BIRD IS THE WORD Blog
Winter Magic in Edmonton: Highlights from Winter Whyte Light Up 2024
December 18, 2024 | Edmonton, Events, What's HappeningIn partnership with the Old Strathcona Business Association, we helped transform Dr. Wilbert McIntyre Park into a twinkling winter wonderland. The park's gazebo, trees, and pathways lit up to usher in the holiday season! This year’s Winter Whyte Light Up also features the debut of the Winter Whyte Light Up Variety Show.
A Calgary Welcome for Fort Worth
October 25, 2024 | Calgary, Events, What's HappeningWe were thrilled to have the opportunity to deliver a one-of-a-kind Calgary experience to some American visitors! Fort Worth Sister Cities International focuses on making connections through education, arts, culture, economic development, and humanitarian assistance. In August, they made a stop in Calgary to learn more about the similarities between the two cities.
Bird Creatives Helps Bring the 2024 Canadian Country Music Awards to Life in Edmonton!
October 15, 2024 | Edmonton, Events, What's HappeningThis September, the 2024 Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMAs) took Edmonton by storm, and Bird Creatives was proud to be part of delivering the very best of Canada’s country music scene across the city!
Downtown Edmonton lit up over the summer!
September 23, 2024 | Edmonton, Events, What's HappeningWe had the opportunity to partner with the Edmonton Downtown Business Association to transform Rice Howard Way into the Entertainment District! Every Saturday afternoon from June 1 to August 24, Rice Howard Way turned into a summer block party.
All Spruced Up for Summer at the Centre
September 5, 2024 | EVENTS, Alberta, What's HappeningThe summer of 2024 was full of community, fun, and celebration in Spruce Grove thanks to four vibrant market events that brought locals and visitors together. Each event, unique in its theme and offerings, transformed the city centre into a lively hub!
BIRD CREATIVES ACTIVATES TOURISM CALGARY’S GIVE BACK BASH SPONSORSHIP IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN
July 18, 2024 | EVENTS, INTERNATIONALBird Creatives had the incredibly exciting opportunity to show off Calgary internationally! Supporting presenting sponsor Tourism Calgary, on June 24, we delivered signature programming for the “Give Back Bash” hosted by the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Foundation.
FCM’S 2024 ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND TRADE SHOW
July 3, 2024 | Calgary, EVENTS, WHAT'S HAPPENINGThis June, over 1,000 elected officials from every corner of Canada converged at the Calgary Telus Convention Centre for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Annual Conference and Trade Show (AC 2024). Spanning four days from June 6th to 9th, this year’s event, themed “Redefining our Future,” was a gathering to empower municipalities to tackle present challenges and seize future opportunities.
ALBERTA’S FESTIVAL SCENE IN SUMMER!
JUNE 13, 2024 | ALBERTA, EVENTS, WHAT'S HAPPENINGSummer is here, and Alberta is buzzing with an exciting mix of unique and diverse festivals! Dive into the fun by attending one of our province’s many arts and culture celebrations – it’s a fantastic way to boost the local creative scene. With dozens of festivals lighting up the calendar over the next few months, there’s something for everyone to enjoy!
EMPOWERING ALBERTA’S MUSIC SCENE: NEW STRATEGIES AND TOOLKIT RELEASED
JUNE 4, 2024 | INDUSTRY, CALGARY, EDMONTON, ALBERTA, MUSICIt was a big week for West Anthem! We've released the long-anticipated Music Strategies for Calgary, Edmonton, and a toolkit for rural and small cities in Alberta, organizing exciting launch events in both Calgary and Edmonton.
ESQUAO AWARDS 2024
MAY 10, 2024 | EDMONTON, EVENTS, WHAT'S HAPPENINGOn May 3, 2024, the 28th annual Esquao Awards took place, celebrating the incredible contributions of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit women across Alberta in the fields of arts, business, culture, community involvement, education, health, human rights and more.
USER-GENERATED CONTENT: WHEN AUDIENCES SHARE IN THE EXCITEMENT!
