Latest news with #JenniferThompson
Winnipeg Free Press
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Bombers announce Grey Cup Week headquarters
The 2025 Grey Cup Festival is rapidly taking shape with the announcement of several new events set to take place at the newly named PlayNow Grey Cup HQ at the RBC Convention Centre. Jennifer Thompson, executive director of the Grey Cup Festival, highlighted the importance of having a centralized approach to the festival. 'PlayNow Grey Cup HQ will be the beating heart of Festival Week — a one-stop destination for fans looking to experience the best of what the Grey Cup has to offer,' Thompson said. 'From coast-to-coast culinary creations and iconic Canadian music, to unforgettable team parties and a gala celebration like no other, we're proud to create a space that reflects the spirit, diversity and energy of the CFL and its fans.' MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Winnipeg Football Club president and CEO Wade Miller said Thursday that the club has already seen strong interest in recent weeks, confirming that 50 per cent of festival tickets for many of the events have already been sold. From Thursday, Nov. 13, to Saturday, Nov. 15, the downtown venue will host a series of adult-only events, including a new culinary experience, a gala, and an expanded concert series. Rheanne Marcoux, VP of marketing and communications for the Grey Cup Festival, emphasized the unique vision for Winnipeg's hosting duties, noting unlike previous years, the festival is being organized and executed internally. The organizing committee has taken notes from the last few Grey Cups in an attempt to identify best practices, prioritizing accessibility and visibility. 'We didn't want people to feel like they had to travel around the whole city to go from event to event,' Marcoux said. 'Once you're there, you're in the thick of it. But we also don't want anybody to be able to go anywhere in the city during Grey Cup week and not know that the Grey Cup is happening.' A significant addition to the festival lineup is the CIBC Taste of the CFL, scheduled for Nov. 14. This inaugural culinary event, inspired by Winnipeg's 'Taste of the Blue Bombers,' will feature top chefs from each CFL city. These chefs will compete by creating their interpretations of game-day cuisine, which fans can then sample and vote on. The Coors Light Concert Series and team party rooms will also be a central feature, offering three nights of entertainment, all of which are accessible with a single three-day social pass. Passes are available for purchase starting on Friday at 10 a.m. for $99, plus taxes and fees. Each evening will have a distinct theme and headline act: Thursday, Nov. 13 — Manitoba Night will feature The Watchmen. Friday, Nov. 14 — Kitchen Party Night will showcase Alan Doyle. Saturday, Nov. 15 — Country Night will be headlined by The Reklaws. (Note: these passes do not include access to the Brad Paisley concert, with those details to be released separately.) Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. The festival will also host the Grey Cup Gala on Nov. 15. Organizers described it as a departure from a traditional formal dinner, promising lively entertainment and an engaging atmosphere. Tickets for the gala can be purchased individually or for tables of 10. Winnipeg Football Club president & CEO Wade Miller said they've already seen a strong interest in recent weeks, confirming that 50 per cent of tickets for many of the new events have already been sold through early access given to corporate partners and season ticket members. As for the Grey Cup game, 90 per cent of tickets have already been purchased. Further details regarding additional events, artist announcements and ticket sales information are expected to be released in the coming weeks. For ongoing updates and to purchase tickets, visit the official website Jeff HamiltonMultimedia producer Jeff Hamilton is a sports and investigative reporter. Jeff joined the Free Press newsroom in April 2015, and has been covering the local sports scene since graduating from Carleton University's journalism program in 2012. Read more about Jeff. Every piece of reporting Jeff produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Forbes
09-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
3 Actions That Drive Trusted Partnerships Even In Hard Times
Internal quarreling bickering, arguing, shouting, blaming each other - destroys collaboration and ... More wide scale success. According to Jennifer Thompson, Executive Director of the Partnership for Sustainable Development, 'Collaboration brings forth remarkable teamwork, where the combined efforts of multiple entities create an impact greater than the sum of their individual contributions.' While we know teamwork and partnerships improve outcomes, we've all been there. The push and pull. The reticence. The fear of doing. For example: For each individual that embraces the mantra, 'A rising tide lifts all boats,' there are those most comfortable with the opposite side of that coin. A world where winning solo outweighs the notion of growing as partners. Where 'look at me' replaces 'look at everything we've accomplished together.' And, in most instances, these days the desperate clamor to sole star-shining is often frowned upon and decidedly outdated. I mean, does anyone reach all-caps BIG SUCCESS these days without prioritizing teamwork? While an office environment at times might display moments of hierarchal, top-down and control-heavy leadership, focusing on mostly transactional tasks, 2025's secret sauce to professional success relies on much more. Collegiality, collaboration, sharing of experience, and a near ruthless cadence of communication