ESTA Toronto Chapter - Esports Trade Association : Esports Trade Association

ESTA National Mission & Vision

Our mission is to unify, serve, and ethically advance the business interests and sustainability of the esports industry. Our vision is to be a community with the talent, infrastructure, and investment that drives the success of esports businesses.

ESTA Chapter Mission

The ESTA Chapter's mission is to create a strong esports ecosystem in the region. The goal is to establish a proper infrastructure and foster collaboration between all industry stakeholders in the area and serve as a bridge that helps local organizations and business professionals network, learn, and succeed within the esports industry.

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Chapter President's Corner: David Campbell

With this chapter, what impact do you anticipate making on the local community?

We aim to inspire, educate, and connect gaming communities from across the country to help them host more events in even larger capacities. Though many interactions happen behind the screen, in-person and hybrid events help gamers come together to celebrate the games and esports they love. We anticipate facilitating these kinds of events and driving more business to the Canadian gaming industry, empowering more Canadian players, businesses, and communities to lead initiatives that bring gamers together, and help create events that drive business.

What will this chapter's mission be?

Our mission is to partner with local gaming communities, organizers, destinations, and venues to provide engaging education and networking opportunities that will promote, protect and advance the broader interests of the esports community. We aim to facilitate access for sponsors to a valued demographic of gamers, providing mutual benefit and increasing business opportunities across the country. We are also committed to driving diversity and inclusion within the gaming industry by partnering with groups such as the*gameHERs etc.

What type of events will this chapter have?

Our chapter will host educational events for the esports and gaming community. The purpose will be to provide opportunities to connect with like-minded individuals, provide impactful education that will help foster growth and innovation within the esports community, and drive more esports business within Canada.

How often do you anticipate meeting as a chapter per year?

As a chapter we plan to meet at least 6 x times in a mix of virtual and in-person settings

Corporate Partners/Sponsors:

Encore Canada

Toronto Board Members

David Campbell

President

Biography

Managing Director, Canada

David Campbell is Encore Canada’s most senior executive responsible for developing strategies, driving growth, maintaining operational excellence and ensuring customer and employee satisfaction.

Campbell has 30 years of experience working in the hospitality industry and in strategic leadership roles, including nearly a decade as the vice president and general manager of a large audiovisual firm.

With Encore since 2015, he sets the company’s short- and long-range goals related to sales, operations, financial performance, quality. Campbell is a candid, entrepreneurial leader, empowering his staff and harnessing their energy to focus on a common goal.

David is a Board Member of Meetings Mean Business Canada (MMBC), dedicated to the development and growth of Canada’s meetings and business events industry. He believes that creating long-term working relationships is the key to his continued success, which he achieves by providing unparalleled service to each client.

Madeleine Bart

Secretary

Biography

VP Creative & Marketing

Madeleine brings a wide range of experience on both sides of the aisle. Having started her career in the industry as a meeting planner, she brings this deep understanding of our client’s needs and objectives to her creative and marketing strategies. Joining Encore in 2016, she is currently serving as Vice President of Creative and Marketing – Canada where she leads high performing teams to uncover new opportunities, create best-in-business solutions to fuel high growth revenue, and design extraordinary experiences for our customers.

Bryce Eldridge

Strategic Partnerships – Co-Director

Biography

Director, Esports - Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment

Bryce has spent close to 15 years helping to innovate and grow the MLSE Global Partnerships business,managing a variety of functions over that time – including business development, strategic planning,executive communication/reporting, people leadership, and marketing partnership ideation/execution.

Esports/gaming became a part of that portfolio in 2017 when Bryce led the establishment of the commercial business model for this new venture, all driven through marketing partnerships. In October 2022, Bryce moved into his current role where he oversees all of MLSE’s esports/gaming business operations including not only the commercial/marketing efforts but also the management of our competitive esports programs: Raptors Uprising of the NBA 2K League and Toronto FC’s participation in eMLS.

Krista Cameron

Operations

Biography

Regional Vice President, Industry Relations, Encore Canada

Krista excitedly joined the Encore Canada team in February 2019. Her previous experience includes teaching in South Korea, Station Chairman for the American Red Cross in Germany, Event Manager for the U.S. Air Force in Europe and Corporate Events Manager for a Fortune 100 company in California. When Krista returned to Canada, she joined Fairmont Hotels & Resorts in Group Sales and following this was the Director of Sales with Destination St. John’s (DMO).

In Krista’s present role with Encore she works in business development, client connections and industry association partnerships. Some of Krista’s current industry involvement includes serving as the Past President of the PCMA Canada East Chapter, Chair of CanSPEP’s Partner Advisory Council, Board member of the AMC Institute of Canada, Board member of the Esports Trade Association Toronto Chapter and Committee member of the CMEE Hall of Fame. In 2015, Krista was inducted into M&IT’s Hall of Fame as Industry Mentor.

Caroline Vani

Marketing & Communications

Biography

Marketing Specialist, Canada

Caroline brings over five years of experience in graphic design, content creation, social media, event planning, and securing sponsorships. At Encore Canada, she leads product marketing efforts, creative marketing campaigns, and drives brand awareness across various markets, including esports and gaming.

In fact, her career has almost entirely revolved around gaming and live content: her previous role as a Producer at the*gameHERs allowed her to highlight diverse content creators, gamers, and developers through a schedule of original shows and online events. As an avid gamer herself, she intimately understands the ever-evolving nature of the esports and online environments, and is dedicated to aiding the growth of gaming events in Canada.

CK Dhaliwal

Strategic Partnerships – Co-Director

Biography

Business Development and Academics Manager at Alberta Esports Association

A long-time supporter of the esports and gaming space, CK continues to create an impact across the Canadian industry. By bringing his marketing experience and business acumen to the AESA, CK obtained the organization’s first federal grant to help launch the Alberta Esports Expo, a non-profit, all-ages esports expo in the heart of Edmonton. He also works with Esport Canada as their Director of External Affairs, helping to foster community, competition, advocacy and resources for all Canadian gamers.

Jason Lepine

Membership

Biography

Founder & CEO of XP Gaming

Jason is eager to help support the organization and growth of the esports industry in Toronto, and has already done so by bringing EGLX, Canada’s largest video game expo, to life. He then created XP Gaming Inc. to better connect the video game industry and the amazing talented professionals in it through a combination of B2B events, education, and career development initiatives. Today, XP Gaming hosts the XP Game Developer Summit, Canada’s premiere B2B conference, multiple education initiatives for aspiring game developers and operates the largest job board for the video game industry - and they’re just getting started.

Robert Hunter

Finance

Biography

Senior Vice-President, Venue Development at OverActive Media

Currently serving as the SVP of Venue Development for OverActive Media, a major esports media and entertainment company in Toronto, Hunter is ingrained in the world of esports and creating unparalleled fan experiences. He is the former Chief Venues & Entertainment Officer of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) and has over 35 years’ experience in the sport, entertainment, hospitality, and tourism industries. During his career, he has opened and operated three major stadiums in Canada (Rogers Centre, BMO Field and B.C. Place Stadium); one major arena in Toronto (Scotiabank Arena) and two smaller arenas in Ontario.

Vince Hui

Events

Biography

Director of Event Operations at TGS Esports

With a decade of experience in esports, Vince is an industry veteran who has seen and helped Canadian esports grow, event by event, and is credited in the production of tournaments like Canada Cup and his work on EVO 2022. He’s proud to be recognized as a reliable community pillar and a name people put forward in Canadian Esports, and he’s constantly pushing the industry forward to new heights.