Since 1998, Canada’s Walk of Fame has inducted 230 incredible Canadians, 38 of which are also recognized on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and has become the preeminent platform for celebrating Canadian achievement.
Over the years, the Canada’s Walk of Fame (CWOF) galas have hosted many internationally recognized stars specifically to help recognize the Inductees & Honorees, including Warren Buffet, Michael Douglas, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Sonia Sotomayer and others.
This year’s 25th Anniversary Celebration presented a world-class award ceremony and broadcast production, and a live event experience that brought together titans of industry and powerful Canadian political leaders, including past prime ministers, lieutenant governors, and many more.
Red Carpet Celebration
Guests arrived at the hustle and bustle of a 130-foot-long red carpet media scrum, passing all of the inductees, presenters, and performers as multiple media captured interviews, photos, and videos, and ensign in a VIP fan zone.
Among the 30 media conglomerates on the red carpet, were The Canadian Press, Getty Images, etalk, Citynews, CBC News, CTV National News, National Post, AiA Canada, Billboard Canada, BK on the Scene, By Blacks, Darriel Roy Show, Gent’s Post, Kiss 92/Rogers Radio, Maple Music Café, MrWillWong.com, Now Toronto, Rudy Blair Entertainment Media, Sopa Images, Tanner Zipchen, @TorontoCulture, Toronto Arts and Events and View the Vibe.
Pre-Reception
Guests entered the pre-reception filled with energy as a DJ played music from CWOF musical inductees of the past 25 years, and guests could hear and see what was happening on the red carpet and could cheer on the inductees, honourees, presenters and performers as they walked the carpet.
The centre bar, which was designed to showcase the 10 inductees and honourees of this year was the heart of the reception. There were many photo opportunities including a 360 camera activation to promote a sponsor, a professional photo station with Roots clothing to honour the Roots inductees, Michael Budman and Don Green, and step and repeats for selfies and social media sharing.
There were a number of activations to experience including the induction stage, a large internal interview stage, a private section for media, bank activations, spirit activations, a private fan zone for a corporate sponsor, and an exclusive vehicle activation which displayed one of two of the most exclusive cars in the world.
The most challenging part of the reception was to tear the guests away from all of the fun and get them into their seats in a timely manner so we could stick to a tight schedule and keep the show moving according to plan!
Induction Gala
The 3 hour stage show production featured inspiring speeches and brilliant performances, alongside a gourmet 4-course dinner.
This show honored some of Canada’s most notable athletes, actors, musicians, filmmakers, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, scientists, innovators, and more. Inductees & Honorees included Connor McDavid, The Hon. Rosalie Silberman Abella, Tantoo Cardinal, Degrassi, Avril Lavigne, Rick Mercer, Dr. Brenda Milner, Michael Budman and Don Green (co-founders of Roots Canada), Gary Slaight, and Kardinal Offishall.
The show was hosted by international TV superstars Drew & Jonathan Scott (The Property Brothers), and 2022 Inductee, award-winning performer and broadway star Deborah Cox. The audience of 1400 guests also included more than 30 past Inductees and Honorees from the past 25 years of celebrating great Canadians.
This show set a new standard for years to come. It featured a stage set complete with:
- a skater-girl half pipe for 13-year old global sensation, Fay Defazio Ebert, as a nod to Avril Lavigne’s hit song, “Sk8tr Boi”,
- a musical fireside in-memoriam tribute honoring 50+ legendary Inductees such as the late Ivan Reitman, Leslie Nielsen, and Alex Trebek,
- a house band that was hidden backstage and pulled on-stage for key segments,
- and a sportscaster desk for a “Property Brothers” host segment to honour Connor McDavid.
The screen content and scripting of the program ran hand-in-hand; we worked with a flexible and creative team of content creators that really “felt” the light of the inductees and the moments that celebrated them. While we had a standard set of templates in the show, the content was designed to move in pace with the program, to energize guests and create palpable emotion when we wanted it. Each segment was custom and purposeful.
The full show was captured for the broadcast show aired on CTV two weeks later.
After Party
Following the emotional and uplifting celebration, guests were guided back to the reception space for the after party.
Many inductees, presenters and performers stayed to mix and mingle with the audience. The DJ continued playing, the photo stations were full, and guests rushed to the red carpet to walk like celebrities.
