e=mc2 events logo

Virtually Located. Globally Operated.

Honouring National Volunteer Week

Shaylene Flanagan • Apr 18, 2024

How does a volunteer in Edmonton, Alberta impact 26,000 lives in Tanzania, Africa? 

We are honouring National Volunteer Week by highlighting our Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Shaylene, and her charity, Ground-Up Foundation.


Volunteer week is about recognizing and celebrating every volunteer and each contribution they are making to strengthen inclusivity and wellbeing. The theme for National Volunteer Week 2024 is Every Moment Matters. 


We asked Shaylene to share her story and the origins of Ground-Up Foundation. 


—-

This story actually begins with one of my partners, Kam Haji. Kam is from Tanzania and travels there on an annual basis. In 2018, he knew it was time for him to give back to his community and he worked alongside his dad to source and install a water tank at a local school. 


He quickly saw the impact this water tank had on the students, the faculty, and the surrounding community, and an opportunity to do even more. When he traveled back to Canada, he connected with Garet Stewart and me [Shaylene Flanagan] and presented the opportunity to partner up and see how we could grow the cause together. 


After an inspirational brainstorming session [over a few shared drinks and appies] we came up with the name Ground-Up Foundation. Ground-Up is rooted in “building better futures from the ground-up”. The name itself was inspired by the water sources we would rely on, which come from underground piping, but it was also about the bigger picture. We saw this cause as a chance to make a tangible difference in these communities and dreamt of all the different ways we could holistically impact these lives. 


By providing access to one of life’s most basic needs, we created a chance for students to more easily access education and we instilled a sense of pride in their community. This was about changing futures, and it started from the ground up. 

Recognizing that we needed one primary focus, we honed in on water and we continued to install tanks in the Morogoro region. We quickly claimed our name and incorporated the charity and we began engaging our friends and family. This led to the planning of our first fundraising event which took place less than one year after inception [fall 2019]. The first event was hosted at the same local pub we had our initial brainstorm in and we saw a flood of donations from friends, family, and generous strangers who were inspired by our cause. 


This fundraiser has become an annual event that takes place each fall. It has grown and changed over the last 6 years and has become the leading source of our fundraising efforts. Each year, we host an in-person event that includes a silent auction, food, drinks, pay-to-play games, and a guaranteed good time! Our silent auction has become a hit, and thanks to our generous donors we are able to provide high ticket items such as hockey tickets and local experiences. 


Over the years, we have seen the support of so many individuals, businesses, friends, and family and we are so grateful to each one of them. We have hired two on-the-ground employees who source schools and/or orphanages to install new tanks, monitor the current tanks to ensure they’re in working order, and report back if any maintenance is required. 


We have built trusted relationships within the community and we are proud to say that we have been recognized as a registered charity in Canada and a Non-Government Organization abroad. 


As of February, 2024, we have installed 26 water tanks which currently provide water access to over 26,000 students in Tanzania, Africa. 


We have big dreams for the future and we can’t wait to see our organization grow as time goes on. This cause is humbling and incredible and consistently reminds me not to take anything in life for granted.


The theme of this year’s volunteer week, “every moment matters” is a direct tie to our initiative. Ground-Up Foundation was born from the desire to give back and thrives on the inspiration to move forward. Throughout the last 6 years we have seen and created countless moments that matter; we have impacted 26,000 students that matter; and we have counted every drop that matters. 


If you would like to get involved with Ground-Up Foundation, whether by donating, spreading the word, or traveling to Tanzania, we welcome you. 


You can learn more by visiting the Ground-Up Foundation website here. 

Brain Science: Unlocking Creativity

By Keri Miller • 25 Apr, 2024
Keri Miller's Pink Poodle Theory

Teamwork, Growth, & Unforgettable Experiences: My Beginnings with “e”

