Issue link: http://tourismwpg.uberflip.com/i/994031
60 60 g. Local Event Cooperatives The main event cooperatives in the Winnipeg region would be the Manitoba chapter of Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE), and Event Professionals of Manitoba (EPM). CSAE educates, informs and inspires those who work for Canadian Associations, offering members professional development, leadership opportunities and leading-edge concepts to improve the capacity of their organizations — and advance their careers. EPM exists to support and advocate for event planning as a profession and serves to connect and educate local event professionals, suppliers and venues. EPM is proud to be inclusive of and affordable for event professionals in all capacities, and facilitates the growth of relationships, mentorships and networking opportunities. Several local event and festival representatives are partners with Tourism Winnipeg and its Team Winnipeg meeting sales marketing consortium, and its Winnipeg Tour Connection travel trade marketing consortium. These consortiums are made up of partners who work collaboratively to sell Winnipeg as the destination of choice for meetings, conventions, sports and special events, and tour groups. In a less formal structure, local organizers work closely with the City of Winnipeg Special Events and Film Office on the necessary requirements for hosting a large-scale event or festival. h. Sports Commissions There is no official sport commission in Winnipeg (typically, this is found more in the United States). A comparable organization would be Sport Manitoba, which is the leading planning, programming, and funding agency for the development of amateur sport in the province of Manitoba. Sport Manitoba partners with over 100 provincial and community organizations for the development and delivery of programs and events in amateur sport. They were major supporters behind the 2017 Canada Summer Games, which came to Winnipeg and brought over 20,000 visitors, athletes and coaches to the city. Some of Sport Manitoba's member organizations, such as Manitoba Soccer Association and Manitoba Curling Association were major proponents in bringing in significant sport events such as FIFA Women's World Cup and the 2013 Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings Canadian Curling Trials to Winnipeg. i. Educational Institution Support Winnipeg is home to several post-secondary institutions for the region, including University of Manitoba, University of Winnipeg, Red River College and Universite de Saint-Boniface. Students are often called upon and respond to calls for volunteers at local festivals and events, and these campuses are sometimes used as festival/ event venues as well. For example, the 2017 Canada Summer Games athlete's village was located at the University of Manitoba. In 2016, the National Hockey League's Heritage Classic game and fan zone was held at Investors Group Field, which is located on the University of Manitoba campus. Winnipeg has a range of educational programs that directly or indirectly provide valuable skills and education training for future festival and event staff and leaders. Red River College offers a two-year diploma in hospitality and tourism management, which has a volunteering component to it as outlined in section 4 a. The first year of this program is designed to prepare students to work in hospitality and tourism businesses by providing courses aimed at developing a fundamental business and customer service background. William Au Dan Harper