Focus on Leadership

A s p e c i a l s e r i e s o n C a l g a ry ’ s b u s i n e s s v i s i o n a r i e s

A special publication of the Herald in partnership with Calgary Economic Development Right Here: On the Attracting people ‘Hunt’ for and celebrating Calgary’s talent business ecently, Calgary Economic Development in collabora- Rtion with Tourism Calgary, growth the Calgary Hotel Association and the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre, released the new Calgary strategies destination video, Right Here. This video is meant to change some of the widely-held percep- vans Hunt is the local digital tions of Calgary by showcasing marketing firm with global reach many of the great attributes, dem- Eand expertise. onstrate the diversity and exhibit Evans Hunt partners have built digi- the vibrancy of the city. tal businesses and helped traditional The promotional video went businesses go digital for more than 13 viral, and in less than a week years, and were instrumental in helping nearly 100,000 had watched it. iconic businesses such as Mercedes- But there’s more to the story. Benz, Rolex, Dell and Procter & With Calgary’s five per cent Gamble conceive and deliver online unemployment rate and branding and e-commerce initiatives. needing thousands of workers “My partner and I spent a decade over the coming years, this video travelling through Europe and the will help Calgary Economic Devel- U.S., meeting with clients and listening opment address one of the most to leaders of the businesses we were pressing issues in economic devel- working with, so we truly do have a opment for Calgary — attracting global perspective,” says managing people to the city. partner and co-founder Bill Hunt. Forecasts still indicate a need Now, he says after five years for an additional 114,000 people grounded in the city with partner- in Alberta by 2021 to meet the ships such as the one with Calgary demands of our province’s grow- Economic Development , the firm’s key ing economy. Of course, CED’s talent has an intimate understanding of priority is to always tap into local the city within which it operates as well sources of talent first, but when as the rest of the world. companies cannot find people with “Calgary Economic Development the right skills locally, they need to has been great at providing us with an look across and some- Photos, Wil Andruschak effective means of keeping in touch times in international markets. With a global war for talent, we with the local community,” says Hunt. Managing partner and co-founder know people often choose their “They keep us plugged in to the city Bill Hunt at Evans Hunt. city first and job second, and this with both networking opportunities video is crucial in this narrative and information sharing.” of work on leading accounts, working behalf of their clients’ businesses. And Hunt says in a city where tal- when considering Calgary. He says standing out in a city such with many respected organizations This model has allowed the firm to ented employees are often extremely People thinking about moving as Calgary has only been achieved by during his career, including Mercedes- flourish creating a situation where difficult to entice and retain, his firm to Calgary want to know about remembering where the firm’s priori- Benz, Procter and Gamble , Unilever, growth needs to be restrained and has seen exceptional success. the city, the people who already Las Vegas CVA, Toyota, Smithsonian, contained rather than chased. “We’ve seen virtually no turn-over ties must be. live here and what their lives could Big Rock and Rolex. “We’d like to keep on a sustained in four-and-a-half years when most ”We are business drivers,” says Hunt. look like if they came. “Our job isn’t to just produce fancy Hunt has more than 13 years growth path, but we have no desire companies in this industry see about They want to know the recent art but to help our clients build their experience in interactive advertis- to grow too big too fast,” says Hunt. 30 per cent turn-over,” says Hunt. ranking from MoneySense is true businesses.” ing and technology. He has worked “We’ve seen 30 to 40 per cent year- The firm has doubled its office space — that “Calgary is the best city to He says creative without business with start-ups, the public sector over-year growth up to this point, and is continuing to sign on big-name live in Canada” — and that it’s not results is just art, and that isn’t going to and most recently, serving as senior and we have gone from two founders clients from around the globe. only a great city to make a living, make for happy and satisfied clients. vice-president at Critical Mass where and two employees to more than 50 “We are business drivers and that is but a great place to make a life. Managing partner and co-founder he worked for multiple offices across people on staff. Now, our goal is steady what people are looking for, whether This video complements CED’s Dan Evans has more than 20 years of three continents. controlled growth. their businesses are based in Calgary, “Calgary. Be Part of the Energy” experience in traditional and inter- Hunt says his firm’s talent brings “We’re well-known in the Calgary Europe or elsewhere in the world,” brand and is a tool all businesses active advertising. He is the formal e-business strategies to life helping market, but we also have clients from says Hunt. “We understand what and recruiters can use. president of Critical Mass, where he businesses adapt to the digital space outside of Canada — from San Fran- motivates people, and that is achieving The second part to this story is oversaw the strategy and execution as well as adapting the digital space on cisco to Philadelphia to Switzerland.” results.” that everyone involved in making the video is from Calgary. Calgary is home to award-win- Collaboration sparks successful GlobalFest initiative ning crews and has a talented and experienced creative industries lobalFest has proven to be fireworks festival. together our city’s cultural communities “Collaboration is at the heart of what sector. This video not only presents much more than a flash in the In that first year, GlobalFest drew into a single venue, around the world we do,” says Duncan.