We're Back Annual Report 2022
Wellington Holbrook
Chair, Board of Directors
We are back in business!
After a very challenging environment in 2020 and 2021, 2022 can only be described as a very strong recovery year for the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre (CTCC). The pandemic had significant impacts on the operations of the Centre and 2022 marked a return to ‘almost’ normal operations. We were pleased to welcome a significant number of conventions and conferences to our space for the first time since the beginning of 2020. These events showed that Calgary was open for business again as we welcomed many folks from our city, from across Canada and from around the world to the CTCC.
As business returned to the Centre, our workforce also proudly returned to work in 2022 and by the latter half of the year, we were more or less operating at full capacity. As we hosted numerous events for our clients and delegates from here at home and from across the globe, our employees made the Centre, and our city, proud by showing the world our famous hospitality, professionalism and humanity.
The board of directors is incredibly proud of our team that has been so resilient despite the challenges the pandemic had previously caused. We recognize that we are fortunate to have world class employees and leadership and they give us the confidence to look ahead with optimism as the CTCC leans into 2023 with an ambitious agenda to drive more business to our city and create more
value for our stakeholders and citizens.
2022 was a year where it was refreshing to be looking to the future again. In 2020 and 2021, our biggest concern was maintaining the viability of the Centre through the pandemic. That changed in 2022 where we shifted our focus to conversations about what’s next, how we can be better and how we can bring a higher order of value to Calgary.
The board and management got to work and reset our strategy to focus on sustainable growth in the coming years by building a great team and thinking bigger about the actions we will take to drive more economic and social value to our city. An active convention centre brings business travellers that have four times the economic impact as compared to a leisure traveller.
We worked closely with stakeholders and partners to continue the work of building a more prosperous future for downtown. And, we have started to re-imagine how we can develop the unique role of the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre as we revitalize Stephen Avenue and the surrounding areas.
Today, we look ahead to 2023 and beyond, with an optimism that the CTCC will play an exciting and important role showing off the outstanding city we all get to call home.
Kurby Court
President and CEO
2022 was a year of transition as we emerged out of COVID, I am proud of the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre’s (CTCC) commitment to bring back business events safely and be a key part in rebuilding Calgary as an ultimate host destination.
In the first quarter of 2022 our space continued to be impacted by COVID restrictions; however in April, our facility shifted 180 degrees when we went from holding no events to executing a solid three months of compressed business. We had to quickly pivot back to what we do best – transform our space into creative and unique experiences for our clients and delegates.
2022 saw us reimaging our space and how we can be impactful for everyone who comes to the Centre. Although a continuous journey, we want to be truly representative of the community in which we live, the community of our clients, and the community of delegates who walk through our space.
Last spring, we worked with the Canadian LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce to become certified under their Rainbow Registered Program. We are the first Convention Centre in Canada and one of the few businesses in Alberta to become certified.
We also worked with Alberta Living Wage to become recognized as a living wage employer, one that we are committed to upholding in the years to come.
It was also important as an organization on Treaty 7 lands to begin our journey towards truth and reconciliation which included our learnings of the truths and meaning of land acknowledgements. Through a walking land acknowledgment tour, reflections from within and working with elders we now have a land acknowledgement that is representative of the land we are on as a gathering space.
This work has been humbling and will be a continuous journey.
For our sales team, 2022 was a year of compression where they worked with clients to shift previously held dates into future years while continuing to work diligently in the international, national and local markets selling out to 2029.
The CTCC held over 160 successful events throughout 2022. With our Centre once again activated it was a good reminder of our larger purpose. We do not just provide a space for delegates to gather, we provide a brave space - space for challenging conversations, space that breaks down barriers, space that inspires new ideas and innovation, space that creates meaningful memories, and space that raises important funds for charities.
Every day we are reminded of not only the economic but the social impact that takes place within our walls.
As a city owned property we are committed to being a sustainable building. In December we completed and were awarded a Green Key Meeting certificate. Green Key Global is the meetings industry standard on environmental sustainability and we are proud to continue to work with this organization to further implement their recommendations.
Throughout the year we continued to work collaboratively and have open communication with our partners, stakeholders and the community, including advocacy work to positively position the Centre and become a thought leader for the industry and the destination.
Finally, I must give a huge thank-you to the employees of the CTCC. Without you, we would not be the place we are today. The dedication and expertise you bring to your roles are crucial to our success as a convention centre and how quickly we were able to get back to business!
Wellington Holbrook
Chair, Board of Directors Chief Executive
Officer, connectFirst Credit Union
Leslie J. Weekes
Vice Chair, Board of Directors Partner at
Carscallen LLP
Robert Palmer
Chair, Audit and Finance Committee
Vice-President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer, Calgary Airport Authority
Georgine Ulmer
Chair, Governance and Human Resources Committee
President, Churchill Strategies Inc.
