5 Unique Activities to Break the Ice and Energize Delegates

When an event kicks off, it’s natural for attendees—introverts and extroverts alike—to feel a bit awkward. Well-designed icebreakers and team-building activities are key to shaking off the nerves and making real connections. Toronto’s got you covered with skilled facilitators who can get the ball rolling.

"We try to understand the company culture so that we can recommend the right activity.”

– Dawne Eisenberg, Pop! Events Group

1. Let Pop! Events Group customize your activity plan

Whether you’re whisking attendees to a local park for a raucous game of water tag or letting them mix it up over hilarious rounds of trivia at your conference venue, Pop! Events Group is a full-service event planning company that delivers tailor-made options.

“We try to understand the company culture so that we can recommend the right activity,” says Dawne Eisenberg, founder and creative director. “What the crowd is going to be like determines which tool we're going to use to bring them together. It's quite an individualized experience.”

MAKING EVERYONE FEEL WELCOME

Eisenberg says success relies on good data gathering beforehand, around participants’ interests, abilities, “where they're from in the world, their age, their profession.” 

Personality types also come into play. “We always gear towards the introverts, because the extroverts are easy. It’s about getting people to come out of their shell a little bit,” Eisenberg explains.
 

ACTIVITY IDEAS

• Indoors: a speed bonding game (similar to speed dating), improv, painting, cooking, Ultimate Trivia games and twists on popular game shows like Family Feud.

• Outdoors: water tag, mini-golf, rock climbing, team sports.

• Corporate social responsibility (CSR): using kits to build bikes or stuffed animals for charity or toiletry packs for local shelters.

3. Share a rich, indulgent experience with Chocolate Tales

 “I feel like connecting over flavour is something very personal, and it really creates bonds,” says David Levy, founder of Chocolate Tales, which offers customized chocolate experiences both virtually and across the Greater Toronto Area via its mobile pop-up studio.

“Chocolate really has that ability to bridge the gaps,” Levy says. “With chocolate making,” he adds, “There are always these waiting periods which are natural to the program, and we use those times to create social interactions.”

As participants paint truffles, transform cocoa beans into bars or sample chocolates alongside local wines and cheeses, the chocolate experiences, which typically last 90 minutes to two hours, have lots of room for interaction.

“It’s about getting people to share,” says Levy: “‘What do you think of these flavours?’ ‘How do you perceive them?’ and ‘What does it remind you of?’”

“I feel like connecting over flavour is something very personal, and it really creates bonds.”

– David Levy, founder of Chocolate Tales

MAKING EVERYONE FEEL WELCOME

To be as inclusive as possible, Levy notes that his company is “peanut, tree nut and sesame-free... We also offer vegan options, and programs are also gluten free.”

ACTIVITY IDEAS

• Chocolate and wine tastings from local wineries such as Henry of Pelham and cheeses from Ancaster Cheese & Fine Foods.

• Crafting delectable Belgian chocolates, chocolate bars and/or chocolate lava cakes. Exploring the history of chocolate.

4. Enjoy mindfulness moments with Afterglow Studio

If mindfulness, yoga and soothing chimes are more your group’s style, Toronto is home to many world-class yoga studios for every skill level and style.

With a goal of guiding participants to thrive both mentally and physically, Afterglow Studio, located in the lakeside Beaches neighborhood east of downtown, tailors group sessions that spur connection as well as movement. Afterglow’s supportive instructors can serve groups of up to 28 in the company’s well-ventilated 4,000-sq.-ft. studio, or bring services to your venue.

MAKING EVERYONE FEEL WELCOME

Team-building workshops can be personalized for your group and geared toward participants of all ages, body types and skill levels.

ACTIVITY IDEAS

• Corporate yoga classes at the company’s studio or Toronto meeting venues.

• Workshops introducing mindfulness concepts for the workplace and/or about cultivating positive mindful habits.

5. Get everyone into a rhythm with Soul Drums

Watch a sense of community build as facilitators share hand drums and percussion instruments, and lead your group into a unifying rhythm performance. 

Led by founder Doug Sole, Soul Drums operates on the belief that a group can’t be “effectively cohesive without each individual’s diverse contribution.”

With decades of industry experience and world-class performers on staff, Soul Drums offers corporate team-building experiences in various formats, from drumming circles to live performances.

A group can’t be “effectively cohesive without each individual’s diverse contribution.”

– Doug Sole, Soul Drums

Making everyone feel welcome

To customize the experience, a detailed questionnaire solicits feedback about your group’s vision and values, as well as attendees’ individual needs.

Activity ideas

• Icebreakers (15 to 20 minutes) can involve anything from flash-mob drumming experiences to ensemble performances or in-the-moment group songwriting.

• Longer experiences can include drumming circles, stage performances, workshops and coaching on teamwork and leadership.