“We’re very lucky the city, but also the incredible tal- Gpark. nearly 100,000 spectators within and experience,” says Duncan. “And the to have the continued support of many ent that calls Calgary home. A chance encounter that brought outside of the park, making the event format is resonating with the community. community organizations and busi- This includes the production together the Calgary Fireworks Festival one of Calgary’s top draws for local Today, we partner with other Calgary nesses in Calgary. company, crew, director, writer, Society and the International Avenue citizens and tourists alike. organizations to host mini-GlobalFests “Our partnership with Calgary composer and musicians. Arts and Culture Centre more than This year, GlobalFest and the Trico around the city throughout the year.” Economic Development has been, and The production consisted of 10 years ago has led to the creation of Homes International Fireworks Festival The , for example, hosted will continue to be, very important to more than 11 shooting days across an enormously successful event that is will be hosted between Aug. 16 and 25 one such event on Easter weekend GlobalFest. Its support in promoting our 33 different locations and more growing every year with new events and in Elliston Park, as it continues to expand showcasing cultural performers at the event and facilitating strategic introduc- than 260 Calgarians (many of participants. its reach into the community. Enmax Conservatory and Safari Lodge. tions is key to the long-term sustainabil- which were volunteers). “GlobalFest was created to pro- The OneWorld Village at GlobalFest The groundwork for GlobalFest was ity of our organization.” Although the video itself is about vide an inclusive, world-class festival will include pavilions hosted by dozens laid in 1993 with the formation of The He says developing strategic two minutes and forty seconds, an celebrating the arts and culture of our of Calgary’s cultural communities. Calgary Fireworks Festival Society. partnerships to guide growth and event additional 22 hours of fantastic city,” says Global-Fest chairman Jamie They will be showcasing heritage dress, The not-for-profit society was unable to participation has been critical. b-roll footage, as well as 1,000- Duncan. “We’re very proud that after cultural music, performances and inter- find a suitable fireworks launch site in “We spend all year leading up to our plus photographs that will be used decade, tens of thousands of Calgar- active activities. The village will provide Calgary for eight years. August Festival, bringing together our to create other videos, advertise- ians, of all backgrounds and ethnicities, access to 17 cultural pavilions and Finally, in 2002, the society’s leaders partners, community organizations and ments, brochures and news stories continue to join us in east Calgary.” three performance stages, as well as an discovered Elliston Park and encoun- corporate Calgary. These relation- to promote our city. GlobalFest launched in 2003 with aboriginal Tipi Village and OneWorld tered the International Avenue Arts and ships and synergies are at the heart of 10 cultural pavilions and three countries Café, which will include 12 ethnic food Culture Centre, which was interested in ensuring that Calgarians will continue presenting pyromusical entertainment booths. beginning a multicultural festival based to celebrate with GlobalFest for many, View RIGHT HERE at in Calgary’s first-ever international “GlobalFest is unique in that we bring in east Calgary. many years to come,” adds Duncan. bepartoftheenergy.ca Folk Fest strikes a chord with Calgarians t’s a unique collaboration of musician- Kerry Clarke. “And for the second year, meeting space. ship that entices more than 53,000 the Talk Tent, which will feature come- ”As one of Calgary’s highest profile Ifolk music lovers to leave their nests dians and artist panels, will be a special events after the Stampede, we continue and converge on Prince’s Island Park programming feature at Folk Fest.” to improve our award-winning envi- every summer. And when something The non-profit organization just ronmental program — we were the first that monumental strikes a chord in finished constructing the new Festival Canadian event to win an interna- Calgarians, it’s no wonder more are Hall, which is home to its head office, as tional Greener Festival award – and, expected to tune in. well as an arts and music centre. This we’re always innovating logistically to This year, 76 artists from 14 countries venue will allow the organization to accommodate our 53,000 audience will be performing at the Calgary Folk extend its seasonal programming and members,” says Clarke. “We regularly Music Festival. The park itself will be present the artistically diverse Indie, mentor, assist and advise other local transformed into a musical venue like roots, traditional and world music the and international arts organizations, none other in Canada during one of the festival is known for all year round. and our staff members contribute to Calgary Folk Music Festival artistic director Kerry Clarke. country’s most notable music festivals. Festival Hall will also be the home local and national arts boards.” “The artists will perform in concerts for new events hosted by Calgary Folk Community partnerships have also “Creative, effective outreach and the final fundraising push for our new and unique collaborations on nine Fest including workshops, lectures and been instrumental in building a world- relationship building with the corporate Festival Hall and for our ongoing festi- stages at the 34th annual Calgary Folk master classes. class event that attracts internationally community, including our partnership val partnerships, which are important to Music Festival hosted from July 25 to The organization’s more than 1,600 acclaimed artists, as well as diverse with Calgary Economic Development, keeping ticket prices low and delivering 28,” says the festival’s artistic director volunteers will also use the hall as a audience members, she says. has been a priority in order to support a top-notch festival,” says Clarke.