I’m 14 years old and in grade 9. I’m sitting at my desk, head down, doing my work when, suddenly, in the middle of the class, Mr. Sutherland barks, “Hey you, Haskett, you!… I want to see you after class.”

After class, he says: “Roger, a bunch of teachers have been tasked with finding student leaders.” And he looks at me.

I look over my shoulder at the emptying classroom. “Um … you want me to help you find student leaders?”

“What? No. Idiot. You. You’re the student leader I’ve found. Next Tuesday you’re coming to a lunch. With me. Now get out of here.”

You’d think I’d be ecstatic. But instead, each step I take, I’m more stressed. Each step, I sink deeper into crisis. “I’m a Leader? ME?

Thoughts smash & crash in my head, louder and louder, pushing everything else out of the way. I’m struggling not to drown in the frantic, overwhelming, potent energy inside of me. I was desperate — many of my great ideas have been motivated by desperation. I got some social support.

“Lindsay, I’ve been invited to this lunch for student leaders.”

“Oh, am I invited too?”

“No. Sorry. I’m invited. But I want you to come with me. I’m a leader so I’m inviting you” (wildly overstepping my role here!)

Lindsay, being such a great friend, says, “Is lunch free or do I have to pay?”

The Lunch

Lindsay and I open the door… I stop dead in the doorway. There are adults in the room! Strange adults wearing suits and stylish dresses. I’m dressed like a 14-year-old kid in runners, a t-shirt and jeans!

Thoughts and ideas swirled around my head. “Who are these adults? Was I supposed to wear a suit? I don’t even own a suit!… What if I just go to the bathroom and never return? How important is high school, really? Wow, that girl over there is really cute.”

Up pops the principal… “I’d like each of you to stand up, say your name and tell us a little something about yourself.”

The Firing Squad

I immediately fall into a panic. As people stand up and talk, every eye turns to them. And suddenly it feels like a firing squad! And I’m waiting for my turn, for the guns (eyes) to turn on me. My head is pounding. My breathing is shallow and labored. My mind is screaming RUN! But my body is frozen in fear.

First the Black Hole

I have my first “black hole experience”… everything in my head gets sucked into the black hole that used to be my brain. What is left? Nothing. I have nothing to say.

Then Black Magic

The only refrain circling inside my head has been, “I’ve got nothing to say! I’ve GOT NOTHING!” Magically it becomes, “I AM NOTHING.”

I AM NOTHING.

The Joke

At that moment, Lindsay leans over and whispers, “This is what I’m going to say…” And what he says next is so hysterical, so shocking that even in my heightened state of crisis, I burst out laughing. As does Mr. Sutherland. Damn it, Lindsay! Lindsay — who wasn’t even invited to this student leader lunch — is going to kill with his joke. And I have nothing! I am NOTHING!

And then suddenly the guns are pointing at me. I tell myself, “Don’t work legs! Just sit still! Just look at Lindsay like he’s next! Brilliant!”

None of that escapes my black hole brain.

I am now standing! How? What?

WHAT! IS! HAPPENING!!!

My open mouth … and out pops … Lindsay’s joke.

Lindsay’s joke, that he had so graciously “written” for me, KILLS. The audience is erupting with laughter and applause. But instead of lapping it up, I am sitting down into the darkest moment of my (young) life.

“…I followed many of your suggestions and found to my amazement that I WAS NOT EVEN NERVOUS! I had fun, guests had fun, people bought books… You had an enormous impact on me and my ability to achieve this life-long goal… thank you, thank you, thank you!”

— A.K. White, Author of No Reason to Stay

What I found in my worst moments

Something so big it touched my soul. I found that inconsequential (but real) stress could change my character. My character!

In that darkest moment… I decided that stress was not going to determine my character. Rather, my character would (try to) determine how I responded to stress. A journey to find my internal power had begun.

How stress changes your character

That journey became a book and a course. Here’s what it does for the people in the room:

“Your session was LIFE CHANGING and the best I attended throughout the whole conference. Please keep on doing what you do — there are millions of others whose life needs an impact like mine had.”

— Anonymous Attendee, Pacific Dental Conference

“…this event was LIFE CHANGING for me. THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT YOU DO!!!”

— Lorraine Peña, Bosa Development

“Thank you to both Michael and Roger. Your work is EXTREMELY HELPFUL AND VALUABLE as it has the power to CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF PEOPLE’S LIVES.”

— Scott Lee, Founding Partner, Revesco Properties

If you want that system for yourself, it’s Pressure Cooker Confidence. To bring it to your team, let’s talk. It’s also the heart of every keynote I give.

Ever had your own “black hole” moment in front of a room? I’d love to hear about it — drop me a line.

P.S. — If you’re like most people (big, dangerous assumption), then right now you’re dying to know: what was the joke? Here’s the funny thing: neither Lindsay nor I have the slightest idea what it could have been. We never remembered it. But it was huge — at least when I was 14.

<p>The post Black Hole, Black Magic: The Day I Learned Stress Could Change My Character first appeared on EngagementUnlimited.ca.</p>

Roving Mounties corporate event! Here’s how Roving Mounties turn a reception into something guests are still talking about — before the main event even begins.

Your guests  are arriving. The reception is open. And here’s what happens…

• a Mountie stops them for a “Canadian security quiz”
• a Park Ranger steps up to demonstrate “best bear behaviour”
• their “personal bodyguard” appears out of nowhere to handle their ‘fans’

And they haven’t even crossed the threshold yet!

That’s what roving Mounties do. They start the engagement before the event officially starts. They turn a hallway or a hotel lobby into the first act of something guests didn’t see coming. It’s the most underrated form of cocktail hour entertainment in the corporate world. They make your guests the centre of the story.

Our guests were BUZZING WITH EXCITEMENT. As always, your performance was OUTSTANDING and definitely the highlight of the guests’ trip. Wow, was it ever PERFECT.

— Elaine Chick · Rare Indigo

Why Roving Mounties Work at Corporate Events

There are two reasons roving Mounties at corporate events work every single time.

The uniform does the work before the performer says a word. The RCMP’s red serge is recognized around the world. When a Mountie appears at your corporate event in Vancouver — or anywhere in Canada — guests don’t need context. They already know what to do. They smile. They reach for their phones. They want in on the experience.

The people inside the uniforms are engagement experts. Our Mounties are trained improvisers who read a crowd in real time. They find the guests who need a nudge. They make the quiet table feel like the most important people in the room. They turn moments into engagement magic.

The ROVING COMEDIC MOUNTIES were ABSOLUTELY AMAZING and added such a FUN AND WONDERFUL TIME for everyone. It really brought the whole event to life RIGHT FROM THE START!

— Sandy Heer · HR Manager · Mainland Construction Materials

The Biggest Impact at the Best Price

Roving Mounties are our highest-impact, best-value option. We can handle up to 15 Mounties easily, and more as needed. One Mountie or a dozen, the formula is the same: maximum impact, right from the moment guests arrive.

We are returning to Vancouver for another conference and want to book the roving Mounties again. They were such a HUGE HIT last time that our attendees are STILL TALKING ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE TO THIS DAY!

— Tania Sprankle · Senior Manager · Pratt & Whitney

Friday Fun

Just popping in to wish you a Fabulous Friday!

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FAQs: Roving Mounties at Corporate Events

Are Roving Mounties just people in costumes?

No — and that’s the whole point. Any company can put someone in a red serge. Engagement Unlimited’s Mounties are trained improvisers who read a crowd in real time. They find the guests who need a nudge. They make the quiet table feel like the most important people in the room. The costume opens the door. The engagement expertise is what happens next.

Do Roving Mounties work for international groups visiting Canada?

They’re one of the best options for exactly this. International guests — especially those visiting Vancouver or Whistler for a corporate conference or incentive trip — come to Canada with the Mountie already on their bucket list. They want that photo. We give them that, plus performers who make the whole interaction into a story they’ll be telling when they get home. Roving Mounties are Engagement Unlimited’s most-requested format for DMC and inbound corporate programs.

What if my group is quiet or doesn’t usually participate?

This is one of the most common concerns event planners bring us — and it’s exactly what our performers are trained for. Our Mounties read the room. If a group isn’t naturally outgoing, they meet them where they are and bring the energy up gradually. In 34 years and 1,100+ events, the Mounties have never once failed to connect.

What is “Mounties for a Minute”?

“Mounties for a Minute” is an optional add-on where 3 guests from your group get dressed as Mounties and run through Mountie training. The results are hilarious, the photo ops are incredible, and it gives even reluctant participants a reason to fully engage.

How many Mounties can Engagement Unlimited provide?

We can handle up to 15 Mounties easily, and more as needed. Most corporate events use 2–4. If your program calls for more, reach out and we’ll confirm availability.

Are Roving Mounties available in Whistler or outside Vancouver?

Yes. Engagement Unlimited’s primary service area includes Metro Vancouver, Whistler, Kamloops, and Kelowna, with delivery across British Columbia and Canada. If your event is in BC but outside Metro Vancouver, reach out with your date and location and we’ll confirm availability.

Can I combine Roving Mounties with other entertainment?

Absolutely — and it’s one of our most common configurations. Roving Mounties work the arrival and reception while a game show, mystery dinner, or keynote anchors the main program. The Mounties warm the room; the main event delivers the peak. If you’re considering a second element, ask us about pairing options.

Through their charm, wit and amazing improv skills, they led 2 x 45 minute performances for the crowd of 400+ to ENDLESS SMILES AND CHEERS. They EXPERTLY WORKED THE ROOM with professionalism and masterful skill.

— Shaw Madson · Event Planner · Total Entertainment Network

The Mounties were GREAT! They added the PERFECT AMOUNT OF “CANADIANA” and were great at reading the crowd. This group wasn’t very outgoing and they met them at their level.

— Heather Pelletier · Nature’s Boardroom

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Ready to Add Roving Mounties to Your Next Corporate Event?

34 years. 1,100+ events. The Roving Mounties are the highest-impact, best-value option in the Live Event Energy lineup — and they start working before your event officially begins.

Let’s talk about your next event. Reach out and let us know your date, your guest count, and what you’re hoping your guests walk away saying — and we’ll put together the right configuration for you.

Tell Us About Your Event

Monday Meme

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Roger Haskett is the founder and The Big Cheese at Engagement Unlimited, and author of The Me You Want To Be. For 34 years and 1,100+ organizations, he has been the person clients call when they need their group genuinely, joyfully, unforgettably engaged.

<p>The post Roving Mounties: Before They Even Cross the Threshold first appeared on EngagementUnlimited.ca.</p>

Why we built a give-back team building day around a birthday

We’ve been running MudPie Kitchens & Buddy Benches for years, highly successfully. But clients kept telling us the same thing: “This is a premier product that requires a premier amount of time — like two hours from the group. Can you give us something that is equally special but takes less time and costs less?”

So we went away & thought about it. We talked to our charity partners. We did research into what was possible. We believe in creating signature products — we don’t go for what’s easy; we go for what has purpose & impact. We asked our charity partners one question: what are the extremely emotional & difficult pain points for families undergoing challenges? They said:

“Picture a kid at school. Everyone else has birthday parties. They get invited to all of them. But they never get to invite anyone to their own party. For a family going through a hard season, a birthday is one more thing that’s out of reach.”

So we created Birthday Boxes

We created a box that everything needed for an amazing birthday goes into.

Cake · Prizes · Presents · Games · Decorations · Utensils, plates & tablecloths…

All themed to a specific child’s party — unicorns, or cars, or Disney princesses, or Paw Patrol. Each box, on the outside, has a list of what’s inside plus who it’s for: “This box is for four- to six-year-olds who are interested in Paw Patrol.” “This box is for nine- to ten-year-olds who are interested in unicorns or rainbows.”

The kids get to invite their friends & have a party where everything they need is there. All they have to do is unpack the box & have the best time.

“The Birthday Boxes for the children were so thoughtful and parents will be very PROUD to share them.”

— Doris Peters, Manager, Vancouver Aboriginal Child & Family Services Society

Why the people in the room are heroes

Putting together this project was full of joy for everyone involved. Jeni smiled every day when supplies arrived — because she knew these boxes were going to give children a birthday party they wouldn’t have otherwise.

We’ve facilitated Birthday Boxes a number of times now, & the response of the people in the room making them is as deep, as potent, as making Buddy Benches or MudPie Kitchens. The people in the room are heroes. They’re helping kids & families they will never see, but who will benefit from what they’re doing in that room.

“A hero is someone who helps others when there’s no chance that they will ever be thanked or rewarded.”

— Roger Haskett, author of The Me You Want To Be, founder & The Big Cheese of Engagement Unlimited

That’s the engagement advantage of a give-back team building day: the energy in the room isn’t manufactured. It comes from doing something that matters for someone you’ll never meet.

“a 6 year old had a WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY this month because of Engagement Unlimited’s birthday party box donations 🤡”

— Kyla Dawn, In-Home Support Coordinator, Vancouver Aboriginal Child & Family Services Society

The word came back from our charity partners that the Birthday Boxes were a massive, massive success — that parents were emotionally overwhelmed in gratitude.

Now, instead of heartbreak, they get joy & celebration & a party geared specifically for their child.

“The Birthday Box Give-Back event WENT GREAT! Everyone enjoyed the activities and your team was GREAT. Very kind and EASY TO WORK WITH!”

— Bailee Dutton, Executive Assistant, CPABC

Build a birthday with your team 🧡🧡🧡

Give-back team building FAQ

Friday Fun!
Meerkat on the lookout for the weekend

<p>The post Birthday Boxes: A Birthday for a Child Who’d Otherwise Go Without first appeared on EngagementUnlimited.ca.</p>

If you have ever planned corporate team building in Vancouver and quietly worried your group was too reserved or too divided to take part — this is for you.

The Call We Hear Most Often

One of the most common calls we receive starts the same way: “My group is unique.” Maybe it is a remote team that has never met in person. Maybe there has been so much turnover that people do not know each other. Maybe you deal with a lot of introverts.

And you are right — your group is unique. But the good news is, EVERY GROUP RESPONDS TO ENGAGEMENT. Every group responds to play, at least the way Engagement Unlimited does it. We have proven that to more than 1,100 organizations over 34 years.

“The Murder Mystery was a HUGE HIT, and everyone had a FANTASTIC TIME. It was the PERFECT ICEBREAKER for our group — especially since many people had NEVER MET each other before and some came from different locations across Canada and the US. The activity was a great success.”

— Julie Hobbart, Senior IT Project Manager, Factors Group

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Engagement Is a Superpower

Engagement is not a mood you hope shows up. It is what we build, on purpose, for every group.

“Play is a superpower that we have at our fingertips. It supercharges our brain and body.”

— Roger Haskett, The Me YOU Want To Be

There is hard science under that. “Nothing lights up our brains like play,” says a leading expert on play, Dr. Stuart Brown. That is one way we harness engagement in your room.

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How We Get Your Whole Room Engaged

Our promise is right there in our tagline: everyone involved all the time. People get as involved as they want, or as little as they want — we give them that flexibility. And because they have it, everyone ends up in the game.

“EVERYONE, even the introverts, were ENGAGED and participating.”

— Sean Antonson, Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre

We just brought Name That Tune to the Sheet Metal Association of British Columbia, in Kelowna. Here is what Jeremy told us afterward:

“I was COMPLETELY BLOWN AWAY. People were up on their chairs singing & dancing to Name That Tune! I have NEVER SEEN MY GROUP do anything like that!“

— Jeremy, Sheet Metal Association of BC

So “too reserved” is not a reason to avoid an interactive team building event. It is the exact reason to book Engagement Unlimited! From Family Friendly Feud to Murder YOU Mysteries to Pop Trivia, our interactive team building activities in Vancouver are all built the same way — so the whole room ends up in the game.

And it is not one lucky room. This is how clients keep describing it, in their own words:

“Having Engagement Unlimited come host our team building event (Murder YOU) was INCREDIBLE. Everything was so well done, and HILARIOUS of course. From start to finish the process was SEAMLESS, easy, and THE ENTIRE TEAM LOVED the murder mystery event. It was a ton of fun, and we would WHOLEHEARTEDLY RECOMMEND this to anyone looking for a team building event. Thank you again for all your team did, and we had SO MUCH FUN!“

— Karen Coldham, Director, FortisBC Energy

That was not FortisBC’s first time with us — it was their 10th event, and counting.

“GREAT TEAM BUILDING — I can’t think of any way to improve. EVERYONE LOVED IT!!!“

— Liana Duff, Manager of Conference Sales, Tourism Whistler

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Ready to See Your Whole Room Engaged?

For 34 years, our corporate event entertainment across Vancouver and British Columbia has turned the hardest rooms into rooms on their feet — 92% of clients rebook. It is the kind of corporate team building Vancouver companies book again and again. Bring us in, and we will get your whole room playing together.

See how Engagement Unlimited gets your whole room in the game →

Want your team to give back while they play? We can add a give-back element, too.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can interactive team building work for an introverted or reserved group?

Yes — a reserved group is the exact reason to book Engagement Unlimited, not a reason to avoid it. The way we run it, introverts and extroverts both get drawn in and choose to take part. The more reserved the room, the more our format has to give it.

What team building games does Engagement Unlimited offer in Vancouver?

We run a range of interactive team building games — Family Friendly Feud, Name That Tune, Pop Trivia, and Murder YOU mystery among them. Every one is built to get the whole room playing, for groups of 10 to 500 and beyond. We host them live, virtual, or hybrid across Vancouver and British Columbia.

How do you include the quiet person without putting them on the spot?

The quiet person is never singled out. With us, everyone is involved all the time — people take part as much or as little as they want, and that flexibility is exactly why they end up getting up and joining in because they want to. Nobody is dragged on stage.

What corporate events are your team building games best for?

They fit almost any corporate gathering — holiday parties, conferences, staff appreciation days, sales kickoffs, retreats, and team offsites. Wherever a reserved or newly-formed group needs to connect fast, our interactive games turn the whole room into one engaged team.

Friday Fun
Be like dog with flower

<p>The post My Group Is Unique first appeared on EngagementUnlimited.ca.</p>

Ten years ago, I was brought in to help a hostile group break its own negativity. This was right at the beginning of my speaking career. My talk was titled “Pressure Cooker Confidence!” Nothing like talking on confidence when you feel yours dripping away moment by moment.

