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Let’s face it, team building at the workplace can feel forced at times. No shade to your social committee (we salute your courage), but trying to plan a team event that fits everyone’s schedules, interests, and dietary restrictions without blowing the budget? That’s Olympic-level logistics. Add weather worries, flaky RSVPs, and the pressure to still do your actual job, and suddenly “boardroom pizza and trust falls” doesn’t seem like such a bad idea.
But here’s the thing: in today’s work world, team building isn’t a “nice-to-have.” It’s essential. There’s a reason every HR presentation talks about employee engagement – it actually works. Happier teams = better performance. Groundbreaking stuff, I know.
One of my favourite parts (tied with access to a snack shack) of working at the Edmonton Sport & Social Club (ESSC) is helping companies bring their people together through events. I get to hang out with teams that value culture, run tournaments in the sunshine, teach pickleball to first timers, and serve cold drinks in a beer garden while everyone forgets about Slack/Teams notifications for a few hours.
Watching a group go from coworkers to teammates, cheering each other on, high-fiving after nailing the answer to “what YouTube video has the most views of all time?” (warning – the answer may annoy you), or just laughing until it hurts – that’s the good stuff. It’s meaningful, and yeah, it actually helps people communicate more effectively and feel more connected at work.
At ESSC, we’re not a one stop shop, we build custom events that work for your people – whether that’s 20 folks from finance or 200 warehouse warriors. Don’t know exactly what you want? No stress. Part of the fun is coming up with the event.
Our specialty? Events that are inclusive, low-pressure, and make even the “I-don’t-do-team-stuff” folks want to join in. Big or small, hyper-competitive or super chill, we’ve got you covered.
Back in 2023, we teamed up with a company that knows how to bring the energy. For two years running, they’ve sent 60 employees into the arena composed of 6 teams of 10, ready to battle it out in a whirlwind of team-building games and good times. We had a great time to say the least and we'll be doing it again in 2025. Don’t just take my word for it though, take theirs:
"I'd like to give a huge shout out to Tyler and his awesome team at Edmonton Sport & Social Club. We recently organized a team building event for our staff and lenders and partnered with ESSC to put on some fun games for the group. We wanted to host some Survivor type challenges and games and went to Tyler to see what they could do for us. Although they’d never hosted such an event, they eagerly accepted the challenge, and they far exceeded our expectations. They were so organized, creative, resourceful, and high energy and I’d absolutely recommend this group to anyone looking to host an event. Tyler’s energy was above and beyond - the entire team helped make this event great. Thank you guys for all your hard work. We definitely look forward to partnering with you again.”
Glad you asked. Here are a few crowd favourites:
Laid-back and social with classics like cornhole and ladder golf. Have I mentioned the beer garden?
High-energy games like chair races and paper airplane contests that get everyone laughing.
Team-based and customizable, from pop culture to company-themed questions.
Engaging team games that test strategy and collaboration.
Want your team to try pickleball, volleyball, or something new? We got you covered.
Let’s create a unique experience that reflects your company culture.
Events are what we do. We've been running them in Edmonton since 2004, that’s before some of your interns were even born. We handle the logistics, bring the hype, and make sure everyone feels included no matter their age, role, or fitness level.
If your workplace could use a boost in connection, collaboration, or just some good old-fashioned fun, let’s make it happen – reach out today!
Email: stone@calgarysportsclub.com
