2026 has been a whirlwind. Your teams have had to navigate ongoing uncertainty and adapt to constant change all while continuing to show up for each other and perform at their best. That deserves to be recognized.
As the year draws to a close, end-of-year events are a chance to do more than celebrate the season. They’re a moment to say thank you, to acknowledge what everyone has been through together, and to head into the new year feeling connected and optimistic.
The right speaker can set that tone. Whether you want to make people feel truly seen and valued, help them recharge before the holidays, spark inspiration with an unforgettable story, or bring your people closer together, we’ve curated a lineup to help you end the year on a high note. And for extra polish, our hosts and entertainers bring energy, laughter, and a memorable finish to any celebration.
Appreciation: Celebrate Your People
An end-of-year event is the perfect stage to honour the people behind the year’s achievements. These speakers help organizations deliver appreciation that feels authentic and personal, while sharing practical strategies to help make recognition a year-round habit.
Peter Katz
Celebrate What Matters™
Too often, the most meaningful moments go unnoticed in an organization. Juno Award-nominated singer-songwriter and Speaker Hall of Fame inductee Peter Katz specializes in bringing them to light in his one-of-a-kind keynote concerts.
Blending live music with powerful storytelling and practical tools, he helps audiences uncover the stories behind their wins and turn them into momentum, leaving people feeling seen and valued.
Blake Fly
The Thank U Live Custom Experience
By year’s end, it’s easy for teams to lose sight of their impact and each other. Nine-time TEDx speaker Blake Fly brings them back together.
His Thank U Live experience puts appreciation into action as teams look back on the year, celebrate their wins, and share real-time messages of recognition. It’s a powerful reset that builds trust and lifts morale heading into the new year.
Sarah McVanel
Global Recognition and Workplace Culture Expert
Canada’s Recognition Expert Sarah McVanel believes appreciation is the fuel behind high-performing teams and shows organizations how to build it into their everyday culture to drive results all year long.
Through real-world stories, compelling data, and her signature F.R.O.G.™ (Forever Recognize Others’ Greatness) framework, she equips people at every level to give and receive meaningful recognition that strengthens retention, resilience, and belonging.
Refuel: Invest in Your People
As the year winds down, give your teams a chance to catch their breath. These speakers share tools to help people truly unwind over the holidays and build habits that keep them at their best long after they return.
Pam August
Optimizing Our Most Potent Operating System for the Future of Work: Us
Uncertainty doesn’t just weigh on our minds; it lives in our bodies. A brain-based coach and somatics educator, Pam August shows audiences how to tap into their whole selves to recharge and refocus.
Blending leading-edge neuroscience with simple yet powerful mind-body practices, she equips audiences with practical tools they can easily apply in their everyday life to help them move from strained and stuck to energized and at ease.
Anthony McLean
Fire Up Your Mental Health!
Humour and high energy meet practical wellness in this uplifting keynote from master storyteller and All Fired Up author Anthony McLean. He helps audiences rediscover their enthusiasm and get the pep back in their step, both at home and work.
Sharing relatable insights on stress, sleep, movement, nutrition, and more, he equips people with a simple mental health routine to stay energized and focused well into the new year.
Jessica Holmes
Bring on the Joy! Building Resilience and Engagement in Times of Change
Constant change can drain even the most resilient teams, but comedian and Bell Let’s Talk ambassador Jessica Holmes knows firsthand that joy can be rebuilt.
Blending humour, heart, and positive psychology, she offers simple, sustainable steps to restore well-being over the holidays, so people return feeling lighter, refreshed, and ready to re-engage.
Inspire: Motivate Your Team with Remarkable Stories
Treat your teams to an all-star finish to the year. From the far side of the Moon to Parliament Hill, these iconic Canadians share once-in-a-lifetime stories that captivate audiences and spark big ambitions for the year ahead.
Col. Jeremy Hansen
Achieving Your Moonshot: Turning Audacious Dreams into Action
In April 2026, Colonel Jeremy Hansen became the first Canadian to travel to the Moon on NASA’s historic Artemis II mission. Now, he takes audiences behind the scenes of that journey with breathtaking video and imagery.
Pairing the awe of spaceflight with practical insights, he also shares a framework for turning audacious goals into daily action, inspiring leaders and teams to chase their own moonshots.
Mike Downie
Telling Canada’s Story
At a time when Canadians are rallying together like never before, Mike Downie reminds us what makes this country extraordinary. The celebrated filmmaker has spent three decades exploring the power of story, most recently in his documentary film, The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal.
Drawing on his years behind the camera, he reveals storytelling’s power to unite us and challenges audiences to think bigger about the legacy they’ll leave.
The Hon. Marci Ien
Taking the Leap: A Guide to Embracing the Unexpected
For decades, Canadians welcomed the Honourable Marci Ien into their homes as a trusted broadcaster on Canada AM and The Social. Then she took a leap few saw coming, becoming Canada’s 100th female MP, and representing the nation on the world stage.
Through sharing her remarkable story, Marci reveals how fear can signal opportunity, and why saying yes to the unexpected can lead to our most meaningful contributions.
Foster Connection: Deepen and Enhance Relationships
Close out the year by bringing your people closer together. These speakers share the habits and strategies that turn a room full of colleagues into a truly connected team, enhancing collaboration, building resilience, and deepening engagement.
Riaz Meghji
Every Conversation Counts: Building Meaningful Connections in Our Changing World of Work
In a world of hybrid schedules and endless screens, real connection can feel harder than ever. Human connection expert and bestselling author Riaz Meghji believes the way back starts with conversation, where trust is built and relationships take root.