Four huge guys sat front and center. They looked like ANGRY Hells Angels: arms crossed, big bushy beards, & big noticeable tattoos. They scowled for my whole talk. I don’t think I can even scowl like they did, let alone for 90 minutes!

I (successfully) fought to be positive the whole way through, trying desperately not to give in to my internal screaming.

Then, at the end, the biggest one levered himself out of his chair, and I was like, “He’s way bigger now than he was sitting down.” Then he lumbers over to me and he gets way closer than he should, right up into my personal space. He’s so close his beard is scratching the side of my face as he whispers into my ear: “I think that was the best talk I’ve ever heard!” I lean back and look at him and go,

“Well, maybe you should tell your face that!”

The last one to know how you did in the room is you. When you’re under stress, your impressions are not to be trusted. I was under stress, and I saw four very angry people, but that was just my stress talking. They LOVED my talk. The kind of love that makes you get up out of your chair & go over to a stranger & whisper in their ear something magical. 

But not everyone can keep up a confident front while everything inside is screaming in fear.

That’s one of the rare skills of a GREAT EMCEE — reading a room properly even when your own nerves get in the way. Our emcees are professional actors, facilitators & keynote speakers who do exactly that, for a living. When things go wrong on a stage, you need an emcee who has this rare skill. That’s what Engagement Unlimited provides.

“Your great ability to ‘read the room’ and think on your feet with quick wit is so natural! Thank you for the great energy you brought to our event!”

— Liana Duff, Tourism Whistler

This Is Who You Want at the Front of Your Room

We have a roster of amazing and engaging emcees. See our emcees in action →

• 34 years creating engagement energy
• 1,100+ organizations served
• 92% rebooking — clients keep coming back

“I did not know I needed an MC until we had one! Stefano was amazing. It was incredible to watch him work his magic while I sat back and actually enjoyed the entire evening, instead of running around like a chicken with my head cut off. Now that we’ve experienced what a professional MC does, we will NEVER do it ourselves again.”

— Sandy Heer, HR Manager, Mainland Construction Materials

So before your next event, one question is worth sitting with:
who’s going to ENGAGE YOUR ROOM? → Engage the Room

PS — This is a skill that you can learn. It’s captured in Roger’s course, Pressure Cooker Confidence: The Me YOU Want to Be → https://engagementunlimited.ca/course-pressure-cooker-confidence/

Friday Fun
Let’s be like this kitten…
Let the weekend begin!
Happy weekend

<p>The post Who’s Going to Engage Your Room? first appeared on EngagementUnlimited.ca.</p>

When the boss is the one with paint on her hands

September 2023. TSX Venture Exchange. Aprons on. Coveralls and booties to protect everyone’s clothes. Janice Harrington, Director of TSXV Listings, is at the table alongside her team — building MudPie Kitchens, meaningful gifts that bring connection, imagination & kindness to children in local daycares & schools.

Some of these people have never worked together. A few are remote staff. Some are introverts who quietly dread the words “team building event.” The Director is next to them, doing the same thing, with the same paint on her hands.

“I just had the best conversations with my team that I’ve ever had. I just spent the whole time moving from person to person, working on whatever they were working on, and had the best conversations.”

— Senior Leader, Canada Energy Regulator

Something shifts. People soften. Walls come down. Conversations deepen. And the group feels more human.

That’s the power of building something together.

Why this kind of bond doesn’t fade

As your guests arrive, many of them might be feeling things like “I don’t know anyone. I’m not sure where to put myself. I feel a little awkward.” Those impressions are quietly shaping everything that happens next.

That’s not a character flaw. That’s biology. Positive isn’t the default — under stress, the brain floods the areas that remember negative. So we have to fight to be positive. We can’t just think about being positive. We have to fight.

Fun is powerful. The power of play is real — it opens people up, encourages them to engage, to connect, to create. That’s why everything we do is team building disguised as fun.

But when you add purpose to fun — when your team is laughing AND building something for someone who needs it — something even more powerful happens. It starts with “we had the best time together” and it grows into “we did something good together.” Both are true. Both matter.

A small group leans in — drill in hand, sandpaper on wood, paintbrush or decoration next — and the conversations start. Not because anyone planned them. Because their hands were busy with something that mattered, and the rest took care of itself.

Roger Haskett, founder and The Big Cheese at Engagement Unlimited, calls this hero energy. “And when you build a relationship inside hero energy, it’s a much more meaningful relationship than it was before. That’s harder to forget. That’s what you take back to the office on Monday morning — and three months later.”

In Janice’s own words

“Huge success — awesome team building event. Staff talked about it for weeks after. People who didn’t work together connected for the 1st time. Incredible bonding experience. Perfect to get to know our remote staff and have them feel part of the team. Amazing for introverts! It was a perfect no-stress way of interacting with others. The actual building of the Mud Pie Kitchens gave you something to focus on which really allowed casual conversations. So much better than just standing around and talking. Everyone absolutely loved it.”