By Halee Grimsdale • 10 Oct, 2023
I’ve embarked on my fair share of adventures and when I landed in Calgary and met the “e” team, I dove right into the deep end. This journey is not for the faint of heart, but the rewards are boundless. As I reflect on my first three months at e=mc² events, I am filled with a mix of excitement, gratitude, and a newfound sense of accomplishment. The journey has been nothing short of a whirlwind, and I am here to share the exhilarating experience of joining a team that truly embodies the values of honourable, innovative, insightful, and invested. Those values are not just buzzwords at “e”; they are the backbone of everything we do. From cultivating ethical practices to seeking groundbreaking solutions, these values resonate in every corner of the organization. This collective commitment sets the stage for exceptional events that leave a lasting impact. The Work In those first two weeks on the job, it was all about getting the hang of things through orientation and training. Little did I know, I would be catapulted into the heart of the action immediately following. The fast-paced environment demanded a quick adaptation to the ever-changing landscape of event planning. I found myself absorbing information and acquiring new skills at a remarkable pace. The challenge was not only invigorating but also a testament to the team's commitment to continuous growth and excellence. I was pleasantly surprised by the trust placed in me to take ownership of project pieces and decisions. This culture of ownership is a catalyst for growth, as it encourages creativity, resourcefulness, and a deep sense of responsibility. Each challenge has been an opportunity for personal and professional development. I learn something new every day. The Dream Team Coming from a strong and supportive team in my previous job, the transition initially left me a tad apprehensive. However, those concerns quickly dissolved as I realized that the team at “e” was not just welcoming, but also dedicated to nurturing a supportive environment. The ethos of 'honourable' extends beyond interactions with clients to the heart of how colleagues treat one another. The camaraderie and support I found within the team were beyond my expectations. Amidst the whirlwind of activity, their unwavering unity turned colleagues into friends and mentors. It's often said that teamwork makes the dream work, and I couldn't agree more. The “e” team exemplifies this, proving that when a group of passionate individuals come together, exceptional things happen. One of the most awe-inspiring aspects of my role has been the opportunity to learn from the industry's best. Interacting with seasoned professionals who are not just experts but also innovators, has been an unparalleled privilege. Their insights have guided me through complex challenges and opened my eyes to innovative approaches that redefine the boundaries of event management. The first three months have been a whirlwind of learning, growth, and forging bonds with an extraordinary team. As I move forward, I am excited to continue pushing my boundaries, honing my skills, and contributing to the creation of remarkable experiences. I am eager to embrace the challenges that lie ahead.

Emotional Intelligence

15 Sep, 2023
Emotional intelligence in relation to event and conference planning & production has become a trending topic, but it’s something we’ve been aware of for years. Our founder, Jocelyn, has presented on Emotional Intelligence & Human Centered Design on a number of stages over the last couple of years, but in case you haven’t had the chance to see her in person, we thought we’d break it down for you here! First things first! What is emotional intelligence and why is it important? In short, it is the ability to manage your own emotions as well as understand the emotions of people around you. There are five key elements: social skills, self awareness, self-regulation, empathy, and motivation. Let’s break them down.
The

A year with “e”!

By Andrea Beauchamp • 29 Aug, 2023
My First Impressions

What the Duck

By Keri Miller • 10 May, 2023
The Official Story of the Rubber Duck

I Can’t Wait To Call My Parents

04 Aug, 2022
My First Three Months with "e"

21 Years is 2022

21 Jul, 2022
Here's to 21 Years, a Cause for Great Celebration!

Can a Single Word Define a Year?

By Jocelyn Flanagan • 20 Jan, 2022
Through the Years . . . How a Single Word Can Make a Huge Difference At the end of 2017 a small group of my friends pushed me to join them in naming a word of the year. Surprisingly, this was one of the most difficult things I have ever done – and many would say, I’ve done many things over the years. I was never one to have New Year’s resolutions, nor was I really ever good at writing down goals, so I truly found this quite intimidating. How could I choose one word that I truly wanted to define me for an entire year? What word did I want to personify? That is a lot of pressure for one word.  And then a lot of pressure for me to “be.” I felt this overwhelming vulnerability when it came time to share this word. I then pulled out my inner Brené Brown, looked vulnerability in the face and took a stab at it. BOLD was the word of that year and in 2018, I needed that. I must admit, as soon as I stated that word I felt it. I lived it. I breathed it and if I ever wavered or got nervous before a client call, all I had to do was look at the handwritten note on my desk and remember to be bold. And surprisingly, it worked! At the end of 2018 it was fun to look back and reflect on the success that BOLDNESS brought to me, and to the company – we had the best year financially since 2007 (during the oil boom), I had a personal best as an event producer and we had incredible events across North America. In 2019, my word was JOY and I lived that every day. I made it a priority to have fun at everything I did. Clients brought me joy, our team was on fire and brought me a lot of joy and I took advantage of no travel restrictions and found joy on and off of planes, meeting new people and visiting friends and family. In 2020, luckily I had the foresight (or blind luck) to choose LOVE as my word. I didn’t know it at the time, but love quickly became a word that was needed desperately in 2020 when COVID hit. Love for my family and friends, love for my team as we together navigated our way through a very challenging year and self-love as I struggled as a leader in this difficult time. Love (together with compassion) went hand in hand and got me through. And on a really personal note, perhaps I should have written this word down years ago. Maybe I wouldn’t have been single for so long. But somehow I also found true love amidst the chaos of COVID. In 2021, ENERGY was my word. By the end of 2020, I felt I was losing energy. I had lots of love, but was drained of energy so I thought if I deemed it as my word in 2021, I could get it back. With this word, I could give more energy to our team, who needed it more than ever after 2020. I must say, I did try. I can’t say I succeeded all that well. Heading into 2021 I was optimistic in thinking that energy would come naturally and we would use that energy to spring back to the “good ol’ days.” I used as much energy as I could to get us through. We had some incredible wins, we broke ground with merging technologies, we played in the broadcast domain and met some great milestone achievements. But it was really hard. My energy definitely waned as the year came to an end. But what if energy hadn’t been my word? If I had even less energy, I’m not sure I would have made it. So once again, I am grateful for that one word that did get me through the year. This year, in 2022, my word came very quickly to me. There was no deliberating. I woke up one morning and had it. DETERMINED . Determined to take back control of our outcome for the year. There are so many things we learned over the past two years that we truly can’t control. But what that doesn’t mean is that we should sit back, hold our hands up in the air and continue to blame COVID for our results. Not anymore. At least I don’t want to. I believe that we can take some control back and I am determined to do so. I am determined to: Lead better Love harder Be bold er Laugh more and live with joy Put my energy to good use Control the outcomes And have a great year! What’s your word this year?

