Opening Reception to start off COCA National Conference 2025
Travel to Hazel McCallion Campus starting at 6pm
Followed by our first showcase of the week
Variety Showcase
Showcasing Artists: Brass Butterflies Track Avenue Comicon GOES Anna Sophia Alisha Fisher's Sex Toy Bingo The Mighty Quinn Eric Leclerc Unsighted Showcase MC
Booking Contact: Alisha Fisher inspireintimacy@gmail.comAlisha Fisher is an International Relationship Coach, who has been involved with the field of Sexology since 2011. Her unique and passionate attitudes are just some of the reasons that couples reach out for her guidance. Her... Read More →
Booking Contact: Dylan Goulet dylan@paquinartistsagency.comAnna Sofia InstagramAnna Sofia Tik TokAnna Sofia Spotify21-year old Toronto hyperpop dance artist and DJ, ANNA SOFIA, iscreating quite a buzz in 2024. With CRITTERS & VERMIN, her most recentreleases with Ultra Records, Anna has fully Immersed herself in theelectronic hyperpop world. The success of her most recent 3-packs followsup her previous 3 EPs, Self... Read More →
Magician, Eric Leclerc Comedy Magician + KCA Group
Booking Contract: Eric Leclerc info@ericleclerc.comEric Leclerc InstaEric Leclerc FacebookEric Leclerc Tik TokEric Leclerc YouTubeEric Leclerc is a globe trotting comedy magician and dynamic emcee, performing feel-good magic for your brain. With a resume packed with over half a dozen of his own television shows, Eric is no stranger to the spotlight. As the host of TRICKED on Disney+ for three seasons and a regular on N... Read More →
Booking Contact: Erin Miklos gameonservice@gmail.comGOES InstaGOES FacebookGame On Entertainment Services (G.O.E.S) is a video game party service. That means we bring video games to parties and events, private and public. Everyone likes to play games! We bring the fun to your event! Leave the planning, set up and clean up to us – enjoy your event and play games with your gu... Read More →
Booking Contact: Mitch Masters mitch@trackavenue.comThe first experience is the SILENT HEADPHONES. Each person is handed a pair of headphones that allows switching between 1 to 3 DJ’s just by the push of a button. It also allows for volume control. With that we add our LIVE rendition... Read More →
Booking Contact: Quinn Beasley info@quinncomedian.comThe Mighty Quinn InstaThe Mighty Quinn YouTube20 Years of experience ensuring clients achieve the highest level of entertainment and bring events to the next level.Quinn began his journey in Vancouver Canada, attending circus school at 8 years old and quickly fell in love with performing.After finishing a two week run entertaining during the 2010... Read More →
Booking Contact: Akil McKenzie unsightedpoet@gmail.comUnsighted InstaUnsighted is a battle rapper, freestyler, and new musical artist. He came 1st place in Cycle 2 of the International Beatstars CyperCypher, in which he battled rappers around the world for placement in the championships. He has also performed with heavy hitting artists like the multi-platinum... Read More →
Booking Contact: salexander@nsb.comWhat can we learn when we really listen to each other? Bee Quammie’s presentations centre on the stories that often aren’t told, providing spaces where audiences can learn, be empowered, and find a relatable voice. In addition to speaking... Read More →
Booking Contact: spencer@2thewest.comAfter losing both legs from the pelvis down at the age of five due to a genetic disease, Spencer West tackled challenge after challenge, learning to navigate a world set against those with disabilities.Spencer is a successful global keynote speaker... Read More →
Tuesday June 10, 2025 9:00am - 10:15am EDT Grand BallroomDelta Hotels Toronto Mississauga
How do we navigate and stay aware of mental health and wellness while eliminating stigma? For Bee, this topic is personal. As someone who has been transparent about her experiences with depression, anxiety, and postpartum depression, Bee has combatted stigma with openness, encouraging others to do the same.
Booking Contact: salexander@nsb.comWhat can we learn when we really listen to each other? Bee Quammie’s presentations centre on the stories that often aren’t told, providing spaces where audiences can learn, be empowered, and find a relatable voice. In addition to speaking... Read More →
Booking Contact: spencer@2thewest.comAfter losing both legs from the pelvis down at the age of five due to a genetic disease, Spencer West tackled challenge after challenge, learning to navigate a world set against those with disabilities.Spencer is a successful global keynote speaker... Read More →
Tuesday June 10, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT Grand BallroomDelta Hotels Toronto Mississauga
GenWell Education & Engagement Programs are delivered in workplaces, classrooms, community organizations and seniors groups year-round. We aim to deepen understanding of the growing issues of social isolation, disconnection and loneliness, their impact on individuals and society and the power of human connection to solve for it before a crisis or need for intervention. Are you interested in taking a leadership role for your organization, community or group?