— Janice Harrington, Director TSXV Listings, TSX Venture Exchange

“Staff talked about it for weeks after.” Purpose stuck. The conversation kept going long after the tools were packed up. That’s what engagement looks like when it travels — when the lift outlasts the event.

“People who didn’t work together connected for the 1st time.” The build did the work the org chart had not. Building something real, side by side, produced connection across silos that meetings hadn’t produced in months.

“Amazing for introverts! Perfect no-stress way of interacting.” The build lowered the participation bar quietly — no spotlight, no forced icebreaker. Hands on the task. Conversation on top.

And yet purpose is the thing that makes the bond stick.

Four ways to build hero energy in your team

Impact & Purpose — Doorway 5 — has four formats to fit your group and your goal:

• Build & Donate — MudPie Kitchens or Buddy Benches. Your team builds with their hands. You create it together, then donate it to kids who need it most. Hands-on. Emotional. Real.
• Pack with Purpose — Birthday Boxes, Kindness Kits & Backpacks for Kids. Your team packs for at-risk kids and students heading back to school. Flexible participation. Deeply human. The kind of experience people talk about for months — or years.
• Food for Families — Your favourite EU games — Family Friendly Feud, Pop Trivia, Prize Patrol, Murder YOU — with a give-back twist. Every round your team wins unlocks a real food donation. Competition with a cause.
• Fun with Purpose — Mission FUN-Possible, give-back version. The same high-energy, laugh-out-loud missions your team loves — with real community impact built in.

Many clients pair Impact & Purpose with a keynote, a facilitation session, or a full corporate retreat — especially for board retreats and executive off-sites. The experience deepens whatever comes alongside it.

If your team has a big moment coming — a board retreat, a quarter-close, a return-to-office stretch — see what Impact & Purpose looks like for your group →

Want the weekly read on engagement, live events & what actually works? Subscribe to The Engagement Edge — one short note, every Tuesday.

Roger + Michael + the EU crew
Engagement Unlimited — Where Engagement Meets FUN!
The Engagement Advantage

P.S. Friday Fun

Hands up if you think this kitten is soooo cute.
#FridayFunvibes #WeekendVibes #TGIF #CuteKittens

<p>The post Team Building With Purpose: Unlock Hero Energy In Your Team first appeared on EngagementUnlimited.ca.</p>

When we ran a MudPie Kitchens event for the Justice Institute of BC, we got called three months later. They wanted to do it again — with the SAME group.

When I asked why, one participant said: “Roger, I’ve been at this organization for five years. The last time we did this, three months ago, was the first time I felt really bonded to my group. It was the first time we all felt really connected, and when we had a chance for another team-building activity, we all wanted to do this exact one again.”

That’s the power of building something together.

We get called back all the time — 92% of our clients rebook. Year after year, the same clients bring us back for their retreats, their conferences, their holiday parties, their team building or entertainment choices. For most organizations, that level of loyalty is extraordinary. We work hard to provide such value that our clients come back over and over again — our top three repeat clients have hired us 225, 117 & 114 times.

What’s rare is when a group wants the exact same experience again. Not something similar. Not “something like that.” The same one.

That doesn’t happen by accident.

Most briefs ask for fun. A few ask for connection. Almost none ask for purpose.

And yet purpose is the thing that makes the bond stick.

Fun is powerful. The power of play is real — it opens people up, encourages them to engage, to connect, to create. That’s why everything we do is team building disguised as fun.

But when you add purpose to fun — when your team is laughing AND building something for someone who needs it — something even more powerful happens. It starts with “we had the best time together” and it grows into “we did something good together.” Both are true. Both matter. Adding Impact & Purpose also drives deeper connections.

That creates what I call hero energy.

And when you build a relationship inside hero energy, it’s a much more meaningful relationship than it was before. The bond isn’t just “we did something together.” It’s “we did something good together” That’s harder to forget. That’s what you take back to the office on Monday morning — and three months later.

This is Doorway 5: Impact & Purpose — multiple choices to fit your specific team needs & budget.

Build & Donate — Your team builds with their hands — MudPie Kitchens or Buddy Benches. You create it together, then donate it to kids who need it most. Hands-on. Emotional. Real.

Pack with Purpose — Your team packs Birthday Boxes & Kindness Kits for at-risk kids. Flexible participation. Deeply human. The kind of experience people talk about for months — or years.

Food for Families — Your favourite EU games — Family Feud, Pop Trivia, Name That Tune, Prize Patrol, Murder YOU — get a give-back twist. Every round your team wins unlocks a real food donation. Competition with a cause.

