It’s been a busy couple of months across the country, particularly in the broadcast world. From election coverage and reactions at local news outlets to national shows and debates, to a handful of Canadian hockey teams in the playoffs, there has been some amazing work by skilled technical people in this country this spring.

From a Winnipeg vantage point, I can tell you that our arena has been full, not only with Winnipeg Jets games moving into the second round, but with American broadcasters like TNT and ESPN alternating their presence in the city, covering our hockey games while True North Sports & Entertainment hosted watch parties and street parties. The playoffs allowed me to see some of the new technology the NHL was using, including Cosm’s setup for shared reality event viewing. For me, all this hockey is now intertwined with the kickoff of a new basketball season for the Seabears, owned by David Asper and run by the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL).

After an exciting Game 7 on Sunday (with double overtime), we hosted a Monday media meet-up the next day for WABE. While the nice weather and the late-night game the night before dwindled our numbers, we still had a group of 25 show up to take in a presentation from MSP Corp. about IT security. I learned from Tyson Choptain that IT security is not just for the IT department to worry about it should now be part of a business plan because it is the President of a company who is going to have to do the interview or answer for a breach or incident. If it’s major enough that it impacts organizations that attract media attention, no one comes looking for the IT team; they ask to speak to the CEO.

We saw some new faces. I was happy to meet the IT team from APTN, and we saw some retirees and old friends like former WABE President Len Virog and our good friend Pat O’Connor, who I haven’t seen in awhile since their retirement. Thanks to the Golden West Broadcasting team of Alex Loewen, Corney Unger, and Tom Wiebe, for helping connect us with MSP Corp. The event was made possible because WABE friends like Eric Poppleton from ERP Engineering and Wojciech Kobylinski from D.E.M Allen & Associates sponsored and believe in the community that has been there for their entire careers.

The part I enjoy most, and the part I’ll miss most about being president of WABE, is the connecting and the conversations the organization has allowed me to have. It gives me purpose to reach out, something I don’t intend to stop doing after my term, now that it’s a habit.

In talking with Peter Bernatsky from PBS Integration, who also attended our meet-up this past month, he told me about the project they just finished in Steinbach, MB at the South East Event Centre. When I see a project like his in Manitoba’s third largest city that supports the surrounding region come to fruition, I’m reminded of the spark that’s still alive in this industry and the desire of organizations and communities who are building or renovating to have new technology apart of these facilities to leverage those capabilities to showcase their own content or be able to offer that tech to renters, tenants or community partners using the space.

Across the U.S., there are stories of sporting events now having the kind of presence usually only reserved for broadcast: a national diving meet, a regional high school playoff game, a college sport that might not have had coverage at all 10 years ago. It’s in the air, and the wind is pushing it north. With each facility that does an upgrade, someone comes to visit, and it plants ideas and possibilities for other facilities to follow. There is also a big undercurrent of soccer in Canada growing, and while it is not getting the broadcast coverage on major networks in Canada, the lead up to World Cup in North America in 2026 from a fan perspective, is felt even at my house. The Valour Football Club announced their season games on the same flyer of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers this year. To me, this shows the aggressive marketing being done by OneSoccer to get in front of Canadians. Maybe we will start to see this reflected on the airwaves next fall, because fans want it at my house. 

For those who haven’t yet dabbled in this world of content creation and distribution in their own facilities, who haven’t yet seen the opportunity for regional and local advertising at their facilities, or simply for people to enjoy watching their child or grandchild participate in a regional final of the sport they excel at, this ripple is starting to come to Canada.

Of course, nothing here is ever at the scale of the U.S. marketplace. But, I see it in Protocol Sports partnerships, in leagues that didn’t exist five years ago that now have streaming shows that sometimes attract up to 10,000 viewers. What regional news departments wouldn’t kill for 10,000 viewers these days on their linear feeds?

I’m hoping, technically, that news finds a way in this country to get back on my phone and on my screen in a very present way. I can’t tell if it will be a new app, a new regulation, or an over-the-air broadcast technology that’s new. I know I’m still listening to radio in the car, because I’m happy someone’s curating something for me. And it’s easy—a single button push. No update required. No subscription. I will take free right now.