In today’s fast-paced, hyper-digital world, students are more connected than ever—and yet, many are feeling more isolated, anxious, and overwhelmed than generations before them. In this engaging and timely workshop, GenWell founder Pete Bombaci will explore the rising importance... Read More →
This introductory-level session strives to have information that can be applied to various streams. It will cover basic planning steps: from conceptualization to execution of events. Topics include booking venues, managing budget, strategic planning, managing a team on site, ticketing, crowd management, and more.
You know your services matter—but do your students? In this practical, story-driven session, Dr. Mathieu Yuill unpacks how student associations can stop leading with governance and start leading with value. Drawing from real-life case studies and years of hands-on work with student associations, Mathieu shares how small shifts in messaging—like talking about what students care about instead of what you want them to care about—can drive big increases in web traffic and engagement. You’ll walk away with low-cost, high-impact ways to use your website and digital content to build connection, boost engagement, and help students feel seen and supported. Because clarity cures frustration—and it’s your story, told so everyone gets it.
Dr. Mathieu Yuill is a communicator at heart and a strategist by trade. His doctoral research, Beyond The Town Hall: Aligning Teams With Scalable, Personalized Mission Messaging, explored how leaders can use digital tools to build connection and clarity across organizations. With... Read More →
Tackle various conflicts that exist within and between clubs, as well as externally (e.g. with the college or external partners). Share your experiences and strategies and talk about when it is best to mediate or to get assistance from your Student Rights and Responsibilities departments.
Over the past several years, the team behind Bounce has worked hand-in-hand with student unions, campus clubs, and administrators to support over half a million Canadian students, while also collaborating with major festivals, artists, and venue partners. In this ed-session, they share what that journey revealed about the mechanics of modern student engagement and you’ll hear first-hand from Jovan Popovic, the outgoing President of the McMaster Students Union, about how they identified and implemented best-in-class initiatives to reinvigorate campus life and foster a more connected student community. Packed with data-informed insights and field-tested strategies relevant to staff and students leaders alike, the session explores what it really takes to engage today’s campus communities and how institutions can meet students where they are.
In 2018, Queen’s University produced two engineers with a dream; to redefine the campus event experience. Tim Horton’s wraps and morning ‘spros fuelled Sean Monteiro and Francesco Virga as they set out to create an all-in-one platform for students to host and attend events seamlessly.Making... Read More →
This session covers recruitment, management, training, and best practices for team functionality, including blending personalities, assigning work, assessing performance, and establishing responsibilities and workflows. It will address functional day-to-day operations, such as tabling versus being mobile, keeping your team motivated, and making your team stand out. This session will also address ways to get team members to contribute to promotional strategies, based on their needs as a student, and touch on brainstorming sessions, facilitating pop-ups, and differentiating between general promotion vs. specialized (e.g. Days of Significance).
Booking Contact: Jerelle Fisher jerelle.mgmt@gmail.comJerelle InstaJerelle XJerelle FacebookJerelle YouTubeJerelle Fisher and his love for the sound of the guitar, keyboards, and heavy drums creates a sound and vibe that keeps you both intrigued and surprised as you listen to the stories and relatable lyrics taking you into his mind, thoughts, and heart. When Sofie (Keys & DJ) accompany him on the stage, the t... Read More →
Booking Contact: Kalan Zavys-Cox kalanmgmt@gmail.comKalan InstaKalan XKalan FacebookKalan TikTokKalan SpotifyKalan YouTubeKALAN is an 19 year old rapper from Toronto who started his career in music as a touring hip hop dancer who turned his love of dance and music into song writing with an EP released at 14 years old. Each new single taking him to higher success. Hook centric lyrics, melodic and fast ra... Read More →
Booking Contact: Todd Thomas-Glennie wyolmanagement@gmail.comNukky InstaNukky YouTubePursuing a multidisciplinary career in the arts, Canadian-born artist/songwriter, Nukky, separates himself from the mundane with his own divergent spirit and melange of talents.From Stratford to Miami to LA and from music to photography to painting, Nukky’s versatility has allowed... Read More →
Booking Contact: Akil McKenzie unsightedpoet@gmail.comUnsighted InstaUnsighted is a battle rapper, freestyler, and new musical artist. He came 1st place in Cycle 2 of the International Beatstars CyperCypher, in which he battled rappers around the world for placement in the championships. He has also performed with heavy hitting artists like the multi-platinum... Read More →
Dr. Daniel Desjardins is the CEO and Founder of Distributed Compute Labs, and is an Assistant Professor Physics and Space Science Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston ON.Dan is a physics researcher and a passionate tech entrepreneur. He obtained his PhD in Physics, specializes in computational elec... Read More →
