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WEDNESDAY APRIL 15

STUDIO 1

Insurance Demystified

Come meet the experts at ASSURART to better understand insurance!

They’ll provide an overview of the insurance needs of businesses in the entertainment industry and then answer your questions. After attending this session, you’ll know what insurance coverage you need and what questions to ask your broker to ensure you’re properly insured.

Language: French - English
Date and Time: Wednesday, April 15, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Discipline: Insurance

Presenters: David Mollet, Stella Kalogerakis, Pascale Rondeau, Maude Ouellet, Colette Mendenhall.

About: ASSURART Inc. is a Canadian insurance brokerage and financial services firm. Over the years, we have developed expertise in insuring businesses and professionals working in the fields of information technology, life sciences, private equity, the environment, the social economy, the arts, culture, and entertainment.

Title TBC

Details to come.

Presented by GerrAudio Distribution

Language: English
Date and time: Wednesday, April 15, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Discipline: Pro audio, sound.

Presenter: To be announced

Innovation and Eco-responsibility in Stage Technologies

Can innovation contribute to environmental sustainability? What are the points of tension and convergence? What are the challenges and opportunities, and how can we shape the future we want for the performing arts?

The CQICTS and Écoscéno are joining forces and leveraging their networks to highlight eco-friendly innovations currently being developed in the field of stage technologies, in collaboration with seasoned professionals.

The discussion will be followed by an open forum, giving industry leaders in attendance the opportunity to showcase their experiences and the innovations currently being developed within their companies.

Presented by CQICTS - Centre québécois de l'Institut des technologies scénographiques and Écoscéno

With financial support from the Caisse de la Culture - Desjardins and CITT/ICTS

Language: French
Date & Time: Wednesday, April 15, 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Discipline: Scenographic Technologies

Moderator: Anne-Catherine Lebeau
Panel: Martin Labrecque, Louis-Philippe Thibaudeau, Alexis Delage, Margot Lallemand.

Anne-Catherine Lebeau, Écoscéno
Co-founder and Executive Director of Écoscéno, which drives socio-ecological transition, she has worked for thirty years in the cultural sector in Quebec and internationally. Initially trained in Moscow, she has collaborated on some fifty productions, notably with Robert Lepage, Wajdi Mouawad, and Cirque du Soleil.

Martin Labrecque, Lighting Designer
A lighting designer behind more than 200 productions, Martin works in theater, dance, and music. He has designed lighting for ten Cirque du Soleil productions, including CORTEO and, most recently, ALIZE, and served as creative director for the visual poetry experience Le Vol de l’oiseau mécanique at Le Massif in Charlevoix.

Louis-Philippe Thibaudeau, Director of Design & Innovation – Partner at Studio Artefact
With 25 years of experience in the design and execution of large-scale projects, Louis-Philippe heads the R&D department at Studio Artefact, renowned for its expertise in very large-format 3D printing. This approach, combined with engineering and artisanal craftsmanship, enables them to create complex and innovative artistic projects.

Alexis Delage, Marketing and Communications Manager – Stageline
A communications and marketing manager at Stageline for 13 years, Alexis Delage brings a strategic vision to the challenges of the events industry. As a member of the Culture Commission and an elected official for the City of Repentigny, he offers a unique perspective that bridges corporate vision, public policy, and sustainable development.

Margot Lallemand, Sustainability Program Manager – Cirque du Soleil
Passionate about sustainability and innovation, Margot Lallemand applies her expertise to support the cultural sector’s socio-ecological transition. As Sustainability Program Manager at Cirque du Soleil, she designs and implements strategies that combine environmental impact, value creation, and innovation.

STUDIO 2

How to Select Your Mobile Stage Supplier

In an industry where temporary structures are not yet fully regulated by law, choosing the right equipment supplier is a critical decision that impacts public safety and the success of the production. This presentation offers a comprehensive framework for evaluating mobile stage suppliers based on three essential pillars: technical compliance, product performance, and on-site risk management.

