When a platform needs to perform flawlessly in front of the world, there’s no room for “good enough.” The difference between a site that survives peak demand and one that thrives under it often comes down to the partner behind it. Selecting the right digital partner is all about choosing who will take that platform to its next level and keep it there for years to come.
The Canadian Olympic Committee’s digital journey proves what happens when that choice is made wisely. After partnering with Trew Knowledge, Olympic.ca and Olympique.ca became more than websites. They evolved into dynamic, high-performance hubs that engage millions, scale under pressure, and grow stronger with each Olympic Games.
The Moment to Upgrade
Every organization reaches a point where the existing setup isn’t keeping pace. It might have slow load times during critical moments. It may be due to a lack of flexibility when new content formats are required. Or it could be a platform that feels like it’s constantly patched together, rather than built to grow.
The signs are clear:
- Performance dips when audiences surge.
- Publishing workflows feel more like workarounds than solutions.
- New engagement ideas get stuck in “it’s not possible” conversations.
These are exactly the moments when a fresh partner can make all the difference. The right switch doesn’t just fix what’s broken — it unlocks possibilities that weren’t even on the table before.
What the Right Partner Brings from Day One
Switching to a new digital partner can deliver immediate benefits when the partner has the experience, platform knowledge, and strategic mindset to hit the ground running.
Immediate performance and stability gains
For the COC, moving to Trew Knowledge meant leveraging WordPress VIP’s enterprise infrastructure with an implementation designed for peak performance. From the outset, the site was able to handle millions of interactions without downtime — a non-negotiable for an audience that spikes dramatically during Olympic competition.
Strategic alignment with long-term goals
A capable partner looks beyond the launch checklist and plans for what the platform will need in one, three, or even six years. The work with the COC was grounded in the goal of inspiring Canadians through sport, shaping decisions around design, content structure, and user engagement tools.
Capability to handle both transformation and continuity
The first delivery had to be transformative, but the ongoing work had to be consistent. Trew Knowledge introduced new features while maintaining a familiar and reliable experience for editors and audiences.
The Canadian Olympic Committee Case
The challenge — high visibility, bilingual audience, peak-event performance
The COC needed a platform that could tell athlete stories, share live results, and deliver a bilingual experience at the same high standard. It also had to withstand unpredictable, massive traffic surges without a drop in speed or availability.
The choice — moving to a partner who could deliver on all fronts
Trew Knowledge was brought in to program the new platform on WordPress VIP. The partnership started with a commitment to more than just technical delivery. It was about creating a lasting foundation for storytelling, fan engagement, and national pride.
The outcome — six Olympic Games of growth and innovation
Over six Olympic Games, the platform hasn’t just kept up; it’s led. Performance has remained strong, new features have been introduced each cycle, and the site has earned recognition from Communication Arts and the Webby Awards.
Results That Build Year Over Year
Continuous optimization across events
Each Games cycle brings its own pressures and opportunities. Past performance data informs the next iteration, enabling the team to refine infrastructure, enhance navigation, and improve mobile experiences before the next surge occurs.
New engagement features like the Canadian Olympic Club
Powered by SAP Customer Data Cloud, the Canadian Olympic Club turned casual visitors into active participants. Fans can follow athletes, earn rewards, and receive tailored updates — all within a unified, secure identity system.
Recognition from industry awards and massive audience growth
The platform’s blend of performance, design, and functionality has earned prestigious industry accolades. Over the years, traffic has increased by thousands of percent, proving that audiences respond when the experience delivers.
Why Switching Can Be the Start of a Long-Term Win
Choosing to leave a current vendor can feel like a disruption, but in the right hands, it’s the beginning of lasting success.
Fresh strategic vision and technical expertise
A new partner brings fresh perspective, modern best practices, and the ability to spot opportunities that may have been missed before.
A clean foundation for future innovation
Switching allows for a technology reset — eliminating outdated workarounds and building on a clean, scalable framework. This makes it easier to integrate new features, from AI-driven recommendations to interactive fan tools.
Immediate credibility with proven enterprise-scale delivery
Trew Knowledge’s track record with the COC demonstrates that it can deliver under the highest stakes. For organisations weighing the risk of a switch, that kind of proof is critical.
Choosing a Partner for the Long Run
The best long-term partners have more than technical skills. They share the organisation’s priorities, understand the audience, and have the discipline to keep improving year after year.
Key qualities to look for include:
- Experience with enterprise-scale platforms and high-traffic events.
- A proven ability to deliver both stability and innovation.
- Cultural and strategic alignment with the brand’s mission.
- A roadmap mindset that looks years ahead, not just to the next sprint.
A Better Future Starts with the Right Partner
There is a quiet advantage that separates resilient digital programs from the rest. It is not a framework or a cloud region. It is a relationship measured in events, not months.
The Canadian Olympic Committee’s digital success over six Olympic Games is no accident. It’s the result of a strategic choice to work with a partner who could deliver immediate improvements and sustain them over time.
For organizations facing critical moments, growing audiences, or ambitious engagement goals, the right time to make that switch is now. With the right partner in place, a platform can move from simply coping with demand to leading in performance, innovation, and impact.
Trew Knowledge works with enterprises to build, scale, and sustain platforms that deliver under pressure and grow stronger over time. The next cycle of success starts with the right choice today. Contact our experts.
