April 2011
Event Staging
Blurring International Barriers
AVW-TELAV hasn’t stayed in business for over 50 years for providing audio visual equipment or building stage sets. Our customers return time and time again because we make it possible for their messages to be clearly heard, understood, and experienced by their target audiences. This is particularly the case with international meetings in which the delegates often don’t speak the same language. Canada Commercial Corporation (CCC) - Host Country Secretariat negotiates supply contracts on behalf of the Government of Canada for international events which are hosted by various government and non-government agencies. Based on AVW-TELAV’s past successes working with CCC’s organizing team on similar events, we were selected as the supplier of all AV, simultaneous interpretation, lighting, staging and overall design for CCC’s end user, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
Held from March 25 to 28, 2011, in Calgary, AB, CIDA’s event included the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Board of Governors meeting of the Inter-American Development Bank; the Inter-American Investment Corporation AGM; the Finance Ministers of the Americas and the Caribbean meeting; as well as bilateral talks, seminars, receptions, breakfasts, lunches, dinners and media events.
Various venues – One objective There were multiple venues across the city in which we installed and operated equipment simultaneously, including the Calgary Telus Convention Centre (CTCC) North and South, Calgary Hyatt Regency, Calgary Marriott Hotel, University of Calgary, City Hall, Economic Development Calgary, Heritage Park, and Spruce Meadows. Our labour requirements peaked at 87 technical professionals, comprised of local and national staff.
The two main rooms featured extensive sets and staging, designed to reinforce CCC’s identifying logo and to convey the host country as a desirable investment location with the appeal of environmentally-friendly advancements, international development and reliable aid support.
Two media theatres were equipped with full media feeds and custom-designed staging for media-accessible events, official signings and presentations. AVW-TELAV delivered Barco Encore video projection in full HD for all the facilities, the host broadcaster and 33 closed-circuit feeds and monitors.
Translating the experience
To ease the language barrier, delegates were provided wireless infrared receivers for five-channel interpretation support at all meeting venues. Interpretation signals covered common halls, lounges and media working areas so that delegates and members of the press could listen in their languages of choice, while viewing the closed-circuit coverage.
While a Meyer full range audio system was used to enhance voices and other sound components, a combination of incandescent and LED fixtures provided a different look to each event and maintained full-base lighting for broadcast. This blend was the final crucial element in an audio visual arrangement that helped to unite 1000 international development banking community executives in one Canadian city. We would like to acknowledge the following AVW-TELAV staff and crew members for contributing to the success of this event: Tony Abbate, Kevin Amos, Darren Apels, Paul Baluk, Alex Barbour, Lindsay Barker, Karl Bedo, Harry Bennett, Janet Bennett, Jim Beredo, Michael Berry, Andrew Brennan, Todd Burdon, Chris Burns, Alex Carlson, Roger Chavez, Zak Chesla, Erica Chow, Jeff Coppola, Frank Criniti, Nick D'Artois, Neil Davies, Calvin Daye, Mark DellaValle, Joseph Doba, Ross Dupe, Jason Edmundson, Jason Ely, Luc Fielhaber, Olivier Gagnon, Jeff Grant, Xavier Gratton, Mathieu Griffith, David Harland, Michael Kennedy, Jon Konecny, Victor Kong, Nick Lepage, Daniel Levasseur, Matt Lewis, Kevin MacKillop, Brad Myhal, Chris Neilson, Darren Neufeld, Henry Ng, Corey Racher, Scott Richards, Brad Smith, Renee Taylor, Robert Theriault, Blair Thompson, Jon Turner, Brent Visser, Calin Way, Alex Zdravkovic and Jim Shepherd.