continue to prove their worth and hold ever-increasing value. Are we stronger together? For optimal impact, we know that we are. Are we just saying we're stronger together? I sure hope not. These days very few of us are chasing 'that's the way we've always done it' outcomes. And our colleagues are coming from much more experientially diverse backgrounds than ever before. Once we identify those work partners that seem to magnify our lens on success, innovation and transformation, it behooves us to keep them. Even in moments where our fight or flight instinct might hit level all caps flight. So, how to start? Keep communication lines open Even if the last interaction was an uncomfortable one, rise up to the occasion and keep the lines of communication open and receptive. Not everyone will agree all the time, but setting egos aside and respecting all sides of any recommended path forward is a great next step. How? When one door closes, find another door. Or window. Or pathway. Don't give up, keep trying. Could there a be a better, more mutually satisfying way to express the underlying intent? Is there a hint of blame in your delivery? Reframe. Your way may not be the highway. If you look at it from various perspectives, you might be able to better discern the reaction(s). If your way is the highway, share the ownership of that. Get creative. Use broad examples. If you know your partner's business - which we all should learn - an example that appeals to you might also nicely complement a facet of their struggle as well. Once again, to the tune of, 'there's no crying in baseball,' declare there's no throwing in the towel. When things get rocky, keep going. Offer a hands up - or take an offered hand up When you see someone make a critical error, don't grimace and stay quiet. Sometimes colleagues don't know, haven't fully experienced the culture, can't yet fully identify the nuances of the business. Take the time to offer the help. When it's declined, offer again. After all, when it's you making that miscalculation, trust that you'll want the same shared investment of action and words. Successful work tends to come to life in the difficult moments. It's rarely easy. Keep your eye on the collaborative prize Can we get there without teamwork? Sure. But not unlike widening a talent pool for a critical position, the more input and expertise you have around the table, the easier it is to facilitate large-scale success. Why? Different viewpoints matter. Different experiences refine cleaner, therefore more successful outcomes. If you represent your views, how do you plan to influence those with different viewpoints? Is your work inclusive? Attractive to most or limited to attractive to you? Stay mindful of the desired outcome and remind yourself that every moment invested in building those reciprocal relationships results in far more dividends than going rogue. In closing Why must we do these things? Because we have goals. And given we spend on average one third of our lives in the workplace, how we spend those 90,000 hours over the course of a lifetime matters. Can't we just be stronger together? Of course we can. But it's always important to embrace Steven Covey's words, 'Strength lies in differences, not in similarities." Newsflash: It can be a challenge to work with people that are slightly-to-wildly different than ourselves. It's important to profoundly want to work with others - despite differences, and almost always ultimately it's those differences that get us to excellence. As shared previously, influence is a key component to getting things done and, as leaders, partnering and collaborating must be continuously modeled behavior. It might be faster to go solo, but it will be stronger and more sustainable and scalable when locking arms together.
CTV News
24-06-2025
- Automotive
- CTV News
Volunteers needed for 2025 Grey Cup in Winnipeg
Are you wanting to be part of the Grey Cup festivities in Winnipeg? Well, organizers are now looking for volunteers to work Grey Cup Week between Nov. 10 and 16. 'Winnipeg is gearing up to host this once-in-a-generation event, recognized as Canada's biggest social, and we are calling on community-minded individuals eager to help deliver an unforgettable week of sport, music, culture, and celebration,' said Jennifer Thompson, the executive director for the 2025 Grey Cup Festival. Organizers are looking for up to 1,200 volunteers who can cover jobs like accreditation, fleet transportation, VIP hospitality, snow patrol and ticketing. To register, people must be 18 or older by Nov. 1, have a valid email address and a driver's licence if they are volunteering for a driving role. When completing the application process, people must also submit $100, which will help offset costs for the volunteer package. There is a Remove the Barriers to Participate Program, where people are encouraged to register even if they can't afford the registration fee. The package includes an exclusive jacket worth $300, a t-shirt and toque, as well as snacks and drinks during shifts. Volunteers would be required to work a minimum of four shifts, each lasting around four to six hours. There are also opportunities to work on Nov. 9 and Nov. 17 to help with set-up and tear down. 'This event is all about Canadian community spirit, and we know Manitobans will step up in a big way. Whether it's lending a hand behind the scenes or helping fans make lasting memories, volunteers play a crucial role and we're thrilled to help celebrate and support their efforts,' said Ken Larson, the president and CEO of Princess Auto. Those wanting to volunteer for the Grey Cup Festival can sign up online, while those looking to volunteer for the Grey Cup game are asked to apply on the Bombers' website.
