About this Event
Join Us at Creator Space #ForRealTalk!
@urbanyeg is back in a different form: Creator Space. Since we retired in 2023, the creative space in Edmonton just hasn't felt the same. There's been a void and we're now here to bring back that connection we all once had. Instead of just starting up urbanyeg again, we wanted to lead this community in a way that meets you where you are now in your creative journey - the professional stage.
If you've been a part of the @urbanyeg community, you know that always focused on creating meaningful events that drive real connection with other photographers and creators. In 2024, we hosted 3 Creator Space events and now we are officially back with the 4th installment titled, #ForRealTalk!
What is #ForRealTalk?
Most of what you see online are highlights. The best of everyone's journey. What we're not seeing alot of is the struggles that we all face as creators. They're definitely there, but we may not share it online. This gap in what we see online can create mixed feelings for everyone going through their own journey. #ForRealTalk is a panel discussion series where we aim to share the real challenges that our guest panelists have gone through in their business, processes, and lives as a creator - the things they may not have wanted to share online. They will share tips on how they overcame those challenges and how you can navigate around those, too. The purpose is to show our audience that despite seeing success, adversity is a part of the process and should be embraced rather than avoided. We hope our guests walk away feeling inspired knowing that you can still go through these struggles AND still be successful.
Format:
Doors open at 6pm
Panel Discussion 6:45 - 8:15pm
8:15-9pm Connect with other creators while enjoying beverages, coffee and music.
Included:
- Selection of finger foods, desserts, pop, water
- Bonus: Strong Coffee Marketing is introducing their brand new blend of coffee. Complimentary sampling to all guests!
- Free parking in front of the building
Guest Panelists
Karly Watson
Karly is an Edmonton-based photographer, videographer, creative director, and social strategist with nearly a decade of experience at the intersection of visual storytelling and brand communications. As the founder of Kliquethis Media, she has built a body of work that spans music, sports, and brand - shooting and directing for musical artists alongside major clients including the City of Edmonton, OEG, Rogers, Explore Edmonton, and Connor McDavid, with work published in Elle Canada, Guitar World, the National Post, and internationally.
A proud Edmontonian, Karly brings a community-first philosophy to everything she does - mentoring emerging creatives, particularly women and students navigating the industry without a traditional roadmap. Her contributions to Edmonton's creative and sports media ecosystem earned her a Cultural Commitment Award from the City of Edmonton for her work on the 2024 NHL Playoffs content team.
Dhakshayini Boopalan
Dhakshayini is a commercial photographer specializing in editorial portraits and brand photography for clients such as the Fairmont Hotel MacDonald, Poppy Barley and the Mosquers Film Festival. With a background in digital marketing, she blends her creative vision, the brand’s needs, and marketing insight to deliver images that are both impactful and strategic. Adding to her business portfolio, she is the owner of Lumen Photo Studio - available for rent in Edmonton.
In addition to her professional work, she was actually a member of the urbanyeg team for many years being involved with community engagement and handling their social media. Her pay it forward mindset and attitude is what truly makes her a valuable part of the creative community. This is what helps make Edmonton special with so many willing to give selflessly of their time and skills to make a positive impact in other creator’s lives.
Panel Discussion Hosts
Chan Rin and Jeff Kelly
Chan is the founder of urbanyeg and Jeff became part of the leadership team shortly after. They along with many other team members led this creative community for over eight years until it was retired in 2023. Both had their respective photography businesses and with over two decades of experience between them, they created Disruption Digital Marketing to serve commercial clients. This year, the decision was made to put Creator Space under the Disruption banner to take urbanyeg in a new direction that would support the creative community with where they are now in their professional journey. They bring a wealth of experience in the commercial space and will be sharing their journey from that perspective. Between them, noteable clients include Gucci, City of Edmonton, Aritzia, Lindt, lululemon, Audi, Epcor and more.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Strong Coffee Marketing, 6571 Gateway Boulevard Northwest, Edmonton, Canada
CAD 24.15












