I don’t usually mix my personal blog and my professional life - and I don’t often write about work here. But as we move into a new year, and as Allan Events Co. continues to grow, it feels like the right moment to connect a few dots.
I’ve been working with many new colleagues in Prince George
over the past couple of years, and I’m realizing that not everyone knows why
I do the work I do, or where it really comes from. My LinkedIn bio hints at it,
and this blog has inadvertently documented the last 11+ years of my life, but this
feels like a good place to pause, reflect, and explain things once - clearly.
Where this all started (and continues)
In 2014, my life changed in ways I never expected. A
diagnosis of metastatic melanoma (AND then thyroid cancer) reshaped my
priorities, my pace, and my understanding of what meaningful work actually
looks like.
Those years were hard, frightening, and deeply clarifying.
And while I am currently grateful to be living with no evidence of disease, I
remain “on surveillance” at BC Cancer, with annual CT scans, regular follow-ups,
and the quiet knowledge that cancer is not something I can ever fully put
behind me. It is part of my life, and it continues to inform how I move through
the world and my work.
Living with serious illness has a way of stripping things
down to what matters most. For me, that meant focusing my energy on work that
feels purposeful, connected to people, and genuinely useful - work I can feel
proud of at the end of the day.
That clarity eventually became Allan Events Co.
My professional path before and alongside this chapter has included roles in sales, technology, finance, and leadership with organizations such as OpenText, BlackBerry, Scotiabank, Loblaw, and Community Futures. Since my diagnosis, I have also been deeply involved in oncology patient advocacy, leading national education and awareness initiatives with Save Your Skin Foundation and Ocumel Canada. Strategy, communication, education, and compassion have become inseparable for me, both personally and professionally
This work is also personal in another way. Mike and I met through patient advocacy, connected by a shared experience with metastatic melanoma and life-saving immunotherapy clinical trials. It’s an unusual thing to have in common, but it shapes how we move through the world and the work we choose to take on. We know - very clearly - that every day matters.
What we do at Allan Events Co.
Allan Events Co. focuses on business events and medical
education, delivered with care, precision, and a deep respect for the
people involved.
We coordinate events in all formats - conferences, trade
shows, training sessions, roundtables, CME-accredited symposiums, and community
gatherings. Much of our work happens behind the scenes: venue sourcing,
budgeting, timelines, sponsorship, catering and A/V coordination, speaker and
exhibitor management, and all the small details that make an event run
smoothly.
Our role is to bring all the moving pieces together, keep everything on track, anticipate challenges, and create space for our clients to focus on what matters most to them. We aim to deliver events that feel thoughtful, seamless, and impactful. And we genuinely have fun in the process!
Recent work & gratitude
Over the past year, we’ve had the privilege of supporting
several projects in Prince George and beyond, including work with the Prince
George Chamber of Commerce on initiatives such as the Business Excellence
Awards and Voices for Change Safe Streets Rally. These events take many hands,
minds, and partners to bring to life, and we love collaborating with venues,
suppliers, technicians, and community organizations to transform spaces into
exactly what our clients need.
One of the most meaningful projects of late 2025 was
supporting Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation on their 32nd annual
Festival of Trees at the CN Centre. Spirit of the North is a driving force in
advancing healthcare across northern British Columbia - funding equipment,
innovation, and care that directly impacts patients and families in our region.
As someone who continues to live with the long-term realities of cancer, being
invited to support Festival of Trees was both an honour and a deeply personal
full-circle moment.
Looking ahead
As we move into 2026, I’m looking forward to continuing work
that sits at the intersection of community, education, and patient advocacy.
Alongside ongoing projects through Allan Events Co., I’ll be
spending time this year supporting national oncology education and awareness
initiatives - including continued collaboration with Save Your Skin Foundation,
consulting work in the cancer education space, and participating in
conversations that help bring patient perspectives into broader healthcare
discussions. There are also a few upcoming speaking, writing, media, and podcast projects in the
works that I’m excited to share when the time is right.
These efforts are deeply connected to the local work I do in
Prince George. Whether coordinating events, supporting healthcare foundations,
or contributing to national education initiatives, the goal is the same: to
create spaces - in person and online - where learning, connection, and advocacy
can meaningfully happen.
If you’re here because you know me personally,
professionally, or somewhere in between - thank you. This post exists to offer
a bit of context, so there’s a shared understanding as I continue focusing on
the work that matters.
And lots more to look forward to 😊