Drawing on 17 years of interviews, he shares simple habits for listening deeply, asking better questions, and turning everyday exchanges into lasting connections.
Shane Feldman
Future-Proof Passport: Driving Connection and Collaboration in This New World
Having researched community leadership across 40 countries and six continents, Shane Feldman has seen what brings people together, and what keeps them there.
Taking audiences on a journey around the globe, he shares lessons from world leaders on building a true sense of community at work, with practical strategies to help teams reconnect, collaborate, and grow stronger through change.
Molly Burke
How to Make People Care
As the first blind content creator to reach one million YouTube subscribers, Molly Burke knows what it takes to build and connect with a community. Her secret isn’t algorithms; it’s radical honesty.
A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, she draws on her experiences to illustrate how vulnerability, empathy, and storytelling bring people together, giving audiences the confidence to show up authentically and connect on a deeper level.
Showstoppers: Entertain and Delight Your Audiences
Every year-end celebration deserves a showstopper. From mind-bending mentalism to comedic showdowns and company-wide sing-alongs, our entertainers get everyone laughing, gasping, and joining in, creating shared moments people will talk about long after the event ends.
Yan Markson
World-Class Mentalism Show
World-class mentalist Yan Markson seems to read minds and predict choices with uncanny accuracy. Blending psychological demonstrations with sharp wit, his highly interactive mentalism shows transform skepticism into pure astonishment.
He also offers close-up roaming entertainment for receptions, as well as a keynote that pairs mentalism with insights on how perception shapes the way we lead and communicate.
Steve Patterson
The Debaters Live
The hit CBC Radio comedy show comes to life on stage. Host Steve Patterson and two top comedians kick things off with stand-up, then the comedians square off in a hilarious debate on a topic tailored to the organization.
From joke-filled rants to rapid-fire rebuttals, it’s a battle of facts and funny, with the audience crowning the winner by applause.
Choir! Choir! Choir!
Themed Sing-Along
Picture your entire organization belting out a classic hit together. That’s the magic of Choir! Choir! Choir!, where there’s no audience because everyone is the choir.
Creative directors Nobu Adilman and Daveed Goldman turn colleagues into bandmates in minutes, teaching easy harmonies to crowd-pleasing songs. The result is pure joy, a room full of smiles, and a celebration people will be humming long after.
Set the Stage with Experienced Hosts and Emcees
The right host is the cherry on top of any great event. Our hosts and emcees keep the program running seamlessly while adding charisma, humour, and energy, giving you a polished event with entertainment built right in.
Andrew Phung
Award-Winning Actor and Star, CBC’s Kim’s Convenience
Andrew Phung’s infectious and relatable personality has made him one of Canada’s top comedic performers and most in-demand hosts. He has previously emceed events for TD and RE/MAX, along with the Junos, the Canadian Screen Awards, and CBC’s 2025 national New Year’s Eve broadcast.
A natural on stage and screen, Andrew brings his off-the-cuff comedic charm and boundless enthusiasm to every engagement.
Jessi Cruickshank
Television Personality | Comedian
Renowned for her humour and authenticity, Jessi Cruickshank has been the host of some of television’s most popular programs, including CBC’s The Goods, Canada’s Smartest Person, and the Juno Awards.
Before every event, she works closely with organizers to tailor her programming. Then, on the day, she uses her quick-witted sensibility to keep things fresh and moving along, deftly handling introductions, interviews, and between-segment banter.
James Cunningham
Corporate Comedian | Emcee | Television Personality
With more than 750 events under his belt, James Cunningham is one of the most skilled corporate comedians and trusted emcees in the world, sharing the stage with the likes of Quincy Jones, Sir Richard Branson, Andre Agassi, and Barbara Walters.
His personalized performances and attention to detail guarantee laughter and delight every time. Whatever the theme of your next event, he’ll ensure that it’s a successful and memorable one.
Sandy Jobin-Bevans
Speaker, Host, and Emcee | Second City Alum
A nine-time Canadian Comedy Award winner and an alumnus of the legendary Toronto Second City Mainstage, Sandy Jobin-Bevans brings over 30 years of improv experience to every event he hosts, with past clients including Ford, Deloitte, and the NHL.
Blending careful preparation with quick wit, he keeps the program on track and the audience laughing from start to finish.
Pooja Handa
Award-Winning Broadcaster and Event Host
The co-host of CHFI’s hit radio show The Pooja and Gurdeep Show, Pooja Handa is one of the friendliest voices and faces in Canadian media. As host of CP24 Breakfast, she helped make it Toronto’s number one morning show.
From live broadcasts of Toronto’s Pride Parade to the TIFF red carpet, she brings warmth and energy to every event, capturing the eyes, ears, and hearts of her audience.
Ben Mulroney
Celebrated Radio and Television Host
From the red carpets of the Oscars to the Canadian Idol stage, Ben Mulroney is one of the most recognizable faces in Canadian entertainment and North America’s longest-serving entertainment anchor.
Whether he’s emceeing a gala or moderating a fireside chat, he brings star power, sharp interviewing skills, and a warm, witty presence that makes every guest feel like part of the show.
Let’s Plan Your Year-End Event
Ready to give your people a year-end event they won’t forget? Whether you want to celebrate, recharge, inspire, or reconnect, our team will help you find the right fit for your audience, goals, and budget. Get in touch to start planning, and let’s make the final chapter of 2026 one of its best.
