Back when we didn’t know where we were going… but somehow ended up finding each other. Who hasn’t heard the story of Micah, TRIBU’s founder & CEO, working from his kitchen counter?
That was 15 years ago. Already.
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As the quote that appears in our time-tracking software says: “Time is the wisest counselor of all.” – Pericles, but depending on the day, there’s also: “Tick Tock, on the clock, but the party don’t stop.” – Ke$ha.
We’ve always found that mix of Plato and a pop star a little strange. But in the end, that’s TRIBU: one foot in wisdom, the other in celebration, always. We wondered how to tell the story of 15 years of evolution without just repeating the kitchen counter story (don’t worry, we’ll come back to it).
So we asked the team a few simple questions: where were you 15 years ago? Where did you see yourself in 15 years? And how did you meet TRIBU?
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We didn’t expect to uncover such a mix: future veterinarians, breakdancers, high school students, backpackers… 100% passionate people, all of whom would eventually go on to produce and promote international festivals and live a truly atypical day-to-day life.
This article kicks off a series: first, our daily life; then, our evolution.
But before we look ahead… let’s go back to 2010.
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THROWBACK 2010
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A quick reminder of what was happening around the world in 2010, as a certain project called TRIBU was beginning to take shape:
The iPad was landing in our hands for the very first time, Instagram was making its debut in a small San Francisco office, Queen Elizabeth II was crossing the Atlantic for a Canadian tour, Vancouver was buzzing with historic Olympic Games where the country set a record with 14 gold medals, and Montreal was celebrating (a little too loudly) the Canadiens’ playoff victory over the Penguins.
A year of firsts, collective pride, and changes that would shape the decade— the perfect backdrop for a project like TRIBU to be born.
“In November 2010, I officially registered TRIBU with the business registry, one year after receiving a DARE following a legendary party in my backyard.” Micah, Founder & CEO of TRIBU.
Fifteen years ago, some of us still had acne and hadn’t done our first internship yet. Others were unknowingly living their very first connection to what would become TRIBU.
These are their stories.
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Where were you 15 years ago?
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Ariel, Director of Operations: I was completing a communications certificate at UQAM, teaching breakdancing, and competing all along the East Coast. Micah collaborated with us to help secure sponsors… which is how I ended up with a test car for an entire week.
Aude, Marketing & Communications Manager: I was in high school, still very young.
Elyane, Client Accounts Manager: I was 17, had just started CEGEP, and was working at Clair de Lune boutique in Bromont, selling candles to sweet little ladies. It paid for my gas, and I’d drive home smelling like candles and Christmas. I already had a strong desire to live my life in a non-traditional way.
Cécilia, Director of Marketing & Communications: I was leaving my agency job in Paris for Australia on a Working Holiday Visa. Between waitressing jobs, I was crossing the country in a van, armed with a big road atlas—because in 2010, maps weren’t yet in everyone’s phone.
Jean-Michel AKA JM, Director, Cinematographer & Editor: I was at V-Télé as a cameraman and assistant editor for the new morning news show V-Express. I worked from 3 a.m. to 1 p.m., five days a week. 🙂
Nathaniel AKA Nate, Production Coordinator: A little 13-year-old in Grade 8, hoping one day to make the school basketball team.
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Where did you see yourself 15 years from then?
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Micah, Founder & CEO of TRIBU: No idea what TRIBU would become. I just knew I loved bringing people together and creating thrilling experiences.
David, Programming Manager: I wanted to travel the world with Jackalope and work with my idols. MADE IT 🙂
Mathilde, Community Manager: I planned to finish my law studies and become a Police Commissioner or a military lawyer. I’ve always loved order and discipline.
Justin, Digital Marketing Coordinator: I wanted to be a veterinarian.
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Meeting TRIBU & First Steps
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Lise*, Accounting Technician: the adventure began on January 4, 2014. This year marks 12 years with TRIBU. I was handling accounting and reception for my sister, who owned a business, and also working part-time for an accountant who had Micah as a client.
*in red on the left 😉
Then I started in his loft in Rosemont. Well, there wasn’t really any space, so he asked me, “Do you mind working on the kitchen table?” And that’s how I started, on Micah’s kitchen table.
—THE LEGENDARY ONE—
Then we moved to Le Nomade in West Montreal. We had a lot of fun there, shared offices, a lively atmosphere, parties. The only problem? No heating. So in the winter, we worked in our boots, hats, and mittens, with a little space heater under our desk.
David, Programming Manager: even before TRIBU existed, I met Micah on a skate trip with his first company, Ripper Skateboard, when he came to recruit us at Exo Shop for his crazy project: a 21-day road trip across Canada.
Elyane, Client Accounts Manager: Micah came to give a presentation in my class. I told him I wanted to do my internship at TRIBU. He said yes.
Ariel, Director of Operations: we met in CEGEP. We worked on our final project together: producing the Barrel Tour for Ripper Skateboards.
I was also at the famous Backyard JIB Fest, the zero point of TRIBU. Back then, we were working directly in Micah’s apartment on 7th Avenue in Rosemont.
Justine, Project & Festival Experience Manager: thanks to Barbegazi, at the Olympic Stadium back then.
Mathilde, Community Manager: freshly arrived in Quebec, I came across a JACKALOPE job posting and ended up managing the on-site teams. At the end, I told Micah, “One day, I’ll work for you.” Two months later, a position opened up, I applied, and here I am!
Stephen, Production Coordinator: through APIK Montreal and my passion for snowboarding and action sports.
Léo, Partnership Coordinator: one month after starting as an intern, my supervisor left TRIBU. With support from Micah and the team, a few weeks later I delivered my first JACKALOPE. The stressful part was managing so many clients at once. On top of that, that year we had a lot of rain and bad weather. I learned a ton and had amazing support from the rest of the team. I guess I really loved the experience, because I came back for two more internships… and now I’m full-time!
Jean Daniel AKA JD, Partnerships Manager: fun fact: I’m one of TRIBU’s first employees. Back then, we managed the Amnesia Sports team and produced the very first JACKALOPE ever!
Fourteen years later, I joined the team again.
From my very first day at TRIBU, it was a childhood dream come true: flying with Micah to the X Games in Ventura, a trip full of hands-on learning.
Nathaniel AKA Nate, Production Coordinator: JACKALOPE Montreal was just two weeks after I arrived. The night before the event, I found myself chatting on top of the mini-ramp, with the whole TRIBU staff there for a little colleague session. Projects kept coming one after another, and it didn’t take long for the team to adopt me and make me feel right at home.
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Kitchens, lofts without heating, vans, road trips, wild ideas, sleepless nights, breakdancing, festivals in the rain, unlikely dreams, and life-changing encounters. We didn’t exactly know where we were headed. And yet, our paths crossed.
Thank you for being part of the adventure, since 2010… or just since yesterday. The next 15 years start today!