Canadian Society of Professional Event Planners

What Canadian Society of Professional Event Planners does

The Canadian Society of Professional Event Planners (CanSPEP) is a Canada-wide nonprofit professional association founded in 1996 that serves independent event planner entrepreneurs. Its 120 members as of January 2026 are business owners, planners, consultants, and boutique agencies with 15 or fewer employees who deliver corporate, government, association, and private events. CanSPEP positions itself as the only national association dedicated exclusively to independent event planners, deliberately excluding in-house or corporate planners from its community.

The organization operates on a tiered subscription membership model anchored by Full Member 1-year at $345 CAD and 2-year at $575 CAD, supplemented by Business Partner ($160), Faculty ($165), and Student ($25) tiers. Its product surface extends beyond dues through the annual national conference (rotating across Canadian cities, with 2025 in Kingston at $695-$1,080 CAD and 2026 in Regina at $725-$1,210 CAD), CanSPEP Day in Toronto, monthly CanSPEP Connections virtual calls, and a paid webinar catalog. Member deliverables include a Hire a Planner directory with RFP routing, contract templates, a Best Practices Guide, a Virtual Events Masterclass, and an Event Budget Calculator. The organization is governed by an elected Board and runs on the Wild Apricot membership management platform; it has no disclosed revenue, no funding rounds, and no parent entity.

CanSPEP monetizes primarily through membership dues, conference and event registration, and a tiered Business Associate and National Strategic Partner program that supplies member benefits (e.g., PROLINK insurance) and event sponsorships (e.g., Marriott Kingston, Air Canada/WestJet travel). Go-to-market is community-led: growth depends on member referrals, peer events, and credibility signals such as the 30-year brand and a professional designation program rather than on a traditional sales motion.

Name

Canadian Society of Professional Event Planners

Legal name

Canadian Society of Professional Event Planners

Website

https://canspep.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

CanSPEP is a Canada-wide nonprofit association founded in 1996 that supports 120 independent event planner entrepreneurs with membership, education, conferences, networking, and a Hire a Planner directory serving corporate, government, association, and private clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual and biennial membership fees provide recurring revenue. Full Member 1-year at $345 CAD, 2-year at $575 CAD. Associate/Business Partner at $160 CAD, Faculty at $165 CAD, Student at $25 CAD.
2. Annual Conference Registration: Annual national conference generates significant revenue through tiered registration fees. 2025 conference in Kingston: Member rate $695, Non-member $855-$1,080. 2026 conference in Regina: Member rate $725, Non-member $880-$1,210.
3. Professional Development Events: Webinars, workshops, and CanSPEP Connections monthly calls generate revenue through registration fees. Content Creation webinar: $25 members/$35 non-members. Tax Literacy webinar offered free or at low cost.
4. CanSPEP Day Event: Annual one-day professional development event held in Toronto. Member registration $155, Non-member $200, Business Associate $230, Suppliers $275.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

CanSPEP is the only national association in Canada dedicated exclusively to independent event planner entrepreneurs. It sells annual and biennial memberships that bundle together networking opportunities, professional development (webinars, monthly calls), an annual national conference, a one-day professional development event, a Hire a Planner directory with RFP functionality, professional resources (contract templates, budget calculator, virtual events masterclass), and a professional designation program.

Product overview

CanSPEP operates as a national membership-based professional association for independent event planners in Canada, not a traditional software product company. The organization offers a unified membership program that includes access to networking events (Annual National Conference, CanSPEP Day, CanSPEP Connections monthly virtual sessions), professional resources (Best Practices Guide, Contract Templates, Event Budget Calculator, Virtual Events Masterclass), a Hire a Planner directory with RFP functionality, and professional certification programs. Members are independent event entrepreneurs who manage corporate, government, association, and private events across Canada. The association is powered by Wild Apricot membership software for internal operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CanSPEP Membership
• CanSPEP Annual National Conference

