candidate for this position will be a highly organized, professional and self-motivated individual who thrives in a flexible, self-directed work environment. This individual will be responsible for supporting a portfolio of client events that includes…

Webinars and online training tools are replacing the idea of conferences and professional development events. That’s what they are saying, but we disagree! There is unique power in being connected to other people who are active in your line of work, through education and networking. I believe that professional development is best experienced in person and here's why.

"Should we extend the earlybird deadline?" We get asked this all the time. And I'm sorry, but the answer is, "No!" If you are finding that your marketing tactics are not drawing in registrations as fast as you hoped before the earlybird deadline, don't panic. We have some tried and true tactics that can get your registrations to that sold out scenario.

Just pick a type-face, slap on a bold colour, and presto you're done. Wrong. Branding is the face to your event - your big first impression. If your event branding is professional and polished, you’re also communicating that all aspects of the event will have the same attention to detail.

Throughout 2017, headlines about climate change agreements, carbon taxes, pending pipeline deals, emissions, natural disasters, melting ice caps and unpredictable weather patterns have dominated our headlines. As meeting and event leaders, a big part of our job is to engage and participate in conversations about how our events are impacting the environment.

If you have been living under a rock and have not seen our #SparkBTS this past June, well let me fill you in. Spring is by far the busiest season for us at Spark. In true form, we like to affectionately call this Spring Slaughter. Spring Slaughter is a marathon, not a sprint. And a part of crossing the finish line, like any marathon, requires prep, pacing, and a few tricks of the trade…

There was no shortage of vibrancy and excitement in May at the Project Management Institute Northern Alberta Chapter (PMINAC) Conference. With updated branding, a new spacious venue, and a refreshed vision for a conference experience, the Spark team partnered with one of our long-time clients to make months of creative rebranding come to life.

One of the things we pride ourselves on at Spark is our ability to maintain client relationships. We've never lost a client and have had the pleasure of working with most of our clients on multiple events. It is truly humbling that our clients see value in our services and keep coming back. The best part about this is that that each time we work with client on an event, it allows us to deepen our understanding of their business, which inevitably results in better events every time.

Anyone who lives or works in Calgary knows that during Stampede, the city morphs into a massive 10 day, cowboy-themed party. Venues, event planners, décor companies and entertainers are all booked up working long days and late hours to satisfy the demands of one of the busiest party seasons in our city. Most Stampede events and parties offer little to challenge the imagination of an event planner…

When people ask me what I do for a living, I say I own an event management firm. 80% of the time, it leads to discussion of weddings, confetti and the latest trends in balloon animals, but I’m used to it. You see, it does not matter what people call me or what they imagine my job is like day to day, give me 5 minutes with them and they’ll never again utter the words “party planner”.  I know events can include things like confetti and balloon animals, but they are so much more than that…