April 8, 2024 | SOCIAL MEDIA, CREATIVE STRATEGY, MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONSIn today's digital age, user-generated content (UGC) has emerged as a powerful method to allow consumers to both directly and indirectly broadcast their WOM. UGC has the power to shape the creative landscape and drive the visitor economy.
The Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Calgary 2024 Inspired, Delighted, and Celebrated Athletes from Across the Country!
March 11, 2024 | CALGARY, EVENTS, FESTIVALS, WHAT'S HAPPENINGFrom February 27 - March 2, Calgary welcomed over 4,000 visitors, including athletes, coaches, officials, and mission staff, along with their families and friends for the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games 2024! The week was filled with incredible displays of community and sportsmanship from our country’s athletes!
THAT’S A WRAP! CHINOOK BLAST 2024 DELIVERED A ‘SO WINTERFUL’ EXPERIENCE FOR CALGARY!
March 4, 2024 | CALGARY, EVENTS, FESTIVALS, WHAT'S HAPPENINGWhat a ride! This year, Bird Creatives finished its third year of producing Calgary’s signature winter festival, Chinook Blast! We couldn’t be more thankful for the opportunity to work with local artists, community members and partners!
Bird Creatives 2023 | Year In Review
January 11, 2024 | Calgary, Edmonton, ALberta2023 marked another incredible year of growth, connections, and community building! We could not have accomplished another successful year without our amazing clients and partners.
OLD STRATHCONA’S WINTER WHYTE LIGHT UP 2023 KICKSTARTS THE HOLIDAY SEASON!
December 13, 2023 | Edmonton, EVENTS, WHAT'S HAPPENINGBird Creatives was, once again, thrilled to be producing The Winter Whyte Light Up festival alongside the Old Strathcona Business Association! McIntyre Park and 83rd Avenue turned into a winter wonderland full of beautiful lighting installations, roving performers, live music and performances, and holiday cheer.
BUILDING DOWNTOWN CONNECTIONS - CALGARY DOWNTOWN STRATEGY OPEN HOUSE
NOVEMBER 23, 2023 | CALGARY, EVENTS, WHAT'S HAPPENINGAttendees heard exciting updates and announcements about ‘Building Downtown Connections’ in the Nexen Building Atrium. This event focused on Downtown West and how The City and their partners are building downtown connections through design, programming and people.
Bird Creatives was Proud to Support the 2023 Celebration for the Arts hosted by Mayor Gondek
November 1, 2023 | CALGARY, EVENTS, WHAT'S HAPPENINGOn October 18, 2023 the annual Celebration for the Arts - Hosted by Mayor Gondek at the Jack Singer Concert Hall, brought together arts and business leaders to celebrate the incredible creative community in Calgary.
CELEBRATING INDIGENOUS CREATIVITY AND CULTURE: BIRD CREATIVES’ SUPPORT FOR THREE REMARKABLE EVENTS
October 5, 2023 | CALGARY, EVENTS, WHAT'S HAPPENINGIn September, Bird Creatives was thrilled to support three remarkable Indigenous events created by Authentically Indigenous, produced to highlight some of Calgary’s diverse talent during the 2023 World Petroleum Congress. These events showcased the talent, heritage, and innovation of Indigenous artists and makers from Treaty 7 and beyond. These events not only celebrated culture but also empowered artisans within local Indigenous communities.
SLAM-DUNKIN' FUN AT CENTURY
GARDENS BASKETBALL TRI-COURTS GRAND OPENING! 🏀
SEPTEMBER 20, 2023 | CALGARY, EVENTS, WHAT'S HAPPENINGThe City of Calgary's Century Gardens basketball tri-courts are officially open, and we had a blast kicking things off with a 3-on-3 tournament! On Sunday, September 10, 2023, the community came together for a day of high-flying action and live music.
