By Tessa Potter
President, Western Association of Broadcast Engineers
WABE 2025: Calgary, Alberta | September 29–October 1
Learn more and register at wabe.ca
“Just come” is quickly becoming one of the mottos I use most often when talking about this year’s WABE Media & Entertainment Technology Conference. As we approach our 75th anniversary event in Calgary, Alberta, just under 35 days away, there’s a sense of momentum, reflection, and welcome in the air.
We’re ready to greet old friends and new at the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre this fall from September 29 to October 1. As I took my first real holiday in seven years, driving from Winnipeg to Thunder Bay, down to Duluth and back through International Falls, I found myself thinking about technology, the history of our industry, and where I sit in it. Where are my skills most useful? Where is all this going? And how did we get here?
On that long drive, you can still spot some of the old towers from the Trans Canada Microwave System, now reused for modern tech. It’s a striking visual of our history. On July 1, 1958, that network introduced the country to the possibility of live network television and direct long-distance phone services to Canadians coast to coast. With 139 towers spanning over 6,275 kms, it was the longest network in the world at the time. The impact on Canadian broadcasting was enormous. CBC, using this infrastructure, could now transmit television programming nationally. From my understanding, this was a defining moment when national broadcasting truly began to take hold in Canada.
Fast forward to today, me in the car, trying to read LinkedIn posts debating the relevance of FM radio, all while having no cell signal on the way to Thunder Bay and regretting not downloading more of my Tidal playlist. My husband and I couldn’t agree on a podcast, so we turned to local radio, got a sniff of something different on SiriusXM, or I read poetry aloud from a library book I brought along.
Yes, we streamed a movie in our Airbnb on a Roku TV. But I still wish I had brought a paper map. Google Maps doesn’t always work when your cell signal drops to SOS. It reminded me that 25% of Canadians still live in areas where constant 5G coverage isn’t available. And when Starlink went down recently, I remembered that even the “perfect” systems have limits. The promise of simple plug-and-play satellite internet is compelling, but no technology is without friction.
Even with my background, I can program video routers, newsroom systems, and navigate and learn new systems easily, but on my trip I couldn’t stop my phone’s microphone from cutting out our music every time I tried to search in Google while it was plugged in. It was one of many tech arguments on our trip. Eventually, we just went analogue, possibly because I’m getting old, but more likely because I didn’t want to be frustrated on holiday.
Travelling through small towns and finding hidden gems reminded me how this hand held cell phone can solve problems, create opportunities, and connect us, but it can also be a pain in the ass. More features don’t always mean less work.
More than anything, it reminded me that people still need breaks. With all the downsizing, small teams, and single-person roles we see now, when someone goes on vacation, the whole project can pause for two weeks.I really appreciate that I work on teams even at WABE where someone can pickup the work and continue the forward motion while you take a break to sample life beyond work with people you love.
And just like that, September is coming. Everyone will come back. The emails will start. Projects need to be finished. New ones need to be started. Promises from spring come due. It’s full force, and it takes a strong team, skilled people, and determination for successful results.
Being a WABE friend, volunteer, or community member is all about this wider industry team. I’m reminded of this every time someone reaches out: “Do you know someone who can fill this job?” or “Do you have advice for a career move?” or “Can you introduce me to someone who can help?” So many of the technical wizards I’ve worked with over the years aren’t on LinkedIn. They don’t post often. They’re modest and busy and effective. But they’re looking, for the right fit, the right work, the right place to be valued.
At WABE, we’ve been working for years to expand beyond broadcast. Our mission has always been to connect the people who work with the tech that creates and distributes content. We know Canada is big and spread out, but the intersection of AV, film, live events, broadcast, and content delivery is where new ideas are born.
Our full program is now live at wabe.ca. You’ll find a little bit of everything: broadcast, audio, video, film tech, AV, and more. Our exhibit hall will feature sales professionals, manufacturers, tech experts, and innovators. It’s the largest gathering in Canada for this type of cross-sector exchange. And we’ve kept the cost low to attend:
- Free to attend the Exhibit Hall
- $175 for a full conference pass
- $15 for our Media Mixer Reunion & 75th Birthday Party on Monday
- Day passes are available for programming sessions
We are only able to do this because of the generous support of our sponsors—companies who understand our mission and have helped volunteers keep WABE going for 75 years.
We rely on vendor support, sponsorship, and exhibit booth bookings to help cover the cost of renting the venue and producing the event. We’ve always done our best to keep prices affordable. But if you or your company don’t have the bandwidth or budget to contribute financially, we still just want you to come. Meet the community & be a part of it.
If you’ve seen the photo of WABE’s founding members, you might not see yourself reflected in that group, and I get it. I don’t either. But when I look at it, I see people who did similar work. They were learners. They believed in the power of gathering and learning from each other to push an industry forward.
Sure, the Trans Canada Microwave System is gone. Maybe FM radio isn’t flashy to the kids. Maybe cinema cameras with reels or POTS telephone systems feel like relics. But this foundation built a Canadian identity and some really amazing technology right here at home. Today’s tech,5G, IP, software, streaming, immersive audio, hybrid workflows, it all stands on that past. And we need a new generation of leaders who understand how this fits together. This is why we picked our theme: Bridging the Past and Building the Future.
There’s no perfect system, only systems in development and aging ones still in use. That’s why gathering in Calgary this fall matters. We care about keeping this space and making room for a community in Canada for tech conversations across sectors.
So just come.
Come to connect. Come to learn. Come to share what you know.
👉 Explore the full conference program
If you’re a friend of WABE, share our socials. Forward this article. Invite your coworkers. Help us spread the word.
This is the final year of my presidency—and what a way to go out. Our 75th is not just a milestone, it’s a launchpad. We’re looking for new volunteers who understand our vision and mission and want to carry it forward:
- Help with the website
- Connect with next year’s speakers
- Plan the conference
- Offer marketing expertise
- Research new sectors and vendors
- Support the next wave of WABE friends
This is what 75 years of building a media technology community in Canada looks like: people connecting with people about tech!
And the invitation still stands:
Just come.
