Grunthal resident Carla Campbell recently had the opportunity to attend the Canadian Association of Fairs and Exhibitions (CAFE) 100th-anniversary convention in Toronto, a trip she described as "amazing." The event, which took place earlier this month, was a significant milestone for CAFE, marking a century of supporting fairs and festivals across Canada. As a dedicated community organizer, Campbell was excited to take full advantage of the learning opportunities offered, while also connecting with other festival leaders from across the country.
"This year was extra special, as we celebrated the 100th anniversary of CAFE," Campbell shared. "The convention was a three-day event, packed with valuable learning sessions and networking opportunities for people like me who work hard to organize community events."
Campbell, who is the festival coordinator for Summer in the City in Steinbach, has attended the convention for the past three years, but this was her first time being involved in the organizing committee. "Being on the organizing committee was such a rewarding experience," she explained. "I got to help shape the event and work with some incredible people from all over Canada who share the same passion for fairs and festivals. It was an experience that made the convention even more meaningful for me.”
One of the most exciting highlights of Campbell’s trip was meeting Olympic figure skater and motivational speaker, Elvis Stojko. "Meeting Elvis was a dream come true. His keynote speech was incredibly inspiring," Campbell said. "He talked about the dedication it takes to excel, and how, even in the quietest hours of the day, he was on the ice practicing. His work ethic resonated with me because, as organizers, we often put in those behind-the-scenes hours to make events successful."
Campbell also had the privilege of spending an afternoon with Marla Calico, the president and CEO of the International Association of Fairs and Expositions. Calico, who has over 25 years of experience in the industry, led a session and shared valuable insights about the future of fairs and festivals. "To spend time one-on-one with Marla was a huge highlight for me," Campbell said. "She is a wealth of knowledge, and I learned so much from her experience in both exhibition and event planning."
Throughout the convention, Campbell attended a variety of sessions that focused on enhancing event organization and tackling challenges that many festivals face. Topics covered included attracting youth to community events, managing crisis situations, and best practices for collaboration with local businesses and nonprofits. "The learning opportunities were fantastic," Campbell noted. "I’m already looking forward to next year and the chance to apply what I’ve learned."
When asked about her experience as a volunteer and committee member for the event, Campbell reflected on the connections she’s made with fellow organizers. "It’s not just about the sessions and the speakers," she said. "It's the people you meet and the relationships you build. I’ve had the chance to connect with event organizers from large-scale festivals like the Calgary Stampede and the CNE in Toronto, and it’s great to see how they do things on a larger scale. We may be organizing smaller festivals, but we all face similar challenges and can learn from each other."
As a passionate volunteer, Campbell’s work extends beyond Summer in the City. She’s also involved with a number of other community events.
"I love helping organize events that bring people together," she said. "There’s something special about seeing people enjoy an event – whether it’s a rodeo or a music festival. The learning I take away from CAFE directly impacts the work I do with these events."
With CAFE’s next convention scheduled to take place in Calgary, Campbell is already looking ahead to next year. "I’m really excited to see what the Calgary Stampede grounds are like when they’re empty," she said. "It will be a great chance to see how such a massive operation runs during the off-season."
For now, Campbell is focused on applying the knowledge she gained from this year’s convention to her work with community events. As for the future of Manitoba’s involvement in CAFE, she hopes more local organizations will consider joining the association. "There’s a lot of value in being part of an organization like CAFE," Campbell said. "Whether your fair is large or small, the resources available can help everyone, and the more we learn from each other, the stronger our events will be."
With her experience in Toronto, Campbell continues to build on her passion for community festivals, eager to bring new ideas and insights back to Southeastern Manitoba.