SocialWest Kicks Off, Canada Rallies, and Marketing Moves Fast

Puck drops. Conferences kick off. Campaigns launch. It’s a busy week for Canada.

June 11, 2025

Hey friend,

Today, the ninth annual SocialWest kicks off in Calgary, Alberta, the birthplace of SocialNext Events. And while we love Canada’s Blue Sky City, SocialWest isn’t the only thing uniting Canadians this week. Even Calgary Flames fans are (grudgingly) cheering on the Edmonton Oilers in their pursuit of bringing the Stanley Cup back to Canada, and the whole country is rallying behind them.

Coming Up

This Is Our Ice: Canada Backs the Edmonton Oilers

As the Edmonton Oilers continue their Stanley Cup run, Rogers is turning hometown pride into a national rallying cry. Through its This Is Our Ice campaign, the brand collected ice from community rinks tied to six Oilers players and brought it to Rogers Place for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.

Ice was collected from:

  • Newmarket, Ontario, for Connor McDavid

  • Vancouver, British Columbia, for Evander Kane

  • Hamilton, Ontario, for Darnell Nurse

  • Burnaby, British Columbia, for Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

  • Edmonton, Alberta, for Stuart Skinner

  • Winnipeg, Manitoba, for Calvin Pickard

The collected ice was combined with the NHL surface in Edmonton, transforming the rink into a symbol of shared roots and national pride.

The campaign is part of the broader This Is Our Game platform, first introduced during the 4 Nations Face-Off. It celebrates where the journey begins and invites fans across Canada to feel part of the playoff story.

This is more than just a home game. It is a moment for all of Canada.

Community Spotlight: Creating Something New with Wilson Wong

When SocialNext Events asked Creative Strategist Wilson Wong to do something fresh and new for SocialWest 2025, he dove in head first. Check out the incredible lineup he has put together for the inaugural SocialNext Creator Series below and connect with him on LinkedIn to see his creativity in action.

I’ve been lucky to attend SocialWest as a guest, host SocialNext Events, and even speak at one, but this year hits different. I get to curate the first ever SocialNext Creator Series — a mix of workshops and experiences happening inside the SocialNext Studio at SocialWest 2025, designed to spark new ways of thinking and doing. Big thanks to Mike for trusting me to think a little different and contribute in a meaningful and creative way. The SocialWest team is small but mighty, and now that I’ve seen the behind-the-scenes, I’m blown away by how much goes into pulling this off. Huge shoutout to Mike, Lindsay, Shaniece, and Aalima for making it all look seamless. And to the collaborators who said “I’m in” without hesitation — thank you. You made this real. ✅ Coffee House Party with ⚡️DJ ChargedUp⚡️- Only a few spots left I told Joel I needed him to bring the vibes and no questions asked, he was in. He’s kicking off the day with us and staying to keep the energy flowing. ✅ From Shower Curtains to Studio Magic – Only a few spots left Adam and Jeremy are showing us how to create scroll-stopping content with whatever gear you’ve got. ✅ Style as Brand – SOLD OUT Aldona and Carl will be talking about dressing with intention and how style tells your story before you even say a word. ✅  Charity Hackathon: The Creative Team - Only a few spots left Vicki, Chris, Siddhesh, Fiona, and Michael are working with Fresh Routes to help reimagine how we engage communities through mobile grocery stores, transforming every grocery run into a chance to do good. This has been a blast to put together and we’re just getting started. If you’re at SocialWest, come find us Inside the SocialNext Studio.

www.linkedin.com/posts/thewilsonwong_ive-been-lucky-to-attend-socialwest-as-a-activity-7336863254998110208-MB_5?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAACZQW44BL4Z2O90C_Srnl6BO2s20CLqLjX8

SocialNext: The Rundown

It’s not too late to catch these SocialWest pre-conference sessions if you are in Calgary!

The Four Conversations: A New Model for Selling Expertise (SocialWest Pre-Conference Session, Attend Standalone)
You know your craft — now learn how to confidently sell it. Blair Enns, founder of Win Without Pitching and author of The Four Conversations, breaks down a powerful framework for turning expertise into revenue while staying true to your role as an advisor. This practical workshop includes full access to the Opening Bash.

When: Wednesday, June 11 @ 2:30–4:30 PM MST
Where: Platform Innovation Centre, Calgary AB
Registration: ICA Members $99 · Non-Members $149 - Get tickets

How to Turn Social Media Into a Community Engine (SocialWest Pre-Conference Session, Attend Standalone)
Social media can be more than fleeting engagement. Join HeyOrca’s Joe Teo and Jessica Lui for a hands-on session exploring proven frameworks — the Community Canvas, Flywheel, and Story Arc — to help you cultivate meaningful, lasting communities owned by your brand. Perfect for marketers ready to go beyond algorithms.

