The meeting industry will come together to celebrate Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) on March 30, but did you know that a day now recognized and celebrated by meeting professionals around the world began in Canada?

The first official National Meetings Industry Day was held in Canada in 1999. This followed local and regional events hosted by Canadian MPI chapters (such as Meeting Planners Day in Edmonton) and conversations about elevating the celebration to a national level by the MPI Canadian Council—eventually leading to the first GMID in 2016.

As we get closer to GMID 2023, we’re honoring some of the MPI members in Canada who led volunteer efforts in the 1990s and understood before many others why the importance of our industry and its monetary and intrinsic value needed to be understood by governments and business.

Today, we chat with Shirley Layne, CMP, event planning and member recognition manager for the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA).

Tell us about your role (chapter or regional) in MPI Canada in the 1990s. 

When I joined the MPI Greater Edmonton Chapter, I can recall getting involved as a volunteer very quickly. I took on various roles such as Education Committee member, newsletter editor and co-founding the Event Management Awards, to name a few. I was on the board for eight years and I remember it being a very close-knit group, which helped us to build the chapter and have fun at the same time. We were excited to make MPI a success and see it thrive in Edmonton.

What is your role in the meeting industry today? 

Today I work for one of the largest self-regulating professional associations in western Canada, heading the Events & Member Recognition team and organizing between 30 and 40 events per year. I don’t hold an MPI board position currently, but I have been asked to assist with various industry events over the years.

What was a big misconception about the meeting planning profession in the 1990s that has changed (or hasn’t changed) over the years? 

One of most common misconceptions that I came across in my early years of event planning was that event planning was simple and required very little skill. Over the years, I’ve made it a point to share what goes into the planning process and that it requires a lot of organization, communication, creativity, problem-solving, budgeting, attention to detail, time management and a lot of carefully applied skill. We view an event from many angles and must account for all of them. It’s a stressful but rewarding profession and is not for the faint of heart.

Why was it a priority to you to raise awareness of our industry's importance? 

MPI’s tagline is “When we meet, we change the world.” There hasn’t been a truer statement. Meetings bring people together to conduct business, celebrate achievements, impart news, discuss important matters and so much more. Meetings get the world’s business done. The importance of meetings can too often be understated, and it really shouldn’t be.

MPI’s GMID broadcast powered by Webex Events (formerly Socio).

MPI’s GMID broadcast supported by Grit Productions & Expositions and Foster + Fathom.