Grit keynotes for Calgary’s energy leaders
Calgary is the centre of Canada’s energy industry and home of the Calgary Stampede. Paris brings The Grit Code to its leaders and teams.
Energy and endurance
Calgary, in Alberta, is home to the head offices of many Canadian energy companies, and every July it hosts the Calgary Stampede.
Energy projects run for years and through market cycles. Grit keeps teams going.
Paris’s keynote is built from Antarctica to the Pacific: 7 marathons on 7 continents and a 4,800 km row.
Who Paris speaks to in Calgary
Energy
Resilience for long-cycle projects.
Leadership
Sessions for senior leaders.
Agribusiness
Talks for teams across the province.
Universities
Talks for students.
Where Calgary meets
The BMO Centre at Stampede Park hosts conventions and trade shows.
- BMO Centre – at Stampede Park
- Downtown hotels – in the city centre
Ways to book Paris in Calgary
Choose the flagship Grit Code keynote (45–60 min), a Grit Deconstruction workshop (90 min to half day), a 30–45 min virtual keynote, or Paris as host and MC for the day. Compare formats →
Why audiences believe him
5 days, 21 hours, 51 minutes
The time it took Paris to run 7 marathons on 7 continents: Antarctica, Cape Town, Perth, Dubai, Madrid, Fortaleza and Miami.
More than £150,000 raised
For marine conservation, by rowing 4,800 km across the Pacific in 2023.
Read the article on mindset from the Antarctic ice. From Antarctic ice to unbreakable mindset · Keynote speaker Vancouver
Speaking in Calgary, in person or virtually
Available for in-person events in Calgary, or virtually in your local time zone.
Organisers typically book speakers about three months ahead, and shorter notice is sometimes possible, so it is worth asking.
See also keynote speaker in Canada, or browse all keynote speaker locations.
Calgary’s economy and who the talk is for
Calgary has a population of about 1,306,784 (2021 figure, Wikidata), which makes it a substantial market for conferences, leadership events and company gatherings.
Businesses with their headquarters in Calgary include Suncor Energy (petroleum industry), Imperial Oil (petroleum industry), TC Energy (energy industry), Enbridge (petroleum industry), SMART Technologies (computing) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (logistics).
Energy and resources (Suncor Energy, Imperial Oil and TC Energy). For energy and resources businesses, grit is about consistency over decades-long assets. Paris shows how small, repeatable routines beat bursts of motivation, using the 7 marathons on 7 continents as the case study.
Aviation, transport and logistics (Canadian Pacific Kansas City). Logistics and transport audiences understand relentless schedules. Paris’s past clients include DHL, and the keynote draws on what it takes to keep going when every hour counts.
Other large venues in Calgary
For bigger audiences and set-piece events, Calgary venues include Scotiabank Saddledome and Studio Bell.
Paris is comfortable on any stage, from an arena to a boardroom, and can also host the main stage as MC. Event host and MC →
How a Grit Code session works
- Each booking begins with a call about the audience and what success looks like after the event.
- The talk turns the 7-marathon challenge and the Pacific row into habits teams can use on Monday morning.
- A virtual version of 30–45 minutes is available for distributed teams.
The content is shaped around Calgary organisations and their goals, so the room hears examples that match its own challenges. Paris presents as an adventurer and CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, not as a theorist.
Credentials at a glance
- In 2023 he rowed 4,800 km across the Pacific with three teammates, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
- He ran 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
- His TV shows have been distributed in 123 countries, and Guy in Dubai has 22 million views.
- Past speaking clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly.
FAQ
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in Calgary?
Yes. Paris speaks at conferences, company events and leadership programmes in Calgary, in person or virtually.
Is the keynote suited to energy companies?
Yes. Every talk is tailored to your industry in a briefing call.
Which Calgary industries is The Grit Code suited to?
The keynote is tailored to each sector. In Calgary it suits energy and resources and aviation, transport and logistics audiences in particular, along with leadership teams, sales kick-offs and all-hands meetings in any industry.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Calgary?
Yes. The Grit Deconstruction workshop runs from 90 minutes to half a day and turns the keynote’s ideas into team habits and actions.
Can the keynote be delivered online for teams in Calgary?
Yes. A 30–45 minute virtual version is available for remote or hybrid audiences, delivered in your local time zone.
Who has Paris spoken for?
Past clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly.
Bring grit to your next Calgary event
Share your date and audience, or book a call.
More about Paris: About · The Grit Code · TV shows · Contact