TGCPS '23

TGCPS established itself as an emerging reference in the Canadian theatre community. The multifaceted promotional campaign garnered focused attention from the country’s pool of producers, theatre companies, and funders, as well as interest from leaders in the music industry. @TGCPS and #TGCPS continue to circulate, months after this year’s edition.

The conference’s remote location did not affect attendance excessively. This years’ delegation, although modest, came from Ontario, New York, Alberta, and BC. Invited guests, theatre service providers, and playwrights were all very glad for the trip. They were especially delighted and impressed by the variety of locations and venues they were treated to throughout County No 1. 

The delegates have shared pictures on social media of emblematic structures in Beaverlodge, Sexsmith, Wembley, and the City of Grand Prairie. Our guests were welcomed to the region with gift baskets of locally-produced items, and left with samples to share back home. The general consensus is one of appreciation for the warm treatment received, and a desire to return.

While communication between the organization and the various local administrations has been fluid throughout the planning of the first edition of TGCPS, public outreach was the conference’s most notable failure.

For example, the Treasure Hunt  extension event (#TreasureGP) is universally recognized among administrators and business owners as a very low-cost initiative with great potential for local business. Very few businesses participated, however. 

The organization spoke with the leaders at business associations, farmers’ markets, and chambers of commerce before the conference about various opportunities for local vendors to promote and sell at little or no cost, but the information does not seem to have made it past these individuals. By no means an exhaustive survey, a random sampling of six businesses confirmed in 100% of the cases that they received no information about the event from their association.

The organization sent a short questionnaire to hundreds of local businesses directly and distributed the link publicly across various social media platforms. The responses were too few to provide meaningful data, but generally coincided in that the event was poorly promoted.

TGCPS did receive generous coverage from local media, although the wildfires overshadowed it somewhat.

The local economic impact for the first edition of TGCPS is estimated at $50,000. Although not an overwhelming injection for the local economy, the general consensus among stakeholders is that TGCPS continues to have great potential for the region.  

The lion's share of expenditure occurred within the hospitality industry, advertising, printing, and awards. Funding for the conference budget was provided by registration fees, tickets sales, local administrations, private sponsors, and investors. 

Delegates are known to have purchased souvenirs, visited attractions, and so on. Our visitors brought positive memories back home with them of the fine treatment they received while  they were our guests.

Appreciable gaps in communication distribution and common misunderstanding of professional standards in event planning have been exposed in some environments. This is a positive discovery, as it indicates the opportunities for growth with clarity.

TGCPS ’23 united major players from the Canadian theatre community, including representatives from Mirvish Productions (Come from Away) and Stratford Festival (no introduction necessary), with specialized professionals and emerging playwrights. 

It is certain to have made a mark already; veteran and emerging playwrights were honoured, Affair of Honor has a new show in the works, and Rebecca Lashmar of Principal Intimacy Professionals gave a stunning presentation on developments in stage intimacy that are sure to be recognized across Canadian stages over the following seasons. 

Following the recommendation of numerous stakeholders, TGCPS ’24 will take place over the course of a weekend, instead of during week days. The confirmed dates are May 10, 11, 12, and 13 (Friday to Monday).

This calendar is an improvement for delegates because it still allows for professional and business meetings, while providing better options for those arriving or departing on connecting flights. The weekend of entertainment is also an improvement for locals in the Grande Prairie area who wish to take a workshop or enjoy a show. 

The organization is very happy with the outcomes of TGCPS ’23, and excited about the opportunity for improvement and outlook for TGCPS '24. 

All compliments, criticisms, and suggestions are welcome. 

• Event promoters (of conferences, fairs, concerts, sporting events, etc.) provide opportunities for economic growth (beyond that which the local community can provide for itself) by attracting people (and their money) from other communities. Fluid communication channels and customs between event promoters and local interest groups is of great benefit to all parties.

• To extract the full economic potential, our area would do well to encourage the professionalisation of trades and specialities that cater to the entertainment industry. While jobs and careers in entertainment require hard work and dedication like any other, they are characteristically full of fruitful, rewarding, exciting, cross-disciplinary, and transferable skills. With more people appropriately able to attend to the needs of visiting artists, athletes, and so on, the Peace Country stands to attract bigger names and bigger crowds.

• Enhance the NWP Theatre Department, bring back the Music Department, and build a stream within Business Administration that prepares for executive positions in the entertainment industry. 

• It would be exceptionally helpful for flights to arrive directly to Grande Prairie from outside the province, to increase the number of flights in and out of Grande Prairie Airport over all, and to adjust pricing so that flights from Edmonton are not more expensive than from airports located at greater distances.