Entertain a career in event planning
Centennial College offers diploma, graduate certificate programs
From the Toronto International Film Festival to the electric atmosphere of a Toronto Raptors game, Toronto residents are spoiled for choice when it comes to entertainment. But have you ever thought about what goes on behind the scenes to bring those kinds of events and countless more to life?
Tip your hat to special event planners. They’re responsible for planning, designing and executing diverse events that also include corporate meetings, trade shows, fundraisers, weddings and product launches. It’s a growing and rewarding role in many organizations in a variety of industries, says Shannon Bramwell, professor and coordinator of Centennial College’s special event planning program.
“Our students get to look at different sectors of the event planning industry and realize they’re not limited to working at a hotel or convention centre,” she says. “We encourage them to focus on their personal interests, such as sporting events, concerts, not-for-profits, public sector, private sector or even as entrepreneurs.”
Throughout the program, students gain hands-on skills working alongside professional event planners and managers at Centennial’s new 20,000-squarefoot Event and Conference Centre. Perched atop the college’s new hospitality building, the centre offers a view of Toronto’s skyline and Lake Ontario and is the only dedicated experiential learning site for event management in Canada.
“We host a lot of internal corporate events at the centre but we also host external corporate clients, from banks and corporations to social events, including weddings, birthday and retirement parties, and fundraisers,” says Jessica Speck, restaurant and event technician. “Each event is run by special event planning students, including those who complete their field placement here.”
Students benefit from professors who continue to work in the industry and their contacts. They complete their field placement in the last semester of this two-year program.
Graduates may land a job with their field placement employer, launch their career in any of a number of areas or even consider starting their own business as an event, meeting or wedding planner.
If you’re wondering if special event planning is the career right for you, consider some of the skills needed to be successful. That includes people skills.
“You’re in a service industry,” Bramwell says. “Unlike a product industry, where consumers can return something they don’t like, our students are diving into an industry in which they’re giving people an experience and creating memories.
“They really have one chance to do it right. Creativity and organization skills are important. You need to be detail-oriented and adventurous enough to step outside the box to do something a little bit different and embrace the next newest trend.”
The program, open to high school graduates, offers three intakes a year: September, January and May.
Sponsorship, event design and catering courses complement a curriculum that also includes accounting, marketing and human resources. The program includes an industry training and awareness certification called It’s Your Shift, which prepares those entering the hospitality industry to become leaders for the prevention of sexual harassment and contribute to the evolution of safe and welcoming work environments.
Centennial also offers a one-year event management graduate certificate program that’s open to college and university graduates. Students lead all aspects of the college’s Event and Conference Centre from planning to execution as they work alongside its renowned hospitality and culinary teams.
Visit centennialcollege.ca to learn more.
you need to be detailoriented and adventurous enough to step outside the box to do something a little bit different and embrace the next newest trend.”