How CPA Ontario Delivered an Impactful Virtual Firms Day with SpatialChat
Discover how CPA Ontario transformed its flagship Firms Day into an engaging virtual experience using SpatialChat, driving higher attendance, stronger connections, and a personalized, gamified environment that resonated with students and employers across the province.
About CPA Ontario Firms Day
Firms Day is a flagship event hosted by CPA Ontario, designed to bridge the gap between undergraduate students and potential employers in the accounting and finance sector. With a strong focus on career exploration and industry networking, it plays a pivotal role in shaping the professional journeys of aspiring CPAs across the province.
Attendees have the opportunity to meet top CPAs from firms throughout Ontario, explore exciting and evolving career paths in the profession, and build valuable connections with potential employers. The event’s dynamic virtual format allows students to shape their participation — choosing their own adventure for the day, networking on their own terms, and even earning prizes for interacting with as many firms as possible.
As their Student Engagement Specialist, Ronke Asalu led the planning and execution of this important initiative.
The Challenge: Reviving Virtual Engagement Post-Pandemic
While online events surged during the pandemic, enthusiasm for them has since diminished. CPA Ontario faced the challenge of reigniting interest and creating a dynamic virtual experience that felt personal and sustained participant interest.
"We sought a platform to engage with our students across the province of Ontario in an innovative manner, putting the power of interaction firmly in the students’ hands," Ronke shares.
The Solution: A Metaverse-Like Experience with SpatialChat
CPA Ontario chose SpatialChat for its immersive, metaverse-like environment that offered a fresh and natural way to connect students and employers. Its intuitive setup and interactive design allowed for a seamless planning process.
— Ronke Asalu
They were also impressed by the level of support provided by SpatialChat from the start. “Our initial consultation with Anastasia went very well,” says Ronke. “She was knowledgeable, professional, and assuaged all our concerns regarding using a third-party platform, especially regarding web security.” That high level of support continued throughout the setup process and during the live event, ensuring everything ran smoothly.
Customization was equally straightforward. CPA Ontario collaborated with a graphic designer to create a branded digital backdrop, using the provided dimensions to ensure a smooth integration into the Space.
The Outcome: Strong Attendance and Positive Feedback Across the Board
Both students and employers responded enthusiastically. "The features made the event exciting and the ‘gamified’ feel of the platform was very much in line with what our target demographic enjoys." Attendees praised how smooth and thoughtfully designed the sessions felt— not just visually, but functionally.
SpatialChat was particularly effective in facilitating meaningful conversations between students and employers. By mimicking real-life interactions using its spatial audio feature, the Spaces created an ecosystem where connections could form spontaneously and with ease. The experience struck a balance between being fun and purposeful, giving students the freedom to engage at their own pace. Additionally, features like speech bubbles enhanced accessibility and helped create a more inclusive setting for all participants.
Compared to previous virtual and in-person formats, the event delivered a standout experience that aligned closely with CPA Ontario’s objectives. It also delivered measurable results — attendance rose by more than 24% compared to earlier virtual career events, signaling a strong response from the target audience.
— Ronke Asalu
A Standout Choice for Virtual Events
Ronke was quick to endorse SpatialChat for student-employer networking events, pointing to its ability to deliver a streamlined and high-impact experience that resonated with both students and professionals alike.
SpatialChat offers a flexible, visually rich virtual interface designed to support real conversations and purposeful communication. Whether you're hosting online expos, town halls, or career fairs, the platform gives you the tools to create a well-executed digital space tailored to your audience.
Connect with our experts today to explore how we can support your next event.