- Marketing News Canada
- Posts
- From Calgary to Halifax: The Future of Marketing Is Here
From Calgary to Halifax: The Future of Marketing Is Here
Neil Patel’s keynote, delegate takeaways, and what marketers are buzzing about this week.
In partnership with
Hey friend,
Last week, more than 900 marketers from not only across Canada but around the world with a few attendees travelling from the US, the UK, Mexico and Brazil, gathered in Calgary for the ninth edition of SocialWest, the country’s premier conference for digital marketing professionals.
This year marked a major milestone for the series. Hosted for the first time in a full-scale conference centre, SocialWest 2025 delivered a bigger and sharper experience while still maintaining the event’s signature community-focused feel.
Coming Up
More Than a Marketing Playbook
Spanning three days and featuring over 40 speakers, SocialWest 2025 delivered insights across the most urgent themes in marketing today, from AI and automation to influencer strategy, community-building, and performance measurement.
The conference opened with a high-impact keynote from Neil Patel, who spoke on Adapting to the AI Search Engine. Patel delivered practical strategies for navigating AI-driven content visibility, performance marketing, and brand positioning in a changing digital landscape. His talk set a high bar for a week of rich discussion.
Across breakout rooms, stages, and workshops, marketers explored how to future-proof brand trust, build inclusive campaigns, interpret analytics with context, and leverage automation without losing authenticity. Sessions addressed both the excitement and challenges of emerging tools, alongside honest reflections on what’s actually working in real-world campaigns.
But where the real story lies is in the energy found between the learning, from live plant sales and Pedal Pub tours to dinner meetups, patio games, and hands-on workshops. SocialWest creates a rare sense of intimacy, even as Canada’s largest marketing conference.
Community Spotlight: On the Delegates of SocialWest
In this week’s Community Spotlight, we’re featuring attendee moments from SocialWest 2025. Across LinkedIn and Instagram, marketers shared key takeaways, speaker quotes, and scenes from the floor, offering a firsthand look at the conference energy. Follow along on the SocialWest social channels to catch all the great attendee stories.
What a whirlwind! I wish I had hoooours to learn from each speaker because they had so much to teach.
It was my first time attending and I had a BLAST!
Especially loved the sessions with Andrew (Enshittification and The Current State of Everything) and Emily (The Future of Masculinity in Marketing: Why it Matters in 2025) 🫶
The team behind SocialNext has already set its sights on the next stops in the national event series.
SocialEast returns to Halifax on September 25–26, headlined by none other than Arlene Dickinson. The marketing icon and Dragons’ Den investor will deliver the keynote, sharing insights on brand building, entrepreneurship, and navigating change in a fast-moving world. Get tickets now.
SocialPacific is set for October 30 at North Vancouver’s Pipe Shop. More programming details will be released soon, but early buzz suggests another high-impact lineup is in the works. Secure your seat.
With 2026 marking ten years of SocialWest, organizers are already planning a milestone event in Calgary to celebrate a decade of building Canada’s marketing community, along with their series of cross-Canada marketing events. Keep an eye out for when they’ll be visiting your city!
Upcoming Webinars, Workshops and Partner Events
Join us in the SocialNext Marketing Alliance for free webinar and workshops every week. Plus, build your network and make connections with marketers across Canada.
Go-to-Market in 2025: Faster Plans, Better Launches (And a Little Help from AI)
Go-to-market planning is speeding up and Vicki Laszlo (Virtual Gurus, X-Twitter, Hootsuite, Starbucks) is sharing a practical framework to sharpen your messaging, improve research workflows, and use AI where it actually helps.
When: Wednesday, June 18 @ 10:00–10:30 AM MT
Where: SocialNext Marketing Alliance – RSVP
Registration: Free
When: Wednesday, June 25 @ 10:00–10:30 AM MT
Where: SocialNext Marketing Alliance - RSVP
Registration: Free
Canadian Marketing & Business Weekly Brief
Five Things to Watch for in the Canadian Business World in the Coming Week - The G7 Summit in Kananaskis will focus on energy, AI, and critical minerals, while energy ministers gather in Calgary to discuss domestic output. Earnings from Roots, Transat, and Dollarama, along with new housing data, could shift business sentiment. Marketers should keep an eye on emerging trends and policy cues.
Why It’s Time to Put Canadian Companies First - Support for Canadian-made goods is growing as economic uncertainty and supply chain challenges continue. Consumers are demanding transparency and local impact. Brands must back patriotic messaging with real sourcing, ethical practices, and clear proof of origin.
Seizing the Moment: Why the 2026 World Cup Is a Turning Point for Canadian Brands - The 2026 World Cup presents more than a sponsorship opportunity; it is a chance for brands to create a lasting impact through workforce development and community investment. Those who act now will leave a legacy far beyond the tournament.
Terry O’Reilly on Marketing, His Mother, and the Hall of Fame - Terry O’Reilly’s induction into the Canadian Marketing Hall of Fame celebrates his influence on brand storytelling. His work is a reminder for marketers to lead with empathy, creativity, and a clear voice in an increasingly crowded space.
Canadian Roots: How the Leather Brand is Leaning Into Its Domestic Business - Roots is doubling down on Canadian-made storytelling by highlighting its domestic manufacturing. With growing demand for authenticity, the brand is showing how national pride and craftsmanship can drive consumer trust and loyalty.
Trends & Insights: Take Note
MiQ says its new AI platform could boost programmatic results by over 130% here’s why Sigma is making waves with Canadian marketers.
A new StatCan report reveals which sectors are embracing AI fastest and how tools like chatbots and marketing automation are reshaping daily operations. See what’s rising.
With trade tensions cooling and policy shifts in motion, RBC says Canada’s economic tides may be turning. Read their latest forecast on what’s next.
The Industry’s Top Tools & Software
Modernize your marketing with AdQuick
AdQuick unlocks the benefits of Out Of Home (OOH) advertising in a way no one else has. Approaching the problem with eyes to performance, created for marketers with the engineering excellence you’ve come to expect for the internet.
Marketers agree OOH is one of the best ways for building brand awareness, reaching new customers, and reinforcing your brand message. It’s just been difficult to scale. But with AdQuick, you can easily plan, deploy and measure campaigns just as easily as digital ads, making them a no-brainer to add to your team’s toolbox.
Find Your Next Career Move
Global Wholesale Marketing Coordinator – Herschel Supply (Vancouver, BC)
Love brand storytelling and global collaboration? Herschel Supply is hiring a creative coordinator to support seasonal launches, manage global asset rollouts, and shape event marketing strategies across regions. A great fit for marketers who live at the intersection of fashion, travel, and culture.
Category Specialist – WestJet (Calgary, AB)
Take off with WestJet in this hybrid Calgary role focused on strategic sourcing and procurement. You'll lead supplier research, streamline contracts, and sharpen cost strategies — a launchpad role for anyone looking to grow in supply chain within a fast-moving industry.
Digital Marketing Specialist – Toronto Blue Jays (Toronto, ON)
Join the Toronto Blue Jays and help power digital campaigns for Canada’s home team. From managing fan emails and SMS to running site updates and creative briefs, this 12-month contract is made for marketers who thrive in a high-energy, cross-functional environment.
Web Marketing Manager – Jane App (Remote, Canada)
Join the fully remote team at Jane and lead the charge on web strategy. You’ll own UX, CRO, and SEO initiatives to drive performance and support healthcare pros through thoughtful, high-converting digital experiences. Ideal for experienced marketers ready to make impact from anywhere.
Thanks for reading this far!
See you at the upcoming SocialNext Events!
The Marketing News Canada Team
Reply