Overview
I helped plan and market public events designed to give residents and visitors more reasons to experience the downtown. My work included Feast Street Niagara, the Concerts on the Canal series and the opening ceremonies for the 2018 ICF Canoe Polo World Championships.
Across the event portfolio, I supported logistics, coordinated promotional campaigns and kept audiences informed through social media and email marketing. These events attracted audiences of up to 15,000 while helping increase activity and visibility throughout Downtown Welland.
ROLES
Events Coordinator
Marketing Coordinator
THE EVENTS
Downtown events were about more than entertainment. They created opportunities to bring people into the core, promote local businesses and strengthen the community’s connection with the area.
concerts on the canal
canoe polo world champions opening ceremonies
FEAST STREET NIAGARA
Concerts on the canal
Concerts on the Canal was a recurring summer music series that brought live performances to Welland’s waterfront. The series gave residents and visitors an ongoing reason to gather, experience local music and spend time in the downtown area throughout the season.
My Role
I coordinated the operational and marketing details across multiple concert dates. I communicated with musicians, confirmed schedules and event requirements, prepared performer and volunteer information, trained and coordinated volunteers and managed onsite setup and event flow. I also created ongoing social media and email promotions for each performance, ensuring the series remained visible throughout the summer rather than relying on a single launch campaign.
The Result
4,500 people attended the concerts on the canal series.
The series created consistent activity along the canal and gave audiences repeated opportunities to return downtown. Its recurring format allowed us to build familiarity and momentum across the season while supporting the BIA’s broader growth in social media reach, email engagement and event participation.
ICF Canoe Polo World Championships Opening Ceremonies
The opening ceremonies welcomed athletes and coaches from 26 countries for the ICF Canoe Polo World Championships. The experience brought athletes, visitors and local residents together while showcasing the city as a destination capable of hosting large-scale events.
My Role
I coordinated key parts of the opening ceremony’s planning, promotion and onsite delivery alongside the BIA’s Executive Director and event partners. I organized volunteer responsibilities, delivered volunteer training, prepared and distributed schedules and instructions and helped manage the movement of people and activities onsite. I also supported public-facing marketing and communications so residents knew how they could attend and participate in the celebration.
The Result
4,500 people attended the opening ceremonies.
The event connected the wider community with an international championship taking place in their city. The event increased activity downtown, introduced visitors to Welland and demonstrated the impact of coordinated planning, clear communication and strong onsite execution.
FEAST STREET NIAGARA
Feast Street Niagara brought food vendors, live entertainment and community programming into Downtown Welland, creating a lively experience for residents and visitors while showcasing local businesses and talent.
My Role
Working alongside the BIA’s Executive Director, I coordinated the event from planning through onsite delivery. I communicated with food vendors and performers, organized schedules and event information, coordinated and trained volunteers, sent pre-event instructions and managed vendors, volunteers and changing needs onsite. I also developed and scheduled social media and email marketing to build awareness and give attendees the information they needed before the event.
The Result
4,500 people attended Feast Street Niagara.
The event brought a strong audience into the downtown and created greater visibility for participating vendors, performers and surrounding businesses. It formed part of an event portfolio that attracted audiences of up to 15,000 and helped position Downtown Welland as a destination for food, entertainment and community experiences.
the outcome
The events brought thousands of people into Downtown Welland, with individual experiences attracting up to 15,000 attendees and the Canoe Polo opening ceremonies welcoming approximately 4,500 people. Supporting marketing efforts also grew the BIA’s social media audience by 25% to 16,000 followers and increased email engagement by 20%, helping expand visibility for both the events and local businesses.
SKILLS AQUIRED
Event Strategy
Worked alongside the Executive Director to plan a varied calendar of food, music and sporting experiences designed to attract visitors and bring more activity downtown.
Volunteer Leadership
Recruited, trained and coordinated volunteers, distributed schedules and instructions and assigned responsibilities for event-day operations.
Event Operations
Managed detailed event schedules, vendor requirements, volunteer assignments and logistics to keep each event organized from preparation through completion.
Integrated Event Marketing
Created and managed social media and email campaigns that promoted each event, increased email engagement by 20% and contributed to a 25% increase in the BIA’s social audience.
Vendor & Performer Coordination
Communicated directly with food vendors and musicians, confirmed event details and schedules and managed their needs before and during each event.
On-Site Event Management
Managed vendors, performers, volunteers and changing logistical needs onsite to ensure events ran smoothly and attendees had a positive experience.