This was our first virtual awards gala, and after 23 years of hosting the event live in Toronto, it was a huge leap for our team. We gathered together an all-star team and set out to produce something memorable and meaningful that would inspire our industry at a time of tremendous global challenge.
The 2020 Canadian Event Awards were presented by Canadian Special Events Magazine & Liberty Entertainment Group, produced by Stacy Wyatt in collaboration with TK Events Inc., & sponsored by Live Media, The Idea Hunter, Slidepusher Media, & bb Blanc.
We made some critical decisions that made the difference between a show and an experience. First, we asked all nominees to send in an acceptance speech because we were concerned about going live to winners who may not be ready or have a decent quality feed. The result was better than we could have hoped and was one reason the show was a seamless and exciting experience for everyone attending.
The second was a live host. This was a game-changer and allowed us to run on the fly with any issues, long talkers or gaps in the program. Another solid decision that we suggest anyone hosting virtual consider.
Finally, we did viewing parties across Canada and went live to them on location. It made all the difference in the world for our audience to gather in small groups and celebrate their wins.
You can check out those who did win and whose speeches did make it to the production by watching the full show on our Facebook page.
Skip the first hour of the recording; it is a tour of the pre-show experience. We look forward to another exciting virtual event this June.