UNLEASHING INNOVATION: EXPLORING THE POWER OF CREATIVE STRATEGY WITH INSIGHTS FROM SHOWPASS
JULY 13, 2023 | CREATIVE ECONOMY, CREATIVE STRATEGY, CREATIVE INDUSTRYIn this blog post, we’re talking about creative strategy: a way for businesses to push the boundaries of what is possible and foster a work environment where experimentation and risk-taking are encouraged. Plus we had an insightful discussion with Showpass, a Calgary-based event management and ticketing platform to shed light on their creative strategy as well as how they work with the events industry.
CALGARY STAMPEDE 2023 IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER
JULY 5, 2023 | CALGARY, EVENTS, WHAT'S HAPPENINGThe Calgary Stampede is just around the corner! That means it’s time to dust off your boots, iron your denim and put on your cowboy hat for 10 days of western fun!
But wait, partner! Did you know that the Stampede is so much more than rodeos and roller coaster rides? Here’s a small list of unique and exciting things to check out!
MAXIMIZING THE IMPACT OF MUSIC ON CITIES IN ALBERTA
JUNE 27, 2023 | INDUSTRY REPORT, MUSIC, ALBERTA, CALGARY, EDMONTONWest Anthem has been hard at work in Alberta’s music scene since 2014—consistently highlighting the economic benefits of a thriving music industry and providing recommendations to the government and other sector partners. Partnering with the Government of Alberta, Alberta Music and the National Music Centre, West Anthem is developing music city strategies for Edmonton, Calgary, and a toolkit for smaller jurisdictions.
BIRD CREATIVES HONOURED AS A FINALIST FOR THE 2024 ALBERTA BUSINESS AWARD OF DISTINCTION
JUNE 19, 2023 | WHAT'S HAPPENING, EVENTS, EdmontonWe are honoured to announce that Bird Creatives has been named a finalist for the esteemed Alberta Business Award of Distinction in the category of "Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion." This recognition is a testament to our unwavering commitment to fostering a diverse workforce and promoting inclusivity within Alberta's vibrant creative economy.
NOVUS TEXTURA: REWEAVING THE URBAN FABRIC
JUNE 13, 2023 | WHAT'S HAPPENING, EVENTS, CALGARYOn June 5, 2023, the Calgary Downtown Association unveiled a colourful new fibre-art installation, crafted by local artists Gordon Skilling and Jolie Bird. This installation, named “Novus Textura” beautifully intertwines with the strong roots of the existing Galleria Trees installation. Novus Textura serves as a symbol of Calgary's rich heritage of ingenuity and perseverance, beautifully expressed through the power of collaboration.
ESQUAO AWARDS 2023
MAY 31, 2023 | WHAT'S HAPPENING, EVENTS, CalgaryOn May 12, 2023, the 27th Esquao Awards ceremony took place, marking a remarkable celebration of the accomplishments, resilience, and invaluable contributions made by Indigenous women to their communities. Held at the Grey Eagle Resort and Casino, the event brought together esteemed guests, dignitaries, and passionate supporters.
HYDROGEN CONVENTION STREET PARTY 2023
MAY 24, 2023 | WHAT'S HAPPENING, EVENTS, EdmontonThe Bird Creatives team was thrilled to produce the Hydrogen Convention Street Party on April 25. Here, we were able to brainstorm and collaborate with Explore Edmonton, Edmonton Global and DMG Events, to showcase some of the best from the local creative economy to over 1500 convention delegates from around the world.
The City of Calgary, Downtown Strategy - Open House 2023
MAY 2, 2023 | WHAT'S HAPPENING, EVENTS, CALGARYBird Creatives had the pleasure of producing the City of Calgary’s Downtown Strategy Open House at the Alberta Hotel Building (808 1 Street SW) from April 19-21, highlighting the remarkable efforts underway in Calgary's downtown and the dedicated individuals committed to creating a thriving hub for living, working, and leisure for years to come.
HOW SHOULD YOU MEASURE THE SUCCESS OF YOUR COMMUNITY EVENT?
APRIL 13, 2023 | WHAT'S HAPPENING, EVENTS, CALGARYWith the completion of our event, one might wonder, how do we define and measure success? How might an organization or company measure success for their community event? What are the different metrics to look out for? No matter the size of your event, metrics for success are important factors to consider regarding event planning and event management.