Reimagining the Human Experience - Virtually

By Janel Snider • 18 Nov, 2021
The Power and Humanity of a Digital Event  Hi, I'm Janel, Experience Producer at "e". I'm sharing with you my most memorable moments at the reimagined Junos Opening Night Awards from 2021, let's keep our walls down and continue to connect authentically. From Sceptic to Convert Standing in a warehouse in Oakville, Ontario, with 66+ laptops glowing in front of me, I never expected to be a convert to the power and humanity of a digital event. For the 2021 JUNO Opening Night Awards, our team endeavoured to create a live awards show that was not only engaging for audiences across Canada, but a meaningful experience for all the nominated artists. We took on the daunting task of coordinating the live announcement of 37 awards with over 180 artist nominees, virtually. Infrastructure and Experience In the lead up to the event, I was awed by the infrastructure needed to accomplish this goal. With 40 concurrent Zoom calls, 66 laptops, 12 virtual stage managers, 12 dedicated technicians and pages and pages of spreadsheets, not to mention the entire broadcast team and equipment I can’t even begin to itemize, we mapped out each nominee's journey down to the second and rehearsed the flow ad nauseam to ensure we did it right. The technology was impressive - but it was the people that surprised and humbled me the most; Watching our partner teams from across Canada join virtual sessions to support and train each other. Seeing people from different backgrounds stepping in to lead and deferring to experts in other fields, admitting when they didn’t know the answer. Collaboration across live event production, IT integration and television broadcasting. Creating a new vocabulary to describe how we were working together. It was dynamic, challenging and ultimately rewarding.

From Photocopy Girl to Producer in one Year

By Jocelyn Flanagan • 20 Sep, 2021
Calgary Cares: 15 Minutes That Changed Lives If I were to pinpoint the one event that took me out of my bubble, pushed me to entirely new heights and brought out the show producer in me, it was the one I volunteered at for five months before e=mc² events even began. February 2001 - I was starting to seek out opportunities in the event industry, which was very limited at the time. I sought after the only name I knew and I called her until she agreed to finally meet with me. With some hesitation and exasperation in her voice, she told me that she was very busy with rehearsals for a show she was working on, but I could have 15 minutes of her time. That 15 minutes changed my life. At the meeting I was blown away. I was surrounded by models practicing their walks, dancers rehearsing their routines, clothing designers sewing, measuring, cutting, taping, and gluing. Music was blasting. People were running around everywhere. And then the drag queens came in and took the whole scene to a whole new level. I didn’t know what I had gotten myself into, but I knew I loved it. I was asked to volunteer to be the photocopy girl and of course I agreed. I didn’t care what my role was, as long as I was privy to the insanity of this show. This show was CALGARY CARES and it took place on March 17, 2001. Fast forward four months and, in July 2001, we started e=mc² events. In October 2001, through a serendipitous turn of events, Jim Button hired e=mc² to produce Calgary Cares 2002. Crazy. Exciting. Intimidating. Overwhelming. But, above all else, really, really cool. For all of those who know Jim, you know how lucky we were to have him as a client and friend.
More Posts
Share by: