Hospitality and Tourism Management

Event Management Program

Practicum Information

About the Practicum

A practicum is similar to an internship where you have a chance to get real experience by working in the events industry. The practicum hours must be outside of your regular work experience.

Practicum Requirement

You are required to fulfill 100 hours in the practicum component. Each practicum will be different in terms of time and experience. In some cases, it may take one practicum or more than one practium to fulfill the 100 hours. You are expected to locate your own practicum placement. 

We ask that you select a practicum site that is different from your current job and something about which you would like to know more about. For example, if you presently work in catering and know little about décor lighting, you might seek out a practicum in the décor or lighting fields. The practicum provides the opportunity for you to experience more than one facet of event planning and management industry. The outcome of the practicum would be to get a more rounded view of the discipline.

You are required to provide a summary of your 100 practicum hours. Hours for attending professional activities (i.e. conferences, trade shows, or other event with a professional development component) can be counted towards your practicum hours. To have a better idea of what is required in the practicum, you may refer to the practicum outline.

Opportunities

A good starting point might be contacting charitable and non-for-profit organizations, as well as long-running festivals and events. Charity Village is a resource webstie for the non-profit sector. The site have both paid and volunteer positions. Some of these positions may be possible praticum opportunities.

Other opportunites may be with fundraising committees associated with public schools, local community centres and non-profit organizations. Festivals and Events Ontario (FEO) and BizBash Toronto have listings of different events that would be possible practicum opportunities. The following events were listed by BizBash as Toronto's Top 100 Events in 2010. This list is for guidance only.

Art & Design Events

1. Luminato
2. Scotiabank Nuit Blanche
3. Art Toronto
4. Doors Open Toronto
5. Whodunit? OCAD Mystery Art Sale

Benefits

1. Canfar’s Bloor Street Entertains
2. Bell Gala
3. Massive Party
4. Toronto Public Library Foundation’s Book Lover’s Ball
5. Design Exchange Black and White Gala
6. Villa Charities Foundation’s Venetian Ball
7. Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery’s Power Ball
8. Brazilian Carnival Ball
9. Boobyball
10. Ontario Science Centre’s Innovators’ Ball
11. The Rally for Kids With Cancer Scavenger Cup
12. Pencer Brain Trust Gala
13. Mount Sinai Hospital Auxiliary Gala
14. National Ballet of Canada Gala
15. Grocery Foundation’s SuperGala
16. Children’s Aid Foundation Teddy Bear Affair
17. Look Good Feel Better Ball
18. Reach for the Rainbow’s Crystal Ball
19. Yee Hong Foundation’s Dragon Ball
20. Queen Street Unmasked

Entertainment Industry Events

1. Toronto International Film Festival
2. North by Northeast Music & Film Festival and Conference
3. Canadian Music Week
4. Hot Docs International Documentary Festival
5. The MuchMusic Video Awards
6. Canada’s Walk of Fame
7. Genie Awards
8. Dora Awards

Fashion Events

1. LG Fashion Week
2. T.F.I. New Labels
3. Buy Design
4. P&G Beauty Awards
5. Mode Accessories Show

Festivals, Parades & Holiday Events

1. Scotiabank Caribana Festival
2. Pride Week
3. Santa Claus Parade
4. Toronto Jazz Festival
5. Toronto Fringe Festival
6. Cavalcade of Lights
7. Beaches International Jazz Festival
8. WinterCity Festival
9. New Year’s Eve in Nathan Phillips Square
10. Scotiabank BuskerFest

Food, Wine & Hospitality Events

1. Toronto Wine & Cheese Show
2. Grand Cru Culinary Wine Festival
3. Toronto Taste
4. The C.R.F.A. Show
5. The Gourmet Food & Wine Expo
6. Niagara Wine Festival
7. Taste of the Danforth
8. Cuvée Gala
9. The Drinks Show
10. Eat to the Beat
11. Picnic at the Brick Works
12. What’s on the Table
13. The Beer & Cocktail Show

Marketing & Advertising Industry Events

1. Canadian Marketing Association Awards
2. Bessie Awards
3. Marketing Awards Gala
4. Canadian Public Relations Society Ace Awards
5. National Advertising Benevolent Society Gala
6. The Cassie Awards
7. Strategy Agency of the Year Awards
8. Marketing Hall of Legends Gala 
9. R.M.B. Crystal Awards
10. Canadian Media Directors’ Council Annual Conference

Media & Literary Events

1. Scotiabank Giller Prize Gala
2. International Festival of Authors
3. Idea City Conference
4. The Canadian Journalism Foundation Awards Gala
5. MagNet—Canada’s Magazine Conference
6. National Magazine Awards Gala
7. International Press Freedom Awards
8. Word on the Street Festival

Sports Events

1. RBC Canadian Open
2. Honda Indy Toronto
3. Rogers Cup
4. Telus Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival
5. Queen’s Plate
6. Toronto Marathon
7. Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Gala
8. Baycrest International Pro-Am Hockey Tournament
9. Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon 
10. N.C.A.A. International Bowl

Trade Shows & Public Exhibitions

1. The Canadian National Exhibition
2. Canadian International Auto Show
3. National Home Show
4. Royal Agricultural Winter Fair
5. Toronto Sportsmen’s Show
6. Toronto International Boat Show
7. Canadian Gift & Tableware Association Gift Show
8. Interior Design Show
9. Cottage Life Show
10. One of a Kind Show and Sale
11. Green Living Show