Booking Contact: Jeff Lohnes jl@talentbureau.comMeghan is an actor and playwright who has written ten professionally produced plays and canbe seen on stages and screens across the country. In 2003 she premiered Dissolve, aone-woman show based on her experience of being drugged and... Read More →
Booking Contact: Jeff Lohnes jl@talentbureau.comRaia “Coach” Carey is a driving force of motivational energy. After overcoming various personalhardships, Raia transformed her mindset and set forth to help others find confidence andempowerment.She is a corporate wellness and... Read More →
Wednesday June 11, 2025 9:15am - 11:00am EDT Grand BallroomDelta Hotels Toronto Mississauga
This introductory session will cover “everything” beginners need to know about clubs and student groups, touching on the differences between colleges and universities, funding, events, marketing, etc.). It will talk about registration and maintaining membership and engagement, as well as club collaboration (internal, such as club-to-club, and external, such as club to community) and event planning for clubs.
This session will talk about how you can enhance your department with events specific to clubs (e.g. executive meetings and trainings, club fairs, club conferences, etc.) and explore strategies for incorporating departmental initiatives into your semesterly and annual planning, working with club coordinators to execute these events. Different schools would be encouraged to share their best practices and strategies, keeping in mind participant numbers, budget, and student interest, and give feedback on different club management software being used.
This session aims to cover several topics about working with booking artists and working with agencies. How to engage with artists and agencies, the art of negotiating, the science of group booking with other schools, finding artists that align with your campus, and more will be touched upon in this session. It will also address the basics of production and technical set up for live performances.
Kyle Wappler is an events coordinator at Conestoga Students Inc. He starter with the school in 2020 but his events career started long before. Founder of Have Hope Shows since 2008, kyle has produced and ran hundreds of concerts across southern Ontario in almost all genres. With humble... Read More →
Imposter Syndrome is a deep dive into the psychology of how imposter syndrome can show up in, and impact, daily life. Whether you’re a creative, a team member in a fast-paced work environment, or a high achiever , Coach Carey uses an interactive survey to personalize effective strategies that will combat imposter syndrome. You’ll leave with the tools you need to feel confident in your decision-making, less stressed with deadlines and open to taking leaps without the fear of failure.
Booking Contact: Jeff Lohnes jl@talentbureau.comRaia “Coach” Carey is a driving force of motivational energy. After overcoming various personalhardships, Raia transformed her mindset and set forth to help others find confidence andempowerment.She is a corporate wellness and... Read More →
Booking Contact: Sabrina Baldini aftersexed@gmail.comSabrina InstaSabrina TikTokSabrina YouTubeSabrina Baldini is a sex educator, TEDx speaker, and founder of After Sex Ed—a wildly popular platform that brings humor, heart, and real talk to topics most people still whisper about. With over 120,000 followers online and a knack for going viral by making awkward conversations feel total... Read More →
Booking Contact: Dave Kelly DaveKelly@GonzoSpeaks.comDave Kelly InstaDave Kelly XDave Kelly FacebookDave Kelly YouTubeDave's a professional student leadership expert, experienced campus, state, and international student leader and advisor, speaker, author (published 4 books), trainer, and coach/consultant. He focuses on student leadership development, running better campus organizations, and building a... Read More →
Booking Contact: Eva Bloom evabloomeducator@gmail.comEva Bloom InstaEva Bloom is an award-winning sex educator and speaker. With a Master of Science and 10+ years as an educator, they help young people bust shame and foster healthy relationships. They have spoken at institutions across North America, including Cornell University, Purdue... Read More →
Booking Contact: Sam Demma sam@samdemma.comSam Demma InstaSam Demma XSam Demma FacebookSam Demma TikTokSam Demma YouTubeSam Demma is a best-selling author and one of the most in-demand keynote speakers in the education and association sectors. He delivered two TEDx talks, co-founded PickWaste—an organization that mobilized volunteers to pick up over 3000 bags of litter—and was awarded the pr... Read More →
Wednesday June 11, 2025 2:00pm - 4:00pm EDT Grand BallroomDelta Hotels Toronto Mississauga
What does it really mean to step up when it matters most? In this moderated panel led by playwright, educator, and social justice advocate Meghan Gardiner, we’ll dive into the real-life challenges and responsibilities of being a better bystander—at school, in the community, and online. Featuring a diverse group of voices including students, educators, and advocates, the panel will offer honest conversations, lived experiences, and practical tools for identifying harm, intervening safely, and offering support. Whether you're a student, teacher, or ally, you'll walk away with actionable strategies and a renewed sense of responsibility to create safer, more inclusive spaces. It's time to move beyond silence—and into meaningful action.
