WHO IS BEHIND THE AWARDS?

Who is behind the awards?

First, let me say I can't take 100% of the credit for creating this event for the kids.
My role in this is to basically be the Director of the Event. Including such things as maintaining the website, taking nominee submissions, coordinating nomination committees/adjudicators, liaison with the Gala venue, and basically pull off the event. There are many working behind the scenes who are securing sponsorships, running social networking websites, spreading the word, gathering all of the 'stuff' needed, etc.... This is far from a one person job! I am lucky to have a wide network of friends in the film industry willing to help!

There were MANY parents who were begging for this, and about 2 years ago I started getting pleaded with by a group of moms to create this.
Knowing my past 5 year background in planning large scale community events for kids, I kept hearing "If anyone is going to pull this off for us, its Liz!".

I kept playing with ideas and thinking about it more and more. It started to consume my thoughts, as I thought of more 'cool ideas'. I jotted down a bunch of these ideas in an email and sent them to my best friend, who is also a mom of a child actor. She phoned me and said it was time to go for it. I wasn't sure. I was really uncertain due to so many variables involved. She put me in touch with another mom and I bounced ideas off of her. She was enthusiastic and also begged me to please do this for the kids.

So the planning began. Hours of web design, notes, phone conversations, facebook messages and emails with parents of child actors, and of course, research. A secret website with passwords made from my best friend's name, all ideas and details being sorted out in complete secrecy!
In 2014 we launched our first successful Joey Awards ceremony!

I have a background in the Vancouver film and television industry by handling a children's roster at a Vancouver talent agency from 2005-2013. I recently left the industry as an agent to pursue my event planning, but I still feel the yearn to be a part of the film industry in some way, so this is a great way to stay involved.

I also am the mom of a 19 yr old who has been involved in the industry sparatically (gotta love those braces and awkward stages) since the age of 4. While my daughter never became a 'big booker', and we made plenty of mistakes over the years (do you ever wish you could turn back time and do certain things over again?), but one thing I can say is my daughter has grown into a beautiful young woman both inside and out, is a social butterfly and not afraid to get up in front of public in any type of situation. At 15, she started her own successful growing business, which will turn fulltime after highschool, and I attribute a lot of her confidence and smarts to her involvement in the film industry from such a young age. She is also going to be helping run these awards.

I have been running large scale events in BC, NS, ON and AB for the past 4 years and am ready for this challenge! I am excited and raring to go!

LETS DO THIS! LET'S HAVE SOME FUN!!!

-Elizabeth McKinnon, with of course the help of my amazing daughter, Megan.
6155 Greenside Dr E, Cloverdale, BC V3S 5M8
604-614-4913 (Mon-Fri 10amPST-5pm PST)
joeyawards@gmail.com