I’m thankful to Broadcast Dialogue these past years for allowing me a voice—to stretch a bit of writing muscle and reach out to the membership. Hopefully, I’ve grabbed the attention of a few people who may remember WABE but haven’t been in awhile, to tell them how we’re transforming and trying to make space in Canada for people working in this industry.

Not just for attendees and buyers, but also for businesses to be seen, to be known, and to interact with each other. It’s just as important to have this show for our vendors and manufacturers as it is for our attendees to know what technology is coming.

There’s a tendency in difficult economic times and uncertainty to hold onto doom and gloom. I mean, we’re trying to attract film vendors at a time when someone south of the border is talking about tariffs on film productions that have been so successful here. So many people have invested—governments, creatives—in Alberta, BC, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. And it hurts a bit to hear that we’re not “good enough,” that our products aren’t worthy, that we’re not a big enough market, that we don’t hold influence.

But guess what? If working for the Jets has taught me anything, it’s that everyone loves an underdog story. Everyone secretly roots for the little guy. And everyone knows that if the small fry wins—we all win. It means things are possible.

That possibility still exists in our industry in Canada. The tech is affordable. It’s out there. The right people in place can make something look really great. And there are still storytellers out there. Of course, you’ve got to get those three magic pieces together—tech, people, and story—which isn’t always easy. Especially because you also need some funding: an executive producer, a bank account, a government grant, a millionaire, a billionaire—somebody to believe in what you’re doing.

I’m just Tessa Potter from Winnipeg, a technician on the ground floor, working to support my family. So, I only have so much bandwidth. But in my small way, I do what I can.

I reached out to Tim Truax from the YYC Podcast Summit this past month. This is the second year they’re doing a summit in Calgary, the week before WABE’s Media & Entertainment Technology Convention. Their vision resonated with me because it is similar: connect, explore, talk about things regionally in hopes that it spurs new collaborations, ideas, and events. Were we also personally connected was talking about the love of technical people running into content people. We’re hoping this year to test these ideas by getting a few more attendees from different areas to come, talk, see us, and tell us what they think and I am hopeful new bridges between the community will be built.

We need to have a place to gather, connect, and learn for the future. Bridging the past—what we’ve learned, the history, the knowledge—and building the future is a kind of ideal dream. But there are smart people out there, just outside the periphery of the big players, fighting every day for their business, trying to make a new connection, sussing out where the next opportunity might be.  

At the same time, there’s never been a moment where being open to opportunity, connection, and conversation is more important. Just because someone hasn’t bought something from you this week and you’re discouraged, doesn’t mean you should stop finding clients and talking to them. Just because a tariff has been announced, doesn’t mean there aren’t possibilities. Just because your business is cutting back, laying off, or being bought and sold, doesn’t mean your path ends here.

Reach out. Ask questions. This is an industry of collaboration, collective thought, and community.

If any of what I said resonates, sign up, share, and please pass on the message of what we’re trying to do up here in Canada, in Calgary this fall. If you work for a broadcast manufacturer anywhere in Canada, we should be on your radar. Even if you can’t sponsor or buy a booth, just come and connect. You’re part of our community and our industry.

To all those sales professionals, I appreciate you more than ever. The pounding the pavement, the reaching out, the connecting, the getting told “no,” the calling back again to remind people you exist. Trying to gain contacts and decision-makers in this marketplace while everyone is squeezing tight to their pocketbook—know that I see you, and I understand you. You play a hugely valuable role in our industry. Keep going. We need you.

To all the underdogs out there trying to make a go in this industry—keep going. If the tipping point happens for one of us, it’s a win for us all. We look forward to celebrating alongside of you.

For every Bell Media radio technician who was on our mailing list, but has now transitioned their email to Vista, for every person from a company that’s been bought or sold, or whose email has changed, you probably aren’t getting our messages. We want to tell you about the programming we’re planning for this fall so you can decide to come to Calgary, Sept. 29 to Oct. 1, at the Calgary Telus Convention Centre.

Please reach out and get back on our list. We don’t want to lose the connection. We look forward to bridging the past and building the future with you at our 75th Anniversary.