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Calgary Climber and Author of 200 Metres From Everest’s Summit, Canadian Halts Climb to Rescue Man.
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Expert On Emotional Intelligence, Dealing With Change, Building Teams & Becoming A Great Leader.
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WHAT OUR CLIENTS ARE SAYING
“Having Alvin with us at our annual Store General Manager conference to deliver a powerful, inspiring message of “I can”, had a resounding impact on our team. And, it fits nicely with our company's message and focus. We were all captivated by his story of perseverance and journey in overcoming adversity – a message that any business can align with. Alvin’s keynote not only captured our attention – it captured our hearts. At one moment you’re listening intently, then the next you’re laughing, but throughout you're provoked to think, gain perspective, and leave feeling more self-aware. We all went home greatly inspired, more motivated, and very humbled.”
Chad McKinno, President, Sporting Life Group
"Andrew did a magnificent job giving this year's graduating residents lecture. Many people complimented Andrew to me, congratulated me on finding him, and judged him to be the best of the seven speakers in the series. Andrew struck the perfect balance of an adventurous tale, humour, and inspiring human drama."Dr. Bill Redwood - Atlanta Medical Center
"A truly inspiring message Andrew, I wanted to send a short note to again thank you for coming to speak with our group of new financial advisors. The feedback from the group on your presentation was excellent. What you have accomplished in your climbing career and your most recent experience in climbing Mount Everest is a truly inspiring message. Your presentation really resonated with our group not only in reinforcing what it takes to succeed, but in the importance of remaining true to your principles to achieve the ultimate success. While we can't fully appreciate what you went through, your powerful story aided by the realism of your slides and video gave us some strong insights, which will have a lasting impact. It was a privilege to have met you."Murray Carswell - Vice President, Resource Centres Western Region Great West Life
"This program was a great way to kick off our conference. His passion and energy, combined with his knowledge of EQ in business make him a unique and powerful speaker - our executives were impressed and we are definitely going to invite him back."Concentra Medical Centers
How to Book a Speaker
- Tell us about your event, or ask us to check availability for a speaker you have in mind. We’ll send back a shareable proposal covering fees, topics, and video clips so your team can compare options easily.
- When you’ve made your choice, we present your offer to the speaker and manage the contract negotiations for you.
- After that, a dedicated logistics manager handles the planning: booking a call between you and the speaker, confirming technical and travel requirements, and making sure everything is set before event day.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What’s the difference between a motivational speaker and an inspirational speaker?
The industry uses them loosely, but a useful distinction exists. Motivational speakers aim at action: energy, goals, and techniques the audience applies Monday morning, often delivered with pace and humour. Inspirational speakers aim at perspective: a life story, frequently involving profound hardship, that shifts how people see their own circumstances. One sends the room out charged; the other sends it out moved. Events wanting momentum, like sales kickoffs, lean motivational; events wanting depth, like galas and milestone gatherings, lean inspirational. Many speakers blend both, but knowing your primary goal sharpens the shortlist.
2. How do we avoid the clichéd, hype-heavy version of this category?
The stereotype exists because that speaker exists, and the tells are consistent. Be wary of anyone whose material is entirely universal slogans that would fit any audience, whose promotional footage shows more crowd reaction than actual content, or whose story of success is mostly about becoming a speaker. What separates the substantial ones: a specific lived story or research base, evident preparation about your organization, and full-length footage they’ll share without hesitation. The roster’s strongest names get rebooked by the same clients for years, which the hype merchants rarely manage.
3. Will the speaker try to sell books or programs from the stage?
Professional corporate speakers don’t, and you’re entitled to make that explicit. Selling from the platform, whether books, courses, or coaching, is standard in the public-seminar world but out of place at a corporate or association event where the audience didn’t come to be pitched. A back-of-room book table, arranged with your agreement, is a different and often welcome thing. Put your expectations in the booking conversation and the contract; established speakers will agree without friction, and hesitation on this point tells you something useful.
4. The speaker has a bestselling book. Should we buy copies for attendees?
It’s often worth it, and there’s usually a mechanism for it. Bulk orders arranged through the speaker typically come at a discount, and a signed book turns a one-hour talk into an object that sits on desks for years, extending the message well past the event. Signing sessions also give attendees a personal moment with the speaker, which audiences consistently rank among their favourite parts of the day. Budget it as part of the engagement rather than an afterthought, and arrange quantities early, since shipping hundreds of books takes lead time.
5. Does a motivational speaker fit an incentive trip or awards celebration?
Yes, with the right calibration. Reward events like sales incentive trips and President’s Club gatherings have a different chemistry than conferences: the audience has already succeeded and came to be celebrated, not developed. The talks that work in these rooms honour the achievement first and keep the tone closer to celebration than challenge, often shorter and lighter than a conference keynote. A speaker who treats a reward trip like a training day misreads the room badly. Name the occasion clearly during booking so the talk is built for it.
6. What’s involved in bringing a US-based speaker to a Canadian event?
More than a flight, though it’s all routine when handled early. US speakers typically quote in American dollars, so the exchange rate belongs in your budget math from the start, and cross-border work involves the proper entry paperwork for paid speaking, which experienced speakers and their agencies handle as standard practice. Build in travel buffer for border and connection delays, and clarify who books flights. None of this should discourage the booking when the right speaker is American; it just belongs in the plan from day one rather than event week.