With nearly 40 years of experience as industry leaders, we will analyze the technical requirements of the Building Code, the importance of certified manufacturing processes, and the necessity of professional technical validation (PE certification). The goal is to go beyond simple price comparisons and equip event organizers with the technical knowledge needed to identify robust, weather-resistant infrastructure, thereby ensuring peace of mind for their teams and the public.

By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

• Verify supplier credibility: Evaluate potential suppliers based on their safety track record, manufacturing certifications (e.g., ISO, CWB/AWS), and the validity of their technical documentation.
• Identify essential performance specifications: Distinguish between different levels of wind resistance (up to 185 km/h) and understand the safety benefits of ground-level production facilities.
• Mitigate on-site risks: Implement rigorous on-site protocols, including weather monitoring systems and emergency plans tailored to extreme weather scenarios.
• Ensure regulatory compliance: Verify that temporary structures meet local building code requirements for wind, rain, and snow loads to protect against civil liability and structural failure.

Presented by Stageline

Language: French - English
Date and time: Wednesday, April 15, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Discipline: Stage Technology, Health and Safety

Presenter: Pierre-Luc Rompré, CEO of Stageline, has extensive knowledge of event organization, both technically and administratively. His collaboration with leading North American producers has resulted in spectacular events that prioritize audience engagement and the safety of everyone involved.

An Introduction to GearConnect System Drawings

This session will introduce attendees to a relatively new software offering for the live event and entertainment industries called GearConnect. GearConnect is a web-based application for creating system drawings for lighting, audio, video, and networking installations.

The goal of this session is to introduce attendees to the product and learn how to create a system drawing and take advantage of the software’s core features.

During this session, attendees will be introduced to a high overview of the product before diving into an educational training session on how to create a system drawing in the software.

For those that attended our training session last year, this session will also cover new features and improvements, including easier and faster ways to use GearConnect, since EXPO-SCÈNE 2025.

Topics that attendees will learn include:

• The layout and navigation of the software
• Inserting and managing gear in a drawing
• Modifying gear with expansion cards
• Understanding the various port options
• How to make connections between ports
• Using Layers and Gear Groups to further organize your project
• Using VLANs and Cable Inventories to add additional data to your project
• Using Report mode’s built in spreadsheets to edit project data
• Using Report mode to create and save custom Reports
• Creating custom library items with the Library Editor
• And finally, exporting the project to use outside of the software

The session will conclude with a Q&A session and an opportunity to provide any feedback for future releases.

After attending this presentation, attendees will be able to understand how to create and edit a system drawing in GearConnect, create reports and custom library items, and finally export the project.

Presented by GearConnect

Language: English
Date and Time: Wednesday, April 15, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Discipline: AV Integration, Network/System Design.

Presenter: Marty Cochrane has a background in lighting. He spent most of his career as a BlackTrax product manager, where he designed and implemented hundreds of system diagrams for various productions and installations around the world. Today, he is the founder of GearConnect and the chief software engineer for Disguise’s cloud products.

Career Opportunities in the Entertainment Production Industry

The entertainment production industry offers diverse career paths spanning creative, technical, and business roles. From directors and producers to sound engineers, editors, and production coordinators, opportunities exist across film, television, streaming platforms, theater, and music production. Key areas include content development, cinematography, post-production, visual effects, talent management, distribution, and marketing.

The industry continues evolving with digital platforms, creating demand for specialized skills in streaming content, virtual production, and interactive media. Entry points range from internships and assistant positions to specialized technical training. Success requires creativity, adaptability, networking skills, and often project-based work experience across multiple productions.

After attending this presentation, attendees will be able to:

• Have a better understanding of the Entertainment Production Industry
• Identify career opportunities in the Industry
• Develop na effective career plan
• Find specific opportunities in the Industry
• Conduct interviews

Presented by Entertainment Marketer

Language: English
Date & Time: Wednesday, April 15, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Discipline: Education, Career

Presenter: Jim Norris is the president of Entertainment Marketer and Entertainment Spotlight. He is a seasoned marketing expert, career advisor, host, and the presenter of the podcast *Backstage Insider With Jim Norris*

ETCP - The genesis, present and future of the Entertainment Technician Certification Program

This presentation will give you a better understanding of the ETCP certification program. It will explain why the program was established, how it is evolving, and what benefits it offers to those looking to advance their careers. Participants will then be able to make an informed decision about whether to participate in the program.

