Are you ready to make waves?

The Swell Atlantic

21 October 2022
Sydney, Nova Scotia

A One-Day Conference for Creators + Creatives

Regular Ticket: $200

Charity or Not-for-Profit: $100

Atlantic Canada's Connector Conference
for the Local Creator + Creative Community

The Swell Atlantic is an opportunity for the diverse community of content creators and creatives of Atlantic Canada to engage with one another face-to-face and to share experiences and expertise related to our digital landscape and economy through meaningful dialogue and hands-on learning.

When we come together to share our endeavours, to collaborate, and to celebrate each other, the collective creative energy can propel us each higher, faster, and with so much more strength than if we’re floating along solo.

Featured Speaker: Jennifer E. Crawford

Jennifer is ready to vye for your appetites, hearts, and championship belts.

 A food enthusiast since birth, they won MasterChef Canada in 2019, and began their pro-wrestling career in Nova Scotia shortly thereafter. 

Caring deeply, trying hard, and making things are their favourite pastimes. 

These days, they’ve either got their head down writing or high in the clouds scheming wrestling matches and menus. 

#ItComesInWaves
Save the Date

21 October 2022
Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion
Sydney, NS

Enquire about a 2022 sponsorship package

Call the hotel directly to receive The Swell room rate at $149 (902-562-7500 to book)

Whether you’re just starting to dip in your toes or already making a big splash, this is the event for you.

Schedule + Session Descriptions

Cape Breton Yacht Club Room

Be sure to bring:

  • pen + notepad
  • refillable water bottle
  • (OPTIONAL) a personal hygiene item to donate to Cape Breton Transition House
  • (OPTIONAL) a business-related book for the Business Book Swap — one that you’ve ready and are ready to pass on

Featuring:

Colleen O’Dea

Jenna Morton

Ruvi Mugara

Alix Robinson

Heather Deveaux

Expert Content Creators weigh in on the expectations of social media, including the challenges faced by creative entrepreneurs. The discussion will include highs, lows, unique approaches, and redefining social media “success.” 

Featuring: Kerra Aucoin Mansfield

Social media is ever-evolving but its importance remains constant. People use social media to connect and stay informed. It’s time to stop chasing the next new thing and bring it back to the basics of building relationships online. In this presentation, Kerra will provide 10 ways to improve your social media presence and create real and lasting connections online. 

Featuring: Sehmat Suri

Does standing up and speaking in front of a group of people make you feel like Lizzie McGuire  fumbling over her junior high graduation speech, and then tripping over and tearing down the drapes? Public speaking can be daunting, but with the right tools, it can be a breeze! In this interactive workshop, you’ll be channeling your inner Elle Woods by learning public speaking fundamentals, body language, vocal exercises, and prep tips to ace your next speaking engagement.

Featuring: Jennifer E. Crawford

Jennifer Crawford is ready to vye for your appetites, hearts, and championship belts. A food enthusiast since birth, they won MasterChef Canada in 2019, and began their pro-wrestling career in Nova Scotia shortly thereafter. Caring deeply, trying hard, and making things are their favourite pastimes. These days, they’ve either got their head down writing or high in the clouds scheming wrestling matches and menus. 

Enjoy a delicious catered lunch prepared by Flavor on the Water + head downstairs to explore the Small Business Spotlight Marketplace, including items from our own community of speakers and attendees. 

Featuring: Crystal Richard

In this session, Crystal will show you how to easily land media coverage by the end of the year by sharing her tried, tested, and true methods to secure media coverage both locally and globally. Attendees will walk away with actionable tips that they can apply immediately to their business, as well as daily PR habits that will increase their odds of landing the dreamy media coverage they deserve.

Featuring: Neil Stephen

A brand strategist guide to delighting customers by creating, making and keeping your brands promise.

Explore how knowing and living your differentiation is critical to doing your very best creative work and attracting the clientele you seek. Hear Neil’s perspective on the current digital media landscape and how authentic differentiation is a cure for the algorithmic cold we’ve all been suffering under.

Featuring: Alicia Simms

Without boundaries our identities become diffused and often controlled by the definitions offered by others. There’s a lot of talk these days about setting boundaries, and how important it is for our mental health. In this interactive seminar, you’ll learn how you can identify and implement a simple step by step system to create & enforce boundaries for personal & professional growth.

Featuring:

Sarah Birch

Sara Roach Lewis

Melissa Burbridge

Sara Kelly

Heather Deveaux

Gone are the days of settling in to a single industry, climbing the ladder until retirement. Panellists will reveal their unusual and tortuous career paths, including managing multiple contracts, side-hustles, and finding a groove, as well as provide tips for finding professional fulfillment.

Kavanaugh Room

Featuring: Kelly Thibodeau

Are you leaving 30% of your potential audience (and your potential customers) off the table? Creating accessible content isn’t hard, but it does take practice. In this interactive, hands-on session, learn some quick and easy ways you can get in the habit of including everyone in your online marketing.  

Featuring: Beth Williams

This session breaks down all of the elements you need to consider when adding live events to your social media strategy. We’ll cover how to share a live event experience on social to make those not in attendance feel engaged, and how to leverage your social media presence to promote yourselves while attending an event.

Featuring: Suzi Fevens

Pricing and quoting projects can often feel like you are pulling numbers out of the air. In order to turn a profit, you need to know your numbers. In this workshop, Suzi will explain how she determines the pricing on everything from physical products to sponsored campaigns, events, and more. You may be surprised at how simple, and empowering this exercise can be!

Featuring: Allison Smith

Get away from stock photos! Showcase your own products and services on social media by creating photo galleries through DIY flat-lay photography with a live demo. Plus, how to take that photo and create a caption, story and call-to-action to reach your target audience.

Friday Evening Event

Cape Breton Yacht Club Room

Hosted by Sam Madore

Featuring:

Michelle Hurlburt

Rebekah Streeter Rad

Heather Deveaux

A live conversation on the issues that occupy an anxious mind, including post-conference discussion.

Low-key, post-event social time to make connections and digest the day. 

(Introvert friendly!)

Past Events by The Swell Atlantic Team

With a grassroots approach to community-building, past events include campus research showcases, community discussion panels, writing workshops, networking events, BlogJam Atlantic, AWE-SUM, and Preserve Retreat. Locally-focused and inclusive, The Swell Atlantic reflects the ever-evolving diversity of content being produced by creators across a variety of platforms. New look, new mission, same spirit of support for the Creators & Creatives of Atlantic Canada.

Make Waves With Us