Get to know us
Our
Story
We are an independently owned small business built on a love of books, creativity, community, and the belief that life is a whole lot better when you don't take it too seriously.
Our philosophy is pretty simple: you don't have to be good at something to enjoy it, you don't need an excuse or reason to treat yourself, and everyone deserves the chance to make friends, no matter how old they are.
After all, life's a rough draft. You might as well have fun with it!
meet the founder, cara
I'm the founder and owner of Rough Draft Events & Goods! I'm also the person behind most of the ideas and the reason there approximately a million things happening at any given time.
Rough Draft started out of my love for books and crafts (and my struggle to make new friends as an adult!). I consider myself extremely lucky and grateful to have a community that allows me to create as my full-time job! I'm also a big believer in making things accessible, approachable, and just a little bit whimsical. Rough Draft is meant to be the kind of place you can show up by yourself, try something new, and leave feeling like you've found your people.
So, whether you've been here since day one or are just discovering us, thank you for being a part of this wonderfully weird little adventure!
With so much love and gratitude,
Cara <3
managers
Our managers, Sarah & Thomas, help us with just about everything. They conceptualize, run, and organize events alongside us!
socials team
These are our amazing event photographers and videographers! You'll see Taylor, Lea, Karmi, Luca, Margaret, Eleri, Valentina, and Katelyn at our events doing their best to capture all the candid wonder possible!
Event assistants
This hardworking crew helps to set up, take down, and lend a hand at our events. Say hi to Claire, Heather, Ruthie, Brooke, Josephine, and Cansu if you see them!
Our amazing team members
frequently asked questions
where are you located?
We're based in Ottawa, ON. Our events take place all over the Ottawa Valley! We ship Canada-wide and can provide international shipping quotes as well!
how can i stay in the know?
Our events calendar is always the best place to check the latest happenings! You can also follow our Instagram (@roughdraftpaper.co) and sign up for our newsletter!
how can i get in touch?
hello@roughdraftevents.ca is the best way to contact us about orders, tickets, workshops, and general questions.
Please note, we no longer accept Instagram DMs for inquiries, these must be sent by email!
can i come to an event solo?
Please do! Seriously, we love solo attendees. Plenty of people come to our events on their own and we do our best to pair them up with a fellow solo event goer!
do you do private event bookings?
Yup! Whether you're planning a birthday, team activity, or other gathering, feel free to reach out to hello@roughdraftevents.ca with your ideas!
do you have waitlists for events?
We keep manual waitlists for all our events! If you missed out on getting tickets, please send us an email! We also might have some wiggle room and be able to squeeze you in!
are there any age restrictions?
Unless otherwise stated, nope! Most of our events are suitable for a wider range of ages and we'll make it clear if one is adults-only!
can we collaborate?
Uh, duh! That's what we're all about! We love working with local makers and business! If you've got an idea for a collaboration, we'd love to hear about it!
Keep scrolling for our ticketing & refund policy!
tickets, refunds & credits
Tickets are refundable within 24 hours of purchase to allow space for accidental purchases or changes. After 24 hours, tickets are non-refundable. Up to one week before the event, tickets are eligible for a 50% credit to be applied to any future event. One week or less before the event, refunds and credits are unavailable. If something beyond your control arises, please reach out and we will do our best to work with you.
In the event of circumstances beyond our control impacting an event (such as weather, venue emergencies, etc.) we will do our very best to contact you within 24 hours of the event. If we are able to reschedule the event, your ticket will automatically be transferred to the new date. If you are unable to attend the new date, a full credit will be issued for your ticket. If the event is cancelled, a full refund will be issued back onto your original payment method.
If we do not reach our participation minimum for an event (usually 10 participants), we will send an email the Sunday (or Monday on holiday weekends) before the event letting you know the event has been cancelled. All cancelled events will have tickets fully refunded back onto your original payment method.