When: Wednesday, June 11 @ 3:00–5:00 PM MST
Where: Central Library, Calgary AB
Registration: $99 - Get tickets

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.

Grow Without The Grind (Free Virtual Roundtable)
Join Afton Brazzoni (Scribe National) with Madeleine Cruickshank (True Summit Digital), Michael MacMillan (MacMillan Search), and Suzy Rounce (Switchback Creative) for a candid roundtable on scaling service businesses while protecting your time, energy, and standards. Expect practical advice on revenue growth, workflows, and building sustainable systems.

When: Thursday, June 12 @ 10:00–11:30 AM MT
Where: Scribe National - Register

Go-to-Market in 2025: Faster Plans, Better Launches (And a Little Help from AI)
Go-to-market planning is speeding up — but your strategy doesn’t have to suffer. Vicki Laszlo (Virtual Gurus, ex-Twitter, Hootsuite, Starbucks) shares a simple framework to build stronger GTM plans, sharpen messaging, and use AI where it helps most.

When: Wednesday, June 18 @ 10 AM MST/12 PM EST
Where: SocialNext Marketing Alliance - RSVP

SocialNext Events Roundup

SocialWest is officially on! If you are feeling the FOMO, follow along on our social channels for behind-the-scenes content, speaker highlights, and more from Canada’s largest marketing conference. In Calgary and want to check it out? There are still tickets available for select pre-conference sessions happening this afternoon.

Canadian Marketing & Business Weekly Brief

  • The results of the Made in Canada: Marketing Impact Survey are here and they are surprising. See what Canadian marketers had to say.

  • A new 2025 Canada Media Landscape Report from Research and Markets breaks down the evolving role of major players like Rogers, CBC Radio Canada, TSN, Netflix, and Quebecor. The report offers a big-picture view of the country’s shifting media habits and where audiences are showing up across platforms.

  • Randstad has released its top skills in sales for 2025, highlighting what employers are really looking for. Communication, CRM experience, and adaptability top the list, making it clear that marketers need to think beyond just promotion and lean into relationship building.

  • Need a clearer way to organize your brand messaging? TechHelp.ca has created a practical guide to writing a marketing communication plan. Whether you are launching a new campaign or refining your strategy, this guide walks you through how to align your team and your message.

The Industry’s Top Tools & Software: Turn Customer Data Into Campaign Fuel with Apteco

Data-rich but insight-poor? Apteco helps marketers finally unlock the full power of their customer data. Build smarter segments, personalize across channels, and launch campaigns that actually hit — without waiting on IT or wrangling spreadsheets.

  • One clear view — Pull data from all your sources into one clean, unified customer profile.

  • Segmentation made simple — Build hyper-targeted audiences fast with easy drag-and-drop tools.

  • Personalization that performs — Trigger cross-channel campaigns in real time based on customer actions.

  • Marketer-friendly interface — Skip the dev queue. Apteco’s tools are built for marketers who want to move now.

  • Safe & compliant — Enterprise-grade privacy, GDPR-ready, and secure by design.

Apteco is a game-changer for marketers who want to turn complex customer data into clear actions, stronger campaigns, and better ROI — no extra tech stack required.

Check out Apteco and see how fast your data can start working for you.

Find Your Next Career Move

Director of Marketing, Toronto Rock (Hybrid – Oakville, ON)

Lead brand growth for a top Canadian lacrosse organization across sports, retail, wellness, and community engagement. Bring 5+ years of strategic marketing experience, digital expertise, and a passion for fan engagement to shape multi-channel campaigns, partnerships, and brand storytelling.

👉 Apply Now

Senior Digital Marketing Consultant, Sun Life (Hybrid – Canada)

Coach top financial advisors on high-impact marketing strategies to grow their practice and elevate client engagement. Requires 5–8 years of experience in digital marketing, social media, and communications, with strong consulting, presentation, and relationship-building skills.

👉 Apply Now

Market Development Manager, Desjardins (Canada – Bilingual)

Lead a high-performing team to deliver strategic business growth, member satisfaction, and operational excellence in financial services. Requires 8+ years of experience and a bachelor’s degree, with strong leadership, coaching, and business development skills. French proficiency is essential.

👉 Apply Now

Digital Marketer, Caroline & Laura Ltd. (Remote – Canada or US)

Join a luxury children’s fashion brand as it expands into Canada! Lead digital growth through SEO, paid ads, email marketing, and social media strategy. Must have 2+ years’ experience in e-commerce marketing and a flair for content and analytics. Flexible hours, remote work, and competitive hourly pay (\$30–\$50/hr).

Thanks for reading this far!

See you in Calgary,

The Marketing News Canada Team

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