The longer we work with our colleagues in the meetings industry, the more we learn about the challenge that finding the right gift can present. It's a decision that is impacted by a number of variables, some of which are not immediately obvious, but are very important.

When it comes to conferences that are hosted in Canadian cities, we are often looking for an item of Canadian origin to give to our visiting delegates. Recently I had an opportunity to chat with Dale Calder who is the Events Planning Officer of the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health, CADTH, about her experiences with sourcing gifts. Dale was able to find a way recently to give back to the local community in Ottawa with her gift selection, something she shared that has been on her personal radar screen for quite some time.  

Dale plans the organizations annual conference and is tasked with finding both delegate gifts and speaker/volunteer committee gifts. Her main criteria for selection are items that:

• Communicate genuine appreciation for the recipients participation
• Are useful to them
• Travel well (delegates must be able to take home easily)
• Remind them of the event experience (for speakers/volunteers)
• Promote next years event (for delegates)
• VERY IMPORTANTLY, are made in Canada

It is this last point that, interestingly enough, often poses a significant challenge for Dale. In her own words: "Sometimes it is harder than other times to source things with these criteria in mind. There are only so many maple leaf things that you can give so finding something that represents Ottawa can be challenging. This year the Candy Dishes from ZOË were a great idea, they worked very well because they were made in Ottawa by the team from GROW and provided employment for adults with disabilities."

Dale Calder Events Planning Officer CADTH

We are very privileged in Canada, and yet we know that we are not immune to our own social challenges. Adults with disabilities in Canada face an unemployment rate of over 50%. This rivals the unemployment rates of The Great Depression and is unparalleled in any other segment of society.

CADTH's choice contributed to the development of a small group in Ottawa and illustrates what a fantastic opportunity we all have to seek out socially sourced solutions in Canadian made items for our event and conference gifting needs. Our thanks go out to Dale and the executive team at CADTH for sharing your experience with us.

SEASONAL SPOTLIGHT:  

New Canadian Items for Conferences!   

  

In keeping with this issue's theme, here are two great new items from the team in Ottawa. The candle holders make a fantastic new speakers or volunteer committee gift, and the ornaments would add a special and meaningful touch for any conference or event attendee as we draw closer to the holidays.

Equitas Candle Holder  Price: $34.95/set of 3

Equitas Ornaments Price: $3.95 ea.

ZOË Alliance works with a broad range of fair trade producers to find just the right solution for your event. Our goal is to make it easy for your company to take the ZOË Challenge of socially sourcing 10% of your gifting budget. Download our 2012 Catalogue  with all new pricing. 

Contact us at (647) 477-4377 or online at info@zoealliance.com with your next requirement and let our team develop a solution for your event.

It has been a busy quarter for the team at GROW in Ottawa. They have been experiencing all the challenges of keeping things afloat in the midst of a move. (If you are new to our newsletter you can find more background on the team on our website. This issue will bring a glimpse into what is new at GROW.) 

With all the programs that are ongoing, this was quite a challenge, and recently in a conversation with Micah Elson, Program Manager, Ottawa GROW, we received some previously unknown insights into the CADTH order experience that we can all relate to.

Apparently, this order experience was a bit like the familiar image of the calmness of a duck above the water in comparison with the rapid paddling of its' feet below the water.

Because the team was moving during this order, it was actually produced in one of the temporary facilities that they occupied while the new space was being prepared. The order was for hand made pottery candy dishes that were glazed to CADTH's choice of colour and had the CADTH logo stamped into the bottom or base of the dish.

As a true testament to the ingenuity of small businesses, the team was happily working in a common area in the facility, setting up and tearing down between each work session so that the room and even the tables could be used to eat meals. All was moving along well until the day that it came to stamp in the logos.

Equitas Candy Dish  Price: $29.00 ea.

The dishes were lined up on the table, the stamp prepared and the imprinting began. A few dishes in, there was a pause...something didn't look quite right. No, it couldn't be...yes, unfortunately it could. The stamp was backwards! I can't type CADTH in a mirror image in this article, but you get the idea!!! Well to make a long story short, a new stamp was deliveredovernight, and all turned out well.

Does this resemble any event experiences you have been involved with lately? The signage is wrong, the speaker is sick, I'm sure we all have many examples. And yet, like our events, the show must go on!

Our hats are off to the resiliency and spirit of the team at GROW for making it all come together and ensuring that the show went on without even a hiccup when it came to the gifts for CADTH!

Congratulations are in order as well. The team is now settled into their new space with designated areas for the pottery shop and the wood shop and as always, ready to GROW.

PRESS RELEASE - Funding Announcement:

Women Leveraging the Power of Markets to Address Global Poverty 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND US:

MPI Ottawa Golf Tournament - August 14th, 2012

IncentiveWorks 2012 - Booth 839 - August 21 - 22, 2012

Veridian Charity Golf Tournament - August 23, 2012

Corporate Meetings & Events Article - September Issue

 

RECENT COVERAGE:

December 13th, 2011 - Globe & Mail - What to Give Clients
Nov. 4, 2011 - Globe & Mail - New breed of company blurs lines between charity and business - Article by Tavia Grant - ZOË Alliance highlighted midway through article.