Joel Schlesinger © Postmedia Network Inc.
If any organization illustrates how to change with the times and rise to the challenge, it’s the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre.
This key community hub has faced a changing landscape over the past two years. It’s been a learning experience for all, including Calgary TELUS Convention Centre president Kurby Court.
“Perhaps the biggest thing I’ve learned during the pandemic is how resilient our team is and how fast we can change to do things we haven’t done to support the community,” says Court, also the convention centre’s chief executive officer.
“Our team cares tremendously about the welfare of each other and that, in turn, leads to caring about those we serve.”
This culture of caring and resilience has never been more evident than when the centre shifted from hosting large events prior to COVID-19’s arrival to pitching in to help fight the pandemic by serving as a vaccination centre for several months.
“We set that up very fast, staffed it and welcomed guests, making them feel as comfortable as possible, knowing the anxiety level would be very high,” Court says.
At the same time, the centre has continued to be a meeting place even when many events could no longer be held in person. Staff never lost their focus on serving convention centre clients and the broader community.
“Clients, for example, have really relied on us to be a source of expertise of what it takes to host an event in this pandemic environment safely.”
Court adds that doing the job well entails ensuring staff feel cared for, too.
“It’s really important just to hold space in these very busy days for myself and other members of leadership at the centre to take a regular pulse to see where people’s heads were at.”
Acts of caring at the top filter through the organization, resulting in extraordinary deeds, including one instance where security staff helped an individual experiencing homelessness who had no winter boots and frost-bitten feet.
“They treated him with first aid, and then one guard actually gave him a pair of winter boots,” he says. “That illustrates the great human beings I work with every day at TELUS Convention Centre.”
This story was created by Content Works, Postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of Calgary Economic Development.