Finding the Right Influencer or Collaborator for your Brand
March 28, 2023 | Social Media, Branding, MarketingWith billions of people logging onto social media each day combined with the boom of online shopping, the influencer profession has become very popular with branches of different types of influencers serving different roles and niches. With such a large number of influencers, how can you choose one that’s right for you?
CHINOOK BLAST 2023 IS ONE FOR THE BOOKS!
FEBRUARY 22, 2023 | WHAT'S HAPPENING, EVENTS, CALGARYFor its third year, Chinook Blast, Calgary’s premier winter festival returned to liven up our downtown! After two years of pandemic-related restrictions, this year was the first year we could deliver a festival that was originally ideated by Calgary’s civic partners back in 2020!
BIRD CREATIVES 2022 | YEAR IN REVIEW
JANUARY 9, 2023 | WHAT'S HAPPENING, EVENTS, CALGARY, EDMONTON Where do we start? With an over 20% increase in our team size, a major brand overhaul, and some of the biggest projects that we’ve worked on to date, Bird Creatives had an incredible 2022! Check out our 2022 wrap-up blog for the highlights.
WINTER WHYTE LIGHT UP 2022
DECEMBER 15, 2022 | EDMONTON, EVENTS, MUSIC, WHAT'S HAPPENINGOn Saturday, November 26, along with the Old Strathcona Business Association, Bird Creatives was proud to produce the fifth annual Winter Whyte Light Up in Edmonton. We were delighted to turn McIntyre Park and 83rd Avenue into a winter wonderland!
BIRD CREATIVES JOINS THE 2022 CREATIVE CONGRESS: IMAGINING THE FUTURE TOGETHER
DECEMBER 1, 2022 | CALGARY, EVENTS, ARTS, TALKS, WHAT'S HAPPENINGIn November, our team had the pleasure of joining the Calgary Arts Development's 2022 Congress: Imagining Futures Together, a discussion on the future development of Calgary’s creative economy by the city’s premier creative professionals.
CREATIVE ECONOMY: DIVING DEEPER
NOVEMBER 22, 2022 | CREATIVE ECONOMY, CALGARYCheck out the Nesta Model with us—offering a useful framework of the creative economy. Then sit back and listen to the intelligent tones of Dr. AnneMarie Dorland talking about her passion for the creative economy.
BIRD CREATIVES IS PROUD TO SPONSOR CALGARY'S CELEBRATION OF THE ARTS HOSTED BY MAYOR JYOTI GONDEK
NOVEMBER 9, 2022 | CALGARY, EVENTS, ARTS, WHAT'S HAPPENINGBird Creatives was honoured to be involved in the planning and execution of Calgary’s Celebration of the Arts hosted by Mayor Jyoti Gondek. The unique event brought diverse communities within the arts sector together and showcased their talents throughout the evening.
BIRD CREATIVES HELPS EXPAND AN ICONIC TORONTO FESTIVAL TO WESTERN CANADA
NOVEMBER 3, 2022 | CALGARY, EVENTS, MUSIC, WHAT'S HAPPENINGBird Creatives had the opportunity to program Play the Parks’ pop-up concerts in Vancouver, Victoria, Surrey, New Westminster, Calgary, Edmonton, and Winnipeg – cities where Play the Parks arrived for the first time.
BIRD CREATIVES NAMED A FINALIST FOR THE TD EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION AWARD
OCTOBER 12, 2022 | CALGARY, EVENTS, WHAT'S HAPPENINGOn Friday, October 21, Bird Creatives attended the Calgary Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Awards Gala. Our company was honoured to be nominated for the TD Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Award Presented by Pride in Business.
The 19th La Fontaine–Baldwin Lecture
OCtober 12, 2022 | Calgary, Events, WHat's HappeningInspired by the first leaders of the Canadian democratic movement, the La Fontaine–Baldwin lectures have been encouraging Canadians to engage with each other, embrace culture, and discuss democracy and citizenship. This year’s lecture took place on October 6 at the Jack Singer Concert Hall, and was focused on the theme of Reconciliation and the Evolution of Canada.