Fun with Purpose — Mission FUN-Possible, give-back version. The same high-energy, laugh-out-loud missions your team loves — now with real community impact built in. Fun is still the mission. The difference is what happens when the fun is done.

Four formats. Every budget. One doorway.

“Thank you — EVERYONE LOVED building Buddy Benches!!!!! This was the BEST VOLUNTEER/GIVEBACK EVENT WE’VE EVER HAD!”
— Yvonne Clarke, Amazon Web Services

If your next event could leave your team feeling like heroes — not just participants — Impact & Purpose is where you start.

Explore Impact & Purpose →

P.S. The ability to build hero energy in a room — to lead with purpose, create real connection, and make meaning together — that’s a learnable skill. Pressure Cooker Confidence is a course built around exactly that kind of internal power. Take a look →

<p>The post What Happens When Fun Meets Purpose first appeared on EngagementUnlimited.ca.</p>

This company started as Murder Unlimited.

Then it became Actors Unlimited.

Then finally, Engagement Unlimited.

OUR name changed because YOU changed us.

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Insight:

When asked by a DMC partner to do something beyond murder mysteries — roving Mountie characters for a Canadian-themed event — we said yes! The first thing we agreed to do — to change our format from doing what WE CREATED to doing what OUR CLIENTS WANTED — was creating those roving Mountie characters.

Once we built the Mounties, everything shifted. We stopped being a murder mystery company and started being a company that builds what our clients need.

That was over 30 years ago. We’ve been doing it ever since.

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Recent examples from just the last few months:

Mission: FUN-Possible (Self-Hosted Edition)

A DMC partner needed it for a client who wanted to run it themselves — no hosts. We adapted the entire experience. Annika’s response after the event this spring: “I can see this being used everywhere — venue transitions, conference breaks, anywhere you need an hour of team building.“

Packed with Purpose — Expanded

You told us: “MudPie Kitchens are amazing, but our clients need faster options and different causes.”We built Birthday Boxes, Kindness Kits, and now Backpacks — serving kids, vulnerable communities, and any cause that matters to your client.

Engagement Add-Ons

You wanted to extend energy before & after the main event. We created roving character packages — same actors, different roles, triple the touchpoints. Over-The-Threshold energy + main event + Prize Patrol afterward.

You asked for more energy at registration, during breaks, and after the main program — not just during the keynote or game show. We created the Prize Patrol, Over-The-Threshold welcomes, and roving performers who work the room before anyone sits down. Now your event has three engagement touchpoints instead of one, using the same performers you already booked.

The Vegas Experience & Themed Events

A client asked: “Can you recreate the energy of Vegas without the casino?” We built The Vegas Experience — showgirls,, Sinatra crooner, roving characters, Michael Buble & Elvis impersonators photo ops, the whole atmosphere. Then clients asked for James Bond. Then Speakeasy. Then Alice in Wonderland. Then Midsummer Night’s Dream. You get the idea. Each one started because someone said, “We want this vibe — can you do it?”

The Pattern:

MudPie Kitchens for Kids? Built because clients wanted give-back options that weren’t the same as everyone else’s. Then the same groups asked for the next iteration that was as meaningful & heartfelt, so we created Buddy Benches for Kids

Pop Trivia, Family Friendly Feud, Name That Tune? All built in response to you asking for things we hadn’t created yet.

The Vegas Experience, Speakeasy Performers, James Bond, Music & Dance Entertainment…? Same story.

We now have 40+ engaging experiences in our roster. We create new ones every year — almost always based on what you need.

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What are YOUR clients asking for that doesn’t exist yet?

Hit reply. Tell us. We’ll build it.

Roger + Michael + Crew

Engagement Unlimited

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PS. The best teams don’t always look the same. 

Happy (early) Friday from the EU crew — go find your people this weekend.

<p>The post Built on What YOU Ask For: Custom Corporate Entertainment first appeared on EngagementUnlimited.ca.</p>

