THUNDER BAY -- Places need to realize they're bigger than themselves Evan Hadfield says.
The son of astronaut Chris Hadfield, Hadfield played a key communications role when his father's 2013 time in space captured the attention of the world through social media, the highlight being a cover of David Bowie's 'Space Oddity' that's been viewed more than 30 million times on Youtube.
Since then, Hadfield's been involved in digital media and marketing through his company Launch Pad. What he's learned is that no matter where you are, everyone from a business to a country has the same issues getting their voices heard.
"It's not so much about where you are," he said at the Valhalla Inn Tuesday morning as the Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund kicked off the Engage Digital Media Summit.
"It's to realize that we're all together."
It's also about realizing that what someone does in a place like Thunder Bay can resonate across the world. He uses his father as an example. Obviously well known in Canada, the astronaut's biggest impact was made in Ireland. Hadfield said after his father's success, the country saw a 21 per cent increase in university applications for math and science programs.
"Based entirely on the work my father and I did while he was in space," Hadfield said.
Thunder Bay native David Ciccarelli, another keynote speaker at the two-day event, knows full well that the right digital marketing can get worldwide attention. Ciccarelli started with a recording studio in his mom's Grandview basement. Now, as the co-founder and CEO of Voices.com, he helps voice actors get noticed by advertising firms, film studios and Fortune 500 companies. Based in London, Ont., his company has more than 100 employees.
"All of these need the human voice to tell that story and we kind of act as that bridge to bring these two parties together," he said.
When Ciccarelli speaks on Wednesday, his main message will be about developing the right culture for a business, from working out consistent language to the keys to innovation in the digital world.
"People that are willing to try something new maybe fail and try again, where it's acceptable to fail," he said.
NADF executive director Brian Davey said Hadfield and Ciccarelli are just two examples of what the first-time conference has on offer. He's hoping to see it become an annual event and watch it grow over the years. Getting experts to open up and share the keys to their success helps everyone, particularly businesses in the region.
"From there we learn, we all learn," he said.
The conference continues Wednesday.