Presented by ESTA/ETCP

THURDSAY APRIL 16

STUDIO 1

Vectorworks

Vectorworks is the ideal software solution for the entertainment and audiovisual industries.

Whether you’re a designer looking for a suite of powerful and intuitive tools, a technical director who needs to plan, evaluate, and document a concept, or the technical specialist who will execute the event, Vectorworks offers tools tailored to every stage of production. Through this presentation, you will be able to see all the benefits of the Vectorworks workflow. From form to object-related data, see how Vectorworks allows you to design, document, and present your projects.

Following this presentation, you will be able to better understand the software’s workflow, adapt your work methods, and adopt the BIM (Building Information Modeling) philosophy as applied to the audiovisual field.

The critical path of a scenic build for a world tour: from artistic concept to tech rehearsals

A comprehensive, step-by-step overview of the process behind delivering a complex live production—from initial creative sketches through engineering, fabrication, and final assembly of scenic elements for a major world concert tour. Therio Innovation worked in close collaboration with PRG to design and realize innovative scenic and LED video structures for a leading international artist, ensuring seamless integration from concept to stage.

Variable Geometry of Spaces

This presentation explores the concept of variable geometry as a strategy for the planning and management of public spaces. It highlights how adaptive infrastructure can effectively meet the changing needs of communities while promoting versatility, cost-effectiveness, and inclusion.

Through concrete examples and case studies from the sports, cultural, and community sectors, the session demonstrates how spatial flexibility becomes a key lever for optimizing the use of facilities and supporting their evolution over time.

After attending this presentation, participants will be able to:

• Understand the fundamentals of variable geometry and its impact on the management of public spaces.
• Recognize the benefits of infrastructure adaptability for versatility, cost-effectiveness, and inclusion.
• Draw inspiration from concrete examples to explore flexible solutions in their own sports, cultural, or community settings.

STUDIO 2

DMX512 – Best Practices in Everyday Use

Language: English
Date & Time: Thursday, April 16, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Discipline: AV Integration; Lighting

Presenter: Graham Likeness has been working in the lighting industry for over 40 years. A former technical director, he leveraged his experience in the theater world to serve as sales director at Strand Lighting and vice president of sales and marketing at Pathway. He is currently a partner at Terrier Marketing Inc., a marketing consulting and manufacturer representation firm. Terrier Marketing recently became the representative for SWISSON in Canada.

Design Considerations for IEM and IFB Systems

Language: English
Date & Time: Thursday, April 16, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Discipline: Pro audio; tele-production, theatres, concert halls, broadcast & outside broadcast

Presenter: For over 25+ years Rob Poretti, Sales Director at AVL Media Group, has been involved in providing wireless solutions for live event and broadcasters in Canada. For nearly 8 years he provided support to Sennheiser Canada's partners, consultants, system integrators, engineering groups and end-users - for the specification, design, deployment and support of RF systems. Rob specializes in designing large, complex RF systems for broadcasters and large events, where requirements for multi-zone combining, facility-wide frequency coordination and systems integration are the norm.

He has worked closely with most of the major Canadian broadcasters to provide robust RF systems in their facilities: RogersTV, CBC, CTV/Bell Media, Corus/Global Television and more. He has also provided designs for a wide range of commercial installations such as Theaters, Auditoriums, Churches, Remand Centre's, Casinos, Universities, Stadiums, etc. Rob managed the Sennheiser service shop at the Vancouver 2014 Winter Olympics, where a team of RF experts provided technical support for IOC host broadcast partners during that time-frame. He has also consulted with Industry Canada regarding the 700 MHz digital transition, and the 2020 600 MHz repack.