Jyoti Gondek was sworn in as Calgary’s 37th mayor on October 25th, 2022 – the first woman to hold the position. We’re proud to welcome her to our board of directors, continuing our strong relationship with the City. Together, we’re ready to achieve great things.
Jyoti Gondek Director
Mayor, The City of Calgary
Terry Wong
Director
City Councillor, Ward 7, The City of
Calgary
Katie Black
Director
General Manager, Community Services
Department, The City of Calgary
Gillian Basford
Director
Principal Consultant, Delcor
Management Inc
Barry Hensch
Director
Information Technology
Professional
Ranju Shergill
Director
Partner & Executive Recruiter,
Pekarsky & Co.
Greg Yont
Director
Logistics Executive
Board Notes
The CCCA maintains active operating agreements for:
Maintenance and repair of retail spaces owned by the City of Calgary in the CTCC North Building
Operations and maintenance of the shared loading dock in the CTCC North Building (with the City of Calgary and Balboa Land Investments)
Maintenance, repair, and cleaning of the Glenbow Museum
The Convention Centre and Business Rights Agreement (naming rights with TELUS)
The exclusive Food and Beverage Agreement with Calgary Downtown Mariott Hotel
In-House Partners
The CCCA is thankful for its trusted relationships with these preferred suppliers, which supplement the products and services offered by the CTCC staff:
Outside Partners
The CCCA also partners with these local, national, and international organizations to leverage our reach, resources, and expertise:
As an active member of the convention and meeting industry, CTCC belongs to the following local, national, and international trade organizations:
Our most substantial accomplishment in 2022 was transitioning the Centre to serve as Alberta Health Services’ (AHS) largest mass vaccination clinic. This was an opportunity to serve the community at a pivotal time during COVID-19. Our staff worked with AHS, the Calgary Emergency Management Agency (CEMA), the Calgary Downtown Association (CDA), and the Calgary Parking Authority (CPA) to best position the CTCC to admit hundreds of thousands of people over a period of several months.
By playing our part, we grew closer to the city and the community we’re proud to belong to – ready to serve them better in the future.
While our operations teams focused on the vaccination clinic, our sales teams continued to deliver results. Even at the depths of uncertainty, they managed to sell well into the future, booking conferences and events as far ahead as 2028.
That’s an estimated $138 million economic impact for Calgary and its associated communities already secured.
Upgrade of Building Management System to enhance HVAC control and increasing efficiency of the system to offer the highest standard of air filtration.
Restructure of Facility Operations division, focused on Client Services to oversee details of events from start to finish to ensure a seamless client experience in a post-pandemic world.
Renovations undertaken to enhance client experience between the north and south buildings.
Other renovations included: modernization of public and event spaces, retiling the main floor of the north and south building, installation of accessibility handrail, upgrading washroom facilities, and aesthetic enhancements to the Exhibition Hall and the Glen Rooms’ pre-function areas.
Re-accredited for the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR program to continue to ensure client health and safely.
Successfully converted into a mass vaccination clinic for four months delivering on community needs, and then converted back to a space to hold events delivering on client needs.
Secured federal funding to be prepared for re-opening and support COVID-19 staff training and adaptation initiatives.
Hosted many effective virtual site tours through the pandemic with local, national, and international clients never losing site of future sales and clients.
Secured third-party marketing firm to re-brand CTCC and reframe marketing strategies for a post-pandemic world.
Worked with AHS, CEMA, CDA, and CPA to create communication and social media plans to inform Calgarians visiting the Centre for vaccination.
Conducted crisis communications planning and training.
Developed various communications plans to support proactive response to identified issues and potential challenges.
Recruited and employed a Director of Communications & Stakeholder Relations.
Worked on a total 498 new leads as far ahead as 2029
Executed 139 contracts as far out as 2028
International Market
Expanded the sales and event management teams to reflect the current market demand, including adding a Director of Sales & Event Management
In Market Sales activities resumed to an almost prepandemic level with our Sale Team representing the Centre throughout Canada, USA, and Europe.
Continue working with Downtown Coordinated Safety and Security Committee that focuses on improving the vibrancy and safety of one of Calgary’s downtown hubs.
Member of the Plus 15 Advisory Committee, which provides strategic advice to the City Administration and City Council on their decisions related to the Plus 15 network.
Continue working with Glenbow Museum as a stakeholder in the design and development of the main renovation project.
Worked with various charitable groups in providing space and other logistical items.
Continue working with the Centre Street Platform project group on the artwork design for the LRT platform that is connected to the north building to address vulnerable population issues on the platform.
Continue working on relationships/partnerships with our neighbours, suppliers, and partners.
Joined the Convention Centre Safety subcommittee through International Association of Venue Management.