View in browser →  Live Event Energy! The first 10–20 minutes of any event are some of the most important.Because as your guests arrive, many of them might be feeling things like “I don’t know anyone. I’m not sure where to put myself. I feel a little awkward.” Those impressions are quietly shaping everything that happens next. Now imagine the opposite. Imagine being part of an event that grabs people the moment they’re walking toward it. That engages them instantly, deeply, and comically. That gives every guest the chance to shine right at the doorway. No awkward icebreakers. No forced participation. Just real engagement, from the threshold on. That’s Doorway 4 — Live Event Energy. ______________________________________________________________ Live Event Energy is high-energy entertainment that lifts the room fast — and keeps it lifted.It’s our roving Mounties, Park Rangers, Lumberjacks, and seasonal holiday characters greeting guests as they arrive. It’s Prize Patrol — our roving game show hosts moving table to table, gathering instant teams, turning strangers into rivals and rivals into laughing friends. It’s themed receptions — Speakeasy, James Bond, Vegas, summer camp, red carpet — that transform a ballroom into somewhere else entirely.  It’s the moment a guest stops scanning the room for someone they recognize & starts laughing with someone they just met. Here’s what that looks like when it lands: ____________________________________________________________ Instant connection — even for quiet or mixed groups Red Carpet VIP Experience:  “On behalf of the Wall Centre, a BIG THANK YOU! Our associates had a GREAT TIME and I was so very impressed on HOW ENGAGED THEY WERE— the welcome on the red carpet was REALLY SPECIAL. Thank you for helping us make this event VERY MEMORABLE and DEFINITELY ONE OF A KIND! We got lots of compliments on HOW FUN THE NIGHT WAS — thanks to you and your VERY PROFESSIONAL TEAM.”  — Karla Bazua, Sheraton Wall Centre That’s threshold engagement. Guests feeling seen the moment they walked in. ____________________________________________________________ Shared laughter without forced participation Hockey Night in Canada experience:  “Instead of the typical, basic reception either in a large ballroom or in the exhibit hall, we worked with Engagement Unlimited to offer a themed reception using camp-styled interactive games where we encouraged our attendees to ‘discover your inner child.’ Although we were nervous attendees wouldn’t like straying from the norm, IT TURNED OUT THEY LOVED IT! The games and entertainment suggested by Engagement Unlimited were THE PERFECT MIXfor ice-breakers and engagement.”  — Carrie Morin, CEM, American Society of Human Genetics No one was forced. Everyone joined in. That’s the difference. ____________________________________________________________ Moments they’re still talking about Monday Undercover Actor: “John truly was THE BEST OF THE BEST. He put 1000% EFFORT into his role, and EVERYONE ABSOLUTELY ENJOYED IT. People in the office are STILL TALKING ABOUT HIM playing a bodyguard all day long. HIS JOKES EVEN BECAME CATCHPHRASES! It was an UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYONE, and I have NEVER SEEN OUR BOSS SO HAPPY.”  — Oleg Chechel, MV Construction That’s what Live Event Energy does. It doesn’t end when the event ends. It walks back into the office on Monday. ____________________________________________________________ Live Event Energy starts the moment your guests are arriving — and lasts until the moment they leave. It creates the space for actual engagement that works for them. It lifts the room. It gives guests the chance to be the best version of themselves — laughing, connecting, included — from the threshold on. If your team has a reception, a conference opening, a holiday party, or any moment where guests are walking through a door — this is the Doorway for you.  Explore Live Event Energy Roger + Michael PS. Meme Monday!             Engagement Unlimited 3030 E. 17 Ave. Vancouver, BC V5M 2N6 Canada Unsubscribe

<p>The post The Engagement Edge: The first 10 minutes first appeared on EngagementUnlimited.ca.</p>

Pressure Cooker Confidence: The Me YOU Want to Be. IT’S HERE! A course about going from “I can’t breathe” to “I’m regularly doing magnificent things.” Twelve lessons that build internal power in the moments where you typically feel powerless — the presentation where your voice shakes, the conversation where you shrink, the moment that mattered most where you walked away knowing you left your best self behind. Three decades in the making. Built around one simple idea: “If you don’t own stress, it owns you.” ____________________________________________________________ What People Are Saying About Pressure Cooker Confidence: “Within 10 seconds I sat up and was thinking: ‘Wow, this is going to be different!’” — Incentive Works, Toronto “I felt like I had just sat down, and suddenly it was finishing. I was captivated.” — theEVENT, Los Angeles “Roger was fast moving, exciting, had excellent videos that made us laugh, taught us to be comfortable being uncomfortable while including some brain science. He was funny, passionate and had us all on the edge of our seats wanting more.” — Adrienne Barker, MPI South Florida ____________________________________________________________ And here’s what people who have actually taken the course say: “This was the best course I’ve ever taken. Roger Haskett was AMAZING and it was so relatable. EXCELLENT!! ★★★★★” — Elizabeth G. “Yes, super interesting and engaging. I will get more courses by him. ★★★★★” — Olivia F. “Very engaging and positive way to manage and harness stress for positive results!! ★★★★★” — Pam T. ____________________________________________________________ [ TAKE ME TO THE COURSE → ] — Roger + Michael + The EU Crew The Engagement Advantage P.S. All 12 lessons, all the downloads, lifetime access. Experience it once or absorb it 10 times. It’s yours. PPS. Monday’s Meme…

<p>The post Pressure Cooker Confidence – Online Course first appeared on EngagementUnlimited.ca.</p>