Fashion United
23-06-2025
- Business
- Fashion United
Woolmark and Colourizd introduce new dry colouring method for wool
Wool industry certifier Woolmark and dry textile colouring specialist Colourizd have introduced a new method to colour wool and wool blends that significantly reduces resource consumption and costs. Colourizd's QuantumColour is a reduced resource-intense colouration process that requires only the wetting agent and a Bluesign-certified pigment and binder injected into a yarn fibre bundle, thus using just half a litre of water per kilogram of yarn compared to traditional dyeing techniques that use between 60 and 120 litres per kilogram of yarn. Colourizd QuantumColour uses no chemicals, significantly less water The technology also eliminates the need for bleaching, pre-treatment and wastewater discharge, thus avoiding a variety of chemicals traditionally used in the dyeing process like caustic soda, acids, bleach and salts while allowing for a range of colours and supple textures. 'After extensive testing on Merino wool and wool blends, we realised the team at Colourizd is on to something truly revolutionary for the wool industry,' commented Julie Davies, general manager processing innovation & education extension at Woolmark, in a press release. 'The QuantumColour process provides durable solutions, creating faded to saturated tonal depths of colour for wool and wool blends. And since it uses very little water, suppliers can choose to colour wool and wool blend yarns without the need for wastewater processing infrastructure,' she added. Apart from 100 percent Merino wool, the colour method has also been validated for cotton blends, Tencel and nylon. 'On a range of yarn counts from 30/2NM to 80/1NM, the Colourizd QuantumColour pigment process meets all standards for colourfastness and durability,' is the verdict of authorised laboratory partners that carried out the Woolmark testing on yarns, fabrics and garments. 'Woolmark represents the gold standard within the wool industry and they will be instrumental in helping to offer our lower impact, higher performance process to new markets,' said Colourizd CEO Jennifer Thompson. 'Our current clients include Kontoor Brands (Wrangler and Lee), Cone Denim, and Gant, and working with Woolmark will allow us to reach an entirely new market, bringing sustainability and performance solutions to wool manufacturers around the globe.' Woolmark and Colourizd will introduce the new technology at Pitti Immagine Filati, which will take place from 1st to 3rd July in Florence, Italy.
CTV News
21-06-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Wet walkers brave the rain to Walk for Reconciliation
Confluence president Jennifer Thompson said the Walk for Reconciliation was on for Saturday despite heavy rain and wind. The Walk for Reconciliation took place Saturday morning despite the dreadful weather. Saturday morning, in a rainy, wet interview that took place near the Harry Hays building downtown, Confluence president Jennifer Thompson said that while the walk can be expected to draw upwards of 500 people on a sunny day, the figure would probably be less than half that Saturday. 'Still a couple hundred we're hoping for,' Thompson said. Torrential rain and high winds are forecast for Calgary throughout the day Saturday, with between 40 and 80 millimetres of rain expected to fall. It was the 16th annual Walk for Reconciliation on National Indigenous Peoples Day. Thompson said the walk was a tribute to those who endured much worse than a rainy Saturday. 'Even though the weather is bad, this isn't half as traumatic as what survivors experienced in residential schools,' she said. 'So we can endure the weather today and have the walk in honour of them.' Following the walk, Thompson said a gathering that was planned for The Confluence has been moved indoors. 'There will be free bagged lunch, as well as a program that has dancers, drummers and speakers,' she said. Thompson also paid tribute to the wet walkers who showed up to participate. 'We're so grateful for all the people who have come out today,' she said. 'We're thankful for the partners -- the Aboriginal Friendship Centre -- Trellis Society and The Confluence have working for years and years to make this (Walk for Reconciliation) happen.' For more about The Confluence, go here. The Confluence is also featuring an exhibit that showcases Blackfoot life and culture called Kípaitápiiyssinnooni (Our Way of Life). Saturday, admission to The Confluence is free.
