Cisco planning team celebrating their Buddy Benches. These benches are going to change kids’ lives for the better.
To Susan Graham, Darya Oshiro, and the whole team at Destination Vancouver.
Thank you so much for believing in us on such a big project!
Part of the Destination Vancouver Family Again
This year we rejoined Destination Vancouver. Yay!
The first client that was sent our way by Darya Oshiro (Thank YOU so much Darya!!!!!) to see if we could add value to their events was George P. Johnson – an events agency from the States we had never worked with, who was running the HUGE Cisco Partner Summit 2026 in Vancouver.
One Recommendation, Seven Events
One recommendation led to seven events: three in the summer and four during the Cisco Partner Summit 2026.
It started with a cruise for the planning committee. We added an engaging tour guide host and a Make-Your-Own-Dreamcatcher station taught by an Indigenous community leader for a July harbour boat cruise.
Then, (before the event even happened!) they called back up and booked us for another event on another day – our Buddy Benches Hero Energy Giveback, showing how much faith they had in our growing relationship.
“I am THRILLED to hear that the Buddy Benches event went over well on your end. I’ve been hearing RAVE REVIEWS from the client; they had a GREAT TIME! … We really appreciate you and your team BRINGING THIS EXPERIENCE TO LIFE.”
— Meghan Olson, Associate Event Manager, Special Experiences, George P. Johnson · Buddy Benches
The Cisco Week
Then came October 26-28, and here’s what that one recommendation – and our growing relationship – had us doing:
The VIP welcome. At the Fairmont Waterfront, our stylists dressed 40 VIP guests in togas, shawls, crowns and brooches for a two-hour pre-party.
The VCC living statues. At the Vancouver Convention Centre, our painted, costumed living statues were in position for the torch ceremony.
Greek Night. At the Mansion Nightclub, two Greek kings, two Greek queens and two Olympians “worked the room” for four hours (which included engaging with the guests but also dancing!).
One of the Olympians demo-ed a hoi poi dance! The living statues came back for the night as well and even started to dance at the client’s request on their pedestals by the end.
The extra sashes that we had to build at the last minute. We got a frantic call on Saturday morning that the 130 toga sashes for the party on Wednesday hadn’t arrived on time!, and we were asked if we could build all 130 before Wednesday, which we did!
We sourced 100m of various velvet colors, measured, cut, and prepared them.
We’re very proud that, in the midst of all that we were pulling together (including 4 other shows not related to Cisco), we found the time to solve this urgent problem for our (amazing) clients.
And we can’t forget the System tech for 3 days! Two of our actors, in costume as Cisco’s “resident nerds,” looked after a VIP activation area all day Monday to Wednesday.
“We hired Engagement Unlimited for our recent corporate event to provide costumed performers, and they did A WONDERFUL JOB. From the initial planning through the day of the event, the team was HELPFUL, SUPER ENTHUSIASTIC, and GENUINELY EASY TO WORK WITH. They paid CLOSE ATTENTION TO ALL THE SMALL DETAILS we cared about, and when a last-minute request popped up on our end, they handled it WITHOUT ANY HESITATION OR STRESS. The performers brought GREAT ENERGY and our GUESTS LOVED THEM. They TRULY WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND FOR US!”
— Sarah Savage, Event Producer, George P Johnson · Living Statues, Roving Characters and Greek Gods
This one investment has paid for our annual membership fee for decades.
We believe that we provide the best of the best for the best of the best. We believe Vancouver is the best of the best.
Thank you Destination Vancouver, Susan Graham and Darya for returning such value for our membership. Can’t wait to see what’s next we can help with!
Roger + Michael + the EU Crew
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Destination Vancouver?
Destination Vancouver is a tourism board, formerly Tourism Vancouver — they connect incoming event organizers with local suppliers.
“Roger! TERRIFIC JOB moderating GMID Day!”
— Rohaan Sethna, Director of Sales, Meetings, Conventions & Events, Destination Vancouver
How did George P. Johnson find Engagement Unlimited?
Darya Oshiro, CMP, CMM, Manager, Convention Services, US, at Destination Vancouver introduced Roger and Michael to Meghan Olson there on March 5, 2026. One recommendation led to seven events: three in the summer and four during the Cisco Partner Summit 2026.
