TEDxEdmonton Salon 1: Rethinking Open Source Culture
Wednesday, February 8, 2012, 7 pm
The Citadel Theatre
Click here to get your tickets!

As the Internet came to be, we were all excited by the awesome possibilities that would be realized once this free-flowing, open network allowed musicians, artists, scientists and engineers around the world to instantly share their work. Remixing, collaboration, and new innovations would be the result. But while there have been great examples of open source projects (like Wikipedia) fueled by the wisdom of crowds, there are many examples where open source culture has fostered nasty group dynamics and mediocre collaborations. Have we glorified open-source software, free information and collective work at the expense of individual creativity? Or is open source culture here to stay?

What is TEDxEdmonton Salon Series

The TEDxEdmonton Salon Series is a set of intimate and interactive live speaker events designed to engage TEDx audiences throughout the year, and spark creative engagement within the community. In the spirit of TED Talks, TEDxEdmonton Salons are a gathering of curious minds, and place to explore new ideas and ways of thinking. At each event we’ll feature four unique local speakers – representing business/entrepreneurship, arts/culture, political/social and science/technology – each offering both visionary and practical perspectives and insights on the selected theme, followed by open, interactive discussion.

What is TEDx?
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. (Subject to certain rules and regulations.)

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 25 years ago, TED has grown to support those world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives. The annual TED Conference invites the world’s leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes. Their talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Al Gore, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Isabel Allende and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Everyone is welcome!

Date: Friday, June 10, 2011
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Suede Lounge, 11806 Jasper Avenue NW
Tickets: $15 (includes cover, appetizers and speakers), $20 at the door

Buy tickets at http://www.tedxedmonton.com/preparty

Featured speakers:

Meagan Kelly - Meagan is a journalist and filmmaker with a mission to cultivate compassion in others. Her directorial debut film, Grace, shares the story of one young girl’s struggle to escape poverty on a garbage dump in the Philippines. The film won ‘Best Short Documentary’ at the 2011 Monaco Charity Film Festival, and is an official selection for the 8th annual Artivist Film Festival in Los Angeles.

Gregg Oldring – Gregg is a serial entrepreneur that’s co-founded several tech startups including GSNet, one of the first classified advertising websites for the heavy equipment industry, Mailout Interactive, an email marketing and communications company, and most recently, Inkdit, a new startup that borrows from the mental model of social networks and applies to it the signing, sharing and storing of contracts.

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We’re excited to announce that TEDxEdmonton 2011 will take place at the Citadel Theatre on Saturday, June 11, 2011. A pass to TEDxEdmonton costs only $99. Tickets go on sale online on Wednesday, March 16 at 9 am MST, on a first come, first serve basis.

This year’s theme is “Seeds of Innovation”. We’re in the midst of an exciting era. We’re living in an interconnected knowledge economy shaped by the creative industries, information technology, and globalization. And we’re seeing a new generation of connected artists, scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs emerging who can transform seeds of new ideas into bold new works, companies and products. At TEDxEdmonton 2011, we’ll meet some of these remarkable people, some from abroad, others from right here in our hometown. We promise you another dizzying day of inspiration, wonder and curious delight, as we experience the stories, visions, and passions of these bold individuals through the art of live presentation.

Key dates

March 16: Tickets go on sale online at 9 am MST
March 31: Speaker proposals deadline
May 1: Speakers announced
June 11: Doors open to TEDxEdmonton at 10 am

For more information about TEDxEdmonton 2011, click here!

If you think you might fit the bill, tell us and we can talk some more! Speaker application deadline is March 31 at 11:59 pm MST.

What our team remembers most about the day however, was the overall feeling that was in the air. It was like TEDxEdmonton was a spark that was igniting the entrepreneurial and creative energy that’s always been in our community. We loved that day, and we’re hoping to bring the magic back for this year’s edition.

Until then, check out the recap and photos of last year’s event! And get your tickets to TEDxEdmonton 2011!

What attendees were saying about TEDxEdmonton 2010:

“My mind was blown yesterday at TEDx Edmonton!” – Michael Feist

“Excellent production quality, you guys nailed it. There’s a reason you were praised by TED!” – Mack Male

“TEDxEdmonton took me to another level.” – Cameron Herold, speaker

“Exceeding our expectations… Great post, pics on TEDxEdmonton. Fine speakers, stunning stage design!” – Chris Anderson, TED Curator (@TEDChris)

The day is broken out into four sessions – creativity and innovation, creative sustainability, creative entrepreneurship and content creation. All live event participants should arrive at 9:15 am so we can process your registration and get everyone into the theatre in time for the live webcast at 10:00 am. Please bring your printed tickets with you and we’ll give you your name badge and a rundown for the day.

There will be several breaks during the day so you can all discuss and share your thoughts on what you’ve just heard. We wrap up the day with a reception nearby and then doors to TransAlta Arts Barns re-open for the official TEDx Edmonton After Party hosted by artsScene Edmonton.

We’re excited and can’t wait to meet you all this Saturday!