Quantifiable outcome

• Members report business transformation and growth through networking and professional resources
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• AV-CanadaminorOthersAudio-visual equipment and services supplier partner for events. Listed as a National Strategic Partner supporting CanSPEP conferences and events.
• Monteregie (Tourisme Monteregie)minorOthersRegional tourism organization for Monteregie, Quebec. Provides venue and destination resources for events in the region.
• Ignite MagazineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry publication serving as a National Strategic Partner. Provides marketing and media exposure for CanSPEP and its members.
• pc/nametagminorOthersName badge and identification products supplier partner. Listed as National Strategic Partner for event supplies.
• Pinpoint National PhotographyminorOthersPhotography services supplier partner. Listed as National Strategic Partner providing event photography services.
• Explore EdmontonminorOthersEdmonton tourism and convention bureau partner. Supports events and conferences in the Edmonton region.
• Visit MississaugaminorOthersMississauga tourism organization partner. Supports events and conferences in the Mississauga area.
• Explore WaterloominorOthersWaterloo Region tourism partner. Listed as National Strategic Partner supporting events in the Waterloo region.
• BBW InternationalminorOthersInternational business events and meetings industry partner. Listed as National Strategic Partner.
• PROLINK (Insurance)coreOthersInsurance provider listed as Member Benefits Partner. Provides insurance products and services specifically designed for CanSPEP members.
• Marriott KingstonminorOthersHost venue for the 2025 National Conference. Listed as Conference Partner with special room rates for attendees.
• The Hotel Saskatchewan (Autograph Collection)minorOthersHost venue for the 2026 National Conference in Regina, Saskatchewan. Provides conference accommodations with group rates starting at $199 CAD/night.
• VIA RailminorOthersRail transportation partner offering complimentary one-way VIP train to Kingston conference with 10% discount on return fares.
• Air CanadaminorOthersOfficial airline partner for 2026 National Conference offering travel discounts to attendees.
• WestJetminorOthersOfficial airline partner for 2026 National Conference offering travel discounts to attendees.
• Wild ApricotcoreTechnology or IntegrationMembership management software platform powering the CanSPEP website, event registration, membership directory, and member communications.
• Waterloo Region TourismminorOthersSocial event partner for CanSPEP events. Sponsors the CanSPEP Social during Ottawa Meet Week and other gatherings.
• London TourismminorOthersEducation Series Partner supporting CanSPEP webinars and professional development content.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• International Live Events Association (ILEA): International association for live events industry professionals offering membership, education, and networking. Comparable in structure and member services to CanSPEP, though ILEA focuses on live event producers globally rather than independent planners specifically in Canada.
• Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI): Global association for hospitality sales, marketing, and event professionals. Comparable membership association model serving event-adjacent professionals with education, certification, and networking—though focused on hospitality rather than independent planners.
• Meeting Professionals International (MPI): Global association for meeting and event professionals with chapters worldwide including Canada. Directly comparable as a membership organization serving event planners with education, networking, and certification—though broader in scope than CanSPEP's independent-only focus.
• Canadian Association of Exposition Management (CAEM): Canadian national association for exhibition and event industry professionals. Comparable as a domestic Canadian membership association serving event professionals with similar networking, education, and member benefits.

Broad incumbents

• Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA): Global association for the business events industry serving convention and meeting professionals. Comparable as a larger, established membership organization with similar member services, though PCMA focuses on convention management rather than independent event entrepreneurs.
• Event Industry Council (EIC): Umbrella organization for the events industry providing certification (CMP) and industry standards. Comparable in offering professional designations and certifications to CanSPEP members, though EIC operates as a broader industry body rather than serving independent planners specifically.

Emerging players

• National Association of Wedding Planners (similar model associations): Niche membership associations serving specific event planning segments (weddings, corporate, association). Comparable in targeting independent event planning professionals with community, education, and credentials—relevant structural comparison even where specialty differs.

Regional players

• Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council (CTHRC): Canadian national organization supporting tourism and hospitality workforce development. Comparable as a Canadian nonprofit organization serving tourism-adjacent professionals, though focused on HR/training rather than event planner community specifically.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/canspep

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Canadian Society of Professional Event Planners