Blissdom Canada 2011 Conference Recap (video)

Blissdom Canada very well might be remembered as fun weekend away with girlfriends instead of a working conference. If it wasn’t for the follow-up emails that keep dropping into my inbox from well-known Canadian magazines, networks and companies, I’d wonder if any business was done at all during the event.

But of course there was; it just wasn’t the uptight, intimidating sort. I mean, where else but a woman’s blogging conference could I find myself talking shop with the managing editor of Today’s Parent: her dressed as a zombie bride and me as a knocked-up flapper?

Yeah, it’s a long story, but it includes a costume party and a surprise appearance by a NKOTB pop star. Like I indicated above, anything can happen at Blissdom.

Photo by CLBuchanan Photography

What was Blissdom Canada? A two-day conference in the heart of Toronto’s financial district, attended by over 300 of the country’s top female bloggers. It boasted an impressive line-up of speakers, provided ‘tribes‘ with leaders for each blogging niche, and successfully created a warm and loving atmosphere for the women to come together to inspire each other and have a blast doing so.

And shouldn’t a conference geared toward moms be fun? Many of us don’t get out much, so when we do manage to break away from the grasps of our dear children and get to an event, we’re just as ready to socialize as we are to learn.

Fortunately the founders of Blissdom can relate and know just how to pull off the perfect event.

Photo by CLBuchanan Photography

Three Must-Watch Videos

CBCLive hosted the glitzy opening party, to which I arrived shocking late, after coming from a fabulous dinner at Pangaea with Julie, Dana, Mardi, and Jan. This super video by CBCLive sums up the kick-off party perfectly.

I had the privilege of paneling with Annie and Stephanie in a session led by Shannon on the topic of “Using Social Media for Social Good”. Go watch the inspiring video Shannon put together for the session; you’ll be glad you did.

Finally, here’s quick home video that attempts to capture the range of activities at this event. It was incredibly hard to remember to pull out the camera or iPhone and document the fun, but I tried!

What was my overall takeaway?

~ Solid new friendships.

~ A resolve to pursue social media for social good even further.

~ Exciting new opportunities with Canadian companies.

~ Challenges to myself for my writing career.

~ A new resolve to breathe life into my neglected personal blog.

~ An assurance that my creativity will not fizzle and die out with the birth of my third child (or forth or fifth).

And much more that I’m still digesting from everything I took in over the weekend. One thing I am sure of, however, I was meant to be at Blissdom Canada and it will remain one of the top highlights of the year for me.

A huge thank you to the conference founders, and all the staff and volunteers who worked around the clock to keep us happy and comfortable.

Have you ever attended a conference in your field? What was your greatest takeaway?

Tagged as: Blissdom, conference, social media