Booking Contact: Jeff Lohnes jl@talentbureau.comMeghan is an actor and playwright who has written ten professionally produced plays and canbe seen on stages and screens across the country. In 2003 she premiered Dissolve, aone-woman show based on her experience of being drugged and... Read More →
Wednesday June 11, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm EDT Grand BallroomDelta Hotels Toronto Mississauga
Your Organization’s Brand: More Than Just a Logo This session aims to touch on the elements of a brand outside of the usual suspects and how the small details and decisions matter for building your organizations identity and brand voice. Attendees can expect to see examples of content written in a brand voice and applications of treatments that help organizations stand out in their respective spaces. It can also focus on defining and differentiating your brand voice from other professional voices, and tips and strategies to teach your design teams to recognize and work within your organization’s brand and where to find opportunities to reinforce your it on campus.
Booking Contact: Andrew Packer info@andpacker.comAndrew Packer InstaAndrew Packer XAndrew Packer FacebookAndrew Packer TikTokAndrew Packer YouTubeAndrew Packer is one of the sharpest and fastest rising comedic voices to come out of Canada in recent years. He is most well known for his comedy news channel "Man News"; a series that has attracted over 1.2 million subscribers on Youtube. On stage, Andrew has headlined in... Read More →
Booking Contact: Myles Morrison mylesmorrison10@gmail.comMyles InstaMyles XMyles TikTokMyles YouTubeMyles has appeared at Just For Laughs, been featured on Amazon Prime’s stand up series' Comedy Brew & Laugh After Dark, and appeared on CBC’s The Debaters & CBC’s Laugh Out Loud.Myles is instantly relatable, consistently delivering big laughs with his relaxed conversational style.His vi... Read More →
Booking Contact: Olawunmi Dada oladada12@gmail.comOla Dada InstaOla Dada YouTubeOla Dada is a Nigerian-born comedian who recently hosted the 2025 JUNO Awards for Comedy Album of the Year, further cementing his place as a rising star in Canadian comedy. Ola first gained national attention as a runner-up in the Canada-wide SiriusXM Top Comic Competition, later solidifying his talent a... Read More →
Booking Contact: Sam Demma sam@samdemma.comSam Demma InstaSam Demma XSam Demma FacebookSam Demma TikTokSam Demma YouTubeSam Demma is a best-selling author and one of the most in-demand keynote speakers in the education and association sectors. He delivered two TEDx talks, co-founded PickWaste—an organization that mobilized volunteers to pick up over 3000 bags of litter—and was awarded the pr... Read More →
Zack Dodge is the Supervisor, Esports Operations with Conestoga College from Cambridge, ON. With over a decade of leadership experience in the Ontario college sector, Zack has been rapidly advancing esports at Conestoga through the Athletics & Recreation department since 2022. As... Read More →
Booking Contact: Achille Rouan-Leroux achille@indica.muIvytide InstaIvytide FacebookIvytide TikTokIvytide SpotifyIvytide YouTubeIvytide is an indie band from Montreal, Canada. Founding members Nathan Gagné(vocals/guitar), Kyle Ruggiero (bass) and Jamie Snytte (guitar) met recording demos at a homestudio, where they started to develop chemistry in their songwriting. A mutual love for chill indiemusic led to t... Read More →
Booking Info: Philip Taylor mail@jamesblonde.caJames Blonde InstaJames Blonde FacebookJames Blonde TikTokJames Blonde SpotifyJames Blonde YouTube“So which one of you is James Blonde?”, we get this question all the time. The answer is quite simple: ALL THREE of us! Phil, Steph & Neil comprise the entity that is James Blonde. The Band is described by its following as a sound that resonates through generations. Their message g... Read More →
Booking Contact: Mac Thomas mac@midnightagency.comThe Free Label InstaThe Free Label TikTokThe Free Label SpotifyThe Free Label YouTubeThe Free Label is a six-member band from Toronto, Canada, known for their unique fusion of 70s disco, 90s R&B, and high-energy funk. Their infectious sound creates a captivating, dance-driven experience that has made them a favorite on stages across the globe.Since their breakout 201... Read More →
Booking Contact: Dylan Goulet dylan@paquinartistsagency.comThunder Queens InstaThunder Queens FacebookThunder Queens TikTokThunder Queens SpotifyThunder Queens YouTubeEmbark on a sonic journey with Thunder Queens, the teen-trio Violet, Lola, and Clara from London, ON. Producing a blend of doom-tinged grunge and onyx-toned punk with searing multi-part harmonies, the band is unafraid to be experimental and grow their sound. They conjure the playful vitality of Sheer Mag, the gro... Read More →
This session aims to examine how AI can be used, responsibly and effectively, as a tool in every stage of the design process, highlighting the positives (e.g. time optimization) but without replacing the creative process. It will touch on the ethics of AI use in design (e.g. originality, intellectual property, bias, accessibility, etc.) as well as some current major pitfalls and deficiencies with AI design and how they can be addressed. This session can also look at how AI prompts can be structured to match the aims of your branding, i.e. how you can make the language commonly used by AI work for your brand voice.
