Serendipity led Borysa Struk to a career in event planning — and back to Edmonton
Borysa Struk was a student at the University of Toronto, studying human-computer interaction, when her supervisor suggested she volunteer at an upcoming IT conference to save herself the pricey admission fees.
“The only position as a student volunteer involved working with the conference organizers,” she says. Struk helped with everything from setting up the conference rooms to liaising with keynote speakers and planning parties — and loved it. For years, she’d been doing similar work on a volunteer basis for non-profits and always enjoyed it.
“I had no idea before this that there was something called event planning and you could get paid for it,” she says.
Much of the planning had been outsourced to an American company, so Struk found herself working with professional event planners who were impressed by her enthusiasm and skill. “Two weeks after the conference, they offered me a job,” she says. Struk, who has dual citizenship, happily accepted and moved to the company’s American headquarters to begin a new career path. “I had no idea before this that there was something called event planning and you could get paid for it,” she says.
Struk spent a couple of years working for the company before deciding to return to Canada and go into business for herself. After establishing herself as an independent event planner in Ontario, she and her then-husband decided to take advantage of Alberta’s hot economy. In 2006, they moved with their two children to Edmonton, where Struk had spent her formative years. Here, she launched BOS Events, a turnkey event planning company.
Edmonton has been a great place not only to grow a business, but to raise a family. With its vibrant arts and culture scene, world-class entertainment opportunities, and big blue sky, Edmonton is home: “It just feels good to be here.”
“I get paid to think about all of the details, from start to end,” says Struk. “One client said to me, ‘It’s like walking into a room, turning on the lights, and everything’s there. And at the end of the night, you turn off the lights and leave, with nothing to worry about.”
“I love the venue and the people — everyone from the banquet staff and custodial staff all the way to the top. They’re a nice team.”
Over the years, Struk has frequently worked with the Edmonton Convention Centre (SCC) to bring a wide range of events to the city — from conferences to white tie galas to impromptu fundraisers. Last year, for instance, she helped plan an emergency fundraising breakfast for the victims of the Fort McMurray fire. “Myself and Marnie Gomes [SCC Director of Sales and Client Services] were schlepping juice at 4 am,” she says. Regardless of the size of the event, or the timelines involved, Struk can trust that the SCC team will do everything needed to bring it all together: “I love the venue and the people — everyone from the banquet staff and custodial staff all the way to the top. They’re a nice team.”
It’s now been more than 10 years since Struk set down roots in the city and she’s grateful that she did. Edmonton has been a great place not only to grow a business, but to raise a family. With its vibrant arts and culture scene, world-class entertainment opportunities, and big blue sky, Edmonton is home: “It just feels good to be here.”
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