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Saige Sills |
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It's the kind of job that keeps you on your toes but Sills,
also a musician, has the determination and drive to survive in this
business.
And having a diploma in Special Events Planning doesn't
hurt either.
"Graduating from George Brown College has allowed me to
believe I am capable of reaching any and all of my
goals," says the 25-year-old. "My educational background
has empowered me to
accomplish many different jobs within my workplace."
As
project co-ordinator, her responsibilities range from
the nomination and voting process to ticketing and seating to
wrap-up
of the annual awards show. In addition to making
sure that more than 4,000 industry guests are in their proper
locations, Sills manages seating
for hundreds of attendees from the general public.
"I do have a lot of responsibility and many challenges,
which keeps my career fulfilling and entertaining,"
says Sills, who is heading into her fourth year with
the Juno Awards.
It was during the two-year program
at George Brown that she got her big break and landed
a co-op placement with the Canadian Academy of Recording
Arts and Science (CARAS),
the
organization responsible
for the Juno Awards. It proved to be an amazing
and
worthwhile learning experience for Sills who was
often flown to other cities to assist with
events on weekends.
Before going to George Brown,
Sills studied political science and geography at Wilfrid
Laurier University, then travel and tourism at Conestoga College. She
also worked full-time in the travel
industry as a club travel counsellor.
"I wanted to jump into something new that would
involve travel and socializing with people. I
heard about the (Special Events Planning) program
through the George Brown website. It sounded fun and
interesting which made me want to try my hand
at
it,"
Sills recalls. "My experience at George Brown
College was fulfilling and
enjoyable. The faculty was always willing to
help and answer any questions."
What Sills enjoyed
the most about her program was working with her peers
to host a tourism industry
event at the College as part of a class project.
In just seven weeks, they organized
a full symposium
with Jim Bradley, who was then Ontario's Minister
of Tourism, as the keynote speaker.
"I loved
working on the event as a class. It really brought
us all together. We learned
many valuable lessons, which we can use
in today's society," Sills says about their
Open the Door to 2004 event.
Sills' advice
to others who are considering a career in event planning
is to work hard
and be open to many different options in
the field.
We encourage you to visit the Alumni Association.
Or, contact information the Hospitality & Tourism Alumni association
at:
Hospitality & Tourism Alumni
300 Adelaide St. E.
Toronto, ON M5A 1N1
To learn more, visit the George
Brown College Alumni page.
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