As a freelance worker in media technology, I can’t help but look ahead to what the coming year has to offer—not just personally, as I balance what’s happening locally in my part-time roles at the arena in Winnipeg, with a playoff run coming for the Winnipeg Jets, and a summer of projects and maintenance at SBL supporting my boss Paul East—but also professionally, with what’s happening across Canada and beyond.

Next year in live production and sports, it’s going to be a busy one. North America is hosting the World Cup across three countries. The Winter Olympics are happening in Italy. There are countless other regular seasons, new entries into soccer, new deals with Canadian broadcasters, and the NHL—all vying for more eyes and searching for the tech that will give them the edge.

There’s a big shuffle happening in Canadian radio right now too, with new ownerships and station takeovers. For television broadcasters, the looming question is what technologies they’ll adopt next. It’s been 14 years since the DTV rollout. With Roku, FAST channels, and new set-top boxes, the challenge is how to keep Canadian content in front of viewers. Add a tariff-heavy, unpredictable U.S. government into the mix, and it all starts to stir the pot. From my vantage point in the middle of Canada, I see a lot of opportunity.

Many of my production friends have moved out of traditional broadcasters and into organizations where marketing and communications roles have grown. They’re being hired for their production and storytelling experience—and they’re finding competitive wages and more regular schedules. At the same time, for young and ambitious journalists, it’s not a bad time to be graduating. CBC has renewed its focus on local and regional news. Local radio and television stations have postings for reporters across the country. If you love your community, your province, this is a good time to tell those stories. There’s room for innovation, for great personalities, and for more Canadian voices.

Having worked in newsrooms across the country, I can say there’s something really great about the voice of youth—their ability to take risks, try new things, and do something creative. I’m always happy to be on a crew with them. Now in mid-career, I’m working with younger people and interns. I do a lot of teaching and showing and talking. They’ve got lots to learn and reps to get in, but they’re eager, keen, and more flexible than I am—both physically and mentally. They make mistakes, but they’re fun, energetic, and not jaded. They don’t talk about the golden years of media.

When I started at 21 working in a television newsroom, the median age at A-Channel in Winnipeg was probably 27. We didn’t even have enough people over 30 to field an over-30 baseball team to play against the under-30s at our annual picnic. There was always someone to go for a drink after work with. Everyone was marrying everyone. But the ambition, the vibe, the drive to tell great stories—that was infectious. It was the best education I could’ve asked for.

At the time, I remember senior VPs and managers talking about how things used to be. Sometimes it was old engineers talking about the gear they used to service—especially when you were about to toss something that was worth big money back in the day but is now obsolete. While it’s fun to reminisce, I’m excited to dig into what’s coming next. That’s part of why I love volunteering as president to grow the WABE Media & Entertainment Technology Conference.

This year, I’ve talked to Canadians working behind the scenes across the country. They’re excited to see WABE’s growth, and I’m looking forward to meeting many of them in Calgary this year. That’s part of the idea behind our 75th birthday celebration. We’re at a turning point in Canada—not just because of what’s going on south of the border or the renewed focus on Canadian products—but because there are real conversations happening about the Broadcast Act and the CRTC. Newsrooms and media companies across the country are negotiating contracts, forming new relationships, and building a growing appetite for great content.

We’ve got no shortage of skill or experience in Canada. I see it every day at the arena, and I see it when I go overseas for large events. Canadian techs and crew are everywhere—quietly owning their skills, making great team members. Because of the size of our markets, many Canadian workers wear multiple hats, building a wide set of skills, and a resilience that’s hard to teach.

This year, our 75th birthday celebration and our Monday Media Mixer—featuring a reunion for former SAIT Broadcast Systems Technology grads—is an opportunity to bring the entire industry together in Calgary. It’s a chance to reconnect with people you haven’t seen since before the pandemic. You’ll update your contacts list, share a coffee or drink, get face time with a possible mentor, and meet those who entered the industry during the pandemic and are still looking for connections.

If you work in this space—live production, pro AV, broadcast, radio, marketing, freelance, post-production, events and staging, event centres, churches, film —you’re invited. These are your people. We’ve got a large exhibit hall this year, and booths are affordable. The exhibit hall is free to attend, so you can invite your clients, and we can invite new WABE friends to discover and explore.

WABE is a not-for-profit, volunteer-run organization. Our members have full-time jobs, and the challenge is real. We need everyone’s support—everyone’s likes, everyone’s share on social media—to keep this community growing and thriving. We want our business community to do well, because they employ many of our members and friends.

We’re strengthening our marketing this year and we’re excited to release details about programming in June. If you didn’t make it to NAB due to budget or travel limits, or your team could only send one person—take a look at WABE. Our full conference is under $200, and our day passes are affordable. But more than that, you’ll meet people you actually need to know—the people who keep your business running, who share your challenges and your wins, and who want to learn and share alongside you.

Sometimes I come home from WABE with a specific piece of technology I want to recommend to my team. Other times, I come home with a sense of the industry’s temperature—is AI cooling or heating up? Most of the time, I come back with inspiration. The work I’m doing is still worth it. Others are out there doing it, too, and loving it. That kind of energy helps me make it through another year.

If you’re a manager and you’ve got great employees working behind the scenes, send them to WABE. They’ll thank you, and you’ll see the results in their renewed commitment and insight. And if your company won’t pay for you to attend? Call someone in Calgary. Find a couch to crash on. Someone would love to see you this fall.

Everyone in this industry knows someone in Calgary they haven’t seen in a while. If you’re from Calgary—come home. Visit your family. Visit your work family.

We’ve had a strong first few weeks of signups for sponsorship and exhibiting. Companies getting in front of Canadian media tech professionals now are going to be remembered as projects and budgets get approved in the coming year. Reach out this month—we want to put you at the forefront of our marketing.

As everyone returns from NAB and we all assess what’s happening in the broadcast world, we’re also looking ahead to the release of pro AV, film software, and tech that’s going to impact every part of our sector. WABE is going to be a great recap of it all—one event, one place, this fall.

One of the most important parts of WABE has always been students. This year, I’ve been reaching out to universities and post-secondary institutions across Alberta to reestablish connections. These programs have changed names, shuffled courses, hired new staff, and are doing exciting things. The response has been amazing—the best I’ve seen in all my years volunteering. These programs are looking for industry connections, for real opportunities to connect their students with businesses that are hiring. There’s no other place in Canada quite like WABE for that.

We’ve always welcomed students for free. That commitment hasn’t changed. It’s taken phone calls, Zooms, emails, and quick chats on the road. But we’re making those connections. And it’s working.

You know that feeling when you meet someone new professionally, and realize you have a colleague or friend in common? That moment when you know you’ve found someone you can work with, talk tech with, trust on site? That’s what WABE has always been about.

Media and entertainment technology work is happening all across Canada—quietly, behind the scenes—and we can’t wait to hear what you’ve been up to. We’ll see you this fall at the TELUS Convention Centre in Calgary, September 29 to October 1.