Laura’s Career Story

Laura Purdy didn’t find tourism; tourism found her. The excitement and variety she discovered in the industry turned her one-year term into a 25-year career. As the General Manager of Exhibition Place in Toronto, she gets to help plan countless shows and events every year, attracting more than 5.5 million visitors.

Laura began her career in the shopping centre industry, and took a leap of faith on event tourism. She was immediately struck by how different every day was, and before long, she’d fallen in love with the industry. Now, she reflects on what has made her job so rewarding, from meeting new people to learning more about Canada and the world.