BIrd creatives brand Refresh
OCtober 2022 | Bird Creatives, Marketing, Branding, CalgaryIt's been four years since our founder Kaley "Bird" Beisiegel transitioned from her music career to her creative industry consulting career and what a journey it's been so far!
Check out our latest blog on the full story of how Bird Creatives hatched!
What is the Creative Economy?
July 21, 2022 | creative economy, calgaryWe propose thinking of the creative economy in terms of 3 main threads: creative industries, creative talent, and creative occupations.
Stampede 2022 is shaping up and there are some exciting things to look forward to!
July 5th, 2022 | Calgary, Events, WHat's HappeningBird Creatives is excited to announce that we will be taking part in the First FLIP Pancake Breakfast! A free-to-attend event on Stephen Ave., this annual community tradition marks the inaugural “flip” of Stampede. Not your ordinary Stampede Breakfast, this event will feature some of Alberta’s best local musicians including Red Hot Hayseed, Emily Triggs, Justine Vandergrift, Liz Christensen, as well as entertainment by Green Fools and Chinook Country Line Dancers.
Collaboration: The Key to Social Media Reach
JUNE 23rd, 2022 | Social Media, Marketing, TrendsThese days you’re hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t use either Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter (a.k.a. “the Big Three”). Despite the enormous audience, companies, communities, and influencers have a lot of competition when it comes to capturing the attention of prospective customers. Moreover, the Big Three are constantly updating the user experience. Content creators need to be aware of the latest features so their strategies respond to the changing ways users interact with these platforms.
Of course, if you’re a large company with audiences that reach back decades (slice of Apple, anyone?) engagement looks pretty straightforward. But what about the rest of us?
Pride Month 2022 – Discussing history, progress, and the future with a queer creative.
JUNE 15th, 2022 | Calgary Events, What's Happening, PrideWe had the pleasure of chatting with Dr. Natalie Meisner. An accomplished queer professor, writer, and mother. Natalie’s most recent play, “Legislating Love: The Everett Klippert Story,” won the Oscar Wilde Award for best script at the International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival.
In this interview, we discussed local gay history, working in the creative space as a queer person, mentorship, advice for queer creatives, and how allies can meaningfully support the community.
Celebrating Life – A New and Inspired Festival for Calgary
In March, Bird Creatives was hired to assist with the marketing of Celebrating Life, a festival growing out of two years of isolation. The festival began as an idea to help our community work through loss, together. True to its name, it is less about death and more about celebrating and honouring the lives of those who are no longer with us. Inspired by the Mexican tradition of Día de Muertos and the experience of the Equinox Vigil, Celebrating Life’s aim is to encourage us to connect with, support, and uplift each other as we move forward with a renewed hope for the future.
JUNE 8th, 2022 | Celebrating Life, Calgary, What's Happening, Culture
Indigenous Content to Read, Watch, and Listen to this Indigenous History Month
We asked the Bird Creatives team for their recommendations on what people can read, watch, and listen to this month and you better believe they got back to us with some gems!
JUNE 1st, 2022 | Indigenous History, Calgary, What's Happening, Culture
Tiny Squares and Tinier Faces: Community Engagement Online
may 26th, 2022 | Social Media, Community, Engagement, CreativeCityOur Community Engagement and Research Manager, Elyse, gives us a taste of her recent work with the CreativeCITY community engagement workshops where Calgarians voice their feedback on CreativeCITY's proposed strategic pillars.
Celebrating Asian Heritage Month
may 18th, 2022 | Asian Heritage Month, What's Happening, Culture
Birdwatching takes on a whole new meaning with the introduction of Bird is the Word, our blog hub for project updates, feature stories, and whatever we (or you) want! For our first entry, in honour of Asian Heritage Month, creatives Sharon Lee, Marc Tran, and Haider Ali reflect on what it means to be Asian Canadian and discuss what they would like people to take away from Asian Heritage Month.