Youth Employment Centre

Jordan Defazio is a storyteller working across film, writing, video games, AI, and education, and currently works as a financial writer focused on retirement. Originally from Calgary, he spent 14 years living in China before moving back home, where he wrote Season 2 of the Netflix Chinese action series Chosen, taught screenwriting at the Beijing Film Academy for seven years, and contributed to writing three video games. In his free time, he experiments with AI, exploring the intersection of storytelling and technology.

👉 Connect with Jordan on June 5th.

Youth ages 15-24 are invited to the Inside Tech: Conversations with Calgary Professionals virtual event.

🔗 Sign up here: https://forms.office.com/r/kCE8XE7i0R

John Mark is a founder and entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience building products, launching startups, and helping others do the same. He has taught product management and design at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), where he worked closely with students to take ideas and turn them into real, working products, apps, websites, and other digital products built from the ground up.

Today, John runs BlessedLife, a startup studio created to help people do meaningful work. Through The BlessedLife, he supports small businesses in building and managing their digital presence, providing owners with the tools, strategies, and hands-on help they need to grow and stand out online.

He is also the founder of FoundersBrew, an AI startup developing an AI operating system designed to help founders move from idea to launch faster and smarter. Alongside the company, John hosts the FoundersBrew podcast, where he has candid conversations about what building a business actually looks like day-to-day.

John loves to converse about starting a business, building things, turning ideas into action, shaping a career around the work you love, setting goals worth chasing, and finding the motivation to pursue meaningful work.

👉 Connect with John on June 5th.

Youth ages 15-24 are invited to the Inside Tech: Conversations with Calgary Professionals virtual event.

🔗 Sign up here: https://forms.office.com/r/kCE8XE7i0R See less

Erik Van den Eynden is a technology and innovation leader with over 20 years of experience helping modernize systems and improve how people work. He has led large‑scale digital projects in municipal government, turning complex challenges into practical, real‑world solutions. Passionate about leadership, change, and bringing new ideas to the table, Erik focuses on building systems that help people and communities succeed. ⭐️

👉 Connect with Erik from The City of Calgary – Your Local Government on June 5th.

Youth ages 15-24 are invited to the Inside Tech: Conversations with Calgary Professionals virtual event.

🔗 Sign up here: https://forms.office.com/r/kCE8XE7i0R

Those ages 15-24 are invited to June 5th's virtual event. ✅

Get insider information, connect and have real conversations with working professionals within Calgary’s tech industry. 👩‍💻

👉 Erik Van den Eynden
Leader, Tech and Information, City of Calgary – Your Local Government Recreation & Social Programs

Erik is a technology and innovation leader with over 20 years of experience helping modernize systems and improve how people work. He has led large‑scale digital projects in municipal government, turning complex challenges into practical, real‑world solutions. Passionate about leadership, change, and bringing new ideas to the table, Erik focuses on building systems that help people and communities succeed.

👉 Jordan Defazio
Writer/Storyteller, CIBC Wood Gundy - PKAG

Jordan is a storyteller working across film, writing, video games, AI, and education, and currently works as a financial writer focused on retirement. Originally from Calgary, he spent 14 years living in China before moving back home, where he wrote Season 2 of the Netflix Chinese action series Chosen, taught screenwriting at the Beijing Film Academy for seven years, and contributed to writing three video games. In his free time, he experiments with AI, exploring the intersection of storytelling and technology.

👉 John Mark
Founder & Entrepreneur, FoundersBrew

John is a founder and entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience building products, launching startups, and helping others do the same. He has taught product management and design at SAIT, where he worked closely with students to take ideas and turn them into real, working products, apps, websites, and other digital products built from the ground up.

Today, John runs The BlessedLife, a startup studio created to help people do meaningful work. He is also the founder of FoundersBrew, an AI startup developing an AI operating system designed to help founders move from idea to launch faster and smarter.

🔗 Sign up to attend: https://forms.office.com/r/kCE8XE7i0R

Get paid to make an impact! 🔥

One of the largest face‑to‑face professional fundraising organizations in North America, TNI The Network Inc. partners with well‑known non‑profit organizations such as the Canadian Red Cross, World Wildlife Fund and Plan International Canada to support community fundraising campaigns with real social impact. 🌍🐼🏥

Now actively hiring, hosted by the Youth Employment Centre, join TNI on May 13 to learn more about becoming a Professional Fundraising Representative ⬇

✅ Ages 18+
✅ Non-commission, no weekend, full or part-time work
✅ Hourly wage of up to $24 per hour with extended health care benefits (after 3 months of employment)
✅ No vehicle or Driver’s License required

Face-to-face fundraising is one of the fastest ways to develop high-level communication and leadership skills. With rapid growth opportunities, most high-performing sales leaders started in face-to-face roles because it teaches fundamentals faster than any classroom. 👩🏾‍🏫

With daily training and continuous support, join a team that’s not responsible for selling products but rather helping to connect people to causes and charities that matter. 💫
Make a great first impression and join us to get tips on how to apply directly from TNI’s hiring managers.

📅 May 13, 2026
🕟 5-6 p.m.
Virtual event

Youth between the ages of 15-24 are also welcome to attend to gain real-life perspectives on what it’s like to work in fundraising related roles.

Register to attend 🔗 https://ow.ly/Suls50YWBIK