Examine how to use various venues to their fullest potential and determine which type of venue is best for your event. Taking into account low-cost, high engagement in various formats, this session will also compare small group events and activations with larger events, while focusing on acquiring deep engagement at all levels. We will explore different levels of programming, how they appeal to different student crowds, and how to improve engagement based on venue.
Kelsey is an outgoing go-getter who loves to have a good time and create memories that last a lifetime. She started her career off in journalism working her dream job in radio, but after an unexpected lay off, she took the opportunity to pivot into the events industry and never looked... Read More →
Friday June 13, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT Grand BallroomDelta Hotels Toronto Mississauga
🎉 Get Ready for the Ultimate Night of Glitz, Glam, and Celebration! 🎉 Join us for an unforgettable evening at the COCA Showcase & Awards Banquet, where we roll out the red carpet for a night full of entertainment, recognition, and pure joy!
✨ Highlights of the Night ✨ 🏆 Annual Awards Ceremony – Celebrate the year’s most inspiring achievements and shining stars in a dazzling awards presentation that honors excellence, creativity, and community. 💃 Fierce & Fabulous Drag Show – Tynomi Banks is bringing the heat with a high-energy performance, jaw-dropping looks, and crowd-loving charisma. You won't want to miss a moment! 🎶 Live Bands – Sip, mingle, and sway to the sounds of a Eric Brandon & Nicolina setting the perfect mood as the evening kicks off in style. 📸 Interactive Photo Booths – Capture the magic of the night! Step into themed photo booths with friends and colleagues for fun, shareable memories. 🎤 Closing Ceremony – A powerful, heartfelt sendoff to officially wrap the evening’s festivities—with a few surprises you’ll have to see to believe. 🎧 DJ After Party – When the lights go down, the beat turns up! Hit the dance floor and party into the night with a DJ Tyr One spinning your favorite hits. 💫 Dress to impress, bring your best energy, and get ready for a celebration that’s bigger, bolder, and brighter than ever before!
Booking Contact: Dylan Goulet dylan@paquinartistsagency.comNicolina InstaNicolina XNicolina FacebookNicolina TikTokNicolina SpotifyTwenty-year-old Nicolina Bozzo is a singer-songwriter on the rise. Originally from the Toronto suburbs, her popular TikTok covers of emotional, soulful ballads lead to a stint on 2022’s American Idol. And when audiences hear her sing – those breathtaking high notes, rich tone... Read More →
Booking Contact: Kathleen Reid kreid@feldman-agency.comTynomi Banks InstaTynomi Banks XTynomi Banks FacebookTynomi Banks TikTokTynomi Banks SpotifyTynomi Banks is an International, world-class Drag Entertainer.Recognized best for her full production performances, Banks dominates a stage while radiating a powerful, but playful energy. Her hustle lead her to become the first Drag Entertainer to perform in Toronto’s Dundas Square... Read More →
Booking Contact: Tyrone Tarloe tyrone@itsmetyr1.comTyr One InstaTyr One FacebookTyr One TikTokTyr One SpotifyWho is he?Tyrone Taylor, better known by his stage name TYR ONE (/tir/ /won/) is an Ottawa based musician andDJ/Producer who has been putting in work for over a decade. He has quietly proven himself to be amongst some of the premier talents out of Canada’s capital. After steppi... Read More →