“WELL DONE Roger! You should have YOUR OWN TV SHOW. I am a BIG FAN and I always enjoy your MC and meeting leadership skills. You make meetings FUN AND MEANINGFUL. You add the entertainment into education and networking.”
— Debbie Reynolds, Manager, Convention Services, Tourism Vancouver
What is Engagement Unlimited?
Engagement Unlimited is a Vancouver-based corporate entertainment and team-building company that moves people from attendees to participants. We create the environment where everyone in the room can take part as much or as little as they want, and they join in willingly because it’s so much fun and so safe. Led by founder Roger Haskett, EU delivers interactive keynotes, game shows, murder mysteries, professional emcees and give-back CSR programs for corporate events across Canada.
In 34 years EU has run 2,300+ events for clients including Google, Microsoft, RBC and KPMG — with a 92% rebooking rate.
“Having Engagement Unlimited come host our team building event (Murder YOU) was INCREDIBLE. HILARIOUS. SEAMLESS. THE ENTIRE TEAM LOVED it.”
— Karen Coldham, Director, FortisBC Energy
What are roving characters?
Roving characters are professional actors and award-winning improvisers who mingle with your guests in character throughout your event. They break the ice, spark conversations and create memorable interactions — all while staying in character and improvising unique moments with every guest.
Because they read the room and adapt to every guest, the entertainment feels personal and organic.
“The roaming Wizard of Oz characters from Engagement Unlimited were the icing on the cake! The engagement with all the guests was TOP-NOTCH!”
— Liza Kenny, Spotlight Events
Are your performers professional actors?
Yes. All of Engagement Unlimited’s roving characters are professional actors and award-winning improvisers with years of experience in corporate events, theatre and film.
Their improv training means every guest interaction is unique, genuine and perfectly adapted to the moment.
“The character actors were THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE EVENT!”
— Paige Petriw, Founder, Spotlight Events
What are MudPie Kitchens & Buddy Benches?
MudPie Kitchens are kid-sized outdoor play kitchens, and Buddy Benches are friendship benches for school playgrounds. Your team builds them together from scratch — painting, assembling and decorating — then donates the finished builds to local schools, daycares and community programs.
It’s hands-on CSR team building with real, lasting impact — your people connect with each other while creating something a child will use for years.
“THE BEST PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY I’ve had at Microsoft! Building MudPie Kitchens for Kids was SO SUCCESSFUL, my boss wants to do it for the top executives in Seattle!”
— Henry Watson, Microsoft
“Thanks again for coming to Best Buy yesterday – the team had an AMAZING TIME building Buddy Benches!”
— Jen Knight, Best Buy
What is CSR team building and why do companies choose it?
CSR team building is when your team builds something real — play kitchens for children, Buddy Benches for lonely kids on school playgrounds — and donates it to a community partner at the same event.
Roger Haskett calls what forms “hero energy”: your people laugh and build for kids they’ll never meet, and the bonds between them come out stronger. It moves the day from “we had a great time together” to “we did something good together — and had an even better time because of it.”
“This was the BEST VOLUNTEER/GIVEBACK EVENT WE’VE EVER HAD!”
— Yvonne Clarke, Amazon Web Services
“It’s fun and giving back feels great. You are my absolute go-to for team building so I hope to send more your way.”
— Tiffany Tibbetts, Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
Where do the finished builds go after the event?
All finished MudPie Kitchens and Buddy Benches are donated to local schools, daycares and community programs. We coordinate the donation logistics so your team can experience the handoff moment together — it’s one of the most powerful parts of the event.
“The buddy benches will be used by over 225 children daily. The buddy benches are SO MUCH MORE THAN FURNITURE.”
— Lisa Hubbard, Executive Director, North Shore Neighbourhood House
Take a look at Roger’s book and his course
- The Me YOU Want to Be: Roger’s Rules for a Bigger, Better, More Powerful YOU. Become a bigger, better, more powerful you during the most important moments of your life. Available on Amazon and Audible (Roger narrates the audiobook).
- Pressure Cooker Confidence, Roger’s online course. If you’ve ever walked into a high-stakes moment and felt smaller than you wanted to be — if stress makes you shrink instead of rise — this course is for you. 13 lessons, 3.5 hours of video, at your own pace. The book gives